faded, and she started shaking again.

Talking with him had held off the aftereffects, giving her a different focus.

Now, it all came flooding back. That squalid little airless room, the soured breath of Hickson, how his body had flopped around while being Tasered...

Men had shown up right after she'd left.

What if she'd hesitated a little longer?

What if Hickson had struggled or Cheryl had gotten more hysterical? She didn't have enough tools in her bag to handle those circumstances.

Her composure fractured, and she covered her face. Memories of another time slithered over her, a time when she hadn't helped anyone, not even herself.

She could never be that vulnerable again.

She needed to show more care, gain more skill. And maybe she should have called Reese. But he'd been far away, and she hadn't known Rowdy was following her.

So, really, this was partly his fault. If he'd told her, maybe...probably not, but maybe she would have asked for Rowdy's help.

She did trust Reese, both with issues of safety and with her heart. Not that she had a choice where her heart was concerned; he was far too appealing for her to keep any kind of distance.

Thinking of Reese took her along a natural course, imagining how he'd look when he returned, how he'd smell and feel and taste. She could really use a hug or two from him right now. Or a kiss.

Or...more.

Reese's unique brand of comfort was like an exciting drug, buoying her confidence, making her feel prettier, braver, less guilty. Thoughts of him beat back the panic and uncertainty.

If he would just come home and smile at her, she could stop stressing over "what-ifs" and all the possible scenarios that might have taken place if things had gone wrong. She could concentrate on how to proceed, how to use what she'd learned to assist others.

How long she paced and fretted, she couldn't say.

When Cash barked, she jumped a foot, then jumped again as a key sounded in the lock.

Reese.

Time for confessions. But first she had to somehow compose herself. She had to compartmentalize all the worries, sorting them to a corner of her brain as she'd learned to do to survive.

Should she bombard him with the day's events first thing? Should she start by telling him about her past so that he'd better understand? Should she- He unbuttoned his shirt as he stepped in, and he looked so good, so solid and safe and amazingly sexy, Alice knew what she wanted first, what she needed right now.

She needed Reese.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

EVEN WHILE BENDING to greet Cash, Reese noted Alice's scrutiny.

And her scraped knee.

He nodded at her leg. "What happened there?"

Eyes dark and warm, she looked down at her knee. "It's just a scratch." Slicking her little tongue over her upper lip, she ogled him. "You're taking off your shirt?"

"It's hot as hell out there, and getting grilled has a way of making it worse."

But mostly it was hearing the details of Alice's abduction that left him sweating.

They'd talked briefly after finishing the coffee, when Peterson had gotten a phone call. Logan had only uncovered what was in the press-which meant what Alice herself had shared. Sketchy details. A few names. A time frame.

Logan had also confirmed that Alice did, indeed, have CCPs in order for her weapons. Why does she need conceal and carry permits? He had a million questions for her, but mostly he wanted to hold her.

She inched closer. "It went okay?"

It made Reese smile, how she stared fixedly at his chest, not his face. "It's fine. I'll be back to work Monday."

How could she expect him to keep his hands to himself, to give her the time she'd requested, when she showed such naked hunger? "You've seen my chest before, honey."

She nodded and whispered, "You take my breath away."

With a final pat for Cash, he stood again-and shrugged the shirt off. "Is that so?" He tossed it over the back of the couch.

"Yes." Alice drifted her attention over him. "It's the same as you seeing me without a shirt."

"Not even close." But damn, he couldn't wait.

Her heated examination dipped down to his abs, and then snagged on his fly.

The way Alice looked at him was almost as good as a stroke. Almost.

"Alice," he all but groaned. "Up here, please."

She dragged her focus back to his face.

"I need to take Cash out. Change out of these clothes into something more comfortable." And cooler. "And I could use something to eat. I haven't had dinner yet and I'm-"

"I'm sorry." Visibly trying to rein herself in, she nodded. "I didn't mean to -"

"Don't apologize." Not for wanting him. "I like the way you welcome me home." And damn it, with Alice there, he knew any place would feel like home.

Flustered, avoiding his gaze, she said, "Cash just came back in." She sidestepped to the kitchen doorway. "I skipped dinner, too. But I can fix you a sandwich while you change-"

"Or you can tell me what you really want." To hell with food or changing into shorts; he'd prefer to be naked with Alice.

She shot back around to face him, her expression...eager. "Could I?"

Heat rolled through him. "Absolutely. I have the evening free, so I'm all yours."

Slowly, remembering her in that white nightgown, how her small body curled into his through the night, Reese approached her. "I don't want to rush you. We can go slow." Torture. "But I know you enjoy kissing me."

"I really do," she said with feeling.

Lust deepened his voice. "You enjoyed sleeping beside me, too. I know you need more time, but how about we do those things again-together this time."

"Kiss...in bed?"

God, he hoped she was willing.

"Sounds good to me." He touched the side of her face, slipped his fingers into her hair-and realized it was somehow different, the adjustment subtle but still evident. "You changed it?"

Big brown eyes dark with desire gazed at his mouth. "It?"

"Your hair."

"Yes." Her hands trailed over his shoulders, his pecs, back up again. "My hair," she murmured, as if she had no clue what they were talking about.

Half smiling, finding her so endearing in her sensual distraction, Reese cradled her head in his palm, stepped closer to breathe her in. "I like it."

"Reese?"

With a hand opened on the small of her back, he urged her body into fuller contact with his. No way would she miss his erection, but he didn't care. "Hmm?"

Cuddling her hips against him, she whispered, "I don't want to wait anymore."

Reese closed his eyes, fighting the urge to take her to the floor right now.

That little catch in her voice almost did him in.

When had he ever suffered this level of lust? Never. Only with Alice.

He did not want to rush through this first time with her.

"Do you suppose Cash is distracted enough?" Once he got her in bed, he wanted to give her all his considerable concentration-and he wanted to make it very good for her, so good that she'd want many repeat performances.

"I'll give him another treat." Alice rushed off before Reese could stop her, came back with two treats, and after a quick pat to Cash's head, presented him with the gifts.

The dog's ears went up, and his eyes gleamed with gluttony.

"There." Standing again, expression expectant, Alice faced him. She bit her bottom lip, shifted her stance. "Should we go to the bedroom?"

Reese didn't understand the sudden turnaround, but he wasn't about to question it. "If that's what you want."

"I do." She snagged his hand and hauled him down the hallway at a near trot. "I thought about you all day, in between shopping and manicures and talking with Pepper."

She rushed them into her bedroom.

Closing the door, Reese turned her to face him. "You enjoyed yourself?"

"What?"

"With Pepper." He assumed all women enjoyed shopping, but Alice was unlike any woman he'd ever known.

Her face went bright red. "How was your day?"

Interesting reaction. Had she posed her own question to keep from answering his? "Just fine."

"Good." She looked away.

Had Pepper said something to upset her? God knew the woman could be pushy- Alice reached for his belt. "Let's chitchat later."

Talk about pushy. It wasn't like Alice to be so assertive. He couldn't help but wonder what had brought about the change.

Catching her hands, Reese said softly, "Slow down, honey. I've been waiting for this forever-"

"We haven't known each other that long."

"Feels like forever all the same." He tried a smile that hurt, he was so hard.

"Kissing first, okay?" He took her mouth before she could say anything more.

Kissing her was a unique pleasure.

"Open up for me, Alice."

On a gasp, she did as asked and Reese sank in, tasting her, stroking with his tongue. He angled in for a deeper kiss, both of them already panting...and Alice's hands returned to his belt again.

He caught them, brought them up to his shoulders then went to work on the buttons to her blouse. Kissing her jaw, her throat, he murmured, "You need to catch up."

She went very still, her fingers clenching, digging into his shoulders.

He loved it.

When the shirt was open enough, Reese slipped his hand inside and...over her left breast.

Her hands fell away from him, her breath hitching as he touched her.

Ah, God, she felt nice. Small, firm, her nipple drawn tight. "Perfect."

Putting his other hand into her shirt, too, he cuddled both breasts, brushed his thumbs over her nipples. Watching her face, he lightly caught each one and tugged with the gentlest touch.

She moaned before shrugging the shirt off her shoulders.

It fell to the floor.