Gwen rolled on top of Jonathan placing open mouth kisses down his chest, over abs that twitched at her touch, past his outie belly button and followed the trail of reddish brown hair. When her chin bumped into his morning erection, she traced the tip with her tongue, licking the silver drop that escaped.

His breath hitched.

He was waking up just the way she’d intended. She opened her mouth and sucked him in, working her tongue over the bottom.

“Sweetheart, that’s enough,” Jonathan said between gasps.

Gwen liked the power she had over him. She pumped his shaft as she sucked hard.

He grabbed her head and pulled her up to face him. “Ride me.” Then he took her mouth with unleashed passion, biting, nipping, and thrusting his tongue in and out.

She slid down on him, slowly, torturing them both. Then, did as ordered. As she glided up and down his wet cock, all too soon she was close, so close. He grabbed her hips, forcing her to stop.

“Condom.” He sounded panicky.

“I’m clean, tested regularly.” When she saw his big eyes, though, worry crept through her. Was he? They hadn’t talked much about past lovers. Damn. She’d never been this reckless, but she’d felt safe with Jonathan. “What about you?”

“Clean. Guardian won’t tolerate anything but a sparkling bill of health.” He didn’t release her hips, though. Just above a whisper, he asked, “Birth control?”

She couldn’t stop the eye roll. “I’m a nurse. What do you think? Of course I’m on birth control, not that I’ve had much reason to worry about getting pregnant. It’s been almost a year since my last lover.”

“I’m buried deep inside you,” Jonathan warned. “We’re not talking about other men you’ve had.”

She leaned forward and told him a truth that frightened her as much as it excited her. “I’ve never had a man like you before. It’s so much better with you. I feel like we’re sharing rather than taking our own pleasure.” She couldn’t say anything more. It was too soon to tell him she was falling in love.

He cupped her face and pulled her lips down to his. A breath away, he whispered, “You are very special to me.”

The kiss started as sweet and tender, then ramped to desperate and needy as he thrust his tongue into her mouth while raising his hips, forcing him in deeper and deeper.

She reared up and took over. With her hands on his powerful chest, she rode him hard. He cupped her breasts and rolled her nipples, just the way she liked it.

“You are so good at this.” He sat up and took one nipple into his hot mouth and sucked.

Damn, she loved that. She was getting close.

He released her nipple with a tiny nip of teeth. “What do you need?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“Touch me,” she begged.

The second his rough thumb caught the underside of her clit, she screamed his name and came so hard she never felt him follow her.

An hour later, her alarm was buzzing. With closed eyes, she smacked her hand around the nightstand to turn the damn thing off. She felt the loss of him before she ran her hand over cool sheets. She missed him, and wanted these past few days to be her life. Her working all day and Jonathan there all night.

Well, she wanted most of it. She didn’t want to be a waitress or even restaurant manager one day beyond the return of her aunt and uncle. This experience had proven that she needed to find something more mentally challenging to do with her life. But, today, she had to get up and wait on mostly-friendly people, chat with the regulars, and make sure the restaurant was in good shape when the family finally returned.

She smiled knowing Jonathan would be there again that night.

Her personal protection stood guard at her door when she headed down to the diner. “Morning, Gwen.”

“Morning, Stan.” She practically skipped down the two flights of steps.

By seven thirty that night, she was dead on her feet when Jonathan called.

“Is there anything you can tell me?” She was well aware of operational security, but wanted to know something. Anything.”

“We were right. It’s the American Airlines towers,” Jonathan confirmed.

She was dying to know. “Did you get them?”

Silence.

Oh, damn.

“We will tonight,” he announced.

“You’re going back out, tonight?” Dread filled every pore in her body.

“Yes, sweetheart.” He reassured her. “You don’t need to worry. There will be a policeman outside your apartment door and another on the street.”

So police were now involved. She wondered who else was in on this op.

“Are you…can I see you before you leave?” Gwen wanted to tell him, especially now, just how she felt about him. She’d seen too many men leave camp on a routine mission and return injured, or… She. Would. Not. Go. There. The mere idea of never seeing Jonathan again had her heart twisted and stomach roiling.

“I don’t think—” he started, but she suddenly had a brilliant idea.

“What time are you leaving?” she interrupted.

“We’re meeting some others at midnight,” he replied warily.

“Then be here at ten-thirty. All of you,” she insisted.

“I don’t know—”

Cutting him off again, she ordered, “Put Alex on the phone.” She wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“Hello, Gwen. Did the boys show up again?” Alex asked.

Ignoring his question, she jumped right in. “Your men need good food in their bellies before they go out tonight. I’m sure it’ll be a long night.”

When Alex started to protest, she shut him down. “It’s my treat. We’re closing at ten tonight for a private party and that’s it. You will be here. You can’t start a mission half empty. I know the drill. Carbs. Spaghetti, meatballs, salad, and bread. That should hold you until you all get back here for breakfast. No matter what time, you are all coming back here.” Then she added, “Safe and sound.” She sent up a little prayer that it would be true.

“Yes, ma’am,” She could hear the grin in Alex’s voice as he quipped, “Damn, Jonathan, she’s a feisty one, isn’t she? Reminds me of Katlin.”

“I can handle her,” Jonathan replied.

“On that insult,” she declared, “since I don’t need to be handled, I’ve got work to do. I will see all of you at ten.”

She flicked off the call so they couldn’t argue.

At exactly ten o’clock, Gwen looked up and down the street before she pulled the last shade ensuring privacy. There was no sight of them. For a moment, she worried that they would stand her up. All the food she’d worked on for hours would go to waste, or they’d have a baked spaghetti special for lunch the next day.

The door opened and twelve men in full battle gear, weapons strapped on duty belts and to thighs, walked in on silent boots. Black camo replaced the desert digitized tans but there was little difference between these skilled warriors and the ones she tended to in the secret Afghani USSOCOM camp.

These men were more clean-cut and handsome as models. As they paraded past her, a calendar came to mind. He’d make a perfect January with that chilling don’t-fuck-with-me demeanor. Oh, but that one is so hot he’d have to be July.

She recognized several faces including Quin and Griffin.

Jonathan gave her a warm, but tired, smile. Inhaling deeply, his smile grew ear to ear. “Sweetheart, is that fresh baked apple pie I smell?”

She grinned. “Your favorite.”

“I think I’m in love,” Jonathan announced. “Apple pie, men. This wonderful woman made me apple pie.” He picked her up and spun her around, giving her a loud smack on the lips before he set her down.

Feeling like a dizzy child, she assured, “I made plenty for everyone. And for those who don’t like pie, there’s cake.”

Gwen started toward the back of the counter and nearly tripped. Had she heard him right? Had he used the L word? Did he feel the same way about her as she did about him?

“Gwen,” Jacki derailed the train of thoughts she was having about a future with Jonathan. “Should I ask about drinks?”

“Let’s start them with coffee,” she told the young woman and grabbed a pot in each hand.

To make it fast and easy, they’d set up a buffet with each chafing dish filled to the brim and more in the kitchen. She was well aware of how men ate, and these men would not leave hungry.

Alex brought up the end of the line as men heaped noodles onto plates and shoveled beef marinara or seafood alfredo sauce over top. “Gwen, you know you didn’t need to do this, but thank you.”

“I would almost have preferred to go hungry than eat that fried shit Quin’s cook serves.” Griffin stepped from the line and gave her a one-armed hug. “Thank you, Gwen. My stomach thanks you, too.”

“I’m looking for a chef for the new place,” Quin retorted. He gave Griffin a sly smile. “I wonder if Stella would like to move to Texas?”

“No fucking way,” Griffin boldly snapped back. “She’s mine and loves it in Miami.”

“Sorry, Quin,” Alex added, “she’d never leave her grandchildren. I’m sure you’ll find someone here.”

Cups filled and two carafes left on the table, Gwen announced, “If you men are all set, I’ll go check on the kitchen.”

Luis was off and the two other cooks had their hands full so her help was necessary. She scurried around plating pie and cake, and ran into a hard body that didn’t belong in her busy kitchen. “Dessert will be out in a few minutes and Jacki can get you more drinks, if that’s what you need.”

“I think I’d better test my blood and, just to be on the safe side, refill my pump.”

The voice sounded familiar but didn’t match the man in her way. “Excuse me?”

A deep chuckle made her look up into brilliant blue eyes.

“It’s me, Gwen. Kane.”

Her jaw dropped. His long hair was tied back making his closely shaved face look ten years younger. He was gorgeous.

“I clean up pretty good,” he admitted. “I think I should refill my pump since it’s going to be a long night.”

“You’re not going out there with them, are you?” She sounded like a protective mother, or sister. They were only a few years apart in age.

“No.” He shrugged. “Alex wants me in the Command Center running things from there.”

She lowered her voice. She had to know. “How much danger are they in?”

His answer was the typical military non-answer. “Every mission can be dangerous.”

She pulled the insulin from the refrigerator and held it to her breasts. He’d never try to grab it from her there. “Answer my question, please.”

Kane glanced at the tables of men on the other side of the large pass-through then back at Gwen. Quietly he said, “Intel has the terrorists planting snipers throughout the woods to take out as many people as possible in the panic when the buildings blow. Guardian, and a Homeland SWAT team, plan to…eliminate them as they take up their positions tonight.”

Gwen’s heart sank deeper with every word. Jonathan could get hurt. Even—no, she wouldn’t think that. Her arms dropped. When Kane snagged the insulin from her hands, it brought her back to the present. She got to work with Kane’s injection system.

By ten forty-five, the Guardian men had scraped their dessert plates clean. At an unseen signal, they all stood. Alex led the entourage of badass commandos, stopping in front of her. “I always seem to be thanking you.” He glanced at the table where Jacki and the bus boy were cleaning up. “We truly appreciate your hospitality. The meal was wonderful.” He took her hand and just held it. “You have a heart the size of Texas.” He squeezed slightly before releasing her.

Thank you and compliments came from every man as the filed out. Jonathan was the last in line and waited until everyone else had left. Jacki grabbed the bus boy and went to the kitchen.

Alone, Jonathan took her into his arms, and the world stilled. This was where she belonged. Forever.

She had to say it. He had to know before he left that he had someone to come back to. Someone who needed him, every day and every night.

He smiled at her and slowly lowered his head. “I’ll see you in—”

“I love you,” she blurted.

His whole body stiffened.

Damn. She’d read him wrong. She was special to him and that was it. He didn’t have those feelings for her. She mentally pulled up her big girl panties, straightened her back and looked into his unreadable face.

“I don’t expect you to…to say anything.” She glanced down. Those soft blue green eyes of his bore through her and she couldn’t see what she needed in them. Not now, anyway. But maybe someday he’d feel the same. She looked back up at him. “I just wanted you to know that I’ll be here, waiting for you, when you finish tonight.”

With two fingertips under her chin, he gently raised her face then pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. Instead of the rush of electricity that usually jolted her system at his touch, soothing heat flowed through her, like gliding into a tub of warm water, relaxed and satiated.

“I’ll see you for breakfast.” Jonathan turned and walked out the door.