Sunday. Condo, Miami, Florida.

Alec listened to the sounds of Vara’s shower for a moment before retreating to the kitchen. He should be dragging and ready to drop. He hadn’t slept much on the plane. But he couldn’t waste time on a nap. He was under the same roof with Vara and he didn’t know how long it would last.

In theory, seven days. That was how long they’d booked the condo for. It didn’t mean they’d actually stay that long. Anything could happen. She could get called in by the CIA. He could have a job come up. For however long they got, he wanted to use that time to reconnect with her.

It hadn’t gone unnoticed that she hadn’t blinked an eye when he’d put their things in the master bedroom. There’d been no hesitation, no glancing around. Nothing. Which he took as a good sign. Besides, he didn’t intend to sleep without her so long as they were together. Every minute had to count. This was his campaign to show her that they could be something together for real this time and not just a lust-driven fling.

He’d gone about it all wrong when they were younger. This time he’d do it right, starting with dinner and a relaxing night in. And no sex. At least, he wasn’t going to push for that tonight. No, he wanted to just be with her. To show her that they could have the passion and the normal stuff.

He stepped out onto the patio and pulled the cover off the grill, checked the gas and opened the hood. He’d gotten some sea food kabobs when Vara made eyes at them, but now he was wishing for a steak. Tomorrow night. For now they’d have a delicious meal of sea food, greens and a couple beers with the ocean playing in the background.

Prepping the food went fast. Before long he had it all on the grill and his stomach growled.

The sliding glass door opened.

“What are you doing out here?” Vara asked.

Alec glanced over his shoulder and nearly swallowed his tongue. The things she could do to a pair of shorts and a tank top were sinful with legs like that.

“Don’t look at me like that. This feels weird enough already.” She tugged the hem of her shirt down, flashing him a tempting glimpse of the swells of her breasts.

“How am I looking at you?” He nudged the kabobs a bit then hung the spatula on a hook and turned to give Vara his full attention.

“I don’t know, but it makes me self conscious.” She chuckled, the sound infused with nerves.

“Come here.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her to him, letting his gaze drift down to the hint of cleavage he could see when she was pressed against him. “I’m considering an appetizer. What do you think?”

Vara’s cheeks tinged pink. He was fascinated by this reaction. The hard as nails woman who’d guided him through hidden tunnels couldn’t be blushing, but she was.

She tipped her chin up, her arms winding around his neck. He closed the distance between them and set his lips against her soft mouth. It was an easy kiss, comfortable and full of sweetness he could taste. Or maybe that was toothpaste. He wasn’t picky.

“Have a beer and sit.” He patted her hip and gestured to the deck chair. “Keep me company?”

“You’re cooking for me so, sure?” She bent and grabbed a beer out of the bucket he’d brought with him. “You learned to cook and shop because of your sisters?”

“I learned how to cook because with six of us everyone took a turn assisting Mom with the cooking. The shopping was just having sisters.” He shrugged.

“I don’t think you ever mentioned much about your family before.” Vara eased down in the chair.

“We went through a tough time back then.” He picked up the spatula and nudged the kabobs around, more for something to do. “They never liked me being in the Navy. They hated I was a SEAL.”

“Really?” Vara blinked at him.

“Yeah. It made talking to them tense while I was deployed, so a lot of the time we just wouldn’t talk.” He shrugged, those years behind them now.

“Are they still like that? Your job now seems just as dangerous.”

“They accept it better. After I got out I tried working in the family business for a while, but...I hated it. And they hated having me there. We do better with me doing my own thing.”

“What’s the family business?”

“They own a small chain of mechanic shops in Jersey. We were all raised under cars and climbing towers of tires. It's okay work and I like fixing things.”

“Then why didn’t it work out?”

“Because if your family you don’t work the floor.” He wrinkled his nose. “We were supposed to be behind the desk now and all that bullshit. I didn’t like dealing with customers who thought they knew more than I did after a couple YouTube videos.”

“Hey now, YouTube videos have saved my ass a couple times. I had a break switch go out on one of our old rigs. YouTube taught me about the emergency release switch on all cars.”

“That’s a good tip.” He wagged his finger at her. “Most people would come in insisting all sorts of things. Or how dare we charge so much when the information is on YouTube and all they need are parts, tools and labor. You know, those minor things.”

“I see.” Vara chuckled and took a sip of her beer. “You never told me why you got out of the Navy.”

“Do you want to know?” he asked, stalling while he figured out how to explain.

He didn’t harbor the same bitterness he used to, but they weren’t good memories either. Alec was at peace with where he was now even if that wasn’t what he’d intended to do.

“The last administration decided to cut our numbers. There really wasn’t anywhere for me to go. I never went the education route, so I couldn’t climb the ranks. I guess they aged me out what with trying to shrink the military.”

“It wasn’t your choice?”

“Nope. Which probably played into why I was such a pain in the ass. Things worked out though. I can’t complain too much.” Alec had been happily playing life by ear since his move to Seattle a year and a half ago. He liked working on his terms and having a say in the jobs he took, but he hadn’t given the future much thought. But with Vara there, he had a whole lot to think about.

DINNER ON THE PATIO was a relaxed affair. Vara and Alec stretched out on the lounge chairs and piled the food on a few plates between them, eating what they wanted. They didn’t have much of a view through the wrought iron bars of anything except the vegetation bordering the lush lawn. It was still nice to sit outside without worrying. Vara almost didn’t know what it felt like to be without concern for her safety.

“You and your mom on speaking terms?” Alec asked out of nowhere.

“Yeah. I call her every couple of weeks.” Vara did the math. She was due for another call. “I should probably let her know where I am.”

“Things still rocky between you two?”

“That’s nothing new.” Vara wrinkled her nose and swung her legs over the side of the chair. She wasn’t yet used to the feel of air on her bare legs.

“Hey.” Alec reached over and took her hand. “She’s your mom.”

“And I was a child she didn’t want. It’s no secret. I know she loves me, but let’s face it. I wasn’t an easy kid to parent and every time she looked at me she had to remember what she went through because of me.”

“Is the story true?” Alec’s thumb stroked her skin.

“Which one?” She shrugged. “My mother drank at some kind of event they were having. Probably a little too much. A local, Iranian translator took advantage of her. She’s never called it rape, but that’s what it was. The whole thing caused a scandal and if it weren’t for the general she worked for insisting she was the only woman for the job, she’d probably have lost everything. Instead she kept the job and me.”

“I’m sorry, Vara.”

“My mother and I have issues. I know she loves me, and I love her, but we’re better off with a lot of distance between us.”

“Did you ever meet your father?”

“No. I don’t know what happened to him. I tried to find out once and came to the conclusion that the only things I’d find would hurt me and Mom. So I let it be. I moved on.”

“What’s your mom doing now?”

“She’s married and playing step-mom to two girls. They’re both in college. Dad was Army. He’s a nice enough guy. Makes her happy.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “I should probably go ahead and call her now while I’m up to it.”

“Yeah, I should probably give my family a call, too.” Alec slid his phone off the table.

Here went nothing.

Vara slid past the chairs and into the condo. The whole place looked like it was out of a magazine from the white kitchen and granite countertops to the furniture and all the little touches. She was used to making do with wherever she was stationed or whatever was easiest. She didn’t even know how to live like a normal person. How was she going to do it?

No, one problem at a time, and right now her first priority was her mother.

She jabbed her mother’s cell number before she could over-think things and paced the living room. There were times when these calls didn’t go well, and she was anticipating a lot of opinions from her mother.

One ring.

Two.

“Hello? Vara?” a man said.

“Hey.” She cringed and caught herself from addressing her stepfather by rank and name. “Is Mom around?”

“She’s right here. We’ve been worried about you.” His voice was warm, caring. He sounded a lot like one of those TV dads she’d never had.

“Vara? Vara, are you okay?” Mom’s voice was at least two octaves higher.

“I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

“I heard about your team.” There was a note in there Vara didn’t like.

“You heard? Already?” That made her stop and stare out the windows.

“I have a...friend who keeps me up to date. Better than you do.” Ah, there was the censure.

“Mom, you know I can’t tell you things.” Vara sighed and flopped on the sofa. “I’m fine. I’m in the states. That’s what I can tell you.”

“What were you doing that got those men killed? I told you this was dangerous.”

“I can’t tell you, Mom. I’m sorry.”

“Where are you? Are you coming home? We can come to you.”

“No. No, that’s not necessary. I’m staying with an old friend.” Vara watched Alec throw his head back and laugh.

“Who?”

“Alec,” she replied before she could stop herself.

Silence met that answer.

“He told me why we really broke up. We’ll have to talk about that at some point, but right now I want to sleep. I’m not up to fighting with you about it.” Vara was only now beginning to realize how exhausted she was. How her lifestyle had worn her down.

“I’m sorry. If I could take that decision back I would.”

Vara swallowed. She couldn’t deny that after Alec broke up with her the way he did and with her suspicions, it had changed her relationship with her mother. She couldn’t trust her. But if Vara was going to forgive Alec’s part in it, she had to forgive Mom, too.

“It’s in the past now.”

“Will I get to see you? Your sisters would like that.” The tender thread of hope in those words twisted Vara’s heart.

“I’m pretty sure my sisters barely know what I look like.” She chuckled. “I’d like to see you guys, but it’s going to be a little while.”

“We’re here for you when you need us.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call again soon, okay?”

“I’d like that.”

Vara ended the call and curled her legs under her, watching Alec pace the patio. He was grinning and laughing at whatever was being said. She wanted to be part of that conversation, to know more about him. But to do that meant she would open herself up to the possibility that he might leave her again. He may be more in control of his life than he used to be, but he still went where he was told. She didn’t know how things would work out between them. she wanted to try though.

She couldn’t let herself fall in love with him. At least not until he was in love with her. it was the only way she could think of to protect her heart.

VARA OPENED THE DOOR to the bedroom and found Alec standing on the other side, his hands braced on the frame.

“Hi.” He grinned at her and even though there was plenty of space between them she could feel ghost touches along her cheek and inner knee. Places those lips had been.

“Hi. Come here often?” She gestured at the master bath behind her.

“Only when I need to.” He lifted one shoulder.

“Move.” She chuckled and shooed him to one side.

“Done?” He backed up, giving her space, which was a little disappointing.

“It’s all yours.” She strolled across the bedroom.

The door snicking shut cut off any fantasy of him enraptured by the sight of her.

What the hell was up with him?

Alec had kept things fairly G rated. Even once it was just the two of them all he’d done was flirt a bit, hold her hand, kissed her fewer than five times—but nothing more. She’d fully expected him to pounce on her as soon as they were behind closed doors. Instead they’d spent a relaxing evening in front of the TV, a rare treat for her, but not what she’d been prepared for.

What the hell had gotten into him?

She stopped at the sliding glass doors leading out onto the patio and stared into the night. Her skin was too tight, her insides too warm. The arousal she’d felt earlier, watching him, being with him, was turning into frustration.

Was it her? Had she sent the wrong signals?

It wasn’t like she had much practice at this. He’d broken her heart pretty thoroughly, and it had been a while before she dated again. The men who’d come after were fun, they offered companionship, but they hadn’t affected her like Alec.

No one did.

Why did she think it was her fault nothing had happened? This whole trip, being together, was Alec’s idea. He’d practically begged her to come here and spend time with him. Which meant it wasn’t her.

What was he up to?

She turned and stared at the door as if it might project Alec’s thoughts to her.

If this were any other day, and she was faced with a complex situation, what would she do?

The first step was always assessment.

What did she know about the situation?

She and Alec had chemistry. They were crazy compatible in bed. They had baggage. Alec had organized this whole trip to—what had he said about her? That she needed to decompress?

How did he know what she needed? And why was she waiting on him to make the first move?

“I’m on to you, Alec,” she muttered.

Vara pulled the curtains shut, blocking out the world. She pulled the long T-shirt she’d intended to wear to bed off and tossed it toward her things then shimmied out of her panties.

If a naked woman in bed didn’t tell him all he needed to know, she’d have to educate him.

Did she just crawl under the sheets? What did normal women do? Pose?

The former didn’t feel sexy, and the latter seemed silly. That wasn’t who she was.

The bathroom door opened, a long rectangle of light stretching toward her. She froze and locked eyes with Alec standing in the doorway.

So much for picking the moment.

His gaze traveled down her body, the familiar heat burning in his eyes. He wanted her, so why was he holding back? What was he up to?

She placed a hand on her hip and remained where she was, letting him look his fill.

No, she wasn’t a supermodel, but her lifestyle had demanded a certain level of physical fitness. Her natural pear shape resulted in smaller breasts and wider hips, but that had always been true.

Alec finally flipped the bathroom light off, leaving them in the dim glow of the single bedside lamp, and crossed the room to stand in front of her. He lifted his hand and stroked down her arm.

This was it.

He was taking the damn hint.

“Which side of the bed do you prefer?” he asked.

“Are you serious?” she blurted despite the goose flesh rising on her arms.

“What?” His hand closed around her elbow and warmth spread through her belly.

The corners of Alec’s mouth curled up. His eyes remained on her face. If she twitched an eyelash, she expected he’d see it with the way he was watching her.

“I’m standing here naked and you want to know which side of the bed I sleep on? Really?” She quirked a brow at him.

“Maybe you sleep in the buff now?” He shrugged and slid his hand from her elbow to her wrist, then to her waist.

“Fine. Yes, I sleep naked. Make sure to not touch me. Ever.” She threw up her hands, wanting to laugh and growl.

“I like you naked.” Alec’s hands splayed on her sides, nowhere near an erogenous zone. And yet her nipples were standing at attention waiting for inspection.

“Do you really?” His boxers were noticeably tented. The evidence was right there. Then why was he holding back?

“I do. Want to see?” He took her hand and placed it against his erection.

She stroked him through the material.

She leaned in and kissed his mouth. His free hand dug into her hair. His hand at her side urged her closer.

Vara let go of him, planted her palms to his chest and shoved. He sat down hard, a wide grin on his face, eyes sparkling.

“What are you up to?” she demanded.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I will walk out of this room and sleep across the hall.” She pointed at the door.

“Don’t do that.” He reached for her, cupping the back of her thighs and pulled her to stand between his knees.

“What the hell are you doing?”

He kissed her stomach and hugged her around the hips, palming her ass.

“Alec?” She dug her hand into his hair and bent it back so he had no choice but look at her.

He blew out a breath and his hold on her loosened, just a little bit.

“Tonight was supposed to be about relaxing. How relaxing is it if I keep you up all night?” His hands slid down to her legs, his fingers drifting closer to her center.

“Seriously? I’ve been sitting on that sofa all night wondering what I was doing wrong. You’ve had me over thinking everything, you asshole.” She smacked his shoulder, not hard, but damn him.

“You were thinking about me?” It should be impossible, but his grin grew even wider.

“That’s what you focus on?” A lick of anger had her clenching her teeth. Maybe she should sleep across the hall.

“Babe, serious now.” He dropped the smile and let go of her. “It’s been a crazy couple of days. I thought I’d back off. You don’t need me pawing at you when you’re trying to figure shit out. I’m just—I’m trying to think about what you need. I didn’t mean to send mixed signals. I liked just hanging out with you.”

And just like that her mad went to something warm and gooey. Okay, she was still a little irked, but it was quickly losing ground.

“Tonight was nice. Except I’d prefer to not sit there stewing, trying to figure out what you’re thinking.” She stroked her fingers through his hair.

“Oh, babe, you always know what I’m thinking.” His grin was wider than before as he cupped her ass and pulled her toward him.

“Clearly I am not a mind-reader.” She tweaked his nose, everything forgiven. He kissed her knuckles.

“That’s why men are simple. We always want food and sex, not necessarily in that order.”

“Is that so?” She leaned her knees against the bed, relishing the brush of his body against hers.

“More or less, yeah.”

“So if I wanted sex, right now, that wouldn’t be a problem?”

“Not at all.” His gaze dropped to her mouth.

She still had the upper hand with her hand in his hair, not that he was trying to wrestle control from her. No, he seemed content to sit there, watching her.

Vara lowered her face and brushed her lips across his.

They're twelve or so hours in Beirut had been spent mostly in bed. Together. He’d done things to her, sensual, sexy things that had been on repeat in her mind. But never once had she turned the tables on him. Now, she wanted that.

Alec didn’t want to pounce?

That was fine. She wanted her turn.

“Condoms?” she asked.

“Nightstand.” His fingers slid between her thighs.

“Hands off.” She shoved at his shoulders.

Alec flopped back onto the bed, supported by his elbows. He studied her, his gaze lingering on her breasts, without shame.

He liked what he saw. It was in the way he smiled, how he looked at her. Every part of her from the scars to her small breasts and that little bit of a stomach she could never get rid of. That knowledge gave her a confidence she hadn’t always felt.

“I’m confiscating these.” She reached out, hooked her fingers in his boxers and drew them down his legs.

“Do I get them back?”

“Maybe.” She lifted a shoulder and dropped his underwear to the floor.

Vara took this opportunity to look at Alec just like he was looking at her. Soaking in the handsome man with eyes only for her. He was a big man with wide shoulders that tapered to a trim waist. His body was corded with muscle, gained through necessity and saving lives. The scars that dotted his body told the story of his loss.

He was an amazing man. And for now he was hers.

Alec seemed to sense the lull in her thoughts. He pushed up, one hand reaching for her.

She took it and crawled onto the bed, straddling his thighs. He strained toward her, lips parted. She cupped his face and kissed him, willing herself to forget the world and all her problems for a little while.

His hands stroked over her back, down to her hips and up her sides to her chest. She groaned when he rolled her nipples between his fingers, reminding her that he hadn’t forgotten what she liked. He still remembered her.

“Alec?”

“What?” He pulled her down, the head of his cock teasing her folds.

“I don’t want to think about anything except us tonight, okay?” She wanted to forget her shattered world, the danger and everything she’d left behind.

“You got it.” He wrapped her hair around his hand and tugged, her scalp prickling.

“Yes,” she hissed.

She pushed up enough to reach for the nightstand. Alec’s lips kissed across her lips and he found her breast then the nipple. His talented hands stroked down her stomach, both exploring her as she ripped a condom off the strip. She eased back, and the thrust his fingers into her, rocking her forward.

“Alec.” She groaned and closed her eyes, momentarily losing her mind between the sensation of him moving inside of her and his lips wrapped around her nipple.

Good didn’t begin to describe the way pleasure pulsed inside of her.

She sat back, his fingers easing from inside of her.

Vara ripped the condom open. She needed him. Now.

Alec snagged the condom from her fingers and rolled it on with the haste of a man in need. She grinned at him and their gazes snagged. So much heat. The way he looked at her, touched it, it made her feel as though this could go on forever.

And for tonight she wanted it to.

She braced a hand on his shoulder and grasped the base of his erection, guiding herself to him.

There.

She let go and sank down onto him, groaning as he filled her.

“God damn, Vara.” His voice was tight, strained, needy.

“Yes,” she hissed again and let her eyes shut.

Vara arched her back and lifted, focusing on the way he felt sliding from her, how her whole being trembled when she thrust. His hands cupped her breasts and toyed with her nipples, but she remained focused.

This was her moment. What she wanted, and she’d take it now.

She bent forward, finding a different angle.

“You’re so fucking hot.” Alec’s voice was strained.

His fingers slid between them, curling at the base of his shaft. She sank onto him and pressed her clit to those fingers.

“Oh!” An electric charge raced down her spine and she curled her toes.

“That’s what you want?”

“Yes.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

She rose and fell, his fingers finding her each time.

All at once that electric zing seemed to connect to the other end of her body. Alec’s fingers pressed against her clit, and this time he didn’t back off. He circled the nub, causing the crescendo of pleasure higher. She was vaguely aware of him gathering her to his chest and holding her through the orgasm.

Vara buried her face against his shoulder, breathing him in, her whole body tingling.

Every time was as good, if not better, than the last.

How was that possible?

Alec rolled them to their sides, keeping her tucked in close to him, and kissed her brow.

“You’re fucking amazing, you know that?” he muttered.

She smiled and hugged him back.

The last of the day’s tension eased from her and she was just content.

“Did you...?” She couldn’t honestly remember. She’d been too lost in her own head.

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “That’s why I lent a helping hand. My dick was too sensitive for that. Man, I really thought I’d holdout longer than I did.”

“Next time.” She kissed his cheek.

“Are you falling asleep on me?”

“That sounds good.”

“Bathroom first, then sleep.” He patted her bottom.

With Alec’s help she made it to the bathroom. Unlike earlier, they shared the space as they cleaned up, sharing glances, smiles and touches as they went about their business.

It was comfortable. Nice. Familiar.

Nothing at all like a hot fling. No, this felt like more.

And that was dangerous.

Despite the weariness weighing her down, Vara lay in bed long after they’d shared their last kiss. She folded her hands over her stomach and listened to Alec’s breathing. In a matter of moments a soft snore rippled through the room. She smiled and rolled to her side, studying the curve of his shoulder in the darkness. Warmth throbbed in her chest whenever she looked at or thought of this man. A week ago that hadn’t been the case.

What was wrong with her?

She squeezed her eyes shut. Deep down she’d always known that a traitorous part of her heart still cared for him, no matter that he’d left her in such a cold, callous way. She didn’t like the truth behind why they’d really broken up any better than she’d liked not having a reason. It was just another kind of complicated.

Alec had the keys to her heart. She pressed a hand to her sternum. The way she responded to him, what she felt? She was probably halfway in love with him all over again. And they barely knew each other anymore.

He’d asked her to come to Florida with him for a week to decompress and see what happened between them. This wasn’t even day one. It was the travel day and already she could feel herself slipping down the dangerous slope into something deeper with Alec. They still had it, whatever it was.

But what did he mean when he said he wanted to explore where this was going? Was he talking about a week-long experience? Or something more? Her heart had taken those words and run with them, but maybe they weren’t on the same page.

She didn’t have it in her to ask him. No, she needed him to broach that topic and until he did, she’d have to restrain herself. Hold a piece of herself back so that if he broke her heart again, she wouldn’t be totally shattered. Last time had been bad enough.