She lifted her hands to the back of her dress, but he stopped her before she could slide the zipper down. 'No,' he said, pulling her hands back to her sides. 'Not yet.'

Confusion collided with the heat in her eyes. 'But-'

'Trust me,' he murmured. 'It'll be fine.' Better than fine. She deserved that.

Her eyes widened when he opened her duffle and put her violin case on the table.

'What are you doing?'

He removed the violin and bow and handed them to her. 'Play for me.'

She shook her head. 'It's late. I'll wake everyone up.'

'Don't you play for Mr Pugh this late sometimes?'

'Yes, but . . . That's for him, to calm him. The neighbors put up with that.'

'They love your music, Lucy. They came out from their apartments to hear you play today. Think of it as giving them a lullaby. But play for me.' He put the instrument in her hands. 'I want you to play for only me.'

'You're crazy,' she said, but tucked the violin under her chin. 'What should I play?'

'You choose. I'll like anything you pick. I promise.'

She faltered a moment and he thought she'd refuse. But then she began to play, and as before he was . . . enchanted. It was quiet and pure. And then he recognized the piece. It was what she'd played at the club the night before, but slower, measured. Not frantic. Not at all. It had been blatantly sexual last night.

Now it beckoned. As did she. She watched him as she played, her eyes widening when he took off his jacket and laid it over hers, then narrowing when he pulled his tie free and unsnapped his holster. When he unbuttoned his shirt, she sucked in a breath, bit at her lip.

But she didn't stop playing. When he'd shrugged out of his shirt he was again darkly satisfied, this time with the undisguised glitter of greed in her eyes. She'd looked at him like this the day before, when he'd come into CSU all sweaty. Like she wanted to devour him whole.

It was all he could do to keep from grabbing her and taking her up against a wall again. But he didn't, instead walking behind her and kissing the side of her neck. Her bow skittered, sending the chord sour. For a moment there was quiet, the only sound her rapid breathing and the beat of his own heart, heavy in his ears.

'Don't stop,' he whispered in her ear. 'Play for me. Please.'

Shakily she resumed, going rigid when he slid her zipper down her back, revealing beautiful skin. 'I didn't get to see you like this last night,' he said, kissing his way from one shoulder to the other, smiling fiercely when she shivered again, violently. 'You're beautiful.'

He unsnapped her bra and trailed his fingertips down her spine. He slipped his hands around her to cup her warm, round breasts in his palms and her violin went silent, the hand holding the bow falling to her side.

'What do you want?' he whispered against her neck, lightly tugging on her nipples. She leaned into him, her head against his shoulder, her violin resting along her hip. She gave him free access and he made the most of it, caressing her breasts, running his hand down her front, teasing the band of her panties until she hummed in response. 'What do you want?' he asked again.

'You. I want you.' Lucy stepped away from him, her hand trembling as she returned her violin and bow to its case. Then she turned slowly, although every nerve in her body was urging her to throw herself onto him. He was perfectly formed, beautifully honed.

He was what she wanted. Right now. She licked her lips, wondering where to start.

The muscle in his jaw twitched as he waited. He'd set the stage. The next move is mine. She pushed her dress and bra from her shoulders and let them slip to the floor. His eyes dropped to her breasts and his mouth opened as if he'd say something, but he was totally silent.

He took a step forward and she took a step back, turning for the bedroom, keeping her pace slow. He followed her, closely enough that she felt the heat from his body. But she wasn't cold.

She closed her door behind them, then gasped when he swung her into his arms. His mouth closed over her breast and she let the moan she'd been holding back roll free. He yanked her panties down then pushed her to the bed.

Lying flat on her back, she stared up at him, her body pulsing and so ready. His expression ferocious, he pushed his pants to the floor, leaving him standing in a pair of briefs that didn't begin to contain him. 'You're sure this is what you want?' he asked.

She stared at his erection, knowing how it felt inside her. Needing to feel it inside her again. She sat up and traced her finger down his length, watched him twitch, then forced herself to look away long enough to meet his eyes. 'Yes. This is what I want. You're what I want. Who I want. Now.'

It was all he'd needed to hear. He shoved the briefs down, searched his pocket for a condom, then smacked it in her palm. 'Do it.'

Her hands suddenly steady, she did, thrilled with how he watched her every move. Then like a whip he moved, tossing her back to the bed and following her down, kissing her until she had no breath in her lungs. He thrust inside her and she cried out.

He kissed her neck hard. 'Last night was fast,' he said in her ear. 'Tonight might be, too. But I'll make it up to you. I promise.'

'Fast or slow, I don't care,' she gasped, thrusting against him. 'Just do it.'

He laughed, plunging hard and fast until she thought her heart would burst out of her chest. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and her heels into her frothy pink bedspread and met him thrust for thrust. 'Next time you play, think of this,' he said, panting. 'Think of me.'

She couldn't think of playing, couldn't think of anything. She was close. So close. Then he reached between them and touched her and she snapped. Her scream was muffled by his mouth as white lights danced behind her eyelids and pleasure exploded.

He buried his face against her neck, his body going taut as he followed. The minutes ticked by as he lay heavily on her, unmoving. She kissed his shoulder, welcoming his weight. This was good. He was good. He is good for me. Please let it be true. She'd been so alone for so long. 'Thank you,' she whispered and he forced himself to his elbows, studying her.

'For what?' he asked seriously.

'For this. And for knowing what I needed. How did you know?'

'Last night, watching you on that stage . . . you were so hot. Like fire. You were like fire when I had you. And fire is good, don't get me wrong. But I wanted . . . warmth, not flame. I think I can sustain warmth. I figured the music was your gateway. But I wanted you to think of me, not all those people screaming your name.' He smiled and his dimple winked. 'Lucinda.'

I think I can sustain warmth. Was that exciting enough for you? JD's wife had done a number on him. 'You have no problem with warmth,' she said. 'In any way. And last night when I saw you at the club, there was nobody else. All I could see was you.'

He chuckled, the movement sending tingles through her body. 'You were angry.'

She lifted her hips against him and felt him grow hard again. 'I had a right to be.'

His eyes darkened as new need filled them. 'Are you sure you can again?'

She closed her eyes as he began to move. 'You said best two out of three.'

Tuesday, May 4, 10.55 P.M.

'I think we should make it best three out of five,' Lucy murmured and JD laughed, amazed he had the energy to do so.

'I think I'd die.' They lay on their backs, breathing hard. 'But it'd be a helluva way to go.'

'I don't think I can move.'

'Then don't.'

'But I'm freezing,' she said. With a groan he forced himself to move, covering her with a blanket. 'Where are you going?' she asked when he went toward the door.

'To get my gun,' he said, regretting the reality that returned to her eyes. He got his gun and their clothes, checked the lock on the door, then returned to find her nearly asleep. For a moment he let himself look. And hope.

Her eyes fluttered open with difficulty. 'Why are you staring at me?'

Because you're mine, he thought. 'Because you're beautiful,' he said.

She smiled at him and for that instant the world was right. 'Come. Sleep.'

He put his gun and cell phone on her nightstand, just in case, then shucked his pants and climbed under the covers, spooning her against him. She hummed happily.

'You're always warm. So warm.'

'I have my uses,' he said wryly and chuckled when she wriggled a little.

'Indeed.'

He switched off the light and they lay in the darkness, but he didn't sleep. Neither did she. Finally she sighed.

'JD? Do you still see your mother?'

'From time to time. Whenever she wants money.'

'Do you give it to her?'

'No. I'll buy her groceries or pay her electric bill sometimes, but money would go straight into some liquor store's cash register.'

'Why? Why do you take care of her? She abandoned you.'

'I didn't for a long time. And I don't often. Usually she doesn't ask. I think she hates to ask. Hates to owe me anything.'

She turned to her back to stare up at him in the darkness. 'But why do you care?'

'I don't know, Lucy. She's my mother. A few times she tried to go sober and straight. It was never good, but it wasn't foster care. I guess I remember the few not-so-bad times when she comes with her hand out.'

'My mother would bake bread,' Lucy said. 'She was always so busy taking care of other people's kids, but on Sundays she'd bake bread. Sometimes she'd bring me a slice in bed, with butter and jam. Every time I smell fresh bread I remember that.'

'And you miss those times.'

'Yes.'

'You know you didn't cause her to become fragile, Lucy.'

'Yes, I know. But I also know I was mean to her when I was in college. I regret sending her all those pictures of me on a motorcycle. I wanted to hurt her and I did.'

Her reaction to his helmet made more sense. It represented a Lucy she didn't want to be again. 'Why don't you just talk to her, honey? Make things right if you can? People can change.'

'My father wouldn't let me. I remembered she'd tried to say something as she passed me in court, but my father dragged her away. I called the house to talk to her and he told me I'd done enough. To leave her alone, that she didn't want to talk to me. Ever again.'

'Maybe he lied.'

'I thought so, so I tried again. I waited till I knew he wouldn't be home and called. She answered and I asked if she was okay. If he was hurting her. She insisted he wasn't. I told her I was going to California, even if I didn't get into med school there. She wished me a good life. Told me it would be best for all of us if I didn't bother her again.'

'I'm sorry.'

'I should be sorry. I'm the one who said we shouldn't talk about family. It's just that going back the last few days makes it all come back. I'll shut up and let you sleep.'

She could keep him awake any day of the week, he thought as she rolled over and snuggled against him. He ran his hand down the silkiness of her arm, physically content. But his mind churned with unanswered questions. She still hadn't gone to sleep, so he ventured to ask.

'Lucy, what happened to your second fiance?'

'He left me.'

'Why? Although I confess I'm happy he did.'

'I was too, after the fact. Gus was as far from Heath as possible. I met him a few years after I'd moved to LA. I'd been scared straight and decided I'd never have another bad boy. Gus was a good man. And he was a nice man. He just decided I wasn't for him.'

'What did he do?' he asked.

'For his job? He was a carpenter. Once a year he'd go to Mexico and build houses. I went with him, the summer I finished my residency.'

He remembered her story from the day before. 'Oh. The little girl who was injured.'

'Yes. We came up on the accident minutes after it happened. A girl's leg was pinned, bleeding profusely. People had gathered, but nobody could get her out or stop the bleeding.'

'You got her out.'

'Yes.' She went quiet a moment. 'The hospital was hours away by car. They were sending a helicopter for the girl, but she was going to die before they got there. And gas was leaking from both vehicles in the wreck. The other car was burning. People were screaming. Her mother was begging, praying, crying. The girl was going to lose her leg. It was crushed under a truck, for God's sake. So I took the Sawzall from Gus's toolbox and amputated it.'

She drew a breath and shuddered it out. 'I'll never get that child's screams out of my head. It was horrific. After I did it, I pulled her away from the truck and it blew, sky high.'

He was horrified just listening. 'Shit.'

'I kept working on her with whatever tools I could find, trying to stop the bleeding. I went with her to the hospital in the helicopter, praying I'd done the right thing.'

'You saved her from getting blown sky-high.'

'The doctors at the hospital said it was excellent field work. The girl lived. Her parents were grateful. But Gus was horrified. He knew I'd be working in an ER when we got back to LA, but I guess actually seeing me do it was different. He said I was a robot, that I was able to ignore that girl's screams and carve her up like I had no soul. I didn't ignore her screams. They still haunt me. I just did what I thought needed to be done.'

'That's not being a robot,' he said. 'That's being able to focus on what needs to be done.'

She made a small sound of gratitude. 'Even if you don't mean it, thank you.'

'I mean it.' He kissed her temple. 'What happened to fiance number two?'

'Gus left after we got back home. Engagement broken, fairly amicably.'

'How fairly?' he asked warily. 'Did you break his nose too?'

She laughed. 'No, I just wouldn't give him back the ring. I'd taken a hit on wedding deposits. I figured it was a fair trade. He finally agreed.'

'So where's the ring?'

'I had it made into a necklace, but I couldn't wear it. It reminded me that he hadn't wanted me either. I sold it and put the money toward my share of the down payment on the club.'