Hours later, Jamie followed Sky’s SUV down a graveled drive to his cabin, deep in a wooded area near Eagle Rock. They’d spent the afternoon moving Tessa through a series of caves Nazari and his cell had used, but came up with nothing. At least Tessa had seemed to enjoy the outing, her confidence growing as the afternoon led into evening. Only at the last had her tail drooped and her pants grow louder from fatigue.

The truck’s headlights swept the long porch of a log cabin.

“Rustic, my ass,” she whispered as she took in the house that sat on the crest of a hill. A work in progress, yes, she conceded as she noted the tarps covering stacks of lumber and a small concrete mixer. An area had been cleared beside the house and framed for flooring for a garage.

She didn’t kid herself why she’d accepted his invitation. She’d always been attracted, even from day one when they’d dodged bullets during their one and only firefight together. And from his glances throughout the day, she was pretty sure he was equally as attracted to her. Maybe she was making more of this in her mind, but she thought maybe there was shared curiosity about what it would be like being skin-to-skin with someone who’d endured a similar life journey. Someone who’d suffered the same hell.

All she knew was that her body was alien to her at the moment, firing on all cylinders—hot and cold, nervous one minute, scared shitless the next. She didn’t want to disappoint. Was worried that maybe he didn’t intend to sleep with her at all, and then she’d feel stupid about all this buildup of tension and lust.

She parked beside his truck in front of the porch and grabbed her go-bag from behind her seat, a plastic tub holding Tessa’s food and bowls, and let herself out of her vehicle.

And he was there, lifting away her burden before she’d even realized he was near.

“Just take care of Tessa then follow me inside,” he said, then turned and climbed the steps.

She took her time, letting Tessa run around the sprawling clearing, nosing through bushes, until she found just the right spot to relieve herself. Then she returned to Jamie’s side, likely remembering that neither of them had eaten since midday when Hank had produced wrapped sandwiches his wife and other Brotherhood Protectors’ wives had prepared for the search crews. Jamie had taken the time to give her some kibble and water, but she had to be really hungry now after all of the day’s work.

She’d stalled long enough. Gathering her courage, she climbed the steps. The front door opened, and Sky filled the space, his shoulders nearly as wide as the opening. “Hope you like steak. I’ve already showered. Go ahead and jump in. Dinner will be ready soon.”

As he moved to the side, she passed through the doorway, picking up the scent of soap and him. She couldn’t help that her gaze snagged on his wet hair, water droplets clinging to the shaggy ends to fall around his shoulders. He must have been in a hurry to not bother drying it.

The thought gave her confidence a boost. He was nervous, too, about what was to come.

“I’ll be quick.” She glanced toward Tessa, who sat watching them.

“I’ve already set out water and food for her in the kitchen. The bathroom’s down the hallway to the left. Your bag’s inside. Go.”

She couldn’t help smiling as Tessa followed him out of the room.

Entering his bathroom, with the foggy mirror and the faint spicy smell of him all around her, she shivered. She stripped, wrapping her clothing into a bundle and placing it inside the hamper. She’d ask him later about doing laundry. She had clothes for another day or two, but if the search continued longer, she’d need to wash them.

Standing in the glassed-in shower, with its ice block exterior wall, she wished she hadn’t locked the door. She imagined him opening it and finding her nude behind the clear glass. Her quick shower lengthened as she shaved everything she hoped needed to be bare, and then quickly dressed. She took a few extra minutes availing herself of the blow dryer because her hair tended to frizz if she didn’t apply heat, but she left it around her shoulders and dressed in a fresh tee, minus her bra, and slim-fitting jeans. Leaving the bathroom, she strode barefoot through the house, following the aroma of grilled steak.

“Wasn’t sure how you liked yours cooked,” he said, not glancing back from the open grill atop a butcher-block counter.

She looked around the kitchen, liking the warm bronze fittings, golden oak cupboards, and gray and copper granite counters. She peeked over his shoulder at the steaks. “Mine’s done.”

He smiled and moved both steaks to plates already filled with salad and spears of asparagus. “Table’s set. All I need to know is what you’d like to drink. In the fridge, there’s wine, water, some iced tea.”

She chose a bottle of German beer and held up another.

He grinned. “A girl after my own heart.”

Oh, she was after something, all right.

They ate in silence, both obviously starved by the speed with which they ate and the lack of conversation. When they finished, he picked up their unfinished beers and waved her away from the table. “Leave it.” He led her into the living room and handed her the drinks. “Have a seat. It’s a little warm for a fire...”

She didn’t mind at all. She hoped they’d be wearing less soon enough.

When he returned from stacking kindling and setting a log afire, they settled side by side, their feet on the coffee table as the buzz from the beer and their full bellies left them relaxed.

“I was surprised you said yes,” he said, staring at his hands cupping both sides of his beer.

Jamie took that for the opening, the invitation she’d hoped for. She didn’t respond in words. Didn’t want to say something stupid when she was so nervous she knew her tongue would trip. Just go for it. Drawing in a deep breath, she set her beer on the table and turned toward him.

His gaze locked with hers, and he must have read her intent, because he reached blindly to his side and placed his beer on the small table beside the couch.

Noting the hunger in his now storm-gray eyes, she moved, climbing over his lap and spreading her legs to settle her knees along the sides of his hips. Then she gripped his shoulders. “I hope I wasn’t reading this all wrong...” she whispered. “Otherwise, I’m going to be really embarrassed.” Only she wasn’t too worried, not with the evidence of his “interest” pressing between her thighs.

His features were hard. A muscle leapt along the edge of his jaw. His gaze dropped to her chest then to where her body rested against the large bulge beneath his jeans. When he raised his face, his gaze locked with hers for one long, charged moment before his hands swept over her hips and reached beyond to cup both sides of her ass.

When he gave her a squeeze, she couldn’t help the thin moan that leaked through her pursed lips. Her nipples tingled, tightening into turgid points, and she couldn’t resist arching her back to stretch her tee across them to invite his touch.

His hands squeezed harder, and he lifted her off his lap until one ripened nipple stabbed at his mouth. With a groan, he latched his lips around it and sucked it through her T-shirt, drawing on it, applying more and more pressure, until she was wet between her legs and her body quivered.

When he released it, he let go of her ass and stripped off her shirt in one fluid movement. Then his mouth was there again, pulling on her nipple, his tongue flicking the end inside his mouth.

Exultant, she sank her fingers into his hair and pulled him closer, while she pushed her breast against his mouth, begging him silently for more. He tugged it, circling his face to drag her nipple around and around as he cupped the other and twisted the distended point between his thumb and forefinger. He twisted and plucked until she bent farther back, trying to lower her crotch to grind against him. “Sky, please!” She keened, her quivers growing deeper. When the snap of her jeans gave and fingers slid down the front of her pants, more cream spilled.

Letting go of her nipple, he rubbed his stubble against her breast. “Jamie, you’re so fucking wet.”

“I need to be naked, Sky. I need you inside me.”

He gave a harsh laugh. “I won’t last a second, baby. I’ve been hard for hours.”

“Don’t care. I’m hurting.” Well, she wasn’t. Or likely, not near as bad as he was. But her pussy was juicy and clasping around his fingers, and she couldn’t wait to feel the thickness hiding under his zipper, cramming up inside her. She undulated her hips and gave his fingers another sexy squeeze.

He reacted so quickly she knew she’d pressed just the right button. He dropped his hands to her hips and lifted her off his lap then turned to push her down on the sofa cushion. He stood beside her and quickly stripped off her jeans. When he had her nude, he stood with his hands fisting, his gaze on her nude sex. “You know, I’ve thought about this. So many times.”

“Don’t stop now,” she gasped, her pussy clenching, her hunger growing. “I want to see you.”

He raked his tee over his head, unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down, stepping on the ends until he freed his feet, then straightening.

Her breath hitched as she stared at his cock. Rising from a nest of thick brown hair, his shaft was thick and heavily veined. It had a slight upward curve, and the cap was round and broad. She reached out to stroke his length, loving the smooth texture of the skin surrounding his steel-hard erection. She dove downward to cup his balls, then gripped and tugged them toward her. “Fuck me. Do it now.”

But he ringed her wrist and applied just enough stinging pressure she released him without a fuss. He reached down and slid his arms beneath her back and knees and lifted her from the sofa. But he didn’t take her far, going to his knees in front of the fire to lay her down on top of a pieced-together sheepskin rug. He returned to the sofa for pillows and placed one under her head. “Lift that ass,” he growled.

“No, no, no...” she said, shaking her head, because she understood his intent, and she didn’t want him thinking he had to ready her for sex. She was already there. But his face was set, so she lifted her butt and waited as he slid the other pillow beneath her. Then he knelt between her legs and bent over her sex.

Jamie made a sound, half groan and half whimper. “I thought about this, too. Every time you came to see me.

“You should have told me. We should have kept in touch,” he said, hunkering down on his elbows and spreading her with his thumbs.

“I thought, maybe, it was just me.” And then she gasped, because he sucked her outer lips into his mouth then stroked his tongue up the center. “Jesus, Sky…”

“I worried about you. Knew you’d be pissed if I told you.” He kissed her inner thigh. “Every time I left you, I got angry as hell, leaving you behind. The way we met…” He shook his head. “You didn’t belong there.” He pointed his tongue and pushed it inside her. “Don’t be pissed. I’m a guy who liked a girl, and I didn’t want to see her end up like so many of my buddies.”

He’d thought about her. Worried about her. As had she. They’d barely known each other, and yet, there’d always been a connection. “I get it, I do. But there’s something in me. Probably the same thing inside you. Even now, I don’t feel…alive…without that rush.”

“I’m working on that. And I’m gonna give you another kind of rush.”

With that, he growled and rubbed his mouth, cheeks, and chin in her moisture, scraping her delicate flesh. Fingers thrust inside her. His mouth burrowed against her clit, sucking at it, tugging it with his lips then his teeth.

She writhed, her belly quaking and undulating, her head thrashing. Deep inside, tension built, tightening to the point she could barely breathe as he fingered and sucked. She reached down and pulled his hair, needing more. “Sky…”

He withdrew his fingers and lifted his head, his gaze seeking hers.

She cupped her breasts, kneading them, letting his see the tips peek between her splayed fingers. “Please.”

He kissed the top of her bare mound. “Give me a second.” Then he went to his knees and rose.

He disappeared down the hallway while she cupped her sex to keep it warm, and squeezed her thighs as she waited, not wanting to lose any of the delicious tension that still had her body shaking.

When he returned, he held a condom packet pinched between his thumb and forefinger. “You sure about this, Jamie?”

She swallowed and nodded.

“Be sure,” he said softly, “because this isn’t just about tonight. I want us to get to know each other. I want to take you to dinner, dance with you, find out everything about you.”

Good Lord, this morning the most exciting thing on her horizon was her job. Now, he was already talking about making this more than what she’d thought it ought to be. “I’d like a date. But we’ve already done dinner, and I’m a terrible dancer.”

His mouth twitched at one corner. “I’ll teach you.”

Because he still hadn’t lowered himself beside her, she crawled toward him, feeling like a supplicant, but oddly, not feeling the least bit silly or weak. Not when his breath held and his cock jerked.

She went to her knees in front of him, her gaze still locked with his, and lifted her hand to wrap it around him. “Maybe we could work on the order of how you want things to happen, because before we do any of that, I want you in my mouth. And then I want this,” she said, giving his cock a twist, “inside me.”

He sucked in a deep breath. “I’m open to compromise.”

“Now, you’re just a little too tall for me,” she said.

He shuffled his feet wider apart, lowering the height of the part of him she held.

With a tilt of her head, she looked up from beneath the fringe of her lashes, “Now, Sky, be sure…”

His mouth stretched. “Better do something quick, Burke. I can’t promise how long I can stand here.”

Jamie didn’t know the girl who sat at his feet, teasing him. Didn’t know where the confidence came to slowly rim her lips with her tongue, making sure his gaze was right there when she leaned forward and took him into her mouth.

“Holy fuck, Jamie,” he said, his eyelids falling partway down.

She closed her lips around him, latching them just beneath the ridge of his broad cap, and sucked, sinking down then up, pulling, pulling...until his fingers slid into her hair and anchored her there. Going deep, she wet his shaft, and then gripped him with one hand, twisting as she drove down to meet her fingers. Over and over, she hungrily mouthed him and used her tongue to feather along the turgid sides, waiting until he gripped her hair and pushed her away.

His chest rose and fell, breaths chopped and harsh.

She held out her hand for the small plastic package. She tore it with her teeth and took her sweet time rolling the condom down his length.

When he was cloaked, she faced away, crawled toward the center of the sheepskin rug, and went down on her hands and knees, waiting…

A kiss landed on one side of her hips. A hand cupped her sex, and fingers entered her, swirling, drawing down moisture.

Then Sky gripped her hips and centered her. The first nudge of his cock against her folds made her gasp.

“Yeah, I felt that, too,” he whispered.

And then he pushed inside her, not as deeply as she wanted, so she pushed back.

“No,” he said, again gripping her hair and forcing back her head.

Her back sank, the downward arc lifting her ass.

At last, he stroked deep, but so slowly she ground her teeth, because she felt every inch of his dick caress every inch of her vagina. She felt the broad knob of his cock tunneling through her delicate tissue, then withdraw, then push deeper again.

He let go of her hair and held her hips, forcing her to remain still as he controlled the rhythm of his strokes, slowly, then faster, and faster still.

His thrusts were hard, purposeful, targeted. Jamie had slept with a few other men, but had never been truly fucked. Never like this.

He thrust so forcefully, her breath left in deep gusts, and she loved it. But just when the first wave of an orgasm began to crest, he paused.

On the verge of complaining, instead she gave a breathy moan as he began to circle his hips, dragging his cock around and around inside her. Then he changed it up again, giving her shorter thrusts, deep hard jolts that jiggled her breasts. He stopped again.

He bent over her back and kissed the corner of her neck. “I want to watch you come.”

“You’re killing me,” she said, a hint of whine in her voice.

“Being inside you...you have no idea what it does to me.”

Again, he pressed a kiss against her skin, then moved away, pulling out of her and leaving her feeling empty and aching.

His hands were firm as he turned her to her back then came over her, entering her in one long thrust and resting his body against hers. His gaze was sharp, boring into hers. “I’m fucking this up.”

She wrapped her arms loosely around his shoulders and tilted her head. “I was doing fine…until you stopped.”

He gave a sharp shake of his head. “I got ahead of myself.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Did you hear me complain?”

His gaze went to her mouth. “I should have kissed you first.”

“My nipples were a nice place to start.” She squeezed her inner muscles around him, just to remind her how not neglected she felt.

His eyes closed for a brief second. “Do that again, and I’m done.”

“Since I want to be done, I’ll just lie here.” She moved her arms from his shoulders and rested them on the rug, her hands above her head, far, far away from temptation.

His gaze narrowed while his mouth stretched. “That’s better,” he murmured.

She gave him a siren’s smile. “Seeing as you’re in charge, I don’t want to get in the way.”

He slipped a hand beneath her head and cradled it. “Like I said, I got ahead of myself. And it’s your fault.”

Jamie smiled softly. “I’m not the one who put my nipple in your mouth.”

“No, but you didn’t bother wearing a bra during dinner. I noticed.”

She tsked, liking this little interlude. Liking even better how his hard body weighed on her. There was nothing soft about him. “Sky?”

“Yes, baby.”

“Are you going to kiss me?”

“I’ve already fucked you. Don’t you think we should wait and start all over again?”

She pinched his side. “Do, and I might scream.”

“Oh, you’ll scream.” Then he lowered his head and kissed her.