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Jo wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry. This must be so painful for you.”

“Thinking about what he tried to do to you? What he would have done to Fiona?” He shook his head. “No, it’s not painful at all. I just hope he gets what he deserves. Life in prison, with no chance of parole.”

“Me, too,” she murmured. “I would be terrified of what he’d do if he ever got out.”

Cam took both her hands in his and studied her. “You’re right. I thought of Don as my brother. And at some point, when I’ve had time to absorb what he did, it’ll knock me sideways. Right now, though? I’m angry. Glad he’s in jail. Happy he can’t hurt you or Fiona.”

“Or you,” she reminded him.

“Or me,” he repeated grimly. “You can be sure I won’t be so trusting in the future. With the exception of you, Fiona and my parents.”

Jo sighed. “Your wariness about trusting people? That’s on Don’s shoulders, too. That was one of the things I always admired about you, Cam. You were so open. Trusting. So loyal to your friends. I hope Don hasn’t destroyed that.”

“Not destroyed it,” he murmured. “Put a ding in it, maybe. Made me aware that I can’t take anyone but my family at face value.”

“Good.” She squeezed his hands and took a step back. “Now, I think I’d like that glass of wine you promised me.”

Smiling, Cam reached for her hand and twined their fingers together. “I can do that. Let’s go into the kitchen.”

Five minutes later, they sat in the living room, sipping wine and avoiding the topic of Don and everything he’d done. She’d called Mel and told her what had happened. Explained that there was at least one more perp out there, the person who’d planted the bomb. She’d check in with Mel as soon as they apprehended the culprit.

Now she was on Cam’s lap, her fingers twined in his hair, her mouth nibbling at the edges of his. “Can I say that I’m glad Fiona fell asleep at your parents’ house?”she murmured, kissing his neck beneath his ear. “I needed this evening with you, Cam. To wipe away the memories of Don and the Fox River rushing toward me.”

“I needed it too, Jo. To celebrate that you’re alive.”

“That we’rebothalive,” she said, swinging one leg over Cam’s lap so she was facing him. She slid closer so the hard heat of his cock was exactly where she needed it. “Make love with me, Cam. Please.”

He plucked her half-full glass of wine from her fingers and set it carefully on the end table next to his. Then he stood up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She didn’t have to say this might be the only night they were alone in the house. She saw that knowledge in Cam’s eyes, as well.

He carried her down the hall to his bedroom and set her carefully on his bed. Then he retrieved condoms from a dresser drawer, and Jo’s eyes widened when she saw how many he had.

“I really hope that’s not overly optimistic,” she said, smiling at his handful of foil packets. She held out her hand for him, and he dropped the condoms on the nightstand beside the bed. She raised one eyebrow. “You sure we’ll go through all of those?”

Cam grinned back at her. “I predict we’ll need more before the night is over.”

“I like that prediction,” she murmured, reaching for his shirt.

She unbuttoned it slowly, pausing after each button to kiss the part of his chest that was exposed. When she undid the last button, she drew it off his shoulders and tossed it onto the floor. Then she ran her hands over his chest, letting strands of the silky hair slide through her fingers.

Leaning forward, she took one of his tight male nipples in her mouth. Bit down lightly, then sucked the sting away. When he groaned and fumbled with her sweater, she helped him lift it over her head, and it joined his shirt on the floor.

Moments later, he had unhooked her bra and drawn the straps down her arms. The cups fell away from her breasts, and Cam sucked in a breath. Studied them for a few moments, then bent his head to first one, then the other.

By the time he drew his mouth away, she was moaning and rubbing against the thick length of his cock. “Hmm,” he said. “Looks like we both have too many clothes on.”

“We do,” she said, her voice breathy. “Let’s fix that.” She reached for the button on his jeans and popped it open. Drew down his zipper, and tried to push the jeans down his legs, her hands shaking. Trembling.

Cam slid off the bed, his eyes staring into hers, and shoved his jeans and boxer briefs down his legs. Kicked them off, then started on her jeans. In moments, she was as bare as he was.

As he grabbed one of the condoms, Jo let her gaze devour him. “Can I just say how beautiful you are?”she murmured. “We were in such a rush last time that I didn’t get a chance to really appreciate you. This time, I want to devour you.”

“I think the devouring will be mutual,” he said, his voice low. Sultry. He ripped open the condom, and when she reached for it, he held it away from her. “Not this time, Jo. If you touch me, I’m going off like a rocket.” He grinned at her. “Maybe by the fourth or fifth one, I’ll let you slide it on.”

Trembling already, Jo raised one eyebrow at him. “Fourth or fifth time? Can I just say, ‘wow’, Cam?”

“Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for you, Jo? It’s been a very long fifteen years. I love what we did on the couch, but we were trying not to wake Fiona up. Tonight? Neither of us has to take care.”

“I’ve waited just as long for you, Cam,” she said, reaching for his hands and twining their fingers together. “Even after I joined the Army, I dreamed about you all the time.”