The second their lips touched, fireworks started zinging in his gut, his brain, his heart. And his groin. Most definitely in his groin.

It had been a long time since Wyatt had been this juiced over a woman. Since he’d wanted to strip her naked and spend time exploring all the curves and valleys of her body.

There was just something about Paige Spencer that got to him on a primal level. It was screwed up, no doubt about it, because they were from such different lives that even if he wanted to date her, he never could.

But as their mouths melded and her warm body stepped into his, as the space between them disappeared, everything that was wrong about the situation dropped away. All he cared about was getting more of this adrenaline rush.

He cupped her jaw in both hands, slanted his mouth over hers, and took everything she gave him. His dick was rock solid. His heart slammed against his ribs. Desire beat a drum inside his brain.

Take her, take her, take her.

He wanted to. But they were in Eagle’s Ridge, in the middle of the park, and it wasn’t possible. Which was good, really, because it meant he could regain his senses.

Paige’s arms wrapped around his neck, her body arched into his, and she made little noises in her throat that drove him wild.

“Looks like it may work out this time,” a voice said, and Wyatt groaned inwardly.

“Hello, Mrs. Fontana,” he said as he set Paige away from him, arm wrapped loosely around her waist to steady her. And to keep her close enough to hide the massive hard-on she’d given him.

She blinked up at him—he could see the instant the fog cleared. She whipped around to stare at Hildie.

“Hi,” Paige said.

Hildie Fontana stood there in one of her caftans, her long silver hair clipped back in a barrette, big paste jewels winking from her fingers, smiling like she’d just stumbled onto a secret cache of weapons.

Or maybe that was him who smiled big when stumbling on weapons caches.

Dammit, think.

“We were just enjoying the cool evening,” he said.

Hildie’s eyebrows did that dance thing they did. “I can see that, yes. So how about coming over to the shop sometime to see the estate jewelry, hmm? You could find something for your lovely Nicole. To commemorate this time in your relationship.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. We’ll do that.”

“When are you going back to Virginia, Nicole?”

“Oh, uh, after the holiday.”

Hildie clapped her hands like a child who’d just been given a treat. “Wonderful! You’re going to love our celebration, dear. So much patriotism and fun. I promise you’ve never experienced its like anywhere else.”

Wyatt didn’t bother to tell Hildie that he’d spent at least two Fourths in Washington DC, celebrating on the National Mall with the fireworks exploding around the Washington Monument. He was pretty sure that one was a bit grander than Eagle’s Ridge.

But they still put on a hell of a show for a small town.

“I can’t wait.”

“Well,” Hildie said. “I have to get moving. The dogs are waiting to go out.” She pointed at Wyatt. “You bring this lovely girl to the shop before she goes home.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Hildie bustled off and Wyatt shook his head. “Well, damn. Wonder what the rumor will be now.”

Paige laughed. “It can’t get any worse, can it? According to your grandmother, she was going to have us expecting by the end of the first day she met me. Did she? Do you know?”

Wyatt frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t want to know. It was bad enough to think she’d have us engaged.”

It was Paige’s turn to frown. “Oh, come on, really? Worried I’m going to cramp your style, stud?”

He caught her hand and dragged her into him. Maybe he shouldn’t do it, but she made his heart feel lighter than it had in a long time.

“Forget Hildie and her meddling. Think about how happy you were just a few moments ago. You found a new way to solve your problem.”

She smiled up at him. “I did. But I have another problem I’m not sure how to solve.”

“What’s that?”

“You, Wyatt. It’s not fair for you to kiss me and leave me in this state.”

“What state?” He knew what state. He was in it too.

“Flustered. Hot. Unsatisfied.”

He sighed. “I told you why we can’t do anything about it.”

“Bull. I don’t believe for two seconds that your ability to protect me will be compromised. You haven’t stopped thinking about my safety. You won’t stop thinking about it. It’s ingrained in you, Wyatt. You’re a SEAL.”

He gazed down at her, his desire warring with his brain. His head told him not to do this. Not to get involved with her, no matter how lovely she was or how much he wanted her. His dick said do it. Because she was right, he wasn’t going to fail to put her safety first.

He’d failed to save Danny, but he and Danny were equals on the field of battle. He hadn’t been protecting Danny the way he was protecting Paige. He wouldn’t stop doing his job if they were intimate.

“Still not sure it’s a good idea,” he told her. “I need my head clear, not tangled up with thoughts about how to get you naked.”

Her smile heated his blood by several degrees.

“I can tell you how, Wyatt. Just ask me. That’s all you need to do.”

* * *

By the time they got back up the mountain, he was all in. There was something exciting about Paige. She made him feel things he hadn’t felt in a long time. That had to be worth something, right?

But he wasn’t going to forget what his primary responsibility was. When they reached the house, it was after dark. He checked the perimeter on his phone before turning off the truck. It hadn’t been breached, but he wasn’t finished with securing the premises.

“Wait here,” he told her, drawing his weapon and clearing the house. The only thing waiting inside was Mr. Fluffypants, looking indignant and maybe hungry. “I get her first,” he said to the cat. “You get her when I’m done. Understand?”

Mr. Fluffypants meowed, but Wyatt wasn’t certain if it was agreement or protest. He strode back outside and went over to open Paige’s door. She turned toward him, that little sundress slipping up her legs, and he stopped her with two hands on her knees.

Then he ran his palms up her bare thighs, enjoying the smoothness of her skin. The heat. He wanted to slip a thumb beneath her panties and feel her slick flesh. But he didn’t. There was plenty of time for that.

She gazed at him with heavy-lidded eyes. When she bit her lower lip, he nearly groaned. Instead, he tugged her toward him. Her legs opened. He slid her against him until her silky panties were flush with his jeans-clad groin.

They stared at each other for a long moment. And then he speared a hand into her hair, cupping the back of her head, bringing her mouth to his.

She melted. Her arms went around his neck, her back arched, her crotch fitting tightly to his. He could feel her heat against him, and he knew he wanted to be buried inside her.

The kiss was scorching, but he hadn’t expected anything less. Tongues tangled, breaths mingled, bodies strained toward each other.

Wyatt picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he gripped her bottom and kicked the truck door closed. He carried her to the house, bumped the door open with a foot, and walked inside without breaking the kiss.

But he had to break it to lock the door and set the alarm with his phone. Paige took that opportunity to feather kisses over his jaw and neck. When he had everything locked down tight, he turned his attention back to her.

She was a grenade to the brain, her body a lethal weapon she’d lobbed into his space. He wanted nothing more than to watch her detonate. He couldn’t refuse her, even though a corner of his mind told him he should.

He wasn’t going to, however. He was aroused. She was the only woman to arouse him in months, and he wasn’t taking that lightly. Maybe Paige was the way back. The return to the land of the living.

He set her on the floor and reached for the hem of her dress. But then he stopped and frowned down at her.

Her pretty hazel eyes were glazed. They cleared quickly though.

“What?”

“Just wondering if this is what you really want.”

“Sex? With you?” She nodded. “Yes, it’s exactly what I want.”

His gut tightened and his heart soared at the same time. “Is this because you figured out the YouTube thing?” he teased.

“Of course. I always get hot and bothered over the mention of YouTube.”

He wanted to laugh. “You’re naughty, Paige.”

“I know. Want to spank me?”

Holy shit, she made him hard. “I might,” he growled. “But first I want to get you naked.”

He lifted the hem of her sundress up her thighs, her waist, her breasts. She raised her arms and he dragged the dress up and off.

“Whoa,” he said.

She wore a white bra and panties, and he’d never seen anything so pretty in his life. Her underwear was plain with a little bit of lace trim, but it was somehow sexier on her than any thong he’d ever seen.

“Your turn to remove something.”

“Go ahead,” he told her, holding his arms out. He thought she’d go for his shirt, but she unbuckled his belt instead. Then she dragged it free and dropped it. Her eyes were twin flames as she met his gaze. She flicked open the button on his fly, and his body responded.

A loud meow burst up from below. Paige squeaked and jumped at the same time. Then she glared down at the creature lurking at her feet.

“Fluffy! Not now,” she said.

Wyatt couldn’t help but laugh. He shouldn’t laugh at a time like this, and yet he found himself amused anyway.

“Go ahead and feed him,” he said. Because the damned cat wouldn’t leave them alone if she didn’t. He knew enough about the creature to realize that.

“I’m sorry.”

He caught her wrist as she started to turn away. “I’m not.” He reached around and unhooked her bra. She gasped, her eyes wide. He pulled it from her shoulders and tossed it onto the couch.

Her breasts were a wet dream come true. Firm, round, with upturned nipples he wanted to lick. Instinctively, she put her hands over them. He gently pulled them away.

“Feed the cat. I want to watch.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Who’s naughty now?”

“Me. Definitely me. I don’t mind admitting it.”

She turned on her heel and walked over to the kitchen where she proceeded to get a can of cat food and pop the top. She grabbed a spoon, grabbed the cat’s bowl, and upended the can.

Her breasts jiggled the entire time, and Wyatt’s body responded with an aching hardness that he wasn’t sure would ever be satisfied.

The cat meowed and purred and twisted himself around Paige’s legs. Lucky beast.

She glanced up at him and gave him a wicked grin. Then she dropped to her haunches and set the bowl on the floor. Fluffy dived in, all else forgotten. Paige straightened and washed her hands. Then she strolled toward him again.

Wyatt forgot to breathe for a moment. When she reached him, he cupped her breasts in both hands, feeling the smoothness of them. Paige bit her lip as he skated a thumb over each nipple.

“You like that,” he said.

“Of course I do.”

“I intend to do a lot more than touch them.”

“Oh, I hope so.” She sidled closer, her fingers finding his zipper. He ached to be free, and his breath shortened as he waited.

She hesitated, frowning.

“What?”

“Fluffy. If we don’t close a door, he’s going to be a colossal pain in the ass.”

“Like he isn’t already,” Wyatt said.

But he didn’t wait for a solution. Instead, he bent and caught her around the knees, lifting her into his arms. Then he carried her to the master, kicking the door closed behind him before setting her down again.

“Where were we?”

She laughed. And then she grabbed his zipper and began to ease it downward. “Here, I think.”