Dressed in a slightly too tight pair of men’s khakis –damn her bubble butt- and a plaid shirt that was a little too big but helped conceal her breasts if she slouched, she turned and looked at herself from behind. The shirt covered her shapely ass. Jennifer felt sure nobody would recognize her if she kept her head down and didn’t speak. She pulled up her hair into a ponytail and stuffed it into a paperboy hat. The previous owner of this outfit had no idea how grateful Jennifer was for the donation. She looked in the mirror one more time and smiled.

Jennifer urgently needed to get into the apartment she’d been forced to abandon before she was evicted. She was taking a chance, but Jennifer couldn’t imagine Evan would still have her apartment under surveillance. He knew Jennifer wasn’t stupid. She couldn’t go home. Not that Jennifer could pay the rent to stay there, anyway.

She planned to catch the bus to her part of town and watch her building and the parking lot for a while before approaching. If she saw anything even remotely suspicious, Jennifer would get away as fast as possible. She was desperate enough for the money she had saved in her apartment to at least try it.

Jennifer practiced walking like a man on the way to the bus stop. She passed Pastor Davis in front of the church, and he didn’t recognize her. The pastor nodded politely to Jennifer and kept moving up the church steps without giving her a second glance. He’d barely noticed Jennifer, much less recognized her. Feeling even more confident, Jennifer strode on with her head down.

The bus stop was just around the corner. She watched the cars passing closely. If Evan’s men approached, it wouldn’t be on foot. Again, she just couldn’t imagine they were still randomly driving the streets of Vegas looking for her. If they ever had been. All Jennifer knew for sure was that she couldn’t go back a life of captivity with Evan. Maybe she was paranoid, but just being out the open made her heart race and a sweat dampen her skin.

It would take Jennifer twenty minutes to get there by bus. She needed to get inside her apartment, because she only had enough change to get her there, not enough for a round trip fare. If her place were being watched, Jennifer would be walking back. Her borrowed loafers made that idea very unappealing. They had hard inner soles with no cushioning whatsoever. It would be a long, painful journey, but not as bad as it would be in her stilettos. Just the idea of walking any distance in those shoes made her cringe.

Jennifer turned the corner with her head down and walked into a solid wall of a man. She bounced off the guy and would have landed on her ass if his quick reflexes hadn’t saved her. The tank-sized man clutched Jennifer’s upper arm and kept her from an embarrassing ass plant on the sidewalk.

“Excuse me. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was walking,” she lowered her voice to what she hoped might sound like that of a young man to apologize.

“Sorry, man, I didn’t see you,” said the man of steel from above her.

Jennifer righted herself but forgot to keep her damn head down when that familiar rumbling voice startled her. She tilted her face up, and the hat, which had been dislodged in the collision, fell off her head, setting the mass of her blonde ponytail free of its confines. Jennifer tried to pull away, but it was too late. Recognition lit Rourke’s eyes. That light ignited a flame that shouldn’t have been possible in the ice of his eyes.

“Let go.” She tugged on her arm, but Rourke’s grip was like an iron shackle.

“Not on your life, lady. You’re coming with me.” Rourke scooped up her hat from the ground and dropped it on her head. He turned around and marched her back in the direction he came from. Rourke was mumbling about a troublesome woman who disappeared only to show up looking like a man and driving him even crazier with her sexy mouth. His spine was a hard line of displeasure. His shoulders were broad enough to block out the sun.

Jennifer did her best to adjust her hat while being dragged along behind the muttering SEAL. If she was trying to be inconspicuous, this wasn’t helping at all. She looked longingly at the bus stop as they passed it. The bus was just pulling into view down the street.

“I have a bus to catch,” she argued and struggled to free his hold on her arm. Rourke spun around and pinned her with that cold, blue gaze. His grip on her arm became uncomfortably tight.

“I’m holding onto my temper by a thread here, Jennifer. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll shut that pretty mouth of yours until we get to my place.”

Jennifer recoiled. Memories of being dragged by her hair and smacked around flooded back to her. “Or what, Rourke? Are you going to hit me? If so, be a big man and do it here. Why wait until we’re behind closed doors?” Jennifer’s face tipped up defiantly, daring Rourke to hit her. She was afraid, especially since Rourke was a far bigger man than Evan was, but she wouldn’t cower. Jennifer did enough of that on a daily basis in her little room. Jennifer didn’t know so brave now, but he was just sick of being around.

While she watched Rourke, he completely deflated. The wind leaving his sails limp and without purpose. He blinked several times, and the grip on her arm loosened. He raised his other hand, and Jennifer fought the urge to flinch away. Rourke’s fingers lightly brushed over the flushed skin of Jennifer’s cheek. Then, he released her completely and took a step back, putting distance between them.

“I would never, ever raise my hand to you or any other woman, Jennifer. Never. Do you understand me?” he asked with a voice that trembled with anger, but his expression as his eyes roamed over her face was soft and searching. He’d seen the fear in her and interpreted it correctly. She had been abused, and he was irate about that fact and trying not to frighten her any further.

“Do you understand me, Jennifer?” he asked again. “I will never put my hands on you in anger. I apologize if I scared you. It’s just that I’ve been looking for you everywhere. It’s been driving me crazy. When I saw you just now, my only thought was to drag you back to my place so we can speak in private. I needed to know why you took off on me, baby.” Rourke took another step away from Jennifer and ran one large hand over his shorn, wheat blond head. “I crossed the line. I’m sorry. You don’t owe me an explanation if you don’t want to give me one. You didn’t promise me anything. Neither of us did.” Rourke looked away, blinking rapidly. His hands fisted at sides. The lines of his body were tight with restraint and frustration. “I would never hurt you,” he repeated.

Rourke’s intense gaze caught Jennifer’s and held. “I can’t force you, but I’m asking you, begging you if I have to, to come back to my place and talk to me. Please?” he finished and took another step away from her, letting her know that she could walk away if she wanted to. He wouldn’t chase her, and he wouldn’t argue. It was her choice to make. Rourke couldn’t know how much that choice meant to a woman who’d had all of her choices stolen from her.

Jennifer didn’t know what to say or do. She wanted to go with Rourke, but she didn’t want to endanger him. Her eyes ate up the sight of him standing there looking like a thundercloud about to burst. She’d missed him so much. This was odd considering they’d only met once. Every part of Jennifer screamed at her to go with Rourke. Stay with Rourke forever, but that wasn’t possible. Indecision and sorrow overwhelmed Jennifer. She’d lost so much. Her job. Her home. Her freedom. And she was quite sure she’d even lost a large chunk of her sanity. She was so tired and lonely and sick of being afraid all the time.

When tears filled her eyes, and she began to shake with suppressed sobs, Rourke lost his ability to hold himself away from her. He crossed the distance between them in a couple of steps and wrapped his arms around her lithe frame.

“I’m sorry, baby, please don’t cry.” Rourke held her tight and made soothing noises while she broke down. The stress of all that happened to Jennifer was a weight that just kept growing. She was exhausted from the nightmares that never went away and emotionally spent. Rourke’s strong arms and gentle touch dissolved the rest of her crumbling bravado. Holding back the tears was impossible in the face of such tender support.

If Jennifer was trying not to draw attention, she was failing spectacularly. There she stood, dressed as a man being held by another, far larger man on the street while she cried. People passing by stared in fascination. Jennifer pulled away from Rourke and straightened her hat.

“Let’s go.” Jennifer wiped her tears away and looked around cautiously, being careful not to reveal her face. “I need to get off the street.”

Rourke also scanned the area. His nostrils flared with annoyance, and she could tell he wanted to ask her a million questions without delay. He knew Jennifer was afraid. It was apparent that she was in hiding. There would be no hiding the truth from Rourke now.

“Come on.” He turned away in the direction he’d been dragging Jennifer before she began to put up a fight.

Maybe having Rourke’s help would be a good thing. Or maybe she would get him killed. Jennifer would never forgive herself if anything happened to Rourke. She wouldn’t want to go on if she were the cause of such a good man’s death. He was a sailor, by all accounts serving his country with honor.

His dark expression deepened when he looked over his shoulder to see her walking far enough behind him that it wasn’t obvious they were together. He was going to expect a full and detailed explanation that Jennifer wasn’t sure she could give.

Jennifer followed Rourke at a distance for a few blocks to his apartment, which was on the upper level of a three-story private residence that housed three separate dwellings.

Rourke waited for her to enter before shutting and locking the front door. The entry to the building was dimly lit, but Jennifer could clearly see the fire in Rourke’s icy blue eyes when he looked down at her from his considerable height. Without a word, Rourke threaded his fingers through Jennifer’s and lead her up the three flights of stairs to his apartment. As they climbed, Rourke stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. It was an intimate and oddly soothing gesture. She liked holding his hand. It felt somehow right. When they reached the uppermost floor, Rourke released her hand to unlock the door. He held the door open for her, and Jennifer entered the small but extremely tidy space.

Rourke closed and locked the door before turning to lean against the portal. Was he blocking her escape? She wasn’t sure. He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it. He opened it again and closed it again. Like Jennifer, he didn’t seem to know where to start this conversation. His countenance suggested he wanted to shake her until she told him everything he wanted to know.

Jennifer decided to look around the apartment when Rourke passed the short distance in the living area. Neither of them was ready to speak. There was a storm building, but he was working to control his temper. Jennifer’s tears and the reference to being abused had curbed his anger considerably.

Jennifer let him brood and get his thoughts while she absorbed the details of his home. She didn’t know what she would say when the questions began, anyway. The living area and kitchen were separated by a counter with two stools for eating. There was no table. There were no dishes in the sink. The kitchen gleamed with cleanliness. Not a speck of dust could be seen on any surface. Either Rourke had been raised right, or he carried that Navy regulation behavior home with him. It was likely a little of both.

The living room boasted a huge television that covered one wall and an entertainment center with several gaming systems. An incredibly cozy looking leather recliner and a side table with a lamp were it for furniture. There were no pictures on the walls. No personal touches to tell you anything about the man who lived there. Rourke apparently didn’t entertain at all. There were two doors off the main room Jennifer assumed led to a bathroom and Rourke’s bedroom.

Being alone with Rourke so close to his bed had Jennifer’s mind running down a path that she wanted to follow. Preferably naked and in Rourke’s arms. Jennifer peeked over at Rourke. He stopped pacing and stood there with his hands fisted at his sides again. He was watching her take in his home.

“We had unprotected sex.” It was a statement and a question. When she and Rourke came together, it was so explosive neither of them stopped to think about precautions. Maybe this was why he was looking for her. Rourke just wanted to know what his chances of contracting an STD were. Was he worried she might become pregnant? If that were the case, she’d put his mind at ease and go.

“I’ve never had unprotected sex before in my life. To be honest, I’ve only been with a couple of my past boyfriends. I was always too busy for guys,” she admitted with a blush. This was a conversation to have before sex when you were much more comfortable with a man. Not after, when he was just trying to clear his guilty conscience. “I’m on the birth control shot, and I have gotten my cycle since we were together, so pregnancy isn’t an issue.”

It had deeply embarrassed Jennifer to have to go to Mrs. Davis and ask her for feminine hygiene products. It was mortifying to be in a position that she couldn’t even purchase basic items for herself. Mrs. Davis had graciously provided Jennifer with enough to last for months. The list of IOUs in Jennifer’s mind was growing by the day.

Rourke’s shoulders relaxed. Jennifer’s stomach tightened. She’d foolishly hoped Rourke had followed her that night because he cared about her. Why would he care about a woman who let him fuck her in the closet? She was nobody to him. Just another hard fuck against a wall. Jennifer had read enough romance novels to believe guys in Rourke’s line of work had groupies. Some women had a real thing for the Special Forces and pilots of the military. He could probably get ten girls like her any night of the week.

“I’ve never had sex without a condom, either. I’ve regularly been tested, as well. We get regular physicals,” he explained. She just bet they did with all the sex testosterone and adrenaline filled SEALs must have. Jealously was a living, breathing thing in Jennifer’s belly. She had no right to be jealous, but there it was. She hated the faceless women who’d been with Rourke before her.

“I can get you those results if you’d like. It would just take me a little time to put in a request and receive the papers,” Rourke offered. His every clinical word hardened the knot in Jennifer’s gut.

“That won’t be necessary. It won’t happen again, and it’s a little late for caution at this point. I’m not pregnant, and I’m clean. If that’s all you wanted to know, I’ll just go now.” Jennifer sprinted for the door. She needed to leave before she started crying like the fool she was in front of Rourke. She was struggling to unlock the door when Rourke moved up behind her.

He placed both hands on the door on either side of her and whispered in her ear, “Where do you think you’re going? I’m not done with you.”

“I’m leaving. I gave you your answers. I’d like to leave now.” Jennifer’s voice quavered.

Rourke spun her around to face him. “I have a lot more questions for you, Jennifer. Like why you’re dressed like a man? Why the pastor is protecting you? Who is he protecting you from? Where have you been? And most importantly, why you disappeared before I had a chance to tell you how much I want to get to know you better. The unprotected sex thing was just a jumping off point. I felt like a total shit for not protecting you. That’s not the kind of man I am.”

“No worries. You can go back to your regularly scheduled life,” she suggested and grasped at the door handle behind her. She had to go. Just being this close to Rourke after what they shared was painful. She wanted to get to know him, too. She wanted to spend forever getting to know every little thing about him.

“That’s just the problem, baby. I haven’t been able to do anything but think of you and wonder where you are and want you’re doing since you disappeared into the night. I want the chance to get to know you a lot better. The real Jennifer.” Rourke tugged at the lapel of her plaid shirt for emphasis. “Whoever that may be.”

“What?” she asked like an idiot. She thought he’d let her make a quick escape once she satisfied his worry of an unwanted pregnancy. Was he saying he’d been searching for her? He had to have been asking questions if he knew the pastor was protecting her. Jennifer knew the pastor would never divulge her hiding place or anything he might know about her. She dared to hope for just a second that Rourke might want to know more than just her medical status.

“I said, I want you to stay,” Rourke smiled for the first time since Jennifer literally ran into him, “but I can’t make you.” Again, Rourke didn’t know giving her the choice to stay or go all but guaranteed she would stay.

“I have so many questions, but mostly I just want to be with you. I want you to want to be here, though.” Rourke backed up a step, but he was still crowding Jennifer. As if Rourke wasn’t sure he meant what he’d said about not forcing her to stay, though he had good intentions.

Jennifer knew if she really wanted to go, he wouldn’t stop her. Rourke was nothing like Evan. Rourke was a good man, not an evil bastard. How she could be so sure of that, Jennifer didn’t know, but she felt the truth of it right down to her toes. He might want to make her stay, but he wouldn’t.

Jennifer moved without thinking. She launched herself at Rourke. Jennifer wanted to hold Rourke and kiss him. She wanted to apologize for bailing on him the way she did on Thanksgiving. Rourke was close enough to touch, and she’d missed him terribly, in spite of their short acquaintance. Rourke made Jennifer feel safe. He made her feel wanted and cared for in a way she hadn’t since she left home.

Jennifer kissed Rourke with a fervor that stunned them both. It didn’t take Rourke long to return her kiss with equal intensity. She couldn’t stop, didn’t want to. She only wanted to be with Rourke in any small way he would allow for as long as it was safe for him to be around her. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her again. Just one more time.

Rourke groaned against Jennifer’s mouth and opened to allow her invasion. She wasn’t thinking at all, only feeling and wanting Rourke. The solid muscle of his shoulders under her hands flexed as Rourke lifted Jennifer and pressed her to the wall, bracing her there with his body. He tugged the hat from her head and tossed it away. His hands tangled in her hair to remove the ponytail while their tongues twisted and searched out the flavor of their passion.

Jennifer’s golden hair cascaded down around her shoulders, and Rourke hummed. He liked her hair down. Judging by the rigid shaft pressing into her belly, he liked more than just Jennifer’s hair. Her hands slid to Rourke’s chest to begin tugging at his buttons. Jennifer wanted to feel his bare skin. Rourke grasped Jennifer’s ass and lifted her higher against his chest. Jennifer wrapped her legs around his waist.

“I’m not taking you against a wall this time. I want to see your pretty little body spread out in my bed, baby.” Rourke nibbled Jennifer’s lips as he carried her to his bedroom. He juggled her in his arms while unsuccessfully attempting to open the door without breaking the kiss. Jennifer reached behind her and opened the door.

It was broad daylight, but the room darkening curtains made his bedroom a cool, welcoming oasis. Rourke placed Jennifer on the bed and followed her down. They crawled backward on the bed, and Rourke stayed with her, their mouths never separating. They tore at each other’s clothing, tossing each piece over the side of the bed as they went.

Jennifer was skin to skin with Rourke for the first time in an actual bed without the worry of being discovered, and it was incredible. Rourke was so much man to handle. He made Jennifer feel delicate and dainty in comparison. Rourke’s hands roamed over her body, touching and caressing every bit of Jennifer he could reach. He buried his face in the valley between her breasts and inhaled deeply while she clutched his head. 

“Jennifer, baby, I’ve been going crazy,” he said before taking one of her pearled nipples into his scorching hot mouth.

“Please, Rourke, please,” she begged. It seemed once she was in Rourke’s arms, Jennifer was only capable of limited speech. Just as before, she could only plead for him to give her what she needed. Rourke’s words echoed around her head, fighting for attention with the rising passion. He’s been going crazy looking for her? The kernel of hope in her heart that Rourke might feel something for her grew.

Rourke’s big palm crept down her belly to cup her pussy, and he hissed, “Fuck, baby, you’re so wet for me.” Rourke toyed with her pussy, stroking and touching everywhere but the spot Jennifer needed him most while paying expert attention to both of her aching breasts.

Jennifer squirmed under his touch, needing so much more. Rourke continued his trek down her body, licking and nibbling his way until he was nuzzling her mound. Jennifer moaned and writhed. Rourke pushed her thighs further apart to make room for himself between her legs. He spread her open to his view and purred, “So pretty.”

The first swipe of his tongue was a slow tasting that had Jennifer shuddering. She sighed his name. He licked her more deeply and with deliberation for long, maddening moments. Jennifer’s head thrashed on the bed. She gripped Rourke’s scalp and tried to lift her hips against him, but Rourke held her steady with those strong hands of his. He chuckled against her flesh, and the vibration stole her breath away. Rourke gave in to her plea for more and began to flick her clit rapidly, back and forth, stroking the little button into a frenzy. Heightening her pleasure until she whimpered. Jennifer was so close to climax, but Rourke pulled away before she reached the peak. Jennifer clutched at Rourke, trying to bring him back to where she needed him, but he had other plans.

“I have to be inside, Jennifer. I want to feel you come on my cock. I want to ride you through it, baby.” Rourke’s breathing was fast, his words ragged with desire. Jennifer didn’t argue.

Rourke lightly stroked her clit, keeping her on the edge while he pressed his thick shaft into her needy body. Rourke’s shaft was like hot steel entering her clinging channel. Rourke was so excited, he felt somehow larger than he had the last time they came together. Thankfully, she was so wet and ready. Rourke didn’t struggle for long to penetrate her aching pussy. Inch by inch, he made his way into her tense, excited flesh. She was so ready to come. She quivered around his length, and Rourke groaned.

He rotated his hips and drove deeper. She clawed at his shoulders. Rourke kissed her, and she tasted her own arousal on his lips and tried to imagine what Rourke would taste like on her tongue. She would find out if he gave her a chance.

Rourke shifted and thrust, slowly moving this way and that until Jennifer mewled when he hit her sweet spot. “That’s it, baby, I got you now.” Jennifer wasn’t sure if that was a threat or a promise. It turned out to be both.

With precision, Rourke swirled and pressed. He never really retreated but ground into her. She grew tighter and tighter as he manipulated that sweet spot with single-mindedness until she screamed his name and climaxed in waves of heat and moisture and mindless pleasure.

Rourke let go of his restraint when Jennifer came. He lost control and began to thrust into her with abandon. Jennifer held on tight, riding the waves of their shared pleasure until a second orgasm overtook her body so fully she couldn’t even scream. Jennifer’s spasming core ripped a shout of ecstasy from Rourke’s throat as he pumped his hips and jetted his seed deep into her core. The pleasure kept coming and coming. Rourke caught her lips and continued to thrust on and on until she collapsed after a third shattering climax.

It was intense, earth shaking, life changing sex that Jennifer would never forget as long as she lived. Rourke collapsed next to her and pulled Jennifer into his side. She rested her head on his shoulder, breathing erratically over his hot, damp skin.

There weren’t words to express how Jennifer felt. So she kept her mouth shut, fearing she would ruin the moment by blurting out that she loved him. Rourke would think she was crazy. A real stage five clinger. Jennifer couldn’t explain even to herself why she felt so deeply for this amazing man. So she would keep all of those tender emotions to herself. Likely forever.