She gave him a patient smile, even as her heart sank. Damn her, indeed. Too late for that. She was already damned. Damned to love this hardened man. This beautiful, stubborn, willful man.
Emotion played across his face. Anger. Desperation. Need. The force of it stole her breath. “Cornered? No one is forcing you to do anything, Caleb. You have a choice here.”
“Some choice. You want full disclosure? You show me yours and I’ll show you mine, right?” He shook his head. “I don’t work like that, baby, but not for the reasons you’ve got your mind set on. As for tonight, I did what I felt was necessary to get the job done, and I won’t apologize for it. Not to you, not to anyone.”
Of course he wouldn’t. Caleb Martin didn’t apologize to anyone for anything. “Which is why I’m going this way.” She hitched a thumb in the direction of the spare room. “And you’re going to bed alone.”
* * *
Caleb knew a no-win situation when he was smack in the middle of one.
Samantha wanted some grand gesture, proof that he trusted her. He wouldn’t do it. Any declaration he made now would fall on deaf ears, forced from his lips as a way to placate her. That’s how she’d see it.
He had a much better idea. Words were what she wanted, but words were cheap. The essence of a man dwelled in his actions. She wanted proof? He’d give her proof.
He’d been a fool to believe she’d be better off with another man. No other man could give her what she needed. His wild Irish beauty needed a man who wouldn’t crumple under the strength of her will. She’d never be happy with some sniveling, spineless jackass who’d bow to her every whim, any more than he’d be happy with a woman who hung on his every move.
He wasn’t perfect—far from it. He was as stubborn and set in his ways as she was. His baggage was heavy. If there was a woman alive who could handle the weight, it was Samantha.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stop right there.” Caleb used a tone sure to get her attention.
Her feet came to a halt. The muscles along her spine tensed as she squared her shoulders. “What did you say?”
Caleb bit back a smile. “You heard me. The view of your ass is incredible, but I’m getting damned tired of watching you walk away from me.”
Under the silken sheath of her dress, the cheeks of her ass tightened. Tempting little minx. He’d have her ass tonight. He’d have every delicious inch of her and, before he was through, he’d have her heart.
She already had his.
“Then give me a reason not to,” she demanded, keeping her back to him.
Now, he did smile. He knew the signs of her arousal. The tremor in her voice, the pretty blush of her skin. Her nipples would be hard, too. Peaked and ready for his tongue. She wanted him, but she wouldn’t give in easily. Not his Samantha. She’d make him work for it.
“I’ll give you a reason.” His voice darkened with sensual promise. “Come here.”
She turned, her expression mutinous even as she took a step forward. “Why should I?”
“Because, I want you here.” He pointed at the floor directly in front of him. “And this time Samantha, it’s my way.”
“Or the highway?” She smirked.
“Choose carefully,” he warned.
“You’re serious.”
“I am.”
“What does your way entail, exactly?”
He reached a hand out to her. “Come here and find out.”
Two long strides would close the distance between them, but she only took one. It killed him to stand there, to not throw her over his shoulder and cart her off to the bedroom like a caveman.
“What are we doing?” she whispered huskily.
Caleb assumed the question was rhetorical, but he answered anyway. “Take that last step and you’re mine. You’ll do exactly what I say, without argument. No more hiding. No more holding back. You’ll give yourself to me, completely.”
Take the step. Take the step.
Lust and indecision burned in her gaze, and christ, she was beautiful. Long, red curls framed cheeks flushed with arousal, her bottom lip tucked between her teeth as she studied him.
“And what about you?” she said finally. “Will you give yourself to me?”
Caleb held his breath as she moved forward, her hands coming to rest on his chest. God, he needed her. Needed to be inside her. Needed all of her.
“My sweet Samantha, you’ve already got me,” he said and crushed his mouth to hers. He swallowed her protest and cinched an arm around her waist. She tried to hold herself from him, as if her stubborn will needed time to catch up with the decision her body had made.