‘‘I’ve heard you say it before,’’ she said evenly. ‘‘And it doesn’t change the facts. I work there, and I’m going to go on working there.’’

‘‘You need looking after.’’ It scraped him raw that he couldn’t be the one to do it.

‘‘I don’t.’’

Hell she didn’t. There were already tired smudges under those changeable green eyes, and now she was telling him she’d be carting trays until two in the morning. ‘‘Did you pay Dave for the car yet?’’

‘‘Half.’’ It was humiliating. ‘‘He was good enough to give me until next month to pay him the rest.’’

‘‘You won’t pay him.’’ That, at least, was something he could do. Would do, by Christ. ‘‘I will.’’

She forgot about humiliation. Her chin came up, sharp and fast as a bullet. ‘‘You will not.’’

Another time he would have persuaded, cajoled. Or simply done the deed on the quiet. But something was bubbling up in him—something that had been there, simmering, since he’d turned that morning and seen her. It wouldn’t let him think, only feel and act. With his eyes on hers he slipped a hand up, over her throat.

‘‘Be quiet.’’

‘‘I’m not a child, Ethan. You can’t—’’

‘‘I’m not thinking about you like a child.’’ Her eyes were bright and sharp. They were heating the something that was inside him to a boil. ‘‘I stopped being able to do that, and I can’t go back to it. Do what I want this time.’’

She didn’t know when her breath had started to back up or her skin to shiver. Dimly she felt the rough bark of the tree bite into her hands as she pressed them against it. She didn’t think he was talking about her accepting a few hundred dollars for a car any longer.

‘‘Ethan—’’

His other hand was on her breast. He hadn’t meant to put it there, but it covered her and his fingers began to flex and knead. Her shirt was still damp, just a little damp. He could feel her skin go hot under it. ‘‘Do what I want this time,’’ he repeated.

Her eyes were huge. He was falling into them, drowning in them. Her heart was pounding against his hand, as if he held it beating in his palm. His mouth crushed down on hers with a violent greed that he was for once helpless to stem. He heard her shocked cry muffled against his assaulting mouth. And it only thrilled him darkly.

The heat swarmed from him, stunning her. His teeth nipped roughly into her lip, making her gasp, openingherself to the swift and skillful invasion of his tongue.