I sat on the floor of the hotel room, my aching legs curled beneath me and my back pressed to the foot of the bed. "I'm going to need therapy after that," I said, already flipping through the TV channels with the remote control. Something to distract me from what had just happened. I wasn't sure I would ever sleep again.

"You already needed therapy," Rob said. He flipped through the room service menu. "Not a lot of options. What do you like on your pizza? Besides not-seafood?"

"Pepperoni."

He picked up the phone and called in a room service order that was a whole lot longer than just pepperoni pizza. I wasn't going to object.

"I'm not sure I ever want to leave this room," I said when he hung up the phone.

Rob waggled his eyebrows at me suggestively. I had never seen a man waggle his eyebrows before, but there was no denying waggling when I saw it. And it was still, bizarrely, sexy as hell, with those dark brows over those piercing blue eyes.

I smiled. "You never quit, huh?"

He sat next to me. When his broad shoulder touched mine, I felt a shiver run down my spine. "When I see something I want, I don't quit until I get it."

"I don't know about that," I murmured.

Rob started to ask a question, and I cut him off, suddenly exhausted. "I don't want to fight or insinuate or banter, Rob. I'm tired. It's been a long night."

"All right," he said. "Just pizza, I promise. Do you want me to go? Give you some space?"

"No.” The thought of Rob leaving made my heart rate speed. "I want you here. I'm still a little shaken."

"But you'd like for me to be quiet?"

I smiled at that. "I don't know. Seems like an awful lot to ask of you."

"SEALs can be very stealthy," he assured me. "You won't even know I'm here."

I breathed in his scent, the soap and the rich, pleasant smell of his pheromones. Forget he was there, hulking and masculine and protective? Not a freaking chance.

I cleared my throat, not wanting to talk about the night and not able to think about anything else. "I'm sorry I forgot to lock the doors after you got out of the car. That I ruined our night."

He twisted slightly to make eye contact with me, his blue eyes taking on an edge of exasperation. "You didn't do anything wrong. That carjacker did. And my night isn't ruined."

"How could it not be? That was terrifying. I'm still shaking." I held out my hands, but they were traitorously still. "Well, I feel like I'm still shaking, anyway. I feel all wrung out."

"That's normal," he reassured me. "Your adrenaline rush is gone and that makes you feel like shit. Always did for me, anyway."

"Hard to believe anything gives you an adrenaline rush," I said. "You seemed pretty matter-of-fact with an armed asshole in the backseat."

"I did not feel entirely calm, not with you in danger."

"Well. We’re fine. Tomorrow we'll go see your dad, we'll get the Suburban back. Everything normal, just like we planned."

"Naomi. You don't have to go right back to normal. It's okay to feel upset about what just happened."

I laughed shakily. "Is the Navy SEAL telling me to stay in touch with my feelings?"

"Just because I like to avoid mine doesn't mean I think it's healthy for everyone," he retorted. His blue eyes were warm with concern.

I turned away. I felt so much more than residual fear and anxiety from the carjacking. I felt a sudden surge of lust, a desire for him that was reckless and embarrassing. I didn’t want him to see the heat in my eyes.

I knew this was purely primal. All I had to do was talk myself through the desire to rip Rob’s clothes off and straddle him. I'd been afraid. Rob, with his powerful, athletic body and dangerous competence, seemed like he could protect me from anything. So now I wanted him. Even more than I had before.

Rob sighed. "I'd planned to take you dancing after dinner. Try to teach you a few moves before the fundraiser."

"I don't plan on dancing," I said. "I'm sure I'll be busy with the event."

"You don't have to do everything yourself. I hired an event planner. Then you can enjoy it too."

"Rob." At least exasperation with him felt safe and familiar after the unsettling night. "The point of a fundraiser is not to spend much money, so you can use the donations for the charity. Fund. Raiser. It's not just a big party."

"I'm paying," he said. "And I'm paying for the caterer. My donations."

"Why?"

"Because I want your fundraiser to be a raging success. Because it's obviously important to you, crazy cat lady. And because I want you to enjoy something for once."

"I enjoy lots of things," I said defensively.

"Great. Well, you're going to enjoy the night of the fundraiser too."

I was amused at how combative Rob sounded even when he was trying to be nice. This was another reason we could never date. What kind of future did two people have when they argued all the time?

"So tell me," he said. "What else do you enjoy?"

"What else do I enjoy? That sounds like an interview question." And a question that made me squirm.

"If there are so many things, it should be easy for you to list them." His lips quirked up.

Fine. Challenge accepted.

"I like reading. As you obviously know. I like swimming, although I don't swim often. I don't want to go ocean swimming alone."

"A wise choice," he said. "Why isn't there anyone for you to swim with?"

"None of my friends want to go for a nice mile swim on a Sunday morning," I said, "For some reason."

"I'd go on a nice mile swim with you."

"I'm out of practice. You'd leave me in your wake."

His eyes were intent on mine. "I wouldn't leave you."

I noticed the day's shadow, dark scruff across his broad jaw, the soft pink of his lips.

He certainly hadn't left me with that carjacker.

Even when the guy had climbed into the backseat before I could hit the locks, even when I was terrified with the gun’s big barrel staring me down, I'd known Rob would come back. I had sat there with my hands frozen on the steering wheel, my fingers so stiff that I wasn’t sure I could even obey the man with the gun. Adrenaline had flooded through my body and made my legs ache to run. I’d thought frantically of Rob, Rob, Rob, coming back.

I had tried to figure out a way to warn him before he got into the car, and at the same time, I had felt like once he came back, I would be safe.

“I could’ve died tonight,” I said.

“I wouldn’t let that happen.” His tone was confident.

I shook my head slightly. If Rob hadn't been there, so cool and collected, so able, the evening would have unspooled in different, terrifying new directions. But then, if Rob hadn’t been there, I wasn’t sure that carjacker would have climbed into the Suburban. “Do you think he knew who you were?”

“I’d like to know the answer to that question too.” He rubbed his palm against his five o’clock shadow. His eyes were troubled. “Hopefully the police get an answer out of him.”

“Maybe it was bad luck,” I said. “Our unlucky night.”

“Maybe,” he agreed. He turned that troubled gaze on me, those deep blue eyes full of pain despite the confident way he spoke. “I hate that you were in danger.”

“I wasn’t happy about it myself.” I was trying to be funny, but my heart raced.

“If I were a better man,” he said softly, “I’d let you go. Back to your world, where you’re safe. I wouldn’t try to keep you near me.” As if to betray his words, he brushed back my hair from my face, tucking a rogue strand back behind my ear. The light touch of his fingers against my neck sent a wave of desire rushing through my body.

“I’m sure I look like a mess.” I could barely catch my breath. Hoping he couldn’t tell, I ran my hands over my hair to pull it back into a ponytail. I coached myself: Whatever you do, Naomi, don’t look into those damnably gorgeous blue eyes.

He brushed a finger over my shoulder. "You're so beautiful," he murmured. "And as much as I might tease you, the way you're oblivious about it... it breaks my heart. You should know."

"Rob," I whispered, wanting to reprove him for the compliment, but knowing he'd just argue with me more.

"I think," he said, "I should tell you that you're beautiful every day. Until you stop blushing about it."

"Every day? There are only twenty-five more days in that every day. Then you'll be gone again."

"So let's make the most of them.” His fingers skated down my arm, raising goosebumps at his touch. Such a little thing, and it made my spine tingle with longing, as if his touch raced through every part of my body.

"We should eat our pizza," I said. "Go to bed. Back to normal tomorrow."

He leaned in, his breath a hot whisper against my hair. "I don't want to go back to normal tomorrow, Naomi."

The way he said my name made it sound like a prayer, a plea.

I bit down on my lower lip as I turned my eyes up to his. Was it possible that Rob felt as much as I did?

Even if he didn't, did I care right now?

We had survived the night. I could survive Rob Delaney breaking my heart again if I meant I finally filled this ache I had to wrap my thighs around his lean waist and let him bury his cock deep inside me.

“This isn’t smart,” I said.

“Okay,” he said. “No, it isn’t smart. But can’t we just have this one, dumb moment?”

"This moment?" I murmured. "Between carjacking and pizza?"

"Yes," he said, leaning in. I expected him to kiss me, but he paused, with his lips a breath away, his eyes intent.

Oh, what the hell. This moment. Fine. I wanted this moment as badly as he did. I closed the distance between our mouths, my lips parting.

Rob's mouth was warm and firm. His hand settled on my jaw. The roughness of his palm against my cheek felt like a welcome contrast to the softness of his lips. I could lose myself in that kiss.

Rob settled his hands on my waist. Throwing caution to the wind, I broke away from his kiss for a second – my lips tingling already with the electricity between us – and flung one leg over his. Rob pulled me close. Straddling his lap, I felt the hardness of his cock even through his jeans. He wanted me as much as I wanted him.

Rob’s mouth parted. Tentatively, I probed into his mouth with my tongue, felt the hard contours of his mouth, the contrast of those almost-pillowy lips, the softness of his tongue as it slid against my own. My fingers curled deep into the muscle of his shoulders, frantic with desire.

“It’s just… the adrenaline. Coming down from the night. Making us act crazy.” I murmured when our lips parted.

“Adrenaline is not the thing in this room that makes me crazy,” Rob said. He kissed me again, scooping me up from the floor, standing with me against his chest so he could toss me onto the bed.

I sat up to untie my dress uncertainly. My fingers were clumsy in the knot of the fabric.

Rob joined me on the bed, leaning over to kiss me. My lips parted against his. The tips of our tongues met, tentatively, and then he pulled away, pressed a peck of a kiss on the edge of my lips. It made me turn my face into his, seeking another, deeper kiss.

His rough hands slid against my waist before he tugged the dress up over my body. For a second, it hung up around my biceps, blinding me. He pressed his lips to mine again while I was caught, his mouth exploring. I felt the warmth of his mouth as he kissed me, the solidity of his tongue when the tip touched mine. The sense of warmth and wetness made me imagine his cock thrusting inside me instead of his tongue in my mouth. A throb of desire went through my body. He tossed the dress across the room.

My hands on his broad, muscular shoulders began to tremble. I hoped Rob wouldn’t notice, the way just touching him gave me the shakes again, but he caught my hands in his big hands and kissed them tenderly. His cool-water blue eyes were on mine as he pressed his lips to each scar, each knuckle. He turned over my hand to kiss the inside of my wrist where I’d dotted my perfume, and my breath caught. I’d never known there were so many nerve endings in my hands and wrists; every touch sent another throb of desire, of emotion, coursing through my blood.

“Don’t be scared, Naomi,” he said. “I’m here.”

“You’re the thing I’m scared of,” I said, squeezing those big shoulders in my hands; the feel of his muscle against my palms was so deeply satisfying. How could the same man who scared me, with my tender once-broken heart, be the same man who comforted me?

“I’m sorry,” he murmured into my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I’m so sorry.”

I kissed those penitent lips, his mouth so sweet and lush-lipped despite the hardness of his jaw, and then began to unbutton his crisp dress shirt. My fingers worked steadily down the buttons as Rob watched me, the faintest smile playing over his lips. Then I pushed his shirt down off his shoulders, almost groaning at the sight of his white t-shirt beneath. Still not naked?

He yanked the t-shirt over his head in one smooth motion and sent it flying across the room, somewhere after my dress. His pecs were broad and smooth, his body hard-angled; the broadness of his chest gave way to a narrow waist. His abs were so chiseled that I wanted to run my fingers across them, so I did, letting my fingernails skate over each defined muscle. His abs tensed under my touch, each muscle hard and warm and distinct. There were scars on his side, a puckered mass, and I looked up at him quizzically.

“It’s not that interesting a story,” he said, cupping my jaw with one big hand, kissing my lips again.

When our lips parted, I murmured, “I bet it’s incredibly interesting.”

His mouth quirked up slightly. “You’re right. But it’s not nearly as interesting as the present.”

We began to kiss again. I felt those calloused, rough hands wrap firmly around my hips as I lost myself in his kiss. The sense of desperate desire for him kept building, and I was the one who gave in first, running my fingers down his abs to his lap. I stroked his hard length through his trousers. It stirred a strange restless pride that he wanted me.

“Undress for me,” he murmured.

I unhooked my bra, sliding it over my shoulders. Then, guessing what he wanted, I held my hands up to tangle my fingers in my hair, arching my back, giving him a good look at my breasts. They were small, but he groaned in desire when he saw them, his eyes appreciative. He leaned forward, cupping one breast like it belonged to him, his palm rough against my nipple. His seeking mouth found my other nipple, kissed it gently, drew it into his mouth. I felt my head fall back again as his mouth worked steadily on my nipple, his tongue tweaking it. Another throb of desire ran through my body, leaving me weak-kneed and shaking, and I couldn’t bear it anymore.

I pushed him down on the bed, my hands on his hard pecs. He grinned up at me as I straddled him.

“Don’t look so self-satisfied,” I told him. His goddamn belt buckle was a mystery. I couldn’t get it open, no matter which way my fingers tried to work it.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. His fingers pushed mine gently out of the way, unclasping his belt buckle. I knelt on the bed so I could push my panties down, getting them out of my way, and then before he could finish undressing, I grabbed the waistband of his jeans and boxers together.

He wanted to know I wanted him too? There was no denying I was mad for the man.

I straddled his thighs. Rob had a long, smooth cock that bobbed in front of the hard muscles of his lower abs; it was beautiful, and I leaned forward, grasping it in my hand, rewarded by the faintest gasp from between his parted lips. I sat up on my knees so that I could brush the head of his cock between my thighs.

“You’re so wet for me,” he said softly.

“You drive me crazy,” I said. Which I normally didn’t mean in nearly as good a way as I meant it right now. I throbbed for him, and I guided his cock to massage my clit like he was my toy. The feel of him pressing against me in slow, languid circles felt good, but I was so eager for him now. I slid down on his cock, letting him fill me. He gently stretched me out as I slid lower, until my thighs rested on those hard abs.

When I took his full length in, I gasped. He looked up at me, his blue eyes soft with longing, the expression on that handsome face fond, and traced his fingers over the curve of my cheek. Growing comfortable with his length now, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. His hands caught around my waist, kissing me back hard.

I rose and fell up and down his cock, rising so high on my knees that he brushed teasingly over my clit again, then settling down, letting him fill me up. His eyes drifted shut, his breath quickening in time with mine. As my legs began to burn with the effort, he reached forward and cupped my ass in his palms, his biceps standing out even more dramatically as he helped me to move up and down. He could lift me easily.

“Naomi, stop,” he murmured, his fingers squeezing my ass cheeks in a way that was possessive and firm and sexy as hell. “We need a condom.”

I fell beside him on the bed, my limbs all trembling on the edge of orgasm, impatient for him to be inside me again. I watched as he rolled smoothly out of bed, went to his jeans and pulled a condom out of his wallet.

“Really, Delaney?” I asked him.

“I like to be prepared for emergencies,” he said.

“Like carjackings and their inevitable sexual aftermath?”

“Exactly,” he said.

He rolled the condom onto his big cock and then rejoined me. He grabbed my thighs and yanked me down from the pillows against the headboard, bracing his body over mine in a push-up position. His cock slid inside me, and I gasped as he filled me up.

I wrapped my arm around his shoulders, using him to lift my hips so I could take him in, my thighs squeezing around his narrow waist. I buried my face in the space between his neck and shoulder, squeezing my eyes shut, lost in the way he felt inside me, around me. He pumped steadily inside me, each pump answering that desperate throb, and I felt every muscle tense in a way that was almost painful, my core tightening around his cock even though he was already almost too big for me to handle. And then just when that sensitivity, that tension, was almost unbearable, my orgasm broke. All the world was Rob, Rob’s body against mine, his heat, his warmth, his cock buried deep inside me as pleasure arched through my body, from my curled toes to my fingernails digging into the flesh of his broad shoulders.

Rob kept pumping as I clung to his shoulders, his lips parting as he came, and I still held tight to him because this intimacy was the sweetest. And then suddenly, he was finished, his hard body rolling over onto his back, holding me tight against his chest so that I was suddenly on top of him as he sprawled across the bed.

His hand patted my ass familiarly, his fingers resting on the curve of my cheek. “That was worth the wait,” he said.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm?” He mimicked me.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess I was expecting something more.”

His blue eyes on mine were shocked for a second, before he caught the laughter in my eyes. He grinned, and my own smile couldn’t be resisted anymore.

He patted my ass again, harder this time, a smack of his open palm. “You are trouble, Naomi Anne Papadopolous.”

But I knew damn well he was trouble.

I knew damn well that no matter how languid and content and warm and filled I felt now, my heart was going to pay for this later.