Rowdy could feel her trembling, and he wrapped his arms around her. They both waited another thirty seconds.

Finally she turned toward him, and, both hands flat on his chest, she backed him up. "Carefully," she whispered. "There are bags on the floor, cans everywhere."

Rowdy dug out his cell phone, opened it and used it like a flashlight. He saw a narrow opening behind a shelf.

"Stay there," she said. "I'll turn on the light and step out. If no one is watching, I'll call the police."

Rowdy caught her wrist with his free hand. The blue light of the phone shone on her face, exaggerating her lashes, the shape of that tempting mouth.

"No police," he told her.

She paused. "Do I want to know why?"

"'Course you do, but I can't go into it right now." Damn, it was insane, but he wanted to kiss her. And he would. But not yet. "Check the back door. If there's only one man there, no problem. I can handle that."

"Don't be an idiot."

"Shh," he told her with a smile, even though she'd whispered. She had her head way back to glare up at him, and the differences in their sizes-her petite and so feminine, him taller and much stronger-turned him on. He felt like a caveman, but so what? "I swear to you, I'm not a threat." Not to her. Not to anyone innocent. "But I do need to go, or others might be hurt."

She searched his face, gave him a light punch to the shoulder, and said, "I'll be right back. Don't move."

Praying she wouldn't betray him, that she wouldn't go ahead and call the cops, or worse, give him away to the goons, Rowdy stood beside the shelving and...

waited.

Seconds later she came back. "There are four men now at the front of the bar.

They're starting to question customers. If anyone saw you duck back this way-"

"Doubtful." So only one man remained at the back. Perfect. Rowdy pulled her farther into the room. "Give me your name."

That threw her. "I don't-"

Pulling her to her tiptoes, he pressed a firm kiss to her mouth. Her lips were soft, warm, and he wanted more than the three seconds he took. A whole lot more.

But that'd have to come later.

When he released her, she stared up at him, softened by the same things he felt, looking a little dazed.

"I'll be back to explain everything, you have my word. But I'm not leaving without your name."

She shoved a hand into her hair, ruining her bangs, and said, "Avery Mullins."

Yeah, that suited her. She looked like an Avery. Rowdy kissed her one more time. "You're a lifesaver, Avery. Thank you."

He started to head out, but she grabbed him by the waistband. "Hold on."

Stepping out ahead of him, she gave a casual glance around, gave him a subtle nod, and retrieved the tray of drinks.

He saw her push through the metal doors and disappear from sight. Wasting no more time, Rowdy went through the rest of the kitchen to the back door.

Along the way he snagged a hand towel, an apron and a knife.

Making no noise at all, he peeked out and found a guy staring back at him.

Grinning at the guy's surprise, Rowdy slugged him hard. He was a big man with big fists, and when he hit a guy point-blank, the dude felt it.

Content with the way the goon crumpled, Rowdy bent to gag him with the hand towel while checking the area, but saw no one watching him. He used the apron to tie the guy's hands behind his back. Salvaging what he could of the night, he dragged his victim to his car and shoved him into the trunk.

Satisfaction filled him; it looked as if he'd get his information after all.

Seconds later, he got behind the wheel and drove away unscathed.

Well, unscathed except for that kiss.

Avery Mullins. He had a feeling he wouldn't be content until he got a better taste of her, and more. Much, much more.

CHAPTER TWENTY-.

ONE.

WEARING UNSNAPPED JEANS and nothing else, Logan left his door ajar when he went into his room to turn down the bed.

The icy shower had revived him a little, but it wasn't enough to temper the sharp, edgy lust.

He needed Pepper to appease that particular ache.

He was just about to go after her when he heard her come in. Voice mellow, she asked Dash, "Where is he?" He didn't hear his brother reply, so presumably he'd only given a nod of his head.

Taut with anticipation, Logan stood at the foot of the bed; she didn't keep him waiting.

She stepped in, closed the door and devoured him with her gaze. Nothing more. She didn't say anything, didn't do anything other than provoke him with her obvious interest in his body.

Her silent, mysterious gaze was so tactile, he felt stroked.

Did it give her satisfaction to leave him unsure of her intent?

Screw it. He knew what he wanted, so he'd make the first move and she could deal with it-or not.

Watching her, he took the box of condoms and set them on the nightstand at his side of the bed.

Her mouth curled into a sensual smile.

"Take off the T-shirt," he told her.

Without hesitation, she pushed away from the door and did just that. She grasped the hem and tugged it-slowly -up and over her head to drop it on the floor. Wearing only miniscule panties, she went to the bed, crawled on her knees across it, and stopped in front of him.

"Your turn." She gave a brief caress to his chest. "Lose the jeans."

With her so close, he picked up the light scents of her shampoo and lotion, along with the scents of sunshine and fresh air. Together, on her, they were enough to take out his knees.

He shed the jeans without reserve and, once naked, reached for her hips.

When she didn't protest, he slowly moved his hands over her ass, her hips and thighs, relishing the feel of her. He had big hands, and they covered so much of her silky skin. That turned him on, too, seeing his darker, rougher hands on her sweet, pale flesh.

It amazed him, how incredibly sexy she was, but what he felt was so much more than physical attraction.

Keeping iron control, he smoothed his hands to her narrow waist, up to her breasts. Lush, full, firm...her nipples drew tight.

Damn. It took all his concentration not to lower her to the mattress right now.

Pepper tipped her head back, arching her spine and pressing her breasts toward him-an invitation he couldn't ignore.

He teased her nipples, first kissing lightly, licking and then drawing on her.

While she remained so accepting, he slid his hands into her panties and dragged them down her thighs.

Gaze warmed with lust, she put her arms around him and whispered, "I've been thinking of fucking you all day."

Her phrasing hit him like a cold slap, but he tamped down any reaction.

Keeping one hand curved on her derriere to hold her still, he pressed his other hand between her legs.

As he searched over her, a vibrating sound of appreciation removed the taunt from her expression.

"Already wet?"

"I..." She swallowed, drew in deeper breaths. "I told you I'd been thinking of this."

"Of me." He wanted her clear on that.

What they had was special, whether she'd admit it yet or not. Keeping her gaze captured in his, he opened her and slowly pressed a finger deep.

Breath catching, she said, "Logan...

that feels so good." Her eyes sank shut and, as he worked his fingers in and out of her, she bit her bottom lip. "God, I missed sex so much. Maybe more than anything else-"

To silence her, to keep her from reducing their time together to nothing more than physical release, Logan kissed her hard. She accepted that with enthusiasm, kissing him back, sucking at his tongue, and clamping her internal muscles around his now slick fingers.

When he knew she was close, he pulled free and eased her to her back on the bed.

He skimmed her panties off the rest of the way, stroked his hands over her body, down to her knees-and parted her legs.

Body flushed, lips parted, she lay there, waiting to see what he'd do.

Giving herself to him.

It wasn't everything he wanted, but for right now, it was enough. He bent and kissed the inside of her knee, up her tender inner thigh, over her taut belly.

Her hands tightened in the bedcovers- but she didn't resist him.

"You smell so fucking good." He brushed his nose over her curls.

She made a sound of excitement.

Settling on the bed between her legs, Logan used his thumbs to part her swollen lips, drew his tongue over her, up to her clitoris. She went still, held on a precipice of sharp pleasure.

And he covered her with his mouth.

They groaned together.

She tasted even better than she smelled, and the small, rough sounds she made, the way she moved under him, all worked against his restraint.

He wanted it to last, so when he felt her tightening, he changed tactics, licking into her instead. She groaned a complaint, then lifted her hips up to him when he returned to teasing her in just the right spot.

Again when she neared a climax, he eased off.

One small fist clenched in the sheets.

"Damn you."

He smiled and bit her gently. "Trust me."

"Stop teasing."

He hoped to tease her for the rest of his life, but he said only, "It'll be better if you wait."

"I don't want to- Ah. "

This time she clamped her hands into his hair to keep him close as he worked her with his tongue. Her hold was tight enough to sting, but he didn't mind; he liked knowing he'd gotten her to that point of desperate need.

Wanting to feel her release, he pressed three fingers into her, nice and deep, and the orgasm rolled over her.

She squeezed his fingers tight, bathing them in silky wetness. She let him go to snatch a pillow over her face, trying to muffle her harsh cries. Her strong thighs tensed even more, her heels digging into the mattress at either side of his shoulders. It went on and on until she sank boneless onto the bed.

So overwhelmed he could barely draw breath, Logan sat up and grabbed for a condom. When he turned back to her, she had her eyes closed, her legs still sprawled.