Reese did the same. "What are you doing?"

"I'm testing Rowdy's theory."

Up on one elbow again, he frowned.

"What theory?"

Cash gave them both a sleepy look and bounded down off the bed. He went over to the closet, dropped down with a huff and curled up to sleep with his nose close to his rump.

Working up her courage, Alice looked back at Reese. "This theory." She reached beneath her gown and took off her panties, then made a show of tossing them aside.

Going utterly still, Reese said nothing.

His gaze burned over her, hot, expectant, before settling on her face.

He waited.

Alice drew a fortifying breath, thought of the rewards of brazenness and peeled the nightgown up and over her head. The cool wash of the air-conditioning tightened her nipples.

Reese wasn't shading his eyes anymore, and he no longer looked angry.

Buoyed by his rapt attention, she straightened in front of him, naked head to toe.

Reese's chest expanded. His biceps bunched.

Alice chewed her bottom lip. Interest definitely sharpened his demeanor, but Rowdy had led her to believe he'd react differently. More...physically.

Had she expected him to jump her?

Yes, she'd been hopeful.

Shaking her hair back over her shoulders and lifting her chin, she tried staring him down. "Say something."

Reese lifted an eyebrow over the order. He did a slow visual examination, pausing to scrutinize her breasts, her belly.

Between her thighs.

"How did you scrape your knee?"

Disappointed that he hadn't made a move yet, she shrugged and said, "I think it happened when I knelt down to cut the air valves off Hickson's tires."

His gaze hardened. "I hope like hell no one will be able to track you down from that stunt."

His concern made her feel guilty. "No one is after me, Reese. I promise, I'm fine."

He looked over the length of her legs.

"Yes, you are."

Just when she thought she couldn't take it anymore, he tossed back the sheet and got out of bed.

A very noticeable erection strained his snug boxers.

Alice braced herself, excitement unfurling...but instead of coming to her, he went to the door.

Watching Reese leave the room, Alice felt wretched, dejected, exposed... Until he returned with something in his hand.

"Cash, you want a treat?"

The dog had been ignoring them, but at Reese's offer, he rolled to his feet with a lurch.

When Reese led Cash out of the room, Alice hurriedly got in the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Insane, but now she felt shy. Who knew seducing a man was so nerve-racking?

Reese walked back in, stalled when he saw her bundled in the middle of the mattress, but then continued on to the bed. He sat down beside her. "Have a change of heart?"

"No." Definitely not that.

"Then, what's this?" He gave a gentle tug to the blankets.

"I don't know." And then with annoyance, "You just stared at me."

"That's bound to happen every time I see you naked, so you may as well get used to it."

Clutching the blankets tighter, she wondered if that meant he'd be around for the long haul, that he'd want to see her naked a lot. "I wasn't all that sure you were interested."

Reese considered her, stood-and pushed out of his boxers.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

ALICE'S EYES WENT wide. God love the man, she would never tire of seeing his body.

When he snatched the blankets away from her, tossing them to the floor, she gave a startled yelp but then just froze.

What else could she do?

She pressed her thighs together and folded her arms over her chest. "I'm cold."

Wearing a half smile and nothing else, Reese stretched out next to her. He took his time pulling her hands away, arranging them over her head so that she was stretched out on the bed. After looking her over with appreciation, he cupped a hand to her breast, used his thumb to tease her nipple and said, "Don't be nervous about tomorrow."

Tomorrow? What was he talking about?

"I'll be there with you." He lightly caressed the other breast, too, then moved his hand down to her belly.

Alice sucked in a breath. His hand was warm, a little rough.

"Logan doesn't bite, and Peterson doesn't bite too hard."

He slipped his fingers lower, pressing them between her thighs, and her breath rushed out. "I don't want to talk about that." She wanted him to kiss her, but when she tried that, he gave her only a warm peck.

Against her lips, he asked, "Do you still have contact with him?"

With his fingers playing against her, she couldn't think. "Who?"

"Your savior." He kissed her again, this time deeper, hotter. "Trace Miller."

Her brain stalled. "Reese..."

He nuzzled her neck, his beard shadow prickly, his breath warm and soft. "Do you?"

"I..." She felt his tongue and started breathing harder. "Sometimes."

He barely moved his fingers, pressing them there, his palm over her mound. It made her nuts. It made her want to move her hips, but she held still. Barely.

Opening his mouth over the sensitive spot where her shoulder met her neck, he treated her to a damp, tantalizing love bite. "How often?"

Unable to think beyond her growing need, Alice tilted her head more, giving him better access, encouraging him to do more of that, and hopefully less talking.

And damn it, her hips moved after all.

"How often, Alice?"

"He..." Reese opened his mouth on her again, sucked at her skin, and she knew he was marking her. It was so erotic, so sexy. And it felt so good. "Occasionally he...checks on me."

Reese looked at her, his gaze sharpened. "Have you seen him?"

"No." She shook her head. She didn't need to see him. She knew Trace would be there if she ever needed him. "I...I haven't seen him since he got me the weapons."

"The CCPs?"

She had no idea what that meant.

"The conceal and carry permits. He got those for you?"

"I guess. Yes. He gave me papers."

She tipped her head back, moaning softly as his fingers both excited and teased.

"But I haven't seen him since."

Relaxing against her again, Reese nipped her earlobe, dipped his tongue inside. "Are you sure?"

Who knew her ears were so erogenous? "It's been forever." She moved against his hand to get him back on track.

Taking the hint, he whispered against her skin, "Spread your legs."

Even that, the coarse timbre of his voice, sent sweet lust coiling tighter.

Knowing what he would do, anxious for him to do it, Alice opened her thighs.

Teasing over her moist flesh, he parted her, barely entered her, stroking and exploring until his fingertips were slippery wet-then going high in the briefest touch to her clitoris.

Her hips lifted in reaction; her gasp faded out to a vibrating groan.

Green eyes heated, voice lower still, Reese whispered, "Right there, huh?"

How in the world could he continue talking? Why did he want to, anyway?

Barely able to breathe, Alice nodded.

"Like this?" He drew his fingers up and over her again, and her body clenched in delicious ways.

"Yes." Exactly like that.

"What about this?" Slowly, he worked two fingers deep inside her. Against her cheek, he murmured, "So snug, Alice.

Nice and wet. Hot."

That felt wonderful, too, and again her hips moved despite her best efforts to keep still.

"And this?" He used his thumb with amazing impact.

Holding her breath, her body taut with need, Alice nodded hard.

In a soft, raw growl, he asked, "And this?" before closing his hot mouth over her right nipple. He tugged with a gentle, insistent suction that sent new sensations flooding her body.

Oh, God, it was incredible. Almost too much. Alice lowered her arms so she could hold him close. A climax built inside her, throbbing, receding, coming back stronger, closer.

His fingers filled her, his mouth pulled at her and he kept up that slick, rhythmic friction with his thumb, working her until she knew she couldn't hang on any longer.

Head back, heels pressing into the mattress, her fingers tangled in his hair, her body arched hard. He stayed with her, letting her ride out the release until only little reverberations of pleasure remained. She collapsed flat to the bed again, struggling to get enough oxygen into her lungs.

Reese released her nipple with a soft lick that made her moan. Slowly, he withdrew his hand, and even that, the rasping of his fingers leaving the tight clasp of her body, sent off more aftershocks.

In seconds he was off the bed. Alice got her eyes focused in time to see him open a condom packet. Lethargic, still tingling in select places, she soaked up the sight of his awesome physique.

Renewed interest started a pulse beat of need between her legs as she watched him roll the rubber on his engorged shaft.

Large, capable hands.

Tensed shoulders and thighs. Six and a half feet of undeniable strength and raw masculinity. Disheveled blond hair and darkening beard shadow only made him sexier.

Alice could barely believe he was here, with her, and that he wanted her.