“What do you want to do now?” Anna asked as they put the last of the leftover food in the refrigerator and finished clearing the dishes. Their usual Saturday night dates were dinner out and either a movie or a walk on the beach followed by coffee. Ethan had gone above and beyond. It was by far the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for her. Her heart melted into a big puddle of goo when she’d seen the table set with flowers and candles, and not just any flowers but her favorites.

Ethan told her weekly to stop fighting her feelings, and stop holding back. She had been, he was right even if she didn’t want to admit it. But she couldn’t help it. Too many hard lessons in such a short period of time made her gun shy. It was easier to be alone and lonely than fall in love and go through another devastating loss. Did it mean she was a coward? Maybe, but Ryan’s death was devastating. She’d believed they were soulmates, had been together since high school.

Thinking about him brought tears to her eyes, or had. For the first time, she realized she’d been thinking about Ryan and wasn’t teary-eyed. The familiar heart twisting pain in her chest wasn’t there either. All that was left was melancholy for what could have been. Had she finally healed the broken pieces of her heart? Healed? Maybe taped back together, but if it was, it was because of Ethan. He’d been responsible for drawing her out. Not taking no for an answer. Making her have fun again. But did that mean she was ready to fall in love again?

Ethan had a dangerous job as a detective. No, they weren’t in a big city, but still. He put his life in danger every day he was on the job, just like Ryan, just like Mac and Tag, and she’d almost lost them too. She should be dating a gardener, then she’d only have to worry about a runaway lawn mower. Just the thought made her giggle.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, really. Just a funny thought.”

“Want to share?”

“Not this time, sorry.”

“Well okay then. Be that way. So, as I was asking, how about a movie?”

“What?”

“Babe, you okay? Didn’t you just ask me what I wanted to do now?” Crap, she had.

“Yeah, I did, sorry. I guess I was daydreaming, or maybe it was too much wine and excellent food. You really outdid yourself. I had no idea you could cook like that.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” He stepped behind her, and his large hands massaged the tight muscles of her shoulders.

“Oooh, that feels good.”

“You seem a little tense. How about instead of the movie, I give you a massage?”

“Is that code for let’s go to bed?” It had been a long day, and making love with Ethan all night long definitely sounded better than a movie. Then she remembered creepy dude. Shit, just thinking about him made her tense even more.

His fingers stilled for the space of a few heartbeats before continuing to coax the knots from her neck. “Not really, but I wouldn’t turn it down if you’re offering. You just tightened up like a violin string. What’s going on?”

“Nothing really.”

“Anna…”

Ugh, she hated when he used that tone. It reminded her of Tag when they were younger. He would catch her at something and use that same tone, followed quickly by the threat to tell their parents if she didn’t ‘fess up.’

“It was just a long day.”

He didn’t believe her, he didn’t have to say it for her to know. They’d been dating for almost a year and whether she wanted to admit it or not they knew each other a lot better than she’d ever known Ryan. It was crazy really since she’d grown up with him, but he’d always had another side to him, one he didn’t share with her or anyone as for as she knew.

But Ethan was an open book. He’d even told her about his time in country and how it affected him. She hadn’t known Ryan was in Army Intelligence until Tag told her afterward, and how he knew she had no idea. Secrets, they sucked. Lies were worse. But so far, Ethan had been nothing but up front.

“Okay, so you won’t tell me. Do you think it will make me mad?”

“No, I would rather not ruin our wonderful evening talking about it. We can discuss it tomorrow. Deal?”

He turned her so she’d be facing him, and he searched her face for something. Whatever he was looking for he’d obviously found it, because he gave her one his sexiest smiles. “Deal. Hmmm, now, where were we? Oh yeah, a massage.” 

Before she could say a word, the room tilted as he picked her up and headed for her bedroom. “I’m perfectly capable of walking.”

“Mmmm hmmm.”

“I’m too heavy to carry.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re light as a feather.”

“Excuse me, I think you’ve had too much wine, dude. I’m five foot eight. I am not a feather.”

“You are to me.”

She was about to answer when his lips covered hers. His tongue teasing until she let him in. He tasted like wine and sex and smelled like pure man with a hint of his citrus aftershave. All she wanted was his hands on her—everywhere—right now. He deepened the kiss, and somehow a soft moan escaped. His chuckle against her lips sent a sizzle of electricity to her core.

The urge to be snarky was quickly tamped down when he nipped at her lips as he pulled back. “Why are you stopping?”

“Do you want to have sex in the hallway? I kinda thought you’d prefer the bed or at least the couch. But hell, woman, I’ll take you against the wall if that’s what you want.”

Damn, one kiss and her brain turned to mush. “Bed, now. Chop, chop, detective. I need you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” 

***

If he’d realized that cooking for his woman would trigger this tigress, he’d have offered to cook for her months ago. Playful, sexy, demanding. If the wall around her heart wasn’t down, it was crumbling, and he was going to bulldoze right through it.

He contemplated tossing her onto the bed but changed his mind. Instead, he slid her down his body so she’d have no doubt how much he wanted her. His Goddamn pants were on the verge of busting open. If they got any tighter, he’d be a soprano for a few days.

“Mmm. Is that for me?”

“Do you really have to ask?”

“No, but I want to hear you say it. Tell me how much you want me.” He liked this Anna. It just might be time to start up a personal catering business, and by personal it would be Anna only.

“Oh, I want you, woman, from the top of your head to the tip of your toes and everything in between. Touching you, kissing you, breathing in your scent. You drive me crazy. I can’t think of anything but having you.”

A spark of mischief gleamed in her eyes. It was all the warning he had. She reached for the collar of his shirt and then ripped it open. Buttons pinged as they bounced across the wood floor of her bedroom. The zipper of his jeans dug into his most sensitive skin, and he groaned. These pants had to go, or he was sure he’d have a permanent scar. They needed to be naked.

It was taking too long. He loved that she was taking the aggressor role, but he couldn’t wait another second. He pushed her backward onto the bed and shrugged out of what was left of his shirt. After ripping open his jeans, he kicked them across the room. Her urgency was contagious, and he needed to be buried deep inside her.

Her eyes caressed his body as they traveled its length, and she licked her lips when she got to the proof of his arousal. As the pink tongue slid along the smooth skin of her lips, it left a trail of shiny wetness. With another groan, he’d reached the limit of his endurance. Enough teasing.

“Up, woman, you need to get out of that dress. Unless you want me to tear it off of you?”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

She hesitated for a moment, and he thought she was going to tell him to go ahead, but some of his old Anna was still in there. Scooting to the edge of the bed, she stood up and pulled the dress over her head. He’d expected a bra and panties, what he got was nothing. Five foot eight inches of sun-kissed skin and nothing else. Holy shit.

“Damn. You were naked all through dinner?”

“Not naked. I was wearing the dress.”

“You might as well have been, and I wasted it.”

“Nope, but you’re wasting it now,” she said and put her hands on her hips and posed. Yup, there was going to be a lot more cooking in his future.

Tossing the pillows and the comforter to the floor, he picked her up, slid her onto the bed, and followed her down. The time for words was over.

He’d really wanted to go slow, planned to make it a tender seduction, kissing and worshipping every inch of her body. With actions if not words, he would prove how much he loved her. He hadn’t said the words yet, but it was the truth, and his heart knew it. Before tonight he’d have sworn she wasn’t ready, but now he wasn’t so sure. Still, he didn’t want to push her away either. But he also didn’t want to scare her away. So instead he loved her with his body, hands, and mouth. Cherished every inch until she begged him for release. Then he pushed her further, poured out his love for her with every kiss, every lick, every thrust until they saw stars. Then he started all over again.

***

The sun peeking through the curtains woke him. For the first time in more years than he wanted to think about, he’d slept through the night. No nightmares at all. No waking up in a cold sweat, shaking, the scent of fear choking him as he watched the plane hit the ground in an explosion of flames, spewing twisted metal and body parts. Moondog’s body parts. Shaking his head, he didn’t want to dwell on it now, not when he’d finally not relived it in a dream.

He needed to focus on the now, the fact that he was still in her bed. She hadn’t kicked him out as usual. Instead, she was still tucked against him after hours of making love. A first for them. She’d been a ‘definitely no sleepover’ kind of girl. Whatever had changed he was thankful. A huge step forward in their relationship, or whatever she’d decided to call it this week.

Unable to resist her tousled appearance, he kissed her slightly-parted lips. So warm, so soft, so beautiful. He wanted her—again. Twice last night was not enough, he’d never have his fill of her. If it weren’t for the dark smudges under her eyes, he’d covered her body in kisses until she woke.

Instead, he’d make coffee and see what she had in the way of breakfast fixings. He wouldn’t wake her with his body, but he couldn’t be held responsible if the scent of fresh coffee and bacon woke her up, now could he?

Carefully sliding out of her arms so as not to wake her, he had a hard time finding is jeans in the discarded clothing and bed linens. He salvaged the pants, but the shirt was hopelessly shredded and ready for the rag pile. As quietly as possible he searched her bathroom for some toothpaste, wishing like hell he’d thought to bring a toothbrush with him, and a change of clothes for that matter. But he’d never had to worry about any of this before. It wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last he’d had to use his finger to brush his teeth. It was quick and dirty but better than nothing.

Devoid of morning breath, he hoped, he went in search of her coffee pot and beans. He knew she was a coffee snob, so he wasn’t surprised to find a French press and grinder tucked into the “appliance garage” in the corner of her countertop. He loved her kitchen. It was a chef’s dream, high-end everything, and she hardly ever used it from what he could tell. But it was easy to have the best, she came from a very wealthy family, and had earned plenty of her own money since she’d assumed control of the realty. From what he’d heard around town, it had more than tripled in size since she’d taken over, she’d even opened satellite offices in adjoining towns. Her father should be proud, but instead, he was just a jerk.

The bean grinder was sure to wake her, so he put that off until the water was ready. Then he searched for the leftover bacon he’d put in the fridge the night before, grabbed the eggs and some cheese. After going through what she had and what was left from the night before he whipped up a quiche and tossed it in the oven.

He’d always objected to the “real men don’t eat quiche” comment. They were stupid if they didn’t. Not for the first time, he wondered if he’d missed his calling. Maybe he should have opened a restaurant when he’d gotten out of the Air Force, but then he loved helping people too. Besides, if he kept getting reactions like last night, he’d be happy to reserve his cooking for his woman.

After the water was ready, he ground the beans and set up the French press.  It would have to sit for a bit for the beans to be infused into the water before he’d be able to push the plunger and have coffee. Five minutes always felt like forever when you were waiting for the coffee, but he knew from experience it would be worth every second. He got out the half-and-half and sugar since he knew that’s how she liked her coffee. He took his black, and if you listened to his partner, Steele, it was just like his soul. The stronger, the better, but after getting a good night’s sleep, he wouldn’t need coffee sludge today.

“Coffee. Is it ready yet?”

“Yes, ma’am. Good morning, beautiful.” She looked good enough to eat, but he’d hold off until they had their coffee. It was the gentlemanly thing to do. After all, it had been their first night together. “I hope you don’t mind, but I made breakfast.”

“Mind? It smells delish. What did you make?”

“Quiche.” As expected, she giggled, and it was heaven to his ears. Sweet, joyful and totally Anna.

“What? Real men do eat quiche, and you damn well know I’m right.”

A hint of a blush graced her cheeks as she smiled. After their antics last night, he’d have been surprised if she hadn’t blushed. She’d been a wild woman.

“Did you sleep okay? I know that sometimes in strange beds…”

“It was great. Your bed is wonderful and perfect because I got to share it with you.”

“About that…”

Damn, when would he learn to keep his mouth shut? “What about it?” he said and poured coffee into the two mugs he had pulled out earlier. He slid hers across the counter toward her. Then he inhaled the scent before having his first taste.

“I think the no sleepover rule is kind of stupid, how about you?” He sipped his coffee, but inside he did a fist pump and shouted, ‘wahoo.’ It hadn’t been wishful thinking; he was winning her over. Now he just had to be careful not to push too hard too fast.

“I’ve never been so happy to break a rule, and I vote for putting it down the garbage disposal.”

“All right then. I guess I know where you stand.”

“Baby, I never agreed with the rule to begin with. But I didn’t want to push you into something you weren’t ready for and run the risk of losing you. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’ve fallen in love with you.” Ugh. There he did it, it was bound to slip out sooner or later. Cringing inside, he waited for her response, half expecting her to tell him to get out and get over himself.

Her eyes widened, the brown getting more hazel like it did when she was full of emotion. But what was she feeling? “You’re in love with me?”

“Yes. You really didn’t know, did you?”

“I guess. I don’t know. I think I was avoiding the entire subject. God knows you are persistent enough.”

“Only when it’s something I want. And I want you. But I am trying hard to take it slow. And I’m not sure what happened yesterday to change your way of thinking. But I have to say, I’m ecstatic. And there is no way I’m letting you backslide, so don’t even think about it.”

“Don’t worry. It’s all good. And for the record, I loved sharing my bed with you.”

“Does that mean I can move in?”

“Don’t push it, buddy! Take your win and enjoy it…for now.”

Before he could say anything else, the buzzer dinged, and it was time to eat. The alarm reminded him he hadn’t checked his phone. He’d bet there was an update from the LT or Steele. Breakfast was ready, and he was still technically off duty, so it could wait. He didn’t want to do anything to ruin this moment with Anna. He’d been waiting too long and worked too hard to gain her trust. If she found out about the investigation, he wasn’t sure how she’d react. They’d have to discuss it eventually, especially since yesterday’s break in was related to her and her business.