"It's rare, because I'm not part of product development. But when the client insists, I have a post office box that I check twice a week." She made the trip two towns over to avoid a trail. In every way possible, she kept her anonymity. Not easy, but doable, when you were careful enough.

And she was very, very careful.

"I see." He touched the top of her oversize flat-screen monitor. "How do you get paid?"

His continued questioning set her on edge again. Though she trusted Reese and enjoyed his company-even craved it-nervousness began ramping up. She closed her hands over the arms of her chair, her grip tight as she instinctively rejected the intrusion into her privacy. "I get paid through online accounts."

"Convenient."

Did that sound like an accusation?

"Yes."

He didn't look right at her, instead choosing to circle her desk, his attention on folders, even paper clips. "Do you ever actually meet your clients?"

Too quickly, she said, "No."

As if he understood her reticence to meet others, her need for isolation, Reese nodded.

She braced herself for the more personal questions to come. Now he would insist on knowing it all. And she wasn't ready. Apprehension flooded her system, but she kept her expression composed.

She'd learned to do that during her captivity-to hide all emotion.

Reactions gained attention, and sometimes retaliation. Better to fade into the woodwork, to get her job done as unobtrusively as possible.

Silent and efficient.

Blind to the cruelty.

Cowardly.

Having circled the small room, Reese now stood in front of her. "Alice?"

Distress got a stranglehold on her. She met his gaze, wishing she could will away the past, wishing she could convince him to stay, wishing she could put off this confrontation forever....

He studied her face, and concern pulled his brows. "It's getting late."

Bedtime. A time when her thoughts would relentlessly circle memories she badly wanted to bury. "Yes."

"Shhh. Don't panic."

He'd known she was?

Reese touched her cheek, ran two fingers along her jaw. "I don't relish the idea of folding myself onto your couch again."

Confirmed. He wanted to leave her.

Her heart tripped as she stood, her mind searching for words to convince him to stay.

Cash sidled out from between them and headed out of the room, probably going to the aforementioned couch.

They stared at each other. Her voice quavered as much as her nerve. "I...I don't want you to leave."

Rock-steady, he held her gaze. "I'm not going anywhere."

Just that fast, anxiety deflated. "You're not?"

"The path your thoughts take..." He shook his head, that cocky, crooked little smile in place again. "I want to share your bed, honey."

Share her...? As in sleep with her, under the covers with her, his big body right there, hot and solid, comforting and so tempting...

"Just sleep for now. Not sex. But I'd love to stay closer tonight." He brought up her chin. "May I, Alice?"

Elation burst through her. "Okay."

More than okay. Already her toes curled, and a sweet ache unfurled. She breathed a little faster.

"Not for sex," he chided again.

For tonight, for right now, she'd take what she could get. "Okay."

His smile curled more. "Not just yet, anyway."

She nodded. She wasn't ready yet- but now she knew she would be...and soon.

He cupped the back of her neck, his mood shifting in some intense, indefinable way. "Now seems like a good time for that kiss we discussed."

Before she could even absorb what he'd said, he touched his mouth to hers, warm, barely there at first, then more firmly. He moved his mouth over hers, parting her lips, angling his head to fit her more surely.

On a sound of wonder, Alice sank against him.

Wrapping one arm around her, he gathered her closer still, drew her in until her breasts pressed into the solid muscles of his body. Her heart thundered.

So did his.

She felt his tongue, tentative at first, touching her bottom lip, the edge of her teeth.

She held on tighter.

His exploration grew more curious, deeper, bold as he dueled with her tongue, and finally seductive, consuming.

She tasted him. And that, combined with his touch, his scent, overwhelmed her. Heat pooled between her legs, her nipples drew tight and somehow the two were connected, throbbing together.

God, it felt good to be aroused again, to react normally, to want a man so much. Not just any man, but this man.

Reese Bareden. Macho, sexy, caring.

The whole package.

And he was here, with her. Judging by the hardness of his body, he wanted her just as much.

Amazing.

A groan snuck out as she ran her hands over his broad, solid chest, up to his shoulders, down to his biceps. So hot.

She held on to him, ensuring he couldn't leave her. Not just yet.

Reese sank a hand into her hair, palming her skull, keeping her right there with him. Dazed, incredibly excited, Alice relished the hungry way he took her mouth.

His arm around her loosened, but only so he could open his big hand over her back. She felt the gentle press of his palm between her shoulder blades, then down the length of her spine. Stopping short of her behind, he brought it up again. Down once more, slower this time, almost as if he fought himself until...

He opened his hand over one cheek, caressed, delved down...

The press of his fingers nearly stopped her heart.

With a low sound deep in his throat, Reese suddenly released her.

Mouth tingling, adrenaline pumping, Alice stared up at him. Never before had she seen his green eyes look so bright or so burning.

He sounded hoarse when he said, "Already I'm going to have one hell of a time sleeping. Any more of that and I'll have to take the couch so I don't rush you."

Reflex clenched her hands tight in his shirt. "But you already promised to sleep with me." And she already anticipated it with all her heart.

One way or another, she'd hold him to it.

His quick laugh turned into a groan.

His hands covered hers, not to pull her away, but in reassurance. "Stop thinking I'm backing out on you, or anything with you. Okay?"

So he hadn't been? "Okay." Still a little breathless, Alice nodded. "Good."

And she thought to add, "Thank you."

He thumbed the rioting pulse in her wrists. "You have an amazing ass."

No one had ever said anything so outrageous, so wonderful to her before.

The compliment warmed her clear through to her soul. She grinned at him.

With a shake of his head, Reese said, "Go." He pried her hands loose, turned her and planted a light swat on her behind-the behind he claimed to admire. "Do whatever you have to do before bed. It's time we turned in- before I forget myself. Again."

Alice was counting on him doing just that. Soon. Very, very soon.

SHE WORE A long white nightgown that

looked like something straight out of a Victorian fetish catalogue. Sleeveless.

Flowing. Opaque enough that he saw only shadows...a tease to his tested control.

Already taut in places that didn't bear close scrutiny, Reese tried not to dwell on the image she'd made coming into the bedroom: face freshly washed, hair just brushed, her small feet bare and that long white gown swinging around her slim ankles as she marched to the bed with transparent eagerness.

It should have shredded his ego that a woman wanted to sleep chastely with him instead of indulging in raw, hot sex.

But instead, with Alice...it broke his heart a little.

She'd be wrecked if she knew that.

Pity was not a sentiment she'd welcome.

She wasn't all that keen on concern either.

And she despised prying.

Too bad for her that he couldn't let it go. If she were another woman, sure, he could take what he wanted and dismiss the rest. But with Alice...no. Not possible.

She'd beamed at him from the other side of the bed until, teeth locked, he'd shucked off his clothes and gotten under the covers, hopeful that she hadn't seen his erection beneath snug cotton boxers.

Ha. Alice made no bones about checking him out at every opportunity.

But she hadn't remarked on it. She'd just crawled into the bed beside him, still smiling, smelling like lotion and toothpaste and like Alice herself, warm and soft and so desirable his teeth ached.

Cash, tail thumping in excitement over having them together, had bounded up, circled the bed once to say, "hey," to each of them and then collapsed near their feet. Reese turned out the light, stretched out on his back, and a second later Alice cuddled close.

"Okay?" she asked.

Torturous. But he'd said only, "Perfect."

Now, half an hour later, Cash's doggy snores softly floated on the quiet air, mingling with the hum of the air conditioner.

Thank God she didn't leave the windows open at night, but then, he wasn't surprised that she'd locked up, checked everything twice and checked it again.

At some point, as naturally as if they'd slept together dozens of times, she'd turned, scooting back against him until he spooned her. That lush little ass- such a surprise-snugged up close to his groin, taunting his efforts at gentlemanly restraint.

His arm draped over the significant dip of her waist. He badly wanted to open his hand over her belly, so much so that his palm tingled. The thin barrier of that boner-inspiring gown wouldn't hinder his touch at all.

No.

Leaving his hand lax on the mattress in front of her, Reese squeezed his eyes shut and resisted temptation.