Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

single word.
    “Tell me what upset you.”
    “No.”
    He frowned. Bella could tell that this man wasn’t used to hearing that word.
    “You’ll tell me eventually.”
    She gave a delicate shrug. “Whatever. Believe what you want.”
    She was glad that he relented for the moment. There was a battle of wills between them as he studied her in the silence and she found herself holding her breath. Finally he seemed to sigh without making a sound, letting the moment pass.
    “Bella, the name suits you.”
    “Thanks.” She shivered at the intensity of his gaze.
    “We should go inside. You’re cold.”
    “I’m fine.”
    Jason reached out to move a lock of her hair off her face and she tried to stop herself from flinching but couldn’t quite hold back the telling motion. His eyes narrowed slightly as if her flinching from his touch had upset him.
    “Are you afraid of me?” he asked softly.
    Shit.
    Bella wanted him, but she was frightened. She looked up at Jason and met his gaze, caught off guard at the tenderness she saw there.
    “No…I mean, well, umm, of course not. It’s just, I don’t know you. And I don’t like being touched.”
    He had seen the desire there in her eyes, but sensed her hesitation…her wariness. No matter how hard she tried to hide it from him, he knew. But that wouldn’t stop him from going after what he wanted. And he wanted her.
    “Well, lass, you better get used to it. I’m going to be touching you a lot,” Jason’s deep voice purred.
    Oh my God .
    Bella could feel her body heat at his words. His voice was like liquid sex flowing over her. She couldn’t think clearly, his presence taking over her senses.
    “You…you don’t mean that.”
    The frown was back on Jason’s face. His eyes were hard, piercing stones drilling into Bella.
    Insulted, he growled, “I do not lie.”
    Bella made a move to back away again, but he crowded her up to the railing.
    Jason saw something flash in her eyes that had him forcing his anger back. No, he wouldn’t hurt her, but someone had. He could tell by the way she moved to shield herself. He felt an uncharacteristic primitive rage settle inside of him at the thought of anyone hurting this woman standing in front of him. Overcome with a need to put her at ease, he softened his voice as he gently brushed the back of his fingers over the smooth perfection of her cheek.
    “Tell me, sweet lass. Tell me what you’re afraid of.”
    Bella tried turning her nervousness to anger, but it didn’t work. To her chagrin, her voice shook. “Stop crowding me.”
    He silently studied her with his watchful gaze. He wanted to ease the panic that he saw her trying to hide from him. He knew he should step back, leave her alone, but he couldn’t force his body to move. Like taming a small, trapped animal, Jason tried to put Bella at ease by willing his body to relax. He kept his breathing deep and even, and was deeply pleased when her own breathing seemed to slow to match his.
    “I won’t hurt you.”
    Bella tilted her head to the side. She was silent for a moment, and he could tell she was trying to work something out in her head. He had never before wished to know someone else’s thoughts so much. Usually good at reading people, to his utter frustration this petite beauty remained a mystery to him.
    Finally she spoke. “Are you honestly going to tell me you’re attracted to me?”
    He was absolutely shocked by the scorn in her voice. Lust rose up in molten waves as he stared into her golden eyes. Eyes that matched the molten bronze encasing that gorgeous petite body that his hands all but ached to touch.
    His nostrils flared and he leaned down, his arms enclosing around her to brace on the railing at her sides. “Oh, I’m attracted all right…and so are you.” Before she could deny it, his lips covered hers.
    It was a gentle kiss, yet it froze her in place as if he were holding a gun to her head.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bella felt drunk with lust.
    Heat speared into her core, and her hands came up to grip tightly onto his jacket. As quickly as it started, he pulled away, leaving her unbalanced, so she gripped tighter. His arm wrapped around her waist to hold her to him. To her surprise, his embrace didn’t frighten her but rather made her feel protected. The warmth coming from his body easily chased away the chill she had been feeling after standing out in the cool night air, and to her surprise she had to stop herself from snuggling closer.
    “I’ll