Lachlan paced his living room, watching Callie check Rowan over. She had an ugly bruise and swelling forming on the left side of her face.

Heat roared through him. One of those bastards had hit her. She was lucky she didn’t have a concussion or a broken cheekbone.

He’d just returned from dropping the men they’d captured off in the secure bunker beneath their hangar at the airport. They’d attempted to question the driver of the vehicle, but the man wasn’t talking. Lachlan had left him in Seth’s capable hands. The man was a hell of an interrogator.

“All clear.” Callie stood, pushing things back into her backpack.

Rowan attempted a smile. “Thanks, Callie.”

The medic reached out and gripped her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. From his seat on the couch, Axel leaned forward and patted Rowan’s leg.

“You rocked out there, chiquita.”

Lachlan frowned. “I think she’s been touched enough, Diaz.”

Axel lifted his hand and shook his head. From nearby, Blair tried unsuccessfully to hide her laugh.

“And you’re sure Nat is okay?” Rowan asked, concern on her face.

“She’s fine,” Callie assured her. “Pissed, but fine.”

“She alerted us as soon as her apartment was breached,” Lachlan said.

Axel muttered under his breath. “If she hadn’t leaped into the fight like a warrior princess, she might not have gotten conked on the head.”

Rowan tucked her hands into her lap. “These people need to be stopped. They don’t care who gets hurt and if they get their hands on the artifact…”

“Rowan—”

She stood, shaking her head at Lachlan. She turned, her hair whipping around. “I am sick and tired of being hunted down like a dog.” Her gaze met Lachlan’s, filled with quiet determination. “I saw the havoc that artifact wreaked. I won’t let it happen again. I am not going to cower and hide. I want to help you find it.”

“For now, you stay where I can protect you.” Lachlan didn’t explain to her exactly what kind of enhanced security his apartment had, but he knew she’d be safe here. Brooks had decked out the place with enough layers to ensure no one was getting in. He made a mental note to have him do the same to Nat’s place.

Rowan thrust her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to hide away and do nothing—”

“I don’t want you hurt.”

“And I don’t want more innocent people hurt.” She set her shoulders back. “I have several degrees, including a PhD. I can help you.”

Lachlan knew she was smart, but this was about keeping her alive. He cupped her jaw. “Rowan, if something happened to you…” Fuck, he was starting to realize he couldn’t stand that. How could she get so far under his skin in such a short time?

She stared at him. “No one’s ever cared if something happened to me. I’ve never been important to anyone.”

“Your damn parents made you feel that way,” he bit out. “That’s on them, not you, Rowan.”

“I always just thought that maybe I’m defective.”

“I care.”

Her eyes were huge as she stared at him.

“I don’t want you anywhere near this artifact or the people who are after it.”

She shook her head, like she was trying to clear it. “Please let me help. I need to help, for my people who died at Ellesmere. I trust you to keep me safe while I do.”

He stared into her blue eyes and realized how much she needed this. Some control back in this out-of-control situation.

“You can work with us and Brooks.”

She smiled.

“We need to find out more about the Red Wolves, who else is involved, and who has the artifact.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m out of here,” Callie said.

Rowan jerked, like she’d just remembered there were other people in the room. Lachlan sighed and looked at his team members. Yep, grinning like loons.

Callie headed for the door. “Get some rest, Rowan.”

Axel and Blair followed. His second-in-command caught Lachlan’s eye. “If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”

“See you guys in the morning.” Once the door closed, Lachlan checked the security system was up and running. Then, he moved back to where Rowan sat on the couch, and knelt in front of her. He gently touched the swelling on her face.

“I’m okay,” she said quietly. “Not even a headache.”

“You threw yourself on the driver.”

“I knew if they got away, I was dead.”

Dead. Fuck. The word reverberated inside Lachlan’s head, and he didn’t like it. Not one bit. He pulled her into his chest and she clung to him.

“Why don’t you have a shower?” he suggested. “I’ll take care of dinner.”

She glanced up at him. “You cook?”

“Nope.”

When she blinked, he smiled. “But I can order takeout like a pro.”

Now she laughed. It sounded tired, but it was a laugh. “Okay.”

After she’d wandered off toward his bedroom, Lachlan ordered Chinese from his usual place—one that he’d had vetted and where he knew all the delivery guys—and tried not to imagine Rowan naked in his shower.

He’d brewed some coffee by the time she returned. Her hair was wet and loose, and she was wearing the black robe he had hanging in his bathroom. A gift he’d never worn.

He handed her a mug and nudged her toward the couch.

“Thanks.” She wrapped both hands around the coffee and sipped. “I’m going to make you some of my special-blend of hot chocolate soon. Once you taste it, it’ll be all you want.”

“Never grew out of your chocolate addiction, huh?”

Her eyes looked over her mug. “Nope. I’ve honed it. Wait until I make you my brownies or my home-made chocolate pralines. The health benefits of chocolate are huge. Good source of antioxidants, can lower blood pressure and risk of heart disease, increase brain function.”

He laughed.

She kept staring. “You should do that more often.”

He tilted his head. “What?”

“Laugh.”

He dragged in a breath. “I guess I haven’t had much to laugh about for a long time.” The robe clung to her curves, and Lachlan tried to talk himself out of noticing. Dammit, she’d been hurt. She’d had a really rough few days.

But the desire—strong and unstoppable—hit him hard.

He’d almost lost her today. She’d just barely come back into his life, and—more than once—she’d almost been snatched away. Who the fuck knew what the assholes would have done with her? Lachlan had seen enough shit in his career to know it wouldn’t have been pretty.

His mouth pressed into a flat line. If they came for her again, he’d make them hurt. She was his to keep safe. Even if he had to lock her in his room at the base until this was over.

She looked up at him, her eyes widening. “Lachlan? Are you okay?”

“No.”

He stalked toward her, and she hastily set the mug on the coffee table.

“Do you want to talk?” she asked.

“Hell, no.” He knelt down in front of her again, but this time, he pushed her knees apart and moved closer.

Her robe parted a little, giving him a view of smooth, bare legs. They were slender and toned, and his cock surged.

“Hey.” She gripped the belt. “I’m naked under here.”

He froze. Now, his cock pressed hard against his zipper. He wrapped his hands around her calves and took a deep breath.

Her breathing became uneven. “Lachlan.”

His gaze met hers. She stared at him, straight and direct. Then slowly, he slid his hands up her legs. Her teeth sank into her bottom lip, and as he reached the edge of the robe, he pushed it higher.

“This is probably a bad idea,” she said.

“I think it’s an excellent idea.”

“You told me you didn’t have time for this. For me.”

“I lied.”

Air whistled through her teeth. “You said you had nothing to offer.”

“Changed my mind.”

“What?” Her voice rose. “You can’t just change your mind.”

“I can when I see you get kidnapped. When I see you dangling off a fucking building or diving on drivers of speeding vehicles.”

She licked her lips, her gaze warming. “Lachlan.”

“I need to see you.” He leaned closer, parting the robe farther. “I need to see that you’re okay.”

She fell back against the couch, and the robe fell open, baring her. Damn, she was even prettier than he’d imagined. She had firm curves and toned muscles, but her skin was so pale and smooth. He leaned forward and pressed his mouth to hers. As his tongue stroked hers, she kissed him back.

Lachlan slid his hands down her body, cupping her breasts. “You’re so beautiful, Rowan.”

“No, I’m—”

“Yes.” He rolled her nipple between his fingers. “You are.”

As he played with her breasts, she writhed, pushing into his touch. “Oh, that’s so good.”

He dropped his head, sucking one nipple into his mouth. He played with it, nipping it with his teeth before moving to the other.

“Lachlan.” Her hands tugged on his hair.

He moved lower, sliding his mouth down her belly, scraping his teeth over her skin. She tasted so good, and smelled like his soap again. He nudged her legs apart. She wasn’t wearing any panties and the nest of dark-red curls was so damn pretty. He stroked her.

“Oh, God,” she murmured, jerking against him. “Please.”

“Please what?” He stroked her pink folds. Need slammed into him so hard he couldn’t think straight.

“More,” she panted.

Lachlan dropped his head and pushed her thighs wider apart. He licked her.

“Oh.” Her hips jerked up.

He gripped her thighs, lifting them over his shoulders and holding her in place. He licked and sucked, working her with his tongue. “Taste so good, Rowan. I could stay right here all night.”

He kept licking, learning what strokes she liked best. He closed his mouth over her clit, toying with it, enjoying the hungry noises she made. Then, he went back to lapping, and slid a finger inside her. Damn, she was tight.

Her face was flushed, her eyes glazed. “Please, Lachlan.”

He could feel her body shaking. She was close to coming, and he couldn’t wait to watch.

The doorbell buzzed.

Lachlan cursed. “Shit. That’ll be dinner.”

“No.” Her legs tightened on him, trapping him close to her.

He thrust another finger inside her and leaned forward, licking her clit. “Come for me, Rowan.”

Her hands clenched in his hair. “I’m going to scream.”

“So scream.” He closed his mouth on her clit and sucked.

Her body clamped down on his fingers and her back bowed. She moaned, biting her lip to try and control the noises coming from her throat.

But Lachlan didn’t give a shit about the delivery guy, or anybody else. He wanted to hear her scream.

Another suck, and she broke loose, crying out his name.

And Lachlan had never seen or heard anything so beautiful in his whole damn life.

He slid up, closed his mouth over hers, and swallowed the rest of her cries.

* * *

Rowan lay sprawled on the couch, trying to recover. Her pulse was pounding, and her legs felt like they would never hold her up again. Hell, she was just trying to breathe.

She heard Lachlan talking to someone, and she watched as he strode back in and tossed a paper bag on the kitchen counter.

Then he was moving toward her, face intent. Her belly clenched, and so did all her girl parts.

He lifted her into his arms and she wrapped her legs around him.

“Where are—?”

“Want you in my bed the first time I fuck you.”

The low, harsh words shivered through her. If he thought she was going to complain, he was so wrong.

He laid her down on the bed, then flicked on a lamp. Low, golden light spilled over them. Lachlan pressed one hand to the bed, and then, with one quick tug of his other hand, her robe was gone.

His gaze roamed over her body.

“Hurry, Lachlan,” she murmured.

He straightened and yanked his shirt off. Wow. She would never, ever get tired of looking at him.

“Tell me what you want.” he growled.

“You.”

He flicked open his jeans. “Tell me more.”

“Your hands on me.” She let her gaze move over him greedily. As he shoved his jeans off, his thick cock sprang free. Oh. The gods had been very generous. “Your cock inside me.”

Naked, he pressed one knee to the bed and his hand moved between her thighs again.

“You’re so wet, Rowan. All for me.” He stroked her. “I’ll slide right in here.”

“Yes, please.”

He stood again, and this time, she heard the tearing of a foil packet. Then he was back. “Please what?”

“Please, Lachlan, fuck me.”

He groaned, his big body covering hers. He pushed her legs wide.

Desire was making her burn up, and only Lachlan could cool it. Only he could make it better.

She felt the blunt head of his cock nudge her folds. He moved his hips, his hard cock sliding up, teasing her clit.

She moaned.

“I hope you don’t care if my neighbors hear you scream.” His hot words whispered against her ear.

She shook her head. “Cocky.” She gripped his ass, trying to pull him closer, get him to move deeper.

“I love how much you want me.”

“Lachlan—”

He buried himself inside her with one hard thrust.

Rowan cried out, her head pressing back against the bed. He was thick and hard, filling her up.

He groaned. “You’re so damn tight.”

Then he started moving, thrusting inside her—firm and a little rough. He pulled her legs tight against his sides, moving deeper inside her than anyone had before.

“Rowan, open your eyes.”

She did, her gaze colliding with his golden-tiger eyes. He stared at her as he moved inside her.

Her belly pulled tight. Connected. Pleasure spilled inside her. She had never felt this connected to anyone. She felt a pull toward Lachlan, like gravity was binding her to him.

It thrilled her and scared her at the same time.

Each thrust of his cock had her pleasure rising higher, and she stopped thinking. Oh, oh. “Lachlan… I’m…”

Her orgasm slammed into her and she screamed his name.

He continued to slide into her, drawing her pleasure out. Then he rose up on his knees, and pulled out of her.

She made a sound of protest, but then he flipped her onto her belly.

“Not done with you, yet.” His rough hands shaped her ass. “Fucking hell.” One of his hands slid between her legs, and he buried two fingers inside her.

With a moan, she pushed back against him. Then he cupped the globes of her ass again, kneading.

“You have a pretty ass, Rowan.”

She felt his thighs brush against the backs of hers, then he slammed back inside her.

God. She grabbed the covers, twisting them in her fingers, trying to hold on. He gripped her hips and started a hard, fast, pounding rhythm.

“Keep your ass up, Rowan.”

His chest was pressed to her back, and he kept driving into her.

Rowan felt another orgasm hit. The strength of it grayed her vision and she moaned, long and deep.

Then Lachlan thrust again, buried deep. His groan was more of a growl as he came inside her.

They collapsed on the bed, their harsh pants filling the air.

She was pinned by his big body and she liked it. “If the bad guys come tearing in again, I won’t be able to move. You’ll have to rescue me.”

His laugh was a deep rumble, and she loved the sound.

He kissed her shoulder. “I’ve got you covered, sweetheart.”

A warm glow filled her. No one had called her sweetheart before. She liked it. She liked him. She liked it all too much.