He nodded—and continued to resist. “Has any man ever spent his time just kissing you?”

“No.” Her heart beat so hard it hurt. “Thank God.”

He took a step closer. “Has any man ever touched you, just for you? Just to make you feel good?”

“Of course not. Men don’t—”

“Shh.” Calm personified, he pressed a warm kiss to her mouth. Slow, lingering.

As he drew away, Arizona lifted her heavy lashes, took a breath and whispered, “Damn.”

Wearing a half smile, Spencer closed in for another kiss, a little hungrier, a little less cautious.

Now, that was more like it. Her breath shuddered in, came out in a sigh. “Oh, hell.”

He caught on to her game. “Are you asking for another kiss, honey?”

“That’s the deal, right?” She leaned into him, her mouth almost touching his. “For every curse—”

“Yes, that’s the deal.”

“Well, I know a lot of curses.” She played her hand down his chest, over to his side. God, she loved the feel of him. “So what’s it to be, Spence? Should I singe your ears, or do you just want to—”

His mouth settled over hers without reserve. And she accepted with a hardy groan, clinging hands and the press of her body to his.

“Spencer…”

He drew her in closer. “Tell me what you want.”

“This is all so curious.”

“This?”

“Sex.” She turned her head to meet his gaze. “I gotta admit, until you, I hadn’t been a fan of the idea.”

“I know.” Pain filled his gaze. “I’m sorry.”

“Wasn’t your doing, now, was it?” She leaned into him, enjoying his strength, his heat. His appeal. “But with you? I dunno. You make me feel funny.”

His big, hot hand opened over her belly. “Here?”

“Yeah.” She pressed her hand over his, absorbing the warmth of his palm while breathing in his delicious male scent.

“Funny, how? Tell me.”

“All warm and…slippery.”

He bit off a groan. “Perfect. That’s exactly how I want you to feel.”

“And how should you feel?” Teasing, anxious to touch him, she reached for his erection.

He caught her wrists and held her hands away.

“Spencer?” He looked pained. He looked…stoic.

A heartbeat of silence passed. “Let me show you, okay?”

Something in the way he said that made uncertainty take hold. “Whoa.” She stepped back from him. “Show me what?”

With shaking hands he smoothed back her hair. “How good it can be for you.”

“But not for you?”

“No matter what, I’m going to enjoy this, too. Never doubt it.”

Shaking on the inside, she tucked in her chin. “This?”

Firm, he said, “Giving you pleasure. Taking you to orgasm.”

No freaking way. “What, with you all uninvolved and stuff, and me being some sort of a sacrifice?” He had to be joking. She shoved against his chest. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

He caught her to him. “It wouldn’t be like that.”

“I want you inside me, damn you. I want you with me all the way.”

Breathing harder, he locked his jaw. “I can hold off, Arizona. I can do what’s right—for both of us. But not if you…”

“Well, I am!” Humiliation washed over her. She gave him another hard shove and finally freed herself. “I’m not a damn project for you to work on!”

“I didn’t—”

“I’m not playing this stupid game of yours. Either you want me, or you don’t.” Thumb to her naked chest, she shouted, “I’m an all-or-nothing woman.”

More than a little aware of her nudity, she turned to depart on a dramatic exit.

Before she’d even taken a full step, he pulled her back around and scooped her up against him. His own measure of frustration deepened his voice, sharpened his tone. “Your stipulations mean you aren’t all-or-nothing.”

“So instead of calling them stipulations, just call them a fetish.” She went on tiptoe, leaning into his anger. “Lots of people like to take control in bed.”

“It’s not the same thing and you know it.”

Deflated, hurt, she muttered, “I wanted to feel you inside me. I wanted to be a part of you.” Tears burned her eyes, scalding her with humiliation. “Thanks for nothing.”

He breathed hard, his nostrils flared, his eyes bright. “I tried, Arizona. God knows I did.”

She started to tell him to go to hell, but his mouth landed on hers, not tentative, not gentle, but hungry and demanding.

Suddenly on fire, she groaned her approval and clenched her hands on his shoulders.

He stroked down her back to her rear, lifted her up and pulled her in snug against his erection. Against her lips, he said, “I need you, Arizona. Right now.”

Ah, now this was what she’d wanted. She could handle the overwhelming physical stuff better than all that knee-weakening emotion or, God forbid, his nobility. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

“I’m sorry.” He lifted her completely off her feet, and she just naturally wrapped her legs around his waist. “Arizona…”

“I’ve got you now.” She knotted her fingers in his damp hair and said with carnal demand, “Kiss me again.”