She tried to calm herself with logic. So far, he’d made observations, asked a few questions, pressed a little—not behaved like a world-class ass**le. He wasn’t as loudmouthed as her stepfather, Gordon. That calmed her some. Taking back control would do the rest. Because whatever he was trying to pull, she wouldn’t be playing. “Either turn the lights off or let me up.”
He made no move to comply. “Did some prick criticize your body?”
Only her whole life. It wasn’t any one prick in particular. Starting with Sean Lampke in the second grade and moving right up to football jock Mike McKindle in high school. Not that any of them had seen her naked, but all the teasing, especially after her br**sts had developed in the fifth grade . . . Their opinions didn’t matter. She was proud of herself. Fuck them if they didn’t like her. But opening herself up to Hunter? She didn’t do that for anyone.
“What are you after?” she challenged. “This is a one-night stand, and you don’t need to know my innermost secrets for that. If you want me, then turn out the damn light and let’s f**k.”
“Kata, I need to see you. All of you. I want to watch your face as I slide in deep. I want to see your lashes flutter closed and your skin flush as your arousal surges, right before your pretty hazel eyes flash wide open and orgasm slams through your body.” His eyes darkened with arousal. “I won’t let you hide from me, honey.”
There it was again: honey. The way he spoke to her made her sizzle. She shouldn’t like that dominant tone of voice that went with it, shouldn’t feel tingles down to her toes. Damn if he wasn’t everything she shouldn’t want.
“Won’t let me?” she parried. “You came here to share me with Ben, then encouraged him to drink until he was too wasted to participate. Now you’re trying to strip me of far more than my clothes. I barely know you. This control freak routine you’re pulling? It’s not happening.”
His lips curled up, and it couldn’t exactly be called a smile. “You’re tough on the outside. But inside, there’s a vulnerable woman. And there are times, like now, that you hate it. You don’t want anyone to see anything but your independent façade. You’re adventurous—when it suits you. You have a lot of friends but aren’t really close to anyone. You don’t like being told what to do, especially by a lover. Kata, I’m going to be the man who changes your mind. About everything.”
Her jaw dropped, even as goose bumps broke out all over her skin. God, Hunter had read her perfectly. He was clearly used to sucking in the universe, examining it, then bending it to his will. She’d bet he did it as naturally as breathing.
Anyone like that wasn’t for her, no matter how big a thrill he gave her.
“That’s arrogant. I won’t just . . . roll over and play dead. You’re not dictating to me. You know what?” She pushed against his chest. “I’m done here.”
He didn’t budge, just held her still and sent her a considering look. “The last thing I want you to do is roll over and play dead, honey. Where would be the challenge in that?”
Her temper surged. He wanted to bring her to heel with his wit and his body for some sick thrill?
Kata bucked and wriggled, trying to displace him, to no avail. “Goddamn it, get off me. I’m not a f**king prize to win or some mountain to conquer so you can prove to yourself that you’re the man. I told you I’m done.” She shoved at his chest. “Get the hell off!”
Hunter’s face softened. He trailed the back of his fingers down her cheek, his stare disturbingly intimate. “I don’t want to win you like some cheap prize at a county fair to prove my masculinity. I want to be with you—all of you. Just like I want you to be with all of me. I’m stripping myself bare, too.” As if to prove his point, he ripped that torso-hugging charcoal T-shirt over his head.
A hard ripple of mouthwatering abs gave way to pecs that made her fingers itch to touch him, followed by imposing shoulders that would eclipse a room the second he mounted her. That fact made a twisted part of her tremble with a secret thrill—and it bothered her more.
“Taking your shirt off is nothing compared to the way you’re trying to bare my soul.”
“It’s a first step, honey. Believe me, I want you to know me inside out, too. Feel comfortable with me.”
Kata frowned as she turned the words over in her head. “That . . . takes time. Don’t you get the meaning of ‘one-night stand’? It’s just tonight, so none of this getting-to-know-you shit matters.”
“I disagree. I want you to want me, trust me. And for you to give me every part of you that you’ve never given any other man.”
She stared at him as if he’d lost his mind—because clearly, he had. “You don’t want much, do you?”
“I know I’m asking for a lot. Give me a little tonight, Kata. I’ll earn the rest.”
His every word boggled her mind. Earn the rest, like he wanted not only to control her, but to own her? “I don’t get you. I’m willing to f**k you. For most guys, that’s enough. A little mutual pleasure and—”
“Before I met you, yeah. Now?” Hunter shook his head. “I’m going to be totally straight up. I’m not willing to settle for less than everything.”
His gaze told her that he was dead serious. She swallowed, her mind racing. They’d just met. This made no sense. Whatever. Just because he wanted something didn’t mean it was going to happen. No way was she allowing him control of this situation or her.
“I told you, I don’t roll that way. A simple romp between the sheets, great. But this . . . wanting me to give you permission to own me, or whatever . . .” She shook her head. “I’m no man’s possession.”
He considered her for a long while as the light from the bedside lamp burned over her shoulders, br**sts, and ni**les. Hunter stared fixedly, and Kata knew he could read her anger, uncertainty, and arousal simmering under her skin. The mix was a powerful cocktail of emotions.
She really wanted to look away, but damn if she’d give him the satisfaction of flinching first. But the longer their gazes clashed, the more her insecurities rose. Tears—honest to freaking goodness tears—burned her eyes, damn it. She had no idea where they’d come from, other than this horrible sense of exposure, of vulnerability, but no way she would reveal how much he rattled her.
Kata didn’t know him well, but she suspected he was formulating some plan designed to have her eating out of his hand. Since he’d zeroed in on domination, one of her most potent fantasies—and her biggest fears—Hunter was off to a frighteningly good start.
“I know I’ve asked for a lot,” he murmured roughly, making her hormones weep with need. “I’m willing to spend the time to earn your trust and show you what I’m made of. I’ll be totally honest about who I am and what I want. Can you?”