I can’t believe I just had sex with Sean, again, and he’s talking about more. I should say no. I want to say no but he’s like an addiction, and after one taste I can’t seem to quit him. Truthfully, I feel less edgy, antsy, scared when he’s around. He’s rough and tough and wild in the bedroom—or on a mattress in the front yard—but damn, when I’m in his arms I feel safe and untouchable.

“I . . .” His gaze moves over mine, hot, delicious, so tempting. He’s waiting for a reaction, a sign that I want more.

“Say yes,” he murmurs.

“I . . . have to be at work in an hour,” I say.

His grin is wicked, so full of filthy promises, a heated quiver moves through me. Even if I wanted to, there is no way I can fight the chemistry between us.

“Then you’d better get showered.” He slides from me, hands me my shorts and tugs on his jeans. I told him I had to work, and it’s the truth. But he knows. He knows by the look on my face that this isn’t the last time we’re going to fall into bed together.

Good God, what am I doing?

I pull on my clothes, except for my bra and panties, but don’t get up. “Sean?”

“Yeah.”

I take a breath, let it out slowly, and say, “I’m not looking for a relationship.” I tug on the frayed edges of my shorts. “I just got out of a bad one.”

He stiffens, every muscle in his body so taut, I think something might snap. “Did he hurt you? So help him if he hurt you.”

I give a quick shake of my head, shocked at this possessive side of him, even though I shouldn’t be. As a kid Sean was always protective, of his brothers, cousins . . . of me. While I’d like to tell him about Jack, or that I had to flush Summer Wheeler’s life down the drain for survival. I can’t drag him into my troubles. This is my problem, not his, and from the sounds of things around town, he has enough on his plate rounding up his family and getting his father’s business back in the black.

“I’m fine,” I lie. “I just came here to get my life in order.” Not a lie.

He scowls as he stares at me, a good hard glower, like he knows I’m keeping something from him. “How long are you staying?”

“Not sure yet. At least a few months.” Until I find the ledger, and figure out what to do with it, I’ll be staying. But of course I’m not about to voice that either. He holds his hand out, and I slide my palm into it. I let him pull me to my feet and my body collides with his. He brushes my hair from my face, tender, soft, a barely there caress. My heart stills. Honest to God, somehow that touch feels more intimate than what we just did.

My breasts swell again, my body going hot for him. I put my hand on his shoulder and his muscles ripples, the heat between us volatile. His jaw clenches and he looks like he’s fighting some internal battle.

“Jenna,” he begins, then goes quiet for a long moment. He shakes his head and says, “You’d better get cleaned up.”

I step away from him, but get the sense he wanted to say something else to me. I feel his eyes on my backside, burning in to me and turning me on all over again as I make my way toward the door. I turn, and find him staring, but he doesn’t even try to hide it. Moisture beads on his body, as he stands there, hot, mouthwateringly sexy. A shudder overtakes me and I grip the hem of the tank top, a dirty, delicious idea forming as I tug on it. What I’m about to do isn’t smart, or rational, but I can’t seem to stop myself. His gaze drops to my mouth and desire flares through me.

“Have you heard about the recent water shortage?” I ask.

He arches a brow, his gaze slowly moving back to mine. “A water shortage? Here in Blue Bay?”

“Yes, it’s all everyone is talking about.”

“Funny how I never heard, then.”

“From what I understand, we’re supposed to keep water use to a minimum, so I was thinking . . .”

He walks toward me, his grin so dirty and lethal, my knees nearly give. How is it possible that we just had sex and I want him again, so soon? Normally I can go weeks, months even without ever being touched, but with him, if I don’t feel his hand all over me in the next few minutes I might go up in flames.

“Go on,” he says.

“Well, since we’re both hot and sweaty and we’re both in need of a shower, I thought we could help the environment, by showering together.”

He takes one last step, and I yelp in surprise when he scoops me up, and carries me into the house.

“I do like how you’re concerned about the environment,” he says, “I’m quite environmentally conscious myself.”

He sets me onto the sink, reaches into the small shower stall, and turns on the water. He unbuttons his jeans and kicks them, as well as his boots, off again. My mouth waters as he stands before me, completely naked, not a hint of modesty about him. I look him over, and he comes closer, bracing his hands on the counter top on either side of my thighs. His mouth is close, his warm breath washing over my face. I take in his hard body—one clearly made for sin—and trace the scorpion tattoo.

I don’t think I’ll ever tire of seeing him naked. “Does this have meaning?”

“Yeah.”

I wait for him to answer, when he doesn’t, I touch his scars, run my finger over their purple surfaces. “How did you get all these?”

“Motocross racing.”

As the water heats up, steam fills the room. I blink at him, then touch the deep mark near his jugular. “This one looks bad.”

“I lived.”

“Yeah, but I think you have a death wish,” I say quietly.

“Some would say I do.”

“Why . . . why did you come back to Blue Bay?”

He stiffens, and runs his hands through his hair as he turn from me. I take in his tension, intensity. “Had some family things to take care of.”

I touch his chin, bringing his gaze back to me. “Like running your dad’s business?”

“What do you know about that?”

“Small town. I work at the local bar. You hear things.”

“Why did you come back?”

“As you know, I’d been here a few times with Summer.” This time I look away. It’s hard to keep secrets from Sean. “I thought it would be good place to hang out as I got my life in order.”

“Because of the ex.”

“Yeah.”

“Is that it, or is there anything else you want to tell me?”

“That’s it,” I say.

He puts his hand on my face, and I angle my chin to see him. His eyes are darker, a deeper shade of green as they move over my face, a careful assessment. I don’t really think for one minute I’m fooling him. He knows who I am, but he’s not saying anything. Not only am I grateful that he’s keeping my secret, it proves he’s trustworthy, and I need someone like that in my life right now.

His warm breath washes over me, and my insides flutter, all thoughts of my troubles dissipating beneath his hands. He grips the hem of my top, and peels it over my head. A tortured look crosses his face as he gazes at my breasts. He bends, presses a soft kiss to each one, then picks me up like I weigh nothing, and sets me back on the floor. He drops to his knees, and slides my shorts to my ankles. I lift my feet, one at a time and he discards the shorts.

He stands back up and looks me over. “You’re so beautiful.” His eyes go to mine and turn serious. “I don’t want to stop fucking you.” I swallow. “There are so many things I want to do to you, so many ways I want to take you.” My pulse speeds up and my legs nearly go out from underneath me.

“Sean—”

He steps into me. “For the rest of the summer, you’re mine.”

“You said until the end of the job.”

“Changed my mind.”

Tension arcs between us, thick as the steam curling around the room “Are you asking for a summer fling?” I question, my voice too shaky, husky.

“Yes.” His body is tense, tormented as he dips his head, and brushes his thumb over my bottom lip. “Nothing more.”

The idea of having him in my bed for the next month, feeling his big, strong arms around me, giving me a sense of comfort as he fucks me is deliciously tempting.

“Say yes.”

I should say no. I want to say no. This is Sean Owens, dangerous to my heart in so many ways, and I’m lying to him about my identity for God’s sake. Not only that, I can’t—won’t—drag him into my world.

But honest to God, how often does an offer like this come around. I’d be crazy to so no, right.

“Just casual sex?”

“Just casual. Unless you want formal. But I really don’t like fucking in a tuxedo.”

A sexy dimple flashes as he grins, and I laugh as I turn to step into the stall. He climbs in behind me, and I shift to make room for his large body. He crowds me, hovers close as the warm, needle like spray falls over us.

I grab the soap, about to lather my body when he takes it from me. Bubbles form in his palms and he sets the bar down and runs his big, callused hands over my flesh.

“One more thing,” he says as he turns me. His hands touch my shoulders, feather down my back, and he cups my cheeks.

“What?” I ask.

“You let me do things for you.”

“You are doing things for me. You’re fixing my house.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Sean, I’m not your responsibility.”

“Maybe not, but it’s like this, when you need a damn mattress picked up, or anything else, you ask.”

“Like how you want me to ask when I want you to fuck me?”

He goes still behind me and I can’t help but grin. It secretly thrills me to know I can reduce this big, monster of a guy speechless.

He clears his throat. “Yeah, like that.”

I wiggle my ass and he growls in my ear. “If you keep that up, I’m going to fuck this sweet ass of yours.”

Now it’s my turn to go still. “I’ve never—”

“I know,” he says, and rakes his teeth over my shoulder. “How much time do we have before you have to work?”

His hard cock presses against my back. “Half hour.”

“I’ll be fast,” he says.

Dizzy with need, I turn to him, run my hands over his body. “Fast works,” I say, much too anxious to feel him inside me again. I touch his cock and quiver as he swells even more. It’s big and hard, and—designed solely for my pleasure. He reaches between my legs and thrusts two fingers deep inside me. My knees go weak and he turns my body, and wraps a strong, supportive arm around me. He plunges deep, and presses his palm to my needy clit. I clutch at his arms and rock my hips.

“God, Sean.”

“I need to be in here,” he murmurs, as he bends to rake his teeth over my shoulder. “Tell me you need that, too.”

“I need that too,” I say my voice coming out on a breathless whisper. He pulls his fingers from me, and spins me back to face him. He grips my hips and lifts me and I wrap my legs around him and he backs me up until I’m pressed against the shower, the hot water on his back. His eyes are dark, hard, dangerously ravenous as he shifts me, the long length of his cock pressing against my sex. He’s hard as hard as granite, like we hadn’t just had sex outdoors. I wiggle, trying to get him inside, but then still completely, when little alarm bells jangle in my brain.

“Sean, wait.”

He presses his forehead against mine. “Jesus fuck, please tell me you’re not having second thoughts.”

“No. It’s just . . . condom . . . you’re not wearing a condom.”

“Shit, you’re right.”

He loosens his hold on me but I squeeze my legs around him to prevent him from leaving. “Wait. I’m on the pill, and I’m clean.”

What am I doing?

He meets my gaze, looks me over. “I’m clean, too. I’ve never had unprotected sex before. You can trust me.”

Do I trust Sean? Yes, I do. I always have. But I won’t burden him with my problems.

I press my mouth to his, and as he kisses me back, he powers into me. I gasp.

“You feel so fucking good,” he murmurs, as he rocks his hips. My breasts rub against his chest with each hard thrust, and my clit slams against his pelvis. I can’t move, I can’t breathe, all I can do is hang on with my hands and legs as he fucks me fast.

“I want my cum inside you,” he growls, his mouth on my neck, tasting, licking, nipping. “I’ve never needed my cum in anyone, but I need it in you.”

My breath is coming faster now, and no way am I going to analyze this situation, why he needs his cum in me or why I’m having sex with Sean, no condom, no barriers. Skin on skin. It’s a mistake. I know it is, but when I leave Blue Bay, I’ll have plenty of time to examine my behavior, the way this man makes me feel so many foreign things. Right now, I just want to enjoy the sensations he’s rousing in me.

He slams me against the shower stall, and I scratch at his back as he fucks me hard, harder than ever before, like he’s running from his demons on the open highway, full throttle on his motorcycle.

“Yes,” I cry out, and his mouth closes over mine to capture the sound. Our tongues tangle, play, thrash as we exchange greedy kisses that will leave us bruised. He works me up and down on his cock and I heave in a breath, my body near the breaking point. The rough scruff on his face chafes my neck and I love the sensations. Lightning flashes through me, crashes over me, and I shudder in surrender.

“Sean,” I cry out as I explode. I shake around his cock, shatter completely. He holds me as I ride it out the waves, then his fingers fist in my wet hair.

“Don’t move,” he growls and I still as his cock fills with blood and swells even more inside me. He rocks into me once, twice, then throws his head back.

“Ooh,” I cry out as hot seed fills me, warming my body from the inside out. I have never felt pleasure quite like it. I sigh, and rest my head on his shoulder, and he peppers my neck with hot, openmouthed kisses.

“Every time, just like that,” he murmurs against my flesh.

I laugh, giddy with endorphins. “If you’re promising that, I’ll never get to work.”

His rumble of laughter falls over my flesh, and he inches back. “Right. Work.”

I slide from his body, and instantly miss his warmth. Not wanting to think too much about that, I slip back under the spray, but the water has chilled. I yelp, rinse quickly, and climb out. Sean follows me, and grabs a big fluffy towel off the hook. He wraps me in it, and gives me a slap on the ass to set me into motion.

“You’d better hurry or you’re going to be late.”

I rush from the room, but my feet come to a resounding halt when I hear my cell phone ringing from the depths of my purse in the other room. I stand there, my heart hammering against my chest. In my haste to get away from Jack, I never took the time to cancel my phone or change the number. Then, after having a landline installed here at the cottage, I never gave it another thought, since I had no intentions of using it and risk getting tracked. If it’s Jack calling does he really think I’m stupid enough to answer.

“Jenna,” Sean says, his hand brushing my arm, his solid chest against my back, providing comfort, support.

“Yeah?” I ask without turning. No way do I want Sean to see my face. He’s too good at reading me.

“Are you going to get that?”

“No.”

He spins me around and our gazes tangle. I meet with eyes that are dark, dangerous . . . murderous. Body rigid, agitated, the muscles along his jaw clench, the way they always do when he’s troubled. “Are you sure there isn’t something you want to tell me?”

I open my mouth, wanting to tell this big, strong protective man my troubles, but they’re my troubles not his, and even though he makes me feel safe, I can’t put all this on him.

Instead of blurting out the truth I say, “I’m sure.” My phone stops ringing and I exhale a breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding. Towel wrapped around me, I walk to the kitchen, to find my phone. I glance at the number, but it looks like it’s some telemarketer.

I make light of the situation and say, “No one knows the number so I figured it had to be telemarketer. That’s why I didn’t answer.”

Sean knots his towel around his waist and takes the phone from me. Before I can stop him, he slides his finger over the screen to open it, then punches in his contact information. Then he pulls up mine. “Now I know the number and you have mine.” He hands it back. “Now, next time it rings, you might not be so spooked.”

“Wait,” I say. “Use my landline.” I grab a piece of paper, jot down the number and hand it to him.

“Is there some reason you don’t want me using this phone?”

“Data roaming,” I say. Dammit, I should have just tossed the phone. “I forgot to look into an add-on plan for here in Blue Bay.”

He gives me a look that suggests I might be bending the truth. I am. But no way can I let him know the real reason why he can’t call me.