Chapter Seven

Rule for success number seven:

Pick your battles.

JOLIE whirled around. Heath stood, muscled arms crossed over his wide chest. He didn’t look mad but under the surface she felt him seething. Karis stood behind him, wincing with an apologetic glance . . . before she started checking out the twentysomething guy behind the counter who had a mop-top haircut, gauges in his ears, and a fresh tattoo. To Jolie, he looked like a cliché. Her sister was probably wondering if he could be her soul mate.

How had Heath known where to find her?

Obviously not from Callie but . . . Sean appeared as surprised as his wife, though his scowl at her was now laced with disapproval. After a scan of the back of the shop, Jolie had her culprit. Mitchell Thorpe held his phone in his fist, his expression more than suggesting she start answering Heath’s questions—fast.

Irritation bit. She didn’t like high-handed people and appreciated men who thought they knew better than the women in their life even less.

“Just a minute.” She made her way to Thorpe. Power rolled off him but Jolie ignored his alpha vibe, refusing to be intimidated.

“Why the hell did you tell Heath where to find me? You’re interfering.”

“I’m helping a friend keep his charge safe. And I know a thing or two about stubborn women,” he drawled, glancing at Callie. “Better to have you annoyed than dead.”

“That’s my decision to make.”

“You hired Heath for a reason. Let him do his job.”

Jolie gritted her teeth together when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Callie.

“Mitchell meant well,” she murmured as she pulled Jolie into a hug. “I’ll torment him later for you, okay?”

When she might have argued, Jolie realized everyone in the coffee shop was staring. She backed away. “That would be great.”

“I’ll see you soon?” Callie looked worried that Jolie was too pissed to be her friend anymore. But Jolie couldn’t stay mad at the woman.

“Absolutely. Let me know when you go into labor.”

“You mean for real?” She laughed at herself. “Will do.”

They’d barely broken apart from their hug when Jolie felt firm fingers wrap around her elbow. Heath stood beside her, looking perfectly relaxed, but his grip revealed his tension.

“Let’s go,” he growled.

Jolie snagged her tea and left. She wanted to argue but not in public and not where she’d potentially put Callie in the middle. Her friend hadn’t known Thorpe would rat her out to Heath. No, she’d deal with her security contractor all by herself.

“Karis?” he asked.

Her sister flicked one last glance at the guy behind the counter as she paid for her coffee. “Yeah.”

The three of them walked in silence to the parking lot. Karis jumped in her little compact. Heath was two steps off Jolie’s ass as she made her way to her sedan.

The moment they were both in her vehicle and she started the engine, she turned to Heath with a glare. “You had no right—”

“You’ve paid me for the right. If I have to keep you safe from yourself, I will. But never mind me. Think of your sister. When she realized you’d gone, she was worried and insisted we find you immediately. She’s not too stubborn to realize you could be in danger. Since you usually attend yoga on Thursday nights, I started with a call to Thorpe to see if Callie had joined you. Imagine my surprise to learn that you’d come across town to sip coffee in public and left your bodyguard behind. Did you stop to consider for a moment that you might be putting Callie, a woman thirty-seven weeks pregnant, in danger? You want to be independent, I know. But think of the people around you.”

Before he’d even finished speaking, regret and shame burned her. She’d merely wanted some Zen. No, she’d wanted to run away from everything he made her feel.

Jolie hadn’t been thinking about danger. She’d been thoughtless and reckless.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Say those words to your sister and Callie. I don’t need an apology. I have other ways to get my point across to you.”

With that ominous note, he fell silent, texting furiously for the next ten minutes while she fought the swelling traffic. In her rearview mirror, Karis followed dutifully, waving when Jolie looked back.

When they reached her condo, the three of them entered wordlessly. Tension poured off Heath. It made Jolie skittish and jittery. Some foolish part of her wanted to touch him, calm him. She didn’t. She paid him, so he wasn’t going to tell her what to do . . . Though knowing she’d worried her sister and inadvertently risked others, she vowed to start listening more.

After a silent dinner of pizza and salad, Karis borrowed a T-shirt from her, hit the shower, then emerged from the bathroom with wet hair and a pensive expression.

“Night, y’all.”

Jolie hugged her sister. “I’m not mad. I hope you’re not upset with me.”

She sighed with relief. “No. I didn’t mean to panic but when you disappeared . . .”

“I understand.” And Jolie could see how, after the last couple of days, her younger sister would draw the conclusion that something terrible had happened. “I won’t sneak off anymore.”

Karis smiled, then retired to the futon in Jolie’s home office, carrying her iPad and earbuds. Jolie was glad they’d cleared the air and her sister could sleep tonight in safety and peace.

But that left her alone with Heath, her frustration, and her thick desire for the man she could neither purge nor escape.

“I’m going to shower and take my laptop to bed. The pillows and blankets from last night are still sitting on the sofa. Help yourself.”

“So that’s it? You’re going to avoid talking about the elephant in the room. Brilliant.”

Jolie didn’t pretend she didn’t understand. “There’s nothing more to say. I’ve apologized for leaving without letting you know. Things are right with my sister again. We’ve both agreed that we won’t be having sex anymore, and I have to finish prepping for my meeting tomorrow night with Gardner. So we’re done here.”

He took a step closer until he towered over her. “We’re not. I don’t care how reluctant you were when you agreed to keep me as your bodyguard. We’d barely been out of that conference room two hours when you completely disregarded everything I said, went behind my back, and acted as if nothing I said mattered.”

“Don’t take it personally. I just wanted a coffee with a girlfriend. I didn’t tell you to shove your security up your ass.”

“Actually, you did. Without words, mind you. But your actions told me to sod off and that you don’t give two shits about staying safe. Between your to-do list and your hang-ups, you’re too wrapped up to think at all about the people around you who care.”

He was uncomfortably close to right. “Why do you give a shit?”

Instantly, his face closed up. “I don’t. I’m merely doing my job.” The passion with which he gritted out the words—with fists clenched and tendons standing out in his neck—made a liar out of him. “But your sister was beside herself. No one knew where you’d gone, if you’d left voluntarily or . . .”

“My sister doesn’t seem half so agitated as you. You want to talk about the elephant in the room, fine. Let’s get it out there,” she challenged. “I left because when you’re near me, I find it harder to breathe. You make me want. You make me ache. I admit it. I’m sorry if I worried you, but it pisses me off that you’re pushing your shit off on my sister because you won’t man up to the fact that, for whatever reason, you don’t want to see me hurt.”

“I don’t want to see anyone hurt.” He came at her again, pointing a finger at her. “But don’t make the mistake of thinking anything or anyone matters to me. I stopped caring years ago.”

“In other words, don’t read any emotion or meaning into last night. Great. That works for me,” she shouted back. And she didn’t mean a word of it. Last night had sure as hell felt like it mattered—even when she hadn’t wanted it to. She suspected it had meant something to him, too. “Now I’m going to my room. We’ll leave for work tomorrow at seven a.m.”

Jolie grabbed her purse and swiped her iPad off the coffee table, then marched down the hall. By the time she closed the door between them and pulled off her clothes, she didn’t want to think about why tears began to fall.

***

WITH arms crossed over his chest, Heath watched Jolie close her door between them.

No way he could simply brush off her actions today. He had to make her understand the world could be dangerous so he would be implacable when it came to her safety.

Because despite what he’d told her, he cared.

He also couldn’t forget her words. You make me want. You make me ache.

She wasn’t the only one.

Some obnoxious pop tune bled out from under Jolie’s room, interrupting his reverie. A young male vocalist crooned, calling the female he sang about a generic “girl,” as if he couldn’t recall her actual name.

Heath shook his head. He didn’t know precisely why Jolie had chosen to shut him out, but instinct told him that he couldn’t allow that door to separate them for too long.

For now, he let himself into the hall bathroom for a quick shower, then headed to the front of the flat and checked each door and window, ensuring he’d locked the unit as tightly as possible for the night. Tomorrow, they’d discuss the security here at her condo and he would make some changes for the better.

Seeing a sliver of light spill out from under the guest room door, he knocked. Karis opened up enough to peek her head out. “You need something?”

“I’d like to check the window in here, make certain it’s locked.”

She stepped back and opened the door wider, revealing an oversized T-shirt, sans bra. She looked clean, innocent. Normally, he’d find her attractive. Lovely, impressionable, and clearly in need of a guiding hand. Yes, Heath knew his type.

With Jolie in the picture, the doe-eyed neediness that had always drawn him paled next to her vibrant fire. She never waited for someone to help her. She attacked life with a passion that burned him. Even in bed, she’d been a firework, blistering him as she burst loud and colorful all over him.

Down the hall, he heard running water. Jolie had stepped into the shower. He tried not to think of her naked. It would distract him, make him forget that he didn’t intend to be her lover again.

Once he’d ensured the window was locked tight, he headed for the door. “Good night.”

Karis lingered near the futon she’d covered with a sheet and blankets. Thank goodness Jolie had never tried to make him sleep on that miniature-sized chaise.

The younger sister bit the inside of her cheek, looking uncertain. “Wait. Jolie would kill me if she knew I was saying this but I think you’re right. My intuition says something dangerous is going on. She knows she should listen to you. My sister has always been so fearless, the leader in every situation. She had to be. Me and my siblings all have different dads. None of them were ever around, and Mom was always working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Jolie was nine when she started parenting Austin and me. She’s so damn independent because she’s used to calling the shots. Because of her dad, she refuses to want someone in her life more than they want her.”

It made sense, certainly. As a girl, Jolie had craved the father who hadn’t shown any interest in her. So she’d learned to stand on her own two feet, proven to the world that she was just fine without him, and distanced herself from every man so none would have the opportunity to hurt her. “I understand.”

“She’s not trying to be difficult,” Karis defended her older sister. “She’s afraid. I think you must have really gotten to her last night.”

The feeling was mutual. “I’ll handle it.”

“I know what you told me about your no-repeat rule, and I’m guessing that means you’re not looking for a relationship. If that’s the case, then leave Jolie alone. She claims to be perfectly happy single but deep down, in places where she won’t even admit it to herself, she wants love. You could really hurt her if you slept with her again and walked away. That’s why she’s avoiding you.”

Every word out of Karis’s mouth was heartbreakingly honest, and Heath couldn’t fault the girl for making so many astute observations and wanting to protect her sister.

“I see.” Heath wasn’t sure what to do about Jolie. Circumstance had forced them together. Well, that wasn’t precisely true. It had thrown them together but he couldn’t simply leave because knowing Jolie only made him want her more. “I’ll look after her.”

“She knows you’re hurting, too. I mean because of . . . your wife.” Now Karis bit her lip, looking decidedly guilty. “I did a little digging about you yesterday. My sister was angry but I sent her the report I’d compiled and . . .” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I had no right to pry.”

Heath couldn’t very well fault her when he looked into the background of nearly everyone he met. “She knows about Anna?”

“Yeah.”

Heath didn’t like it but the damage was done. “Thank you for being honest. Sleep well.”

Karis wanted to ask if he was angry; she wore the question all over her face. But she didn’t speak it. “Night.”

Back in the family room, Heath felt exposed. Anna’s death was something very private he never discussed with anyone. The only person he’d ever shared his feelings with about that terrible afternoon was Myles Beaker, his partner during their MI5 days. His best friend at the time. Myles had lost his wife to the same senseless crime. He was the only other person in the world who understood what it was like to have woken up that morning happily married and thinking he held the world by the tail—and then have everything snatched away in a moment.

Shoving the memory aside, Heath retrieved the pillow and blanket Jolie had left him. Now he had to deal with the first woman to make him truly feel something in seven years. The only one stubborn enough to demand her independence when someone had his target on her back.

After tonight, she would understand the new order of things. Maybe they both would.

As he tucked the pillow under his arm and slung the quilt over his shoulder, he headed toward her bedroom, ready for battle. No doubt, that’s exactly what he’d have on his hands.

Heath shut her door and locked it behind him. He’d barely set his pillow and blanket on the chair in her room and doffed everything but his underwear when he heard the shower taps turn off.

Setting his weapon on her nightstand, he sat on her bed, back propped against her padded headboard, fingers laced over his abs, and waited.

As she emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of perfumed steam, Jolie spotted him and stopped short, clutching her towel to her naked body.

“I said you could sleep on the sofa.”

“I heard you. But when it comes to safety, you don’t make the rules. You agreed on that. So I alone say what’s necessary to protect you. Today, you disregarded me completely.”

Heath tried to ignore the water gleaming down her velvety shoulders and sleek thighs in shimmering drops. Damn difficult when she looked so beautiful all scrubbed clean, hair slicked back. She had nothing to hide behind now—no clothes, no makeup, no inky hair curling around her face. Only the starchiness of her attitude.

The alpha male inside him wanted her to know that he believed in her. She had the power and conviction to conquer the world. But he wanted to be the man who commanded her body, her laughter, her—

Heath halted that train of thought completely. It was dangerous and derailed him from the point he must make. Jolie was his temporary employer and they’d had a one-night stand. He had to stay focused. Feelings were inconsequential. But as long as he was doing his utmost to save her life, she’d better fucking listen.

“And I apologized,” she reminded. “You made some good points I hadn’t considered. I promised not to worry my sister or put others in danger again. We have nothing more to say, and I want you out of my room.”

“I won’t touch you, if that’s what you want. But I refuse to leave.”

“You’re not staying here tonight.” Her lips flattened into a stubborn line.

Her defiance made him itch to toss her across his lap and let his palm have a go at her pert ass. He would never spank her against her will. He suspected her body would melt for it, but that fast, sharp mind would reject the notion. He definitely needed to set aside his urge and find another tactic. But the biting panic he’d felt during those minutes he’d been unable to find her wouldn’t fade away.

“Do you understand the role of a bodyguard? If not, I’ll be happy to take half the blame. Perhaps I didn’t properly explain the concept, so let’s resolve that now.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m not an idiot.”

“No, but you’re a very stubborn woman.” Heath said nothing more, merely stood and strolled to her closet, finding what he wanted immediately hanging from a colorful rack on the back of the door.

“Why are you rifling through my things?”

“To make a point.” He wrapped a silky scarf in a vibrant shade of blue around his hand and stalked in her direction. “There are consequences for the disappearing act you pulled this afternoon. Do whatever you need to be ready for bed. You have five minutes.”

“What? No! I still have to go over my presentation for Gardner again. I’ve got more fact-checking to finish, to make sure the details are absolutely correct, and—”

“Unless he’s too busy wining and dining you into bed to notice your presentation, Gardner will be more than impressed. Get ready. Five minutes.”

Jolie seemed to forget she was mostly naked when anger took over. “Listen, you high-handed bastard. It’s my business so I get to decide when my presentation is done. Not you.”

If she wanted to stay awake, that didn’t dent his plans in the least. “As long as you’ve done everything but turn out the light when you come to bed, that’s fine. Four minutes now. Ticktock.”

She gave him a loud huff. “Fine. Put my scarf back.”

Heath fully expected her to grab a nightie from a drawer, retreat to the bathroom, then avoid all further contact with him tonight.

He should never try to guess what Jolie would do next.

She meandered back to the bathroom. He heard the rustling of her towel, then the lights flipped off. She emerged again stark naked. He tried not to gape at how beautiful she looked with gleaming skin, irresistible curves, and forest-hued eyes that dared him to touch her.

Dared, hell. She was bloody well taunting him and his no-repeat rule while distracting him from his purpose. He swallowed. What would it be like to have Jolie again? Her soft skin. Her fierce passion. The fire in her eyes when she finally gave into the peaking pleasure.

Jolie took her time scrounging through her dresser to find just the right nightie. As she bent to the drawer, he had an unparalleled view of the straight line of her spine bisecting her narrow back, the smooth cheeks of her backside, the firm length of her legs—and a hint of everything pink and feminine in between.

Heath gritted his teeth and held in a curse. What would happen if he bent his no-repeat rule just this once?

Finally, Jolie selected something white and sheer, edged with lace. She made a great show of considering the delicate matching knickers, only to shove them back in the drawer. Then she turned to face him, lifting the lingerie over her head, letting him watch it slither down her body and hug every part of her he ached to touch and taste again.

When the garment reached the tops of her thighs, Heath still couldn’t tear his stare away. Technically, she was covered but the darkened shadow of her nipples showed through, as did the dark curls protecting her pussy. He couldn’t miss the outline of her nipped-in waist and the feminine curve of her hip.

Jolie was definitely taunting him, trying to strip his control. He couldn’t let that stand.

With a come-hither sway, she strutted to the bed and crawled onto the mattress, letting him see the swell of her lush breasts that he shouldn’t touch. Then she settled in beside him with an exaggerated stretch that accentuated her hard nipples poking the transparent fabric.

As she sent him a saccharine smile, Jolie settled against the headboard and opened her iPad, attached the matching keyboard, and tuned him out utterly.

Heath couldn’t deny that she’d done a fantastic job of piquing more than his interest. A fine layer of sweat dampened his temples, sheened his back and chest . . . But the hardness of his cock astounded even him. As many times as he’d had this woman last night, he should have nothing left to feel for her, not even arousal.

He burned more for her now than he had the night before.

Gritting his teeth, he fisted the blue silk scarf. Yes, she might have done her best to drive him out of his mind, but he definitely intended to have the last word.

Tossing off the covers, he exposed their legs. He didn’t give a fuck if she saw how hard she’d made him. Two could play her game.

Then he wrapped the scarf around her ankle. She’d barely had time to jerk her gaze up to stare at him with both shock and rebuke when he slid it around his own ankle and tied the two of them together.

“What the hell—”

“You’ve proven that I can’t trust you not to sneak away, so I’m making certain that you’ll stay put tonight. If you’re difficult, I’ll bind our hands together as well.”

She glanced down at his sturdy knot, then back to his face. “You’ve done this before, tied a woman up.”

“I have.”

But he hadn’t indulged in anything like that since he’d been widowed. He’d thought about it often but hadn’t been able to tap into that part of himself with anyone else. Now the possibility shimmered between him and Jolie, and he felt his blood racing. The idea of her being tied to him while he teased and tormented her, slowly breaking through her defenses, roused him. The notion of stroking her into a pleading, shaking need before he ruthlessly fucked her nearly tempted him beyond his control. Even at the thought, desire buzzed through his body like an intoxicating chemical.

“Not with me. Never. I told you. I don’t submit.”

Because she’d never tried. She’d never trusted any man enough to give herself over that completely.

Stupid or not—against his one rule of engagement or not—Heath wanted to be that man.

“I’m merely making certain you understand the concept of staying beside me until I tell you otherwise.”

She jerked her leg, testing the bond he’d tied. When she could only twist and turn a bit to find comfort, she huffed. “Whatever. If this gives you some peace of mind that I won’t leave, fine. Just let me get back to work.”

She tapped on her tablet again, swiping her fingers across the screen, scanning, reading.

Heath would rather feel his skin slide against hers. No, that wasn’t precisely true. He wanted her to put that damn tablet down so he could roll her to her back, hold her down, kiss her with the passion blistering inside, and coax her to take him again in one relentless thrust after another.

After ten minutes of swiping, typing, sighing, and frowning, Jolie finally darkened the tablet and set it aside, then flipped off the light. As much as Heath wanted her, he could feel her worry, too. She wouldn’t rest until she’d succeeded.

“You’re ready for this meeting,” he assured.

She rolled to her side, turning her back to him and dragging his leg along with her. “I’ve done everything I should. The rest is up to him.”

“You’re brilliant and driven. You’ve gotten this far because you believed in yourself. Don’t stop now.”

Heath felt Jolie’s surprise.

She didn’t say anything for a long moment. “Thanks.”

He rolled up behind her, spooning her body and fitting his aching cock against her. He wrapped an arm around her waist, the tips of his fingers just a breath away from cupping a handful of her breast. Damn, he was a stupid bastard for tormenting himself.

She froze. “You said you wouldn’t touch me.”

“I can’t be tied to you in a queen-size bed without brushing my skin against yours.”

“This is more than incidental contact.” With a wriggle of her backside against his erection, Jolie damn near made him groan. “So is that.”

He banded his arm more tightly around her waist. “You think the way you dropped your towel and wore your peekaboo lingerie didn’t feel like a provocation to me?”

Then Heath couldn’t help himself; he rocked his hips, grinding into her. More than vaguely aware of the scarf around his ankle, he was dying to know how it affected Jolie.

“Oh, I see. Since I wore something you think is a little risqué, I deserve to be mauled?”

She might be arguing . . . but she sounded suspiciously breathy.

“No, I’m pointing out that you intentionally tormented me because I’m sure you know I never take the same lover twice. But I may change my mind . . .”

Heath slid his lips up the back of her neck. Fuck, she smelled so clean and womanly. Dragging in her scent made his head swim. He couldn’t forget the crushing pleasure she’d given him last night. Almost of its own volition, the hand he’d wedged under her body raised up to cup her breast and tease the peaked nipple through the sheer fabric. The palm he’d thrown around her hip lowered, settling over her mound. Dampness instantly coated his fingers.

“Stop,” she said even as she arched her hips, thrusting her pussy directly into his touch.

He rubbed her with slow circles and pressed his lips to her ear. “Stop what, love? Stop making you feel good? Stop making you moan and ache for the orgasm you know I can give you?”

Jolie merely answered with a jagged cry, so Heath kept on, sliding his fingers between her slick folds and rubbing her sensitive flesh with methodical strokes.

Her clit hardened. Her flesh swelled. She gasped, writhed, gyrating back against him with a sensual sway that nearly undid him. He was an adult male; he’d had more than a lap dance or two. He’d had a lot of sexual partners. No woman had ever incited this sort of blinding need to tear away the few clothes they both wore and slide inside her immediately.

Against him, Jolie tensed and began to clutch the sheets. She tossed her head back to his shoulder, whispering his name. They moved together in complete darkness, but she lit him up in ways he couldn’t fight. He heard nothing but her pants and cries, smelled nothing but the musk of her growing need, felt nothing except her sweet body wriggling against his.

When her moans turned desperate, Heath paused. Desire coated him with sweat. His thoughts raced. What now? Teach her a lesson? Or give them both what they wanted, consequences be damned?

Bloody hell, he’d allowed his pride and his dick to lead him into this mess. Now he either had to break his one cardinal rule . . . or suffer the torment of her nearness all night without relief.

“Heath!” she gripped his thigh, nails digging little stinging half-moons into his skin.

He nipped at her ear, wishing like hell he could see the pleasure on her face, the sheer beauty of her response. Damn it all, he didn’t want to prove a point about who had the sexual control.

He simply wanted her.

Scrambling to one side, he rolled Jolie to her back. In the shadowed room, he searched her flushed face, her dilated eyes. She panted, and her lips drew his stare. The ache tightened in his gut. Since losing Anna, he’d wanted sex but he hadn’t wanted any particular woman. The no-repeat rule had been easy because he hadn’t ever been tempted to break it.

As she had from the start, Jolie challenged him on every level.

He shouldn’t touch her again. It wasn’t smart. It wouldn’t end well.

But Heath couldn’t seem to stop wanting her.

“What is it?” she murmured, her body tense, waiting.

He could have answered that a hundred ways. With a redirecting reminder that she needed sleep to prepare for her “big day.” An alpha pronouncement that he wouldn’t reward her running off with an orgasm. Either of those would squash the intimacy developing between them.

When he opened his mouth, something else came out. “Karis told me you know about Anna.”

She exhaled away some of her sexual tension. Her face softened. “Losing her must have been awful.”

“Devastating.” Why the hell had he brought that up? He wasn’t saying that he couldn’t have sex because he was still too grief-stricken. It wasn’t true, and she would know better.

“I’m sorry.”

And she was. Jolie didn’t often wear her emotions on her face but he saw her sincerity.

It struck him then exactly what he was trying to say. “I don’t get involved anymore.”

“I don’t get involved ever.”

That was a shame. Jolie had so much to offer, even if she didn’t see it. She would light up someone’s world. Life with her would never be boring, that was certain. Her sharp wit kept Heath guessing. If she wanted advice, Jolie would ask but she would never wait for his guidance to act. He appreciated her moxie and independence. She wasn’t—in any way—a girl.

He should tell her that she had every reason to get involved with someone but he’d sound like a hypocrite. Worse, if she took his advice, he’d have to know another man touched her. He would have to imagine another man sliding his fingertips over the pale glow of her skin and looking into her eyes before he kissed her lips, inhaled her scent, then surged inside her soft silk body.

At the thought, Heath jerked away. He was surprised by his clenched fists.

The movement tugged at their joined ankles.

Jolie touched a tentative hand to his shoulder. “You okay?”

No. He was coming apart with want but too bound up to take her again. He liked her. He cared when he fucking didn’t want to. In his head, he replayed finding her in the coffeehouse with Callie, silently challenging him. He felt her desperation when she’d clung on the back of his motorcycle as they dashed through the night to rescue Karis from the office break-in. He saw her taunt him just minutes ago with her transparent nightgown as she eschewed knickers. He remembered her face flushing with pleasure last night before orgasm while he drowned in her feminine heat.

“I didn’t protect Anna when it mattered.” His voice sounded hoarse. “I didn’t see the threat coming, didn’t put the pieces of the puzzle together. I still haven’t. And I regret that every day. With you, there’s danger on the horizon. Stop making it so bloody hard for me to do my job.”

She swallowed audibly. “I wasn’t trying to make it hard today. I needed a friend.” She sighed. “I wanted less distraction. I can’t look at you and not . . . want.”

At her words, he squeezed his eyes shut, his entire body going tense. He understood precisely what she meant. The two of them together was like throwing oil on a bonfire.

Heath turned back to her in the dark, challenging. “What are we doing?”

She shrugged. “Let’s . . . go to sleep.”

Heath didn’t know if that would be possible for him. His cock throbbed for her. His gut clenched. His chest ached. His thoughts were wrung inside out.

He prayed the answers would look clearer in the morning. “All right. But understand me.” He zeroed in on her. “Whether you meant to or not, you put yourself at risk today. Don’t make me live through the guilt of not being able to save someone else.”

He almost choked on those words. It wasn’t easy swallowing that much blame.

She didn’t break the moment with words, merely nodded.

“Sleep well.” He lay back and stared at the ceiling. It would be a long night.

Jolie hesitated, then curled up against him. Their feet tangled. He felt her warm breaths on his chest. This was her way of comforting him, and it touched him on a level that terrified him.

Even so, Heath wrapped his arm around her and closed his eyes. Since Anna, Jolie was the only woman with whom he’d actually slept, he realized. Sex aside, he’d relaxed enough beside her to fall into healing slumber. For once, being more than physically close to a woman hadn’t felt wrong.

That idea terrified him, too.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, rubbing her bound ankle against his. “I won’t go anywhere. I promise.”