CARLOS HAD OVERHEAD Mary Ann speaking with Alice about her brief marriage. A myriad of emotions had struck him from jealousy to compassion to rage. He hated the thought that Mary Ann had loved another so deeply and was angry at himself for being such an ass about something that happened a long time ago.

“What is the matter, Carlos?”

It wasn’t the first time that she had asked him on their trip to see the Knave of Hearts.

He glanced over at her beautiful face. He liked the spattering of freckles on her nose and cheeks. It made her seem perpetually youthful. But there was nothing childlike about her shapely woman’s form.

“Nothing,” he bit off gruffly.

Mary Ann stopped in the middle of the mountain path, “I am not going any further until you tell me what is going on with you. You didn’t come to bed last night until late and were gone before I got up. You haven’t made one pass at me and a few days ago we were fucking in the forest. If you want nothing to do with me, you need to just man up and tell me.”

He growled low in his throat, “Me wanting you has nothing to do with this.”

Mary Ann started to rub her arms, “Stop the bullshit, Caterpillar.”

She squealed when he grabbed her elbow and yanked her into his arms, “You have got it all wrong.”

Mary Ann fought to be free, “You don’t have to pretend. If you are not feeling it, I will survive. I have lived through worse than someone spurning me.”

“I know,” his deep voice quieted her movements. Mary Ann looked up into his dark eyes. They were compassionate and yet angry?

“You know—what?” she gasped.

“I overheard you and Alice the other night. I know about Bill and I know that you lost the love of your life.”

Mary Ann ducked her head.

“I didn’t mean to intrude,” Carlos rasped, “But once you started talking about him and I heard the sorrow in your voice I couldn’t turn away. I am sorry, Mary Ann. I am sorry that you lost him. But I can’t help how I feel.”

Her red hair shimmered in the sunlight. She slowly met his gaze, “How do you feel?”

He gave a strangled laugh, “That is what I am trying to figure out. Is it insane to be jealous of a dead man?”

Mary Ann’s hands rose to cup his face, “You’re jealous.”

It was more of a statement than a question, but he nodded anyway. “So, fucking jealous that I want to punch something. Which is ridiculous—I know.”

A small smile spread across her face, “You’re jealous.”

Carlos scowled, “Stop saying that.”

She giggled, “I thought that I had done something wrong or that I sucked at sex or something.”

Carlos threw his head back and laughed, dislodging her hands.

His large body felt so good against Mary Ann and she snuggled into his chest, “Carlos that was a long time ago. I am not the same person that I was then. And while I will always love Bill, I have let him go. I didn’t mean to break down that day in the forest, it had just been a long time for me. Some of the feelings and emotions overflowed for a moment.”

He lilted his dark head to the side, “You don’t have to explain. I feel like an ass.”

She bit her lower lip playfully, “You are adorable.”

Carlos’ black brows drew together again, “That is the last thing a man wants to hear.”

“How about—you make me hot?”

His arms tightened around her, and he bent his head. His lips brushed the outer shell of her ear and she shivered.

“I want a do over,” he rasped and licked along the length of her neck.

Mary Ann shivered in Carlos’ arms, “What are we doing over?”

“Anything you want,” he planted little kisses along her neck and jawline.

Mary Ann moaned as he found the sensitive spot behind her ear and sucked.

“I want you,” he growled right before his lips descended on hers taking her mouth in a tender kiss.

His lips brushed hers once twice and then on the third pass he gently parted her lips with his own. His tongue invading her mouth branding her with his taste—minty with a hint of something dark and dangerous.

Her knees felt weak and her hands automatically went to the back of his neck sinking into his dark hair. He tasted so good and felt even better. Mary Ann couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, all she wanted was him.

“We need to stop before I end up fucking you against a tree,” his dark words sent images through her mind. Her nipples tightened, and she wanted his hands on them.

“What is stopping you?” she moaned as his hands found the curve of her ass.

“Why are you so perfect?”

He slipped his hands inside of her pants and cupped her bare flesh. Mary Ann could no sooner respond to his question than run a marathon. Her heart was racing, and her core was pulsing.

“Fuck, you are so wet,” his words only caused her core to gush even more.

When his fingers touched her soaked folds, she moaned low and loud, spreading her legs so that he had better access.

She was hot and tight and everything that Carlos wanted in a woman. But it was more this time, he knew her better and it wasn’t just a quick pairing to relieve a need.

He admired how strong she had been since the passing of her husband. He marveled at the compassion she had shown her brother when Harry had ruined her life. And to forgive Jay after he killed her husband, Carlos couldn’t comprehend the depths of this woman’s soul.

She was beautiful inside and out and she wanted him. He was nothing compared to her.

Carlos slipped his fingers inside of her core and she began to ride his fingers. Her panting against his lips were driving him absolutely insane. He needed her—now.

In seconds he had her pants yanked down and was in the process of yanking his down his thighs.

Just as he had promised, Carlos positioned her against the nearest tree and kissed the shit out of her. She didn’t know where her pants had been thrown and she didn’t care. When he lined up his large cock against her slit and guided himself inside, Mary Ann’s eyes rolled back in her head.

She groaned, clutching at his shoulders, “More, harder!”

Carlos started thrusting into her with long even strokes. She felt the bark of the tree against her back, his heat between her thighs and his mouth on her neck. She couldn’t take it any longer, her legs began to shake, and she started lifting herself and bouncing up and down on his cock.

“Fuck, Mary Ann, ride me, baby!”

She had no problems complying with his command. Her core was drenched, and he was hitting the spot deep inside of her that was certain to send her flying.

The shaking of her legs increased, and her core began to clench, “I-I am going to cum!”

His thrusting took on a faster pace, ramming inside of her over and over again until she crested that peak, shattering around him. Her juices coming all over his cock and causing him to start unloading inside of her.

His dick jerked as he spurted his load. He bit down on her shoulder causing her pussy to clench again.

They were both breathing hard when the last of the orgasms had passed. Before he slipped from her body he said gruffly, “I am starting to care for you, Mary Ann. More than I probably should.”

She cupped his whiskered jaw once again, “And I am coming to care for you, Caterpillar.”

A reluctant smile crossed his handsome face. Mary Ann loved the way his hair was tousled by her hands. His lips were pink, and his eyes were intent on her face.

“As much as I am enjoying the show, I have to assume there is a reason you are fucking in my front yard.”

Mary Ann squealed and buried her head into Carlos’ shoulder. Standing at his open door the Knave of Hearts was eyeing them with a great deal of amusement.

“I am going to die,” she muttered softly.

“Go back inside, Dick Head, we will be there in a moment,” Carlos growled and pulled out when the door finally clicked shut.