JENNA’S THOUGHTS PING-ponged back and forth between wanting to strangle Alex or hump him. She rode his bumper all the way back to his house, alternately fuming or chiding herself for imaging what it would be like to strip him down to nothing.

She ground her teeth together and took the turn onto his street a little too fast. Alex, on the other hand, drove exactly five miles under the speed limit, with no sense of urgency.

His sense of control chafed her need to feel the rush of arousal and need. When he kissed her, when they touched, everything else didn’t matter and that bothered her after tonight.

Alex eased up next to the curb in front of his house and flashed his blinker at her.

She whipped into the driveway and threw the car into park, glaring at the movement inside the pickup. He’d driven her crazy with longing before, but now it was worse. Now she was subject to the rules of their secret game, keeping this wild, passionate thing between them private.

It wasn’t fair.

He climbed out of his truck and crossed the yard. She could already hear Genghis barking from the back yard.

Jenna grabbed her bag and climbed out of the car. The porch light highlighted just how big and wide he was in all the right places. She’d seen a lot of buff, action-ready men in the military. Alex had one of the best bodies.

He stood back and held the front door for her, his phone pressed to the side of his face.

“Yeah? They take care of you?” he said to the person on the other end of the line.

She wanted to fight. She wanted to fuck. She wanted to throw his phone across the room. Instead, she took her things into the spare bedroom and chunked them on the bed.

“Glad you’re doing better, Delores. I’ll check on you tomorrow.”

He was right behind her.

An electric sensation shot down her spine and into the floor, grounding her. She could smell the faint scent of hops and malt, and a stronger, spicier aroma that was all Alex. Fabric rustled and she could imagine him shoving his phone into his pocket.

“What’s up with you?” he asked.

“Nothing.” The venom in her voice said otherwise, but she wasn’t exactly sure why she was so irritated with him.

“Fine, when you decide you want to talk, I’ll be in here.”

She yanked the buttons on her paramedic shirt and glared over her shoulder.

He couldn’t play this caveman act then pretend everything was okay. He’d set the rules for this thing between them and was now upset when she did exactly as she always did. Then he didn’t have the decency to really fight with her about it. Either he wanted her, or he didn’t. But that wasn’t the source of her frustration.

After a long day, she wanted out of her uniform. She changed into pajama pants and a tank top, then poked around the room for Mittens. Nothing appeared shredded or peed on, so the cat was safe. For now.

She could crawl into bed and try to sleep. By herself. But then she’d wake up even angrier, and she’d never been one to shirk a difficult conversation. They had to address tonight. Now.

Jenna stepped into the hall and listened for the sounds of Alex moving around. The back door banged and heavy footsteps thudded across the linoleum. She took a right down the short, hall and a left into the kitchen. Genghis continued to make pleased canine noises outside while his owner ran water into a bucket.

That made her pause.

“Are you leaving him outside tonight?”

“No. He just went out half an hour ago.”

“Who lets him out?”

“Neighbor’s kid. I pay him to let Genghis out and in while I’m on duty.” He nodded behind her.

“Oh.”

She leaned against the doorframe and watched him top the bucket off. The paper towels on the counter were properly shredded, no doubt thanks to Mittens. What else had the cat attacked?

Jenna pushed off the doorframe and wandered into the living room, the familiar, restless itch driving her to pace and move about. How many nights had she lost to this same urge? Too many to count.

She listened to the squeak of the back door and his heavy footsteps through the house. Calm, cool and collected radiated off him in waves. In other words, he was Alex. And she wanted to ruffle his feathers again because he was under her skin and in her thoughts.

Jenna turned to face him, gathering up all her irritation and focusing it at a single point between his eyes.

“I get being jealous, but tonight wasn’t okay.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I agree.”

He—what? She stared at him.

Seriously?

After that caveman act?

“Then what was that back there?” She gestured in a rough estimation toward Ransom.

“I told you, I was jealous.” Alex leaned a hip against the counter.

“That’s supposed to make it okay?”

“No. I acted like an ass. You’re right, it wasn’t okay.” His focus rested on her face, but she felt it everywhere. Her stomach. Her breasts. Even her toes. “Trevor is suspicious. He’s already called Delores.”

Shit.

“I’ll handle Trevor,” she said. He was focused on his mystery girl, not Jenna.

Alex glanced away.

“We’re friends. Remember?” She leaned into his line of sight. “You can’t tell me who to be friends with.”

“I know, I just have this...I want that.”

Be still my beating heart.

Okay, so it wasn’t just her struggling with their attraction.

“I’ve never slept at Trevor’s house. I’ve also never kissed or had sex with him.”

“Good. I’ll get over it I’m just...”

“A caveman.” She smiled despite still wanting to strangle him. The bubble of tension burst and the muscles across her shoulders eased. Deep down a feminine bit of her preened. Alex liked her a whole lot more than a little. Perhaps she drove him as crazy as he her?

“Yeah. That.”

“You get a pass. This time. Got it? You pull this stuff again and we’re done.” She wagged her finger at him. Yeah, she might play it off right now, but if he didn’t change, if they didn’t strike a balance, she was out. The possessive act wasn’t going to work with her. She’d been independent for far too long.

“Trevor—”

“Let me worry about him, okay? If you try to talk to him he’s going to get more suspicious.” She reached out and flattened her hand against his chest, relishing the hard feel of his muscles under her fingertips. “I wish this didn’t have to be a secret.”

“Let’s give it a few weeks.”

“What then?”

“Then we have to make a decision.”

She nodded and stared at the neckline of his t-shirt. He’d changed before their briefing. In a way, she preferred the uniform. When he wore these thin, threadbare t-shirts her imagination went nuts with the way they hung on his muscles. It was the male version of the little red dress. Certain to drive a woman like her crazy with want.

Jenna grabbed a handful of his shirt and shoved it up.

“What?” Alex frowned at her, but obeyed her implied command and removed the shirt.

Naked man chest was better. Much better.

She slid her hands down over his shoulders and chest. The short, wiry hairs tickled her palms. His small, flat nipples teased her. She leaned closer and licked one, tasting the slightly salty tang of his skin.

Alex gripped her hips and pulled her closer until their bodies touched and bumped as they shifted. She slipped her hands past the waistband of his jeans and ran her fingers around to the front tab. The denim parted easily, the zipper practically running away from her on its trek downward.

“Jenna.” The way he growled her name, she couldn’t decide if it was a curse or a praise.

“What?” She reached into his jeans and palmed his erection. He really didn’t need to talk. At this point, speaking wasn’t high on her list of things to do.

He grunted and rocked his hips into her grasp.

“We had a fight. Now we get to have make-up sex. Or are you going to argue with me about that, too?” She pushed her hand into his underwear and pumped his cock.

Jenna held her breath, eyes on his chest. When it came to men they didn’t always like how strong she came on, preferring for her to lie back and let them take the lead. That wasn’t her. She’d gone into hot zones right alongside freedom fighters and now she charged into tense situations with SWAT. If she wanted a man, they’d damn well know. Except they didn’t all appreciate that about her.

Her lungs burned for oxygen. If he didn’t answer her soon, she might pass out from lack of oxygen or need, one.

“No.” Alex groaned and leaned against the back of the sofa, his chin tipped up and his face hidden from view.

Awesome.

An invisible band unlocked from around her chest, allowing her to breathe freely. A tingle of awareness swept her body from head to toe. For two years she’d wanted him. For more than the last year she’d remained celibate, save for her trusty vibrator. She had a lot of pent up sexual need to work out of her system. And just the man to use as her personal jungle gym.

She licked his other nipple, swirling her tongue over the hard little nub. His cock grew harder in her palm. She swiped her thumb over the tip, using the moisture seeping out to slick over his skin.

His jeans were too confining. She shoved them down his hips, freeing all the important parts. Last night she hadn’t gotten to see him. It had been too dark, and she’d been too needy. Now, she stood back, letting her eyes eat him up.

Alex gripped the back of the couch, his lids heavy and his lips tightly compressed. She’d taken that to indicate his frustration with her from day one. Now, she knew it for the tell it was. He was holding himself back. Keeping what he wanted buried down deep inside. Well, he could keep that to himself for a little bit longer while she committed this picture to memory.

The tendons on either side of his neck were flexed, a testament to how much he was restraining himself. She’d spent hours sprawled across his well-defined chest, but in the light it was so much more impressive. His abs were one hard line of muscle after the other, with the panty-dropping V-marks on either hip. Her medical background told her that the result was a combination of muscle toning on several sets of muscles, specifically the pelvic ones, but hot damn, she didn’t care what her text books called them. Right now, they simply made her want to be rid of all her clothes.

A dark trail of hair led the way down from his navel to the patch of neatly trimmed hair at the base of his cock. She hadn’t pegged him for a manscaper, but she could appreciate the aesthetic. His cock jutted out, fully erect. Pre-come dampened his skin. Thick veins stood out against the velvety smooth skin. His thigh muscles bunched, reminding her that this wasn’t a man to toy with.

She leaned in, pressing her body to his, and kissed his mouth while she palmed his cock with one hand and his ass with the other. It was just as firm and round as the rest of him.

Alex turned them so fast she almost tipped over the sofa, but he held her. Her heart pounded, pumping lust through her veins. He was everywhere, gripping her breast, in her pants, holding her hair, in her mouth.

He yanked her pajama pants and panties down her legs. She gasped and kicked out of them, too needy to complain. Whereas last night Alex had paused so often to ensure her permission, he didn’t this time. Maybe she’d finally gotten it through that black and white skull of his that she meant business of the sexual kind.

Alex stood, hooking his hand under her left knee. She tipped back, perching on the sofa, and curled her hands over his shoulders. He dipped down, kissing her mouth. His cock rested against her thigh, a hot, hard promise of what they were about to do. She curled her calf around his ass, praying he’d edge closer, but all she got was his tongue in her mouth.

He dropped her leg and turned her around on wobbly knees. He pressed a hand between her shoulder blades, urging her to lean over the sofa. She planted her hands on the worn cushions and pushed her hips back, against his pelvis.

Alex circled her ribs with his arms, flattening his palms under her tank-top and pushing the fabric and her bra up over her breasts. He squeezed one, then the other, with his face nestled in the crook of her neck. His breathing was labored and ever so often he made these needy almost-groan noises in the back of his throat.

“Christ,” he muttered.

“Jenna.”

He chuckled and slapped her bottom.

She yelped and squeezed her knees together.

“Stay right there,” he said against her ear. “Understand me?”

“Yup.” She swiveled her hips in a circle, concentrating on the feel of his hardness against her.

Alex released her and leaned over the couch. He grabbed a plastic bag and dug out a box—of condoms. She grinned, noting he’d opted for the jumbo box. Someone was expecting a lot of nookie. And someone would be right.

He ripped open the box and yanked out a strip of foil packets. He pulled one off the end and bit the corner of the package.

There was something devilishly sexy about the way he stared at her when he did it, as if to say, I can’t wait to have you. In a matter of seconds he had the latex stretched over his swelling cock.

Alex wrapped one arm around her waist and plastered himself to her backside. He buried his face in her hair and cupped her mound. She sucked in a breath her entire focus going to that point at her pelvis where their bodies connected. He pushed his fingers between her folds. She squirmed and shifted, urging him deeper, wanting him inside her already, but he held back.

“Alex.” She dug her fingers into the cushions, pouring her frustration into those points.

“Give me a second.”

“Why?”

“I need—just hold on.”

“No,” she wailed. She’d waited and held on all day while her mind made a mental loop of all the places he’d touched her, what his body felt like on top of hers and how each point of contact sparked new fantasies.

She bent forward, going down to her elbows. His fingers curled, pressing against her opening, but that was it. She needed more. A whole lot more.

Jenna covered his hand with hers, pushing one of his fingers into her. His body jerked and his hips bucked against her.

He pulled out of her grasp and in the next moment replaced his finger with the head of his cock.

Yes!

A naked victory dance circled round her brain.

He flexed his hips, and she felt him slide into her, one delicious inch at a time. She sucked down a deep breath, her mind buzzing with lust and sensation. He shifted, back and forth, easing himself into her. She dropped her head forward, surrendering herself to all the different ways he touched her.

His hand clenched the sofa next to her elbow, all the tendons and ligaments sticking out. Yet another display of his control and restraint. What would it be like if he ever let go with her?

The hand at her hip squeezed and her nerves pulsed from head to toe with feel-good emotions.

She felt the bunch of his muscles the moment before he pulled almost all the way out of her. Her eyes rolled back as he pushed in once more, just a tiny bit harder.

“More,” she said and rolled her hips, working in tandem with him as he left her body.

His hold on her hips tightened the moment before he thrust. She moved with him, thrusting back onto his cock.

“Oh, yes.” She hissed her approval as the pleasurable aftershocks rippled through her.

Alex seemed to get the hint and this time he thrust hard enough she rocked up on her toes and lights blossomed behind her eyes.

Oh my, that was it.

“Yes,” she said again.

He withdrew and thrust, driving her crazy. The sofa inched across the floor with her draped across it. She could feel each finger imprinting itself against her hips as he drove himself deeper and deeper into her body.

Jenna squealed and threw her head back as she tipped over the edge into an endless abyss of bliss. Alex continued to pump into her, holding her body hostage. She gripped the cushions and buried her face in them as the orgasm drew out and sensation rippled through her body.

Alex shouted and all at once stilled. He growled something deep in his throat while breath hissed out. Whatever he said was lost to her. She was spent, completely done in by him, and it was delicious.

Jenna remained bonelessly slumped over the furniture for several moments while neither of them moved. The only sounds were their labored breathing and the distant whine of Genghis at the door.

Alex eased out of her and in one easy move scooped her up. His jeans were down around his ankles, but that didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. He carried her around to the front of the couch and flopped down with her sprawled out on top of him. She turned and squirmed until she was chest to chest with him, her face buried against his shoulder. Sweat slicked his hair to his skin.

Her body hummed with a well worn pleasure that was only the product of a good fucking. At least now it wasn’t her vibrator getting her off.

Alex rubbed his hands up and down her back and kissed the top of her head.

She could fall asleep like this if he let her, and she just might.

Things between them were too good to not figure out how to make it work. Granted, she had no idea how they’d work out her stalker or PTSD issues, or how they would decide who got to stay on with SWAT, but if Alex wanted her, she wasn’t about to say no.