Under Pressure(6)

Liz looked at Bella in question when she saw the anger simmering in Bella’s eyes. Liz wanted to know if Bella needed help to make an escape or if she wanted to be left alone with Jason, the indecision evident on her face. Since Bella had moved back to Chicago, Liz had been very protective of Bella. In the old days, that had been the opposite, with Bella taking the lead and looking out for Liz.

But Bella didn’t look like she needed rescuing.

She looked pissed.

“Bella, umm…Tony was looking for you inside,” Liz said, strategically giving her an out. Jason’s jaw clenched at the mention of the man’s name. Bella couldn’t help but notice, and was surprised by his reaction.

“Oh? I’m surprised my brother would bother,” Bella said, forcing a smile. “Why would he need to, when the two of you are babysitting me?”

Liz was silent.

“What?” Bella asked innocently as she finished her cigarette and gulped down what was left of champagne in her glass. Someone called for Liz at the doorway as Bella set the empty glass on a nearby table.

Liz hesitated and looked from the door back to Bella. “I have to get back inside. I think the bidding is coming to a close. I just came out to see how you were doing. To say hi.”

Bella relented when she saw the sincerity in Liz’s eyes and heard the hurt in her voice. She reached out and squeezed Liz’s hand in a silent apology. “Go back in. Do your thing. I plead temporary insanity. You know how parties like this make me crazy.” She forced a smile. “I’ll see you later.”

Liz smiled back at her then turned back to Jason. “Thank you so much for your help tonight. It was nice to finally meet you.” She held out her hand once more and thanked him again, heading back inside with a glance over her shoulder. Bella caught her silent message.

Jason’s intense eyes were fixated on Bella as he moved in closer to her. “You were upset. What upset you?”

Her look said “get real” without a 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.