She gasped, turning her face away, but he recaptured her mouth again, angling his head for a better fit, taking her mouth as he took her body. Hips grinding, need consuming.

On a vibrating cry, she gripped his shoulders, her nails biting in his flesh.

And he loved it.

He wanted to be gentle, but instead he pounded into her, harder and deeper until she lifted her slim legs around him. Digging her heels into the small of his back, she matched his urgent rhythm.

He fought to stall the inevitable.

A losing battle.

Lifting up with a harsh groan, he rocked out his release, only vaguely aware of Yvette watching him, her hands moving gently over his chest and shoulders.

Sucking in air, totally spent, he sank down onto her small giving body, only some of his tension now gone.

Yvette continued to stroke him.

Outwardly, she stayed still and calm, peaceful in the way she put small kisses to his damp skin, how she tunneled her fingers through his hair.

But inside, he felt her still holding him tight. Felt the little ripples of her need. The heat of her skin and the hammering of her heart.

Attempting to clear the fog of pleasure, he drew in a deep breath, but that only tantalized him with the scent of s.e.x hanging in the air.

He had his face in her neck, so he nuzzled against her and felt her tremble.

He'd left her on the brink of release, without taking her over. And still she touched him with affection.

Smiling against her throat, he said, "Told you so."

"Mmm?" She kissed him again.

And d.a.m.ned if he didn't feel her hot little tongue lick over his sweaty shoulder.

Struggling up onto his forearms once more, Cannon looked at her. Her lips were puffy, her hair tangled around her. She had whisker burn on her cheeks and the heavy eyes of a woman in extreme need.

"How do you feel?"

"Better."

The smile tugged at his mouth. "Yeah?"

With a languid nod, she coasted her nails lightly down his pecs. "Throbbing." Back up to his shoulders. "Maybe...coiled."

He gave a slight press against her. "Wet."

"That, too." She shifted. "I wish I could feel you, and only you."

Dangerous. But d.a.m.n, it turned him on, the idea of taking her bareback, nothing between them.

Her flesh and his.

He bent to her mouth, kissing her idly this time, his tongue playing with hers. "I need to get rid of the rubber." Amid her protests, he rolled off her and stood.

He couldn't have prepared for her impact. He looked at her sprawled on the bed, his for the taking, and it did things to him.

Crazy, possessive things.

Things he realized he'd been feeling even before she'd left for California. Now they were amplified, more tangible because he could touch and taste her.

f.u.c.k her.

Make love to her.

As he stood there looking at her, she shifted her feet restlessly, knotted her hands in the sheet.

He'd thought to spend time bathing her, teasing her, but he couldn't. Ignoring the rubber for the moment, he sat beside her on the bed and cupped a hand between her open thighs.

Her eyes drifted shut and she lifted into him.

Watching her was the most erotic thing he could imagine. Lacking haste, he worked his fingers over her, then one finger in her. She writhed, her hips twisting, her breath coming faster.

Seeing her primed like this stirred him sooner than he would have expected.

He withdrew, only to sink in two fingers, curling them slightly to reach that special spot for her. She followed where he led without inhibition, gasping, rolling her hips, getting so very close but not quite there.

Coming down beside her, propped on one elbow, Cannon kissed her mouth, then her nipples, suckling each in turn until she was mindless with wanting.

Down her belly again.

"Ah, G.o.d. Cannon, please."

"We're getting there."

She fisted a hand in his hair, trying to hurry him.

He pulled his fingers free to tease her glistening c.l.i.t. "Here, baby? Is that what you want?"

For an answer, she purred and widened her thighs more.

He circled, spreading her wetness around that tiny bundle of ultrasensitive nerves, applied careful pressure, gently tugged.

"Cannon, please..."

He pushed his fingers deep again-and drew her into his mouth.

Fingers still working her, he stroked with his tongue, rasping over her, pushing her, and within two minutes she broke. Her moans were loud and real and powerful enough to get him at the starting gate again.

She'd barely settled, her breath still catching, when he rid himself of the spent condom and rolled on another. Giving her no time to prepare, he cupped his hands over her knees, pushed them far back and sank into her.

Her moan was both pleasure and protest.

"You are so f.u.c.king wet now." Already the slick friction built. With each deep slide of his c.o.c.k, she tightened more until they were both caught in the hot clench of powerful release. Neck and back arched, she gave a deep guttural groan, her muscles squeezing like a fist. While coming, he kept his gaze on her, the sight of her heightening his pleasure. Even as she drained him, his body continued to buzz.

Long minutes later, when he finally worked up the energy to lift himself, he found her fast asleep, dead to the world.

The things he felt... They were too unsettling to contemplate after the h.e.l.lish day, at such a late hour. Unable to help himself, he kissed her again, softly so she wouldn't awaken. Her parted lips. Her throat.

Her now-soft nipples.

She grumbled a protest and shifted, making him smile, a sappy smile that he felt in his heart.

The bruises on her arm wrecked him. He'd rather break a limb than see her marked like that. He kissed those, too, then carefully separated from her, standing beside the bed.

Her legs were still inelegantly sprawled, her tender s.e.x exposed. Using only his fingertips, he touched her.

She mumbled in her sleep and turned to her side, drawing up one leg.

Yeah, he liked that view, as well.

He wanted to touch her again. h.e.l.l, he wanted to kiss his way down her spine to that perfect a.s.s. Later, he told himself.

Rubbing both hands over his face, he got it together. She didn't need to be molested in her sleep. He pulled back the covers, lifted her up where she belonged and covered her again.

It took him only a minute to clean up, and then he was beside her, turning her toward him and holding her close.

Knowing he'd never let her go.

t hrough the infinite darkness closing in around her, she saw glittering eyes everywhere, heard the snickers and whispers. Desperate to find the light, she began searching, groping blindly. She smelled kerosene. And death.

Another snicker, followed by a soft laugh. Someone grabbed her wrist, hard fingers squeezing in an iron grip. Another hand on her shoulder. Her neck. She silently fought. But more hands joined the eyes, faces getting closer- Yvette jerked awake with a start, gasping, her eyes seeking...

"Hey." Cannon was over her, his hand on her cheek. "You okay?" His fingertips touched her cheek, his brows drawn in worry.

Oh, G.o.d. Her face was wet. With tears? Humiliation squeezed her heart. "I...I'm fine."

For the longest time he searched her face until she could no longer meet his gaze.

He turned to his back but pulled her up onto his chest, his hands clasping her backside. "You had a nightmare."

Denials came automatically, but remembering his insistence last night that she trust him, she pushed past her reservations. "Yes."

Maybe surprised, he held silent for a moment, then asked, "A bad one?"

"I've had it before." Often. "It's...unsettling." She tried not to clutch at him, but the remnants of the dream, the helplessness and incessant fear hung with her.

His hands moved, cuddling her behind. "Want to tell me about it?"

G.o.d, no. She shook her head.

He stroked her behind, startling her by teasing along her cleft.

She automatically tried to slide away.

He gripped her cheeks again, resettling her. "I like you right where you are."

She blinked at him, a little more uncertain now that bright morning sunlight flooded the room.

Of course, Cannon didn't have the same reservations.

Looking at her mouth, his hands again palpating her rear, he said, "We never did have that talk last night."

Dazed from the bad dream followed by his bold touch, she struggled to ground herself. "We had amazing s.e.x instead." Yes, if she could just concentrate on that...

"Very amazing."

Levering up on her arms, she got a better look at him. Rumpled inky hair. Burning blue eyes. Those sinfully long lashes.

She couldn't stop the groan of appreciation. Even resting, his biceps looked amazing. And his chest, the crisp hair, that fascinating happy trail...

"What are you thinking?"

"That I want to lick you all over."

An arrested expression held him immobile for only a moment, then he flipped her onto her back and came down over her, pinning her in place. "I'd like that."

She laughed. "Well, I hope so."

"But first we're going to talk."

She groaned again for an entirely different reason.

"None of that." He took her mouth in a barely there kiss. "Do you want to do this here, now, or would you rather hit the john and grab coffee?"

Twisting, she tried to see the clock, but he didn't give her much room for leverage.

"It's nine-thirty."

"Wow." Very late for him. "We slept in."

"It was d.a.m.n near dawn when I finally let you fall asleep."

Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "So you didn't sleep in, but you stayed here so I could?"

"Yeah." Lazily, he cupped her breast, rolling his thumb over her nipple with single-minded purpose until it drew taut. His eyes narrowed with satisfaction. "I got to look at you. A pretty fair trade."

He'd watched her sleep? Her face warmed, and then she realized... "I fell asleep."

"Yeah."