Again. "You are so beautiful."

Reese glanced at her with burning eyes. "You're seeing through a haze of satisfaction." He strode over to her, settled atop her and wedged her legs apart.

Alice loved the press of his weight, the blanket of his heat surrounding her.

His broad, sculpted shoulders made her feel smaller and more female, but in such a wonderful way.

Cupping her face, he kissed her and said, "Let's see if I can get you there again."

She inhaled deeply of his wonderful scent and ran her hands over the crisp hair of his chest, already halfway there.

Balanced on a forearm, Reese adjusted, using one hand to guide himself -all the while holding her gaze in his.

Alice felt him there, ready to thrust in, and her body trembled in anticipation.

He waited, breathing deeper, his expression strained as he teased the head of his erection against her. "So damn wet," he murmured.

"Do it," Alice whispered. She curled her fingers against his pectoral muscles, lifted her hips on a wave of expanding need. "Do it."

His green eyes darkened, narrowed- and he thrust in, burying himself deep.

They both groaned, and seconds later he took her mouth in a consuming kiss.

They moved together, harder and faster and within minutes the pressure began to build. She freed her mouth to gasp for air.

Reese rose up on straightened arms. "I want to see you come again."

The idea of him watching her might have been embarrassing, except that release rolled over her too soon for her to give it much thought. She grabbed for his biceps, thrilled at his rock-solid strength. Crying out over and over, she let the pleasure take her.

Watching her, Reese muttered a low curse, and she felt him pumping into her as he gained his own release.

Carefully, he lowered his body down to hers, his heartbeat pounding fast and strong against her breast.

Her brain buzzed; her body went limp.

Even getting her eyes to open was a chore too difficult. All she could manage was deep breathing that tried to lure her to sleep.

After a few minutes, she felt Reese lift away from her, leaving her skin exposed to the cooler air. She couldn't react, could do no more than lay there in a state of contentment.

Reese left the bed, but not for long. He returned, spread the sheet and blanket over her, called Cash up into the bed and stretched out beside her. He pulled her close, his arm around her waist, his leg over hers.

Cash walked the perimeter of the mattress, came up to snuffle her neck and ear then crashed at the foot of the bed.

"Sleep, both of you," Reese muttered around a yawn.

Something, some strange sense of unease, tried to worm its way into Alice's exhaustion. It didn't succeed.

Tucked warm and secure against Reese's body, she faded into sound slumber.

THE NEXT MORNING, Reese watched

Alice sleep-his brain buzzing with questions. Sex with Alice was something special. Real special. Every time he thought he had her figured out, she surprised him again.

Wrapped around her, replete from a mind-blowing release, he'd slept like the dead-and awakened with a damned smile.

Seconds after getting his eyes open, the problems all came swarming back.

How did Alice contact the wraith? Did she use her computer? Had she lied about the phone number?

It had been dirty pool, using her lust against her. Unfair but effective. He felt bad about it...a little.

But as a detective, as a man physically and emotionally involved with her, he needed to know.

If it weren't for her sexual interest in him, if he hadn't snuck the questions in while she was in need, would she ever have told him?

It seemed doubtful.

Were there more secrets that she kept from him?

Hoping not, he kissed her bare shoulder, and wanted to go on kissing her. All over.

He'd been pissed when they went to bed last night, rightfully so. But knowing what she'd been through, how she'd rehashed it all for him, he couldn't make himself walk away. She didn't want to sleep alone.

He didn't want to sleep away from her.

Last night had been...amazing. It was such a contrast for Alice to be so contained in most aspects, only to let it all loose in bed.

With him.

It made Reese smile again, thinking of how she'd stripped off that gown, how she'd stood there buck-ass, challenging him to ignore her.

Not likely.

Since the day he'd met her, he stayed so aware of her that she plagued his thoughts. He wanted her always, but when she showed her daring, her vulnerability, he had no resistance at all.

A unique blend of curious innocence and hot carnality, Alice tempted him on every level.

There were many ways he wanted to take her, many positions he wanted to explore with her.

Hoping both she and Cash would sleep a little longer, Reese eased the coverings off her narrow shoulder, down the dip of her tiny waist, past her rounded hip. He dragged the blankets all the way to her adorable knees.

Such a great ass.

There were many things he had to figure out, but damn, it'd be easy to obsess over having her again and again.

He'd love to get her on her knees, take her from behind, burying himself deep while holding her breasts in his hands...

On a deep stretch and wide yawn, Alice turned to her back. She settled again with a sigh-then popped her eyes open. Immediately her gaze clashed with his.

Finding him so close, realizing he'd uncovered her, left her eyes nearly crossed.

"Morning." Reese cupped her breast, enjoying the way her soft nipple immediately beaded tight. "Sleep well?"

She bolted upright, and it so startled Cash that he nearly fell out of the bed.

His long ears perked up in interest. He looked from Alice to Reese and back again.

Alice grabbed for the blankets and pulled them to her chin.

Amused, Reese said, "Cash doesn't mind seeing you naked. And I enjoy it."

He gave a playful tug to the blanket, but she held on.

"How long have you been awake?"

That sounded like an accusation, making him grin. "Only a few minutes."

Lacking her modesty, he stretched and got out of bed. "I'll take Cash out, then how about we shower?"

Still a little foggy, she dropped her gaze over his bare body and swallowed.

"Together?"

"Yes."

Another look, longer this time.

Much more of that, and he'd be sporting a boner. "Alice..."

Her grip on the blanket loosened.

"Okay."

It was a nice thing, to be wanted so much by Alice. "Be right back." He pulled on slacks, grabbed up his wallet and cell phone, and by the time he hit the door, Cash was with him. "Good boy.

You're learning, aren't you?"

Cash waited like a gentleman while Reese attached the leash, and on the way down the steps, he only pulled Reese off balance twice.

The progress the dog made pleased him. In such a short time, Cash had learned to hold it until he got outside, and he hadn't chewed up anything in, oh, a day or two. Definitely getting better.

Alice had a lot to do with that. Her gentle, calm nature went a long way toward reassuring Cash and helping him recover from any past abuse. The fact that Alice worked from home, so therefore spent more time with the dog, helped, too.

She was a good influence-on Cash, on Reese.

But she still had those damned secrets.

Reese took out his phone and dialed Rowdy.

On the fifth ring, Rowdy answered with a grouchy, "What the fuck, Reese?

Do you know what time it is?"

"Sleeping in?"

"I had good reason."

Ah. "Company, huh? Sorry about that."

"Don't be. Was time for her to go, anyway. Hang on a sec."

Reese heard Rowdy talking low, heard a grumbled female protest, insistence from Rowdy, then the louder sounds of a woman scorned.

Had Rowdy wakened her just to tell her to leave? Brutal. But that was Rowdy, hard-edged, coarse and apparently inconsiderate to women.

Not his sister, who he cherished.

And being truthful, Rowdy had never been inconsiderate to Alice either.

Reese winced, remembering how he'd gotten answers from Alice last night. But damn it, he'd had good reason.

What possible excuse could Rowdy have for kicking a woman out of bed?

Feeling like a hypocrite, Reese considered calling back when Rowdy might be less occupied. He was about to disconnect when he heard the woman's complaints soften to pleas.

Low conversation, followed by a gruff, suggestive laugh, filtered through the phone lines.

A door closed, bed springs squeaked and Rowdy said, "So what's up?"

Unbelievable. "You're alone now?"

"Yeah. And given I was occupied for most of the night, I'd like to get a little more sleep. So unless you have a good reason for this call...?"

"I do. I wanted to talk while I'm outside with Cash."

"Meaning away from Alice?"

Exactly, but Reese didn't want to say that.