Incredulous, he glared. "No fucking way are you afraid of me."

After everything they'd just done?

"No." She was afraid of herself, of her reactions to him. She couldn't do this- but she had. And it had been so wonderful...

He tried a different tack. Taking her shoulders, caressing her, he cajoled, "Let me stay the night."

"I can't." She took another quick step back-out of his reach.

His hands dropped. "I don't fucking believe this."

His coarse language grated on her.

They'd had sex-weird, restrained sex, but still, that didn't give him the right to treat her without respect.

"I don't believe you're cursing me."

"Not you. " Working off what was clearly a very short fuse, he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's this situation. I thought we were getting closer. I thought..."

That it meant something? He sounded like a scorned woman, and she felt like a jerk.

It seemed a wise thing to get out of the bedroom. Pepper went as far as the small sofa and paused. Don't do it, Pepper. Don't do it- "We could share dinner again. Tomorrow I mean." She squeezed her eyes shut. "If you're not busy."

The sudden silence nearly choked her.

Had the storm finally quieted, too? She wasn't in the habit of propositioning men. Even before her life had changed so drastically, she hadn't thrown out dinner invitations.

She hadn't needed to.

Wondering what Logan thought, if he'd accept her offer, she turned to him.

He'd crossed his arms, but his nonchalant stance couldn't hide his antagonism.

"Well?" She wished he'd say something.

"I'm trying to figure out if you're really inviting me for dinner, or for sex."

Both. Feeling a little foolish, she shook her head. "Never mind. It was a bad idea."

"Oh, no, you don't." In three long strides he reached her. "Whatever we just did, I liked it."

Her knees went weak. "Me, too."

"Yeah?" He caressed her again. "It was unusual-"

He meant odd. Weird. Bizarre.

"-but I don't think I've ever been that turned on."

"Really?" Sure, she'd loved it, but then even a crumb was delicious to a starving woman. And that had been no more than a crumb.

Guys were always easy, but still, she couldn't believe he'd be that accepting of her restrictions.

"Absolutely." With two fingers, Logan touched her chin. "If you're asking me over for more of the same, I'm in."

Could she make the apartment dark enough? Would she have an opportunity to buy blackout blinds? Did she dare have an encore of that unique and somewhat torturous intimacy?

"But," he said, interrupting her thoughts, "if it's only dinner you want, I'm in for that, too."

No way. If he accepted a "dinner only" invite, it'd be because he figured he'd eventually get back in her bed.

"Okay."

Proving her right, he slid both hands around her neck. "You know I'm rooting for the first option, right?"

"Yes." She was sort of rooting for it, too. "I understand that. I just don't know..."

He kissed her. "We'll play it by ear, see where things take us."

"Okay." And if she could find a way around Rowdy's temper over it all, then for sure, the bed would win. But she had no illusions about keeping this from her brother. He knew everything she did, and who she did it with.

Well, not the sexual details, of course.

But he always watched her so closely, no way would he miss the fact that Logan had been in her apartment, during a power outage, without a lot to do to keep them busy.

Rowdy wouldn't be happy. She sometimes thought if he could have his way, he'd keep her locked up, out of sight.

Out of the way.

Thinking about that bothered her, so she again said to Logan, "You need to go."

Something dark and dangerous- probably ego-glittered in his eyes.

"You have my number handy?"

"On top of the fridge."

Despite his menacing expression, his touch remained gentle, persuasive.

"Keep it by your bedside, all right?

Better, program it into your cell phone.

Just in case you need me."

Need him? Did he mean for sexual satisfaction or physical protection?

Either way... "I'll be fine."

Answering her question, he said, "If this blackout lasts, you don't know what kind of trouble might come knocking at your door."

True enough, but she wasn't worried.

"It's just a storm." God knew she had survived worse things than weather.

"And actually...I'm good with numbers."

"Meaning you've memorized it already?"

She shrugged.

"Good." Still he hesitated. "I'm leaving under duress."

Never had she known anyone like him. Sure, most men would take sex in just about any circumstances that they could get it. But what they had just done had to top the list of peculiar sexual encounters.

Still, she knew he'd reached satisfaction. His harsh groans had been wonderful to hear, and the way his body had tensed, the heat pouring off him during his release-she'd loved every second of it.

He'd gotten what he wanted. But now, instead of being glad to escape further involvement, he wanted to hang around.

That sort of made her smile. "Thank you."

Taking her by surprise, he wrapped one arm around her waist, the other under her backside, and he lifted her off her feet. Given her height, that was no easy feat, but he didn't look strained.

Actually, he looked turned on. Again.

With her pelvis flattened to his hard abdomen, her legs aligned with his, she braced her hands on his bare shoulders.

Hot.

"Logan!" She gasped. "What are you doing?"

Her well-covered breasts were even with his chin, but he stared into her eyes.

"I need another taste to tide me over until tomorrow."

"Oh." She found no fault with that plan. "Okay."

Treating her to the full effect of his potent appeal, he kissed her-and this kiss was different from the others. Not entirely sexual, but not exactly sweet and innocent, either.

It was maybe a kiss of...

understanding. And interest.

As he lowered her back to her feet, he said, "Think about me tonight, Sue. And think about what we'll do tomorrow."

He gave her one more kiss before leaving.

Pepper watched him go. Think about him? She doubted she'd be able to think of anything else.

HAT PULLED LOW, collar up, Rowdy Yates hung back in the shadows, shielded from the downpour by the slight overhang of the building across from the apartment complex. He chewed the end of a toothpick until there was nothing left of it.

What the hell was she thinking, fooling around with the new neighbor?

She knew better, damn it.

Because he'd taught her better.

Having random, well-hidden cameras in the building hadn't proved useful until now. Usually, she took no chances. He'd felt safe with the occasional contact, knowing Pepper could reach him in case of an emergency.

But ever since Logan Stark had moved in, he'd been more vigilant-mostly because Pepper had been different. It seemed that, despite all his precautions, she'd come to the end of her rope. He'd have to deal with that, with her-but first he'd deal with Logan Stark.

Down the street, somewhere in the darkness, a car alarm blared. Glass broke. Sirens split the night.

A streetlamp flickered back on, disturbing the concealing cocoon of the blackout, sending a river of light to shimmer across the washed-out roadway.

The woman on his arm shivered from the rain and pressed her heavy breasts into his side. "It's cold."

"Not really." He'd already forgotten her name but didn't care. He wouldn't see her again after tonight. Wrapping an arm around her, Rowdy asked, "Better?"

"Are we going in or not?"

"Yeah." He could smell her perfume, felt the heat of her small body. He threw the toothpick away. "Remember, I've got an hour or less. That's all."

Running a hand down his chest and smiling, she said, "Sugar, that's all the time I need."

STILL CURLED IN HER BED, relaxed from

a good night's sleep, Pepper watched the sun begin filtering through the curtains.

She had that type of lethargy that only came from sex.

She stretched, smiling, wondering what the coming day-and the night- might bring. More time with Logan?

More sex? She hoped so.

Her cell phone rang.