Page 16 of Breaking Point
“Then we’ll deal with it then.”
Luciana tried to accept that at face value, but couldn’t.“You don’tdorelationships, Brice.You isolate yourself.You don’t even appear in public when the Tankball Association would benefit from your visibility.”
“While you wade in relationships?I don’t remember seeing a partner sitting with you at the soiree.Just your son and his friend.”
That stung a little bit, because it was true.Only, it was true for entirely different reasons than his.“You are brutal on relationships,” she said.
For the first time, he showed a reaction.His brows furrowed.“Did someone tell you that?”His voice was strained.
“They didn’t have to,” Luciana said patiently.“You have…I’m sorry, but you carry mental scars from the accident that injured your leg.You are withdrawn, socially and even in business.And you’re notina relationship, and haven’t been since the accident.That adds up to genuine issues.”
He was silent for a long minute.Then, “It is true.I destroyed the only relationship that was important to me.I’m not asking you to move in, Luciana.I’m asking that you let us find out what is…burning between us.”
“Only to reach a place six weeks from now when the flames die out and we go our separate ways?”
“Let us hope so,” he said softly.
Luciana sat back, puzzled.“Why evenriskit?”she whispered.
“I didn’t hear you,” he said.
She held up her hand, as an idea bloomed and took shape.Whywouldhe risk it?Or was he gambling on this, whatever it was, being purely physical?Only, it was still a gamble.What if it was more?Would he painfully tear the budding relationship out at the roots and toss it away, once he knew what it was?
He said they could deal with that situation if it arose.He hadnotsuggested they just enjoy the sex and kill any insipient signs of a relationship.
He was willing to find out.
“Stars…but you’ve got courage,” Luciana told him.
Brice’s eyes widened a little.“That’s one of the most extraordinary things anyone has ever told me.”
She smiled.“You’ll have to get used to that.I do tend to speak my mind.”
“I know,” he said flatly.“I’m still trying to determine if that is a good thing or a bad thing.”He paused.“So that is a yes?You’ll let this play out, this thing between us?”
“That seems fair to me,” she said.She squeezed her fingers between her knees.“You should know, Brice, that I’ve had exactly one fewer important relationship in my life than you.Not counting Devar.”
His eyes narrowed.“No one at all?”
“It seems we are a pair, you and me.In that regard, at least.”She hesitated, then added, “I don’t know that I will be good at it.”
He got to his feet and limped over to her sofa and settled beside her.“I seem to recall that you were adequate, the first two times.”He picked up her hand.
“Adequate?”She was abruptly breathless.
He smiled and it was the small one that she was beginning to understand was his true smile, the one he used for those closest to him.Which was not many people at all.
Now it included her.At least for now.
As his lips drew close to hers, she whispered, “This is terrifying.”
“In all sorts of ways,” he agreed and kissed her.
All her terror fled.So did most coherent thought.Dammit, but therewassomething between them.She had never responded to anyone else like this.It was overpowering.Wonderful.And scary as hell.
They were both breathing hard when he ended the kiss.
She gripped his shirt, and made herself say it.“I have to warn you, Brice.Iwilltalk you into selling your Capitol stalls to me.I want them.I won’t give up on this.”
