When Ryan stepped into his suite that afternoon, he froze in the doorway to his bedroom. Emily was packing her suitcase, the one she hadn’t even unpacked yet. “Em?”

She lifted her gaze, though he had no idea how she hadn’t heard him enter. Her expression suggested she was deep in thought until that moment. Now she lit up as if she was excited about something, a thought that was at odds with the fact she was packing. “Hey.”

He pointed at her belongings on his bed. “What are you doing?” If she was leaving the compound again so soon, he might actually argue this time.

“Good news. Temple says the suite I was staying in is available. I can have it back while I’m here.”

He lifted a brow, relieved she intended to stay in the bunker while concerned about her moving to another room. “Why do you need it?”

She came toward him and then set her hands on his chest, tipping her head back to look at him. “Lots of reasons come to mind.”

He ran his hands up her biceps and held her closer. “List them.”

“For one, Temple offered me a temporary job assignment so I can stay here until I figure out what to do next with my life.”

“That’s good. But it doesn’t explain the need for your own room.”

“Ryan… We’re taking a gamble. We can’t guarantee things will work out between us in the long run. If I stay in your room, people will talk. If we end up not together, it will be awkward. I don’t want you to feel pressured by me. You weren’t expecting to meet me at this point in your life.”

He swallowed. So many counterarguments came to mind, but he ignored them because she seemed set on moving into her own room. Maybe it had nothing to do with him and everything to do with her. Maybe she felt awkward about essentially living with him inside the bunker. Had someone said something to her? She could be embarrassed. Or perhaps she woke up this morning not feeling the same way about him that he felt about her.

No matter what her reasons were, she seemed intent on projecting her fears on him, and he wasn’t going to argue. He might not have years of experience with women, but his man card was solid in his wallet. Groveling to convince a woman to sleep in his bed was not in the cards. “Okay.”

She furrowed her brow. “Okay.”

He had no idea if that was a question or a declaration of relief or a statement of surprise. At the moment he needed to get back to his office. “Okay,” he repeated more firmly, releasing her, completely uncertain about her motives and a little miffed.

He didn’t have time for this. If she had doubts about his feelings for her, all she needed to do was ask. If her doubts were about her own feelings, she could either take the easy way out and get another room or talk to him. She’d chosen to get another room.

“I need to get back to the lab. Do you need any help with this?” He stepped back, rubbed his hands on his thighs, and then pointed at her luggage.

“No. I can get it.” Her voice was weaker. She glanced away. Embarrassed about hurting him or relieved. Lord, women were complicated.

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you later.” He spun around and left the suite, feeling ridiculous and uncomfortable. She hadn’t even told him what sort of job Temple had offered her. He’d lost track of that line of thinking the moment she said she was moving out. Her initial expression had been one of excitement, but then she’d dropped this new bomb.

Dammit. Pulling his mind back to his priorities, he picked up his pace and headed back to the lower level of the bunker.

* * *

Ryan missed dinner, perhaps on purpose. He stayed in the lab poring over data at his desk as if solving the mysteries of the random file he picked up would mean the difference between life and death for half the planet if he didn’t find a cure that very day.

Temple had hunted him down a few hours ago and given him the blow to his ego that he’d been followed to Omaha. At first he’d considered punching a hole in the wall, but then she had talked him down. No one blamed him. It would have happened sooner or later anyway. No harm was done.

The truth was he was frustrated. Pissed at himself. Hiding. Confused. Never mind what had happened outside the front gate, he was so worried about Emily, he couldn’t think. He’d talked himself into about nine different scenarios, all of them completely ridiculous and unrelated.

In his mind he could picture Emily on top of him last night, riding him, her hands on his chest, her hair a tumbled mess of gorgeous curls over her shoulders and down her back. The moment she came, when her mouth fell open and her head arched back, he’d never seen anything so beautiful. So perfect. So right.

That woman. That Emily. She didn’t just move out of his room because she had cold feet.

Another Emily haunted him too, though. One who had been an important research scientist ten years ago, which had only been two months ago for her. Her life was spinning out of control, and she needed space and time to pull herself back together and figure out who she was.

That Emily didn’t need to be pressured by a man who was falling so hard for her that he wanted to beg her to stay with him. In his bed. His life. His world.

He had no reason to be frustrated with her. He needed to let her go. Be who she needed to be. Learn who that was.

Yet another Emily spun around in his brain. One who slept in his bed last night and then woke up unsure. Scared. Not ready for the kind of commitment she might have thought he was asking for.

He never should have assumed she would want to stay in his suite and moved her stuff into his rooms. It had been presumptuous and unfair.

He took a deep breath, rubbing his temples, hating himself for walking away from her earlier, leaving her with almost no explanation. He lowered his gaze to the file in his hand again, trying to focus. The data he was staring at wasn’t making any sense to him. He’d gone over the numbers repeatedly. Something was still off.

Or perhaps he was so damn distracted worrying about his relationship with Emily that he couldn’t focus. He was in no state of mind to be working. He needed to find her. Explain. Something.

When he spun his chair around with that thought in mind, he found her standing in the doorway, wringing her hands, her face a little pale. “Hey,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

“No.” He pushed off his chair. “You’re not. I wasn’t…” He rushed across the room and took both her hands in his. “I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything all day.”

“My fault.” She lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry for earlier.”

He slid his hands up her arms and then lifted her chin with one finger. “I should be the one apologizing. You surprised me. I didn’t react well. I got a little freaked out actually. I shouldn’t have walked away.”

She gave a wan smile. “I realized after you left how it must have looked. I was so excited about Temple giving me a job that I was giddy. You would have taken that wrong when you came in to find me packing.”

He nodded. “I was shocked. I thought we were…together. I also realize that was presumptuous. We haven’t known each other long. You have a right to your space. You have so many decisions to make. You don’t need me pressuring you.”

Her eyes widened. “Pressuring me?” She flattened her palms on his chest. He loved it when she did that, leaning in closer until only a breath separated them. “I didn’t want to be the one to pressure you. When Temple offered me a room, it seemed like a good idea. You didn’t ask me to come here. I showed up on my own. You have too many things to worry about without a lost and confused woman in your space.”

He slid his hands around to her back and held her closer. “Baby, it calms me when you’re nearby. It takes my mind off so many fears. You bring me peace. I don’t want to be greedy, though. If you need your space, I totally understand. I’ll respect that in whatever form it looks like to you. But if this entire stupid day has been a misunderstanding, then let me be clear—I want you in my bed.”

Her face turned a gorgeous shade of pink, and she lifted onto her tiptoes to kiss his lips gently. “Are you done here?” She glanced past him, nodding toward his desk.

“Yes.” He smiled, tipping his face into her hair and inhaling her scent.

“Then let’s go back to your room where we can talk in private.” Her fingers slid down his arms until she took his hand and turned around, tugging.

He followed, willingly, saying nothing as they walked. When they were finally alone, the door locked behind him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, while his scrub pants grew tighter by the moment.

“How about we compromise,” she murmured against his lips.

His hands went to her hips, pulling her closer so he could press against her belly. “Please tell me this compromise involves you naked in about five seconds.”

She giggled, the vibration sending a shiver down his body. “That can be negotiated,” she teased. “But what I was going to suggest is that I keep my separate suite for now. We can’t move in together just because we had sex last night. It’s not realistic. We hardly know each other.”

He threaded his hands in her hair and tipped her head back, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I know it’s been fast, but I know you better than anyone I’ve ever been in any sort of relationship with.”

She blew out a breath. “That may be, but I don’t even know me, Ryan. I have no idea who I am. There’s no way for you to know me.”

“So, we’ll figure it out together.” At the moment he was reaching for any loose thread in an effort to accomplish the most important goal—not letting her escape his grasp. Whether or not his idea was a good one remained to be seen. If she would just agree to stay, they could get to know each other, fill in the gaps, give their precarious relationship a chance.

Was it fair to her? Maybe. Maybe not. She rose onto her tiptoes and kissed his lips briefly again. “You have a lot on your plate. It’s pulling you in two different directions to babysit me also.”

He flinched. “I’m not babysitting you. You’re already healthier than I’ve ever been.”

“Emotionally, Ryan. Your eyes follow me across a room like you’re on eggshells, fearing I might snap at any moment. That’s too much stress for you. You’ve got your parents to think about. And when your dad wakes up, he’s going to need you as much as you need him. Same thing with your mom. Trust me. I just went through the reacquainting stage with my family. It’s hard to even close your eyes for fear it was all a dream and you won’t wake up from it a second time.”

Ryan knew she was right, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t carve time for her too. He wrapped his fingers around her biceps, searching her eyes.

She continued. “If I keep my own room, our relationship won’t be so blatantly defined for everyone in the bunker, and we both have an easy out if we need it.”

“That’s a pretty weak argument.” He slid his palms up to cup her breasts. He wasn’t playing fair and he knew it. “You need to understand a few things.”

She moaned as he pinched her nipples through the soft material of her sweater. “I think I understand the most important things,” she whispered, half grinning as her hand found his erection and cupped him through his scrubs.

He released her breasts, grabbed her fingers, and tugged her over to the couch. After lowering her onto the cushions, he kneeled in front of her and grabbed both her hands to keep her from distracting him while he finished talking. The way her breath hitched didn’t help. “First of all, no one inside the bunker is under any illusions about us. We’ve been spending the evenings together for weeks, long before we started sleeping together. None of them know when we crossed that line.” He lifted a brow.

She nodded slowly. “Good point.”

When she gave a tug to her hands, he held tighter. “One more thing, so the air is clear and there’s no misunderstanding.”

She licked her lips, her eyes wide.

“This isn’t a trial for me. I’m head over heels for you. I’m not asking you to return the sentiment. I don’t expect it at all. You take all the time in the world, and I won’t pressure you. But don’t for a minute doubt my feelings. I never want you to walk away from me misunderstanding how I feel about you.

“You keep the other room as long as you’d like. You can sleep there if you want or use it to get some privacy, but my bed is always yours, day or night. You’ll carry my keycard in your pocket too and walk into this suite anytime you want. And do so knowing I want you here. That won’t change.”

He watched her swallow. “Okay.” The one word was weak. “I’m sorry for earlier. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I’m sorry for turning around and walking out the door without an explanation. It was a shitty thing to do. It won’t happen again. I let some stupid insecurity seep in and take over. I was stunned and shocked and didn’t know what to say, so I walked out the door.” He released her hands, slid his fingers down her arms, and cupped her face. “Never again.”

And then he claimed her lips in the kind of passionate kiss that always made her melt against him. Tonight was no exception.

He wanted to feel her body pressed against his. He wanted every inhale to include her scent. The scent of the shampoo he’d bought her lingered in her hair. She was still using it.

She pulled him closer, her hands sliding into his hair.

Thank God. He lowered his head to her chest and nuzzled her breast through the thin material of her sweater. He knew she’d gone shopping with her mom several times the first week she was at their house, and he’d been curious to see what sort of style she adopted. If all her clothes were as innocuous as this outfit of a simple maroon sweater and jeans, she clearly hadn’t committed.

Not that he was complaining. The sweater hugged her chest to perfection, accenting her breasts and leaving the barest tease of lace at the V-neck. Lace he fully intended to set his eyes on immediately.

He slid his hands to the hem of her sweater and then pushed it up her body and over her head. Seconds later, she was squirming in his grip as he held her waist and licked the seam of her black lacey bra between her breasts.

When she arched into him, a soft moan on her lips, her hands digging into his shoulders, he inwardly fist pumped. Progress. He slid his tongue under the edge of satin and flicked it across her nipple.

“Ryan…” That was a sound he liked to hear. If he was lucky enough to keep her around for the rest of his life, he would never tire of it.

After popping the clasp on her bra, he eased it down her arms and then went to work on the button of her jeans. She lifted her hips, and he tugged the denim down her body, pausing only to slip off her shoes and socks before divesting her of the jeans entirely.

She reached for the sides of his navy scrubs and pulled the shirt over his head next, planting her hands on his chest. “I love the solidness of you.”

He cupped her breasts, flicking his thumbs over the tips. “Solidness?” he teased.

She moaned. “Mm-hmm. Muscly. Firm.” She let her head roll back, the words slipping from her mouth.

He continued to smile as he distracted her with his hands. “Muscly?”

“Stop teasing me and take your pants off.”

He wasn’t ready to follow that order yet. If he let his erection loose, he would explode as soon as he rubbed against her. After having sex with her last night, he’d craved her more. Not less. He couldn’t stop himself from wanting her.

The crazy thing was, he’d never put as much thought into sex before. Not that he was celibate or didn’t take care of his needs, but not quite so often, and his thoughts hadn’t been consumed with visions of any one particular woman before. Especially not one who kept him awake at night with the memory of her touch.

Lowering his face to her chest, he suckled first one and then the other nipple until she squirmed. When her fingers dug into his scalp, he nibbled down her belly and then set his palms on her thighs and pressed them open. He breathed in her scent as he rubbed his nose along the edge of black lace panties that matched the bra.

She might not have gone crazy adapting a style of clothing, but she had put special effort into her lingerie. He wasn’t disappointed. If it made her feel sexy, he would gladly take her himself and pick out a dozen matching sets. Maybe even some nighties too. Or not. He found he liked her naked in his bed.

As she lifted her hips against his face, he slid the sexy panties down her legs, baring her to his view.

Holy shit.

He froze.

She did too.

When he glanced up at her face, his hands holding her thighs tight, he found her teeth clamped down on the corner of her lip, her eyes twinkling. “You like it?”

He took a deep breath, trying to convince his length to stand down as he lowered his gaze to her now-bare folds. The smooth skin begged him to lick, suck, devour. He groaned as he jumped to his feet, grabbed her by the waist, and lifted her into the air.

She wrapped her legs around his hips, giggling. “I guess you like it.”

He still didn’t comment. Instead, he strode across the room, set her sweet ass on the edge of the small, boring, generic kitchen table, and leaned her back onto the surface. With her butt on the edge, she barely fit across it, but he wanted to see her better.

His table was not currently boring or generic. The woman spread out for him was so fucking hot he really was going to come in his scrubs.

She had stopped giggling, her expression now serious, her eyes hooded, her hands planted on the table at her sides. Her legs were shaking as she pulled them together.

He slid his hands up from her ankles to her thighs, pressed them wide and high, and held her open to his view. After slowly licking a path from her wet opening to her clit, he groaned. “Sexiest thing ever, baby.” And then he closed his eyes and sucked her clit into his mouth.

She cried out.

When he glanced sideways at her hand, he found her fingertips pressed so hard against the table they were white. He continued to suckle her, flicking his tongue over the tip several times and then thrusting into her channel.

He knew the instant she was going to come because her thighs tightened under his fingers and she stopped breathing. And then her body shuddered as her tight channel pulsed with the waves of her orgasm. It took a while, but finally, she relaxed her muscles, letting her legs fall open farther as if all modesty had fled the room.

It pleased him that she was openly sexual. Grabbing her hips, he continued to nibble around her swollen sex. Her taste intoxicated him. He would die a happy man if he could spread her open like this at least once a day and rest his cheek on her thigh.

She started to squirm as he released her to kick off his shoes and remove his pants. Her eyes were still glazed over as she spoke in a soft, demanding voice. “Please. I need you inside me.”

He held her gaze as he finished undressing, and then he grabbed his erection with his fist and dragged it through her folds.

She moaned. “Yes… God, yes.” Her eyes fluttered shut.

Instead of taking things slow and easy like he’d promised himself he would, he thrust into her as deep as possible without warning.

Her mouth fell open as her head tipped back. “Oh. God.”

He gritted his teeth. Yeah, this was going to last about one minute again. His vision swam as he wrapped his hands under her thighs and pumped in and out of her. Every pass heightened his need until he couldn’t take another second and let go of the will to make this last longer. On a final thrust, he came, emptying himself deep inside her.

He was pretty sure he saw a peaceful expression on her face when he was able to focus again.