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Hearing the chief say he didn’t want to come out here and find her body, knowing that was exactly what would happen, had Sam’s emotions beating at the mental barrier in his brain. His insides were battered and bloody from the internal battle waging within him. There was only one way to silence his demons.

Gods, she was magnificent, eyes blazing in challenge, chest heaving, drawing his attention to the white cotton bra she wore and the outline of her nipples against the soft fabric. This was a woman who’d never back down from a fight. She might momentarily retreat to gather her strength, but she’d never give up.

And that magnificent light would be extinguished before the day was done.

Throwing back his head, he clenched his jaw to keep from roaring. His hands throbbed, they were clasped so tight. The lightest brush of fingertips against his chest snapped his head back down.

Adrianne was kneeling on the bed before him. The expression of understanding in her gaze almost broke him. She thought he was fighting his sexual impulses, trying to be a better man, the man she believed him to be. What would she think of him if she knew the truth? He was going to let her die.

He went to his knees, gripped her slender waist, and buried his face against her soft breasts. Her arms immediately enclosed him, sheltering him from the maelstrom swirling inside him. Her heart beat quickly, her breath fanning the top of his head. Every sensation, every sound was magnified a millionfold.

Last time. Last time. It pounded like a drum in his brain. He lifted his head and stared into brown eyes the color of the chocolate chips she loved. “I want you.” His voice was hoarse, as though someone had raked his vocal cords with razor blades.

“I’m here.” Her lips curved upright. “And for some unknown reason, I want you, too. You’re stubborn and mysterious and temporary.” She shook her head before he could voice any objection. “I understand and accept that. You’ve made no promises, owe me nothing. This is my choice.”

It wouldn’t be if she knew the truth.

His father had sent him to Redemption, to her. Sam could no more leave here than she could escape her fate. But he could have kept his distance, saved them both the slash of emotional talons tearing them both apart.

Then he’d have missed the beauty of their lovemaking, the sheer magnificence of this woman. And that would’ve been a staggering loss. She’d changed him. For better or worse remained to be seen, but he was not the man he was when he arrived.

He traced the tips of his fingers across her forehead and over her cheeks. Her eyelids fluttered closed, and she tilted back her neck in silent offering. The trust in that simple gesture had him swallowing heavily. If all he could give her was pleasure, he’d make it something she’d carry in her soul forever.

Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over hers. She gave a soft gasp as they parted. He slipped inside, teasing her tongue with his. Gripping her jaw, he mapped every soft contour of her mouth, tasting the sweetness. His chest swelled at the eagerness with which she returned the caress. Her fingers slipped into his hair, gripping it tight, as she angled her head and went deeper. It was his turn to groan as pleasure swamped him.

His cock was jammed against the zipper of his jeans, demanding release, but he didn’t want to rush this. When he pulled back, they were both breathing heavily. She licked her lips and scooted back on the bed.

Digging his hands into the mattress, he pushed himself upright. With their gazes locked, he kicked off his boots and yanked off his socks before joining her on the bed.

“What about your jeans?”

“It’ll be over if I take them off.” Feminine pleasure danced in her eyes. “Like that idea, do you?” He gripped her foot. One of her shoes thumped on the floor, quickly followed by the other.

“Mmm.” It was answer enough, her skin flushed, her nipples hard buds against her bra. He ran his thumb over one and then the other. She tilted her head back, her curly hair flowing over her shoulders.

Holding his weight on his forearms, he levered himself over her and closed his mouth around one hard nub, sucking on it through the thin fabric. Her entire body jerked, her back arching up, pushing it deeper into his mouth.

“Sam.” Her fingers dug into the thick muscles of his back, her nails biting into his skin. “Take off my bra. I want your mouth on my skin.”

He closed his eyes and breathed deep, her demand tightening his balls hard enough to cause pain. Outside, the wind whipped up, an echo of the storm brewing inside.

Reaching beneath her, he undid the hooks and peeled the bra away, exposing every inch of perfection. The mounds were pale, a contrast to the deeper tan of her arms and neck. He trailed his fingers down the center of her torso. The muscles rippled beneath his fingers. Her stomach sucked in when he reached the waistband of her pants. He traced the edges of the band, loving the silky sensation of her skin.

“Sam.” His name was a plaintive whine and a demand mixed together.

Heart thumping like a jackhammer, he slipped the button open and pulled down the zipper, exposing a swath of white cotton underwear that matched the bra. Simple and sturdy and sexy as hell because of the woman wearing them.

He slipped his hand inside and cupped her mound. She was damp, the folds of her sex slick. The musky perfume of her arousal lured him. He pressed his lips against her stomach.

“Stop torturing me.” Her hands fisted the covers beneath her.

His smile was genuine. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m only getting started.” Her entire body shuddered at the pleasure, followed by a fresh blast of arousal. Pleased with the reaction, he peeled off the rest of her clothes until she was naked before him.

Still clad in his jeans, he knelt between her thighs. A slight sheen of perspiration covered her skin, giving it a dewy glow. Her nipples were red and taut and juicy. She was a feast for the senses, the likes of which he’d never have again.

Reality threatened to intrude, but he shoved it away with his strength of will. This was their time. Nothing would ruin it for her. He wouldn’t allow it.

Adrianne closed her hand around the outline of his erection. The unexpected touch made his entire body jerk before turning to stone. “Not a good idea,” he gritted out.

She squeezed the bulge outlining the front of his jeans. “Feels like an excellent one to me.”

Her sly sexual innuendo made him laugh. “You’ve got me too on edge.” As much as he hated to do it, he caught her wrist and pulled her hand away. Every cell in his body protested.

She batted her eyelashes, the minx. “Is that so?”

The playful banter warmed him to the depths of his soul. Sex was always a pleasure, but it was rarely fun. The women who came to him expected a level of sophistication and skill. Some liked it rough, others refined, but there was an expectation that he made sure was satisfied. Adrianne wanted nothing from him, protested him paying for something as simple as a window, even though she was aware of his wealth.

She was the first woman who’d ever wanted him for him. Not for wealth or power or position. Those he was more than familiar with. This was something entirely new. He honestly wasn’t sure how to handle it.

“Yes.” His reply was harsher than intended. To head off more questions, he brought his mouth down on hers, sealing both their fates. Her thighs clamped around his, her arms linked behind his neck, and she gave him what he demanded. He ate at her, ravenous, determined to have his fill, while understanding that wasn’t possible. He’d never have enough of her.

Adrianne. Adrianne. Adrianne. Her name was a chant in his brain, a fire in his blood. He dove back again and again, tongues dueling one minute and sensually twining the next. Her hands swept over his back, shaping and squeezing the thick muscles. His cock swelled as blood pumped heavily through the thick veins running up and down the hard length.

A sensual madness swept over him, the tide too hard and fast to hold back. It consumed all thought and reason until only sensation remained. He left hard, biting kisses along her jaw, following the slender contour of her neck to her collarbone, before finally reaching her breasts. He cupped both mounds, going back and forth between the two, sucking and licking the tips. Her cries of pleasure echoed in his ears.

Not enough.

Driven by primal need, he licked a path down her torso, stopping to nibble on her hip bones and lap at the inner curves of her waist.

“Sam.” She was breathless, her breasts quivering with every gasp. Clutching his head, she pushed him lower.

Releasing a guttural growl that was more animal than man, he gripped her thighs and spread them wide. The scent of her arousal was intoxicating. Like a man denied sustenance for too long, he dove between them. In the dim distance, he heard her broken pleas, felt the sting of her nails in his skin and the restless movements of her legs, but nothing broke his concentration.

He had to taste her, had to have her come against his mouth and fingers. She was tight, but he pushed one thick finger deep. When he captured her clit and sucked, she bucked so hard she almost dislodged him. Her cries were frantic, the squeaking of the bed frame louder.

Closing his eyes, he captured the moment, a gift, a precious memory to pull out in the long, lonely years that lay before him. There’d never been a moment this perfect. She held nothing back, giving all he asked for and more, offering him everything.

“Sam!” His name echoed off the walls. He thrust his finger in again and sucked harder on her clit. Her inner muscles clamped down hard as she found release.

On a roar of pain, Sam sat back, yanked open his jeans, and drove into her. Her sex quivered, the spasms of her orgasm rippling through him. Momentarily blinded by passion, he pulled back a few inches and slammed back into her hot depths. The headboard smashed into the wall. Something crashed to the floor. Her orgasm continued, or maybe it was another one. It was impossible to tell. He clenched his jaw and rode it out, not wanting to come. Not yet. Sweat beaded on his brow and trickled down his temple.

Plaster chipped from the wall when he thrust into her a third and final time. His balls pulled up tight. His orgasm shot through him. Gripping her hips, he lost himself to the pleasure that only she could give him. It seemed endless but was over far too soon.

Spent, he collapsed on top of her.

…

Adrianne tried to catch her breath, not easy with Sam sprawled over her. She could have pushed him away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

There’d been a desperation to their lovemaking that was almost frightening in its intensity. It was as if a switch had flipped inside him. He’d gone from determined lover to bordering on feral. He’d swept over her like a tidal wave, taking her under in his wake.

Every muscle in her body was loose, the occasional spasm sending the most delicious stream of pleasure rippling through her. He was still partially hard inside her. She curled her toes and tried not to think about him leaving. It would happen, whether tomorrow or the day after or a week from now.

When she sighed, he pushed himself onto his forearms, brows lowered. “Did I hurt you?”

She slipped her hand beneath the fabric of his jeans, patted his bare butt, and made a humming sound. He’d been in such a hurry he hadn’t bothered to take them off. “In the best way possible.”

He heaved himself off her and onto his back. She immediately missed having him skin to skin, but the view couldn’t be beat. Sunshine blazed through the partially opened drapes, spotlighting his big, solid body, which swallowed up the queen-size bed.

His tanned skin gleamed. The ends of his damp hair were plastered against his neck and forehead. The muscles of his chest and abs were defined in a way she’d never seen outside fitness magazines. Her mouth went dry when she got to his cock. It had moved beyond partially erect and was heading toward full.

The man was a machine if he could recover that fast. With one leg angled to the side, he looked every inch like a man who’d had sex.

“Like what you see?” Those dark eyes of his watched her, missing nothing.

“No point in denying the truth.” She shrugged and rested a hand on his stomach. The muscles rippled beneath her palm. “It’s no secret I find you attractive.” It was difficult to keep things light. They’d been through so much in the short time they’d been together. There was a connection between them that was undeniable. Hard as she tried to ignore it or fight against it, it existed.

Her therapist back in Chicago would point out that her traumatic experience was making her view him in a different light, that she was drawn to him for the safety he represented. And the woman would be right…to an extent. This went beyond the nasty business in her life. Her attraction had everything to do with the man himself.

Back in Chicago, there were men who’d helped her. Even here, several single officers were involved in her case, but Sam was the only one she was attracted to. Maybe forced proximity had something to do with it. And, yes, the danger heightened their emotions. But she had to believe, no matter where or when they’d met, they’d have eventually ended up where they were—lovers.

And friends , a small voice whispered. But could she truly call him that if he wasn’t sticking around? In that case, proximity had played a huge role. If he hadn’t been banished to Redemption by his father, he’d never have become tangled in the web of her life.

Don’t think about it. Time enough later to deal with the reality of some crazy stalker coming for her, most likely to kill her. It wasn’t sticking her head in the sand; it was more compartmentalizing. Sex was primal and life-affirming, and no one did it better than Sam.

“We should get up.” He grabbed her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “Take a shower and talk.” Lover Sam was gone. Serious Sam was back.

Both times they’d made love, he’d been the aggressor. “Not yet.” When he frowned, she pushed up and threw her leg over his jeans-clad thighs, sitting on them.

“What are you doing?” His tone was more one of interest than worry.

“Taking advantage of the situation.” She wrapped her hand around the base of his erection and pumped up and down.

He cursed and reached over his head, gripping the top of the wooden headboard. His biceps bulged when his fingers flexed around the top slat. “Whatever you want. Whatever you need.”

She paused, only for a moment, wondering about the tone behind the words. Hidden depths, this man had them. But as they were temporary lovers, not in a permanent relationship—she’d keep repeating it until she believed it—she did as he’d told her and took what she wanted.

Leaning down, she dragged her tongue over the head of his shaft. His big body went taut as a bowstring. Loving the reaction, she did it again. His hard length pulsed in her hand, hot and heavy. She took the head into her mouth and sucked.

Crack! He swore in a language she didn’t recognize. Breaking contact, she stared at the large chunk of wood in his hands. “You broke the bed.” He’d literally ripped a piece out of it.

“You only have yourself to blame.” He tossed the splintered board aside. “Come here.”

“No.” She pushed aside his hands. “I’m not done yet.”

His eyes flashed molten hot, and his gaze narrowed. “Then you better hurry.”

There wasn’t an ounce of teasing. He was deadly serious. If she didn’t finish things, he would. Not willing to lose her opportunity, she closed her mouth over the top of his shaft. She took the base in her hand and slid up and down as she sucked.

“Adrianne.” The warning growl had her moving. She went up on her knees and angled herself over him, using her grip to guide him into her. It was more difficult from this angle. He seemed larger. She wiggled her hips, drawing a moan from them both. Her inner muscles were still swollen from earlier, adding to the challenge.

His big hands settled on her hips, holding her steady, as she took him deeper inch by inch. “I’ve got you.” He filled her body and her heart to overflowing. The tender gleam in his eyes shifted something inside her.

Oh, he had her, all right, but not in the way he meant. He not only had her body but her heart. Somehow, someway, she’d crossed a line and fallen in love with him.

Not possible. It’s too soon. We barely know each other. It’s only intense physical attraction brought on by the danger surrounding me.

None of her logical explanations made a dent in the surety of her heart, the traitorous organ.

Sam went still beneath her. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

The term of endearment, one not said in the heat of the moment but deliberately, stabbed at her already bruised heart. She blinked back tears that threatened. “Nothing.” She tried to smile but failed miserably.

He rubbed his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear that trickled down. “Then why are you crying?”

“Damn it.” She swiped at her face. “I didn’t realize I was. Chalk it up to hormones. It’s been an overwhelming few days.” Not a lie, but not the whole truth. When he started to lift her off him, she clamped her thighs around his. “No, I want this.”

He brushed his fingers tenderly over her cheek. His thumb grazed her bottom lip. “Whatever you want.” He caught her hands and twined their fingers together, connecting them in yet another way. Eyes locked, hands linked, she began to rock. This time was slower, but somehow even more potent than the last. She felt every inch of him inside her, branding her for all time.

Filled with love she hadn’t looked for and wasn’t sure she wanted, she went over the edge first, unable to hold back. As her body convulsed with pleasure, he drove his hips upward, finding release.

She fell forward and buried her face in the curve of his neck.