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  “I want to feel that way again,” she said. Her hips rolled sensuously forward.

  He counted to twenty.

  “All tight and hot. Way past the tingle stage.” Her breath caught, then expelled, bringing with it another soft moan of pleasure. “I want you to make me even wetter this time. Hotter.”

  His hips bucked as she pressed down, rubbing against his shaft. She was slick and moist, and ready to accept him inside her—physically. But he wanted more. He wanted her mind free of everything but him and every wicked delight he planned to give to her.

  Or was it his own mind he wanted free tonight?

  Heat simmered in his veins. His body demanded release, moving him to the point where he didn’t care much about anything except the incredibly sensual woman driving him crazy with lust.

  He rolled them over until she was on her back beneath him. “I definitely aim to please,” he practically growled.

  He figured it wouldn’t take much effort to bring her back to the brink, and from the soft whimpering ringing in his ears as he skimmed down her body with his mouth and hands, he was right. He parted her legs wide enough to taste her more deeply this time. Her hips rose, reaching instinctively for more. And he gave it to her. While using his finger, then two, to explore her, he circled his tongue over the outer opening, then laved upward to where she was the most sensitive.

  Her soft whimpers turned to all-out cries as her pleasure deepened with every stroke of his fingers and tongue. She was impossibly wet, dewy with moist heat. Her body was perfectly primed for his, but although he sensed her need for release and despite his own impossibly hard erection, he wasn’t willing to end her sensual journey.

  Instead, he drove her higher, applying just enough pressure to make her cry out, then carefully slowing her down again. Her legs trembled. The core of her clenched his fingers, yet he still refused her the release she sought so desperately. He pushed her again, only to change the pace and bring her back toward earth before bringing her to greater heights the next time.

  The waiting was killing him. His own anticipation to feel her body around his when he filled her had him damned close to the edge. Holding back was no longer an option. He quickly rolled on a condom and eased his body over hers.

  Supporting his weight with his arms, he carefully lifted one of her legs and settled it over his shoulder to open her fully. Only then did he slowly ease inside her, inch by glorious inch.

  “Yesssss,” she hissed, as he filled her.

  She lifted her hips, taking him even deeper inside. She was wet, tight and so very close. He thrust into her, over and over again, urging them both nearer to the edge. The pattern of her breathing changed, becoming louder with every stroke of their bodies. Her hands gripped the sheet and her body strained beneath him.

  She made a low, keening sound that rose from deep inside her. Her body began to clench tightly around him, her muscles contracting, testing the thin thread of his control.

  “Open your eyes,” he ordered when her lashes fluttered closed. “Look at me, Jana.”

  She did, and he watched in fascination as awe and wonderment joined passion and need in the depths of her eyes. Her entire body shook with the force of her release.

  “Yes,” she cried out as she climaxed, her body pulsing hotly around his shaft. “Oh, Ben. Yes.”

  The sounds of her pleasure shattered the tenuous hold of his control. Thrusting deeply into her one last time, his own release crashed into him in a powerful wave.

  Slowly, the world righted itself until he became aware of the scents and sounds around him. The musky aroma of their lovemaking. The feel of Jana’s sweat-slick curves beneath him. The barely discernable sound of her crying.

  He moved off her and pulled her with him, tucking her close to his side. Once she was curled against him, he reached for the sheet to cover their cooling bodies. “Jana? I’m sorry. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “No.” She sniffled. “It’s just…” Her voice trailed off as a sob shook her shoulders.

  Concerned, he tucked his hand beneath her chin and tipped her head back so he could look into her teary gaze still filled with surprise. “What is it?”

  She gave him the tiniest of smiles. “I can’t describe it. It was just so…” She let out a sigh and snuggled against him. “Incredible. Absolutely incredible.”

  5

  DUSKY SHADES of gray and pale rose filtered through the slats of the miniblinds as Ben stood at the foot of the double bed in the early hours of pre-dawn, watching Jana sleep soundly. She lay on her side, her arms tightly hugging the pillow he’d used. The sight of her had him wavering between awe and a distinct need to escape.

  The escape he understood. Welcomed, even. The awe made him nervous.

  The red glow of the clock on the nightstand flickered and caught his attention. He had to go or he’d be late, but he couldn’t muster up enough desire to leave her. He could only wonder why the thought of not being there when she woke irritated him. Probably because he’d made love to her twice more during the night and he still wanted more. He couldn’t get enough of her.

  So he had an acute case of lust for a woman so uninhibited sexually that she loved him in ways that left him with a deep craving to feel her body beneath his again.

  Why’s that so complicated?

  He’d better get out of here, he thought. Fast. He’d already helped himself to her shower because he’d over-slept, something he never did. There wasn’t enough time for him to stop by his place for a change of clothes before heading into the firehouse for his twenty-four-hour shift. If he hurried, he still could make it to Trinity Station before the rest of the Saturday duty crew arrived. Especially the guys who’d been at the Ivory Turtle last night when he’d left with Jana.

  Despite the threat of discovery and the risk of some hard-core ribbing a change of clothes wouldn’t cure, he still didn’t move. God, he wanted to stay with her. His body heated just thinking about waking her again for the sole purpose of making love to her. To hear one last time all those sexy little sounds she made when she came apart in his arms would be worth the price of being hassled by his men.

  In the semidarkness, he smiled at the reminder of the cries of her pleasure. He’d given her an experience she’d never had. Over and over again.

  He let out a rough sigh and rammed his fingers through his damp hair as his body tightened, hardening with renewed need for more of Jana’s lovemaking. She wasn’t innocent by any stretch of the imagination and had pleased him in a number of ways throughout the night. But there was still a quiet vulnerability about her that he found way too intriguing for a guy who shied away from commitment.

  He was nowhere near as phobic about relationships as his youngest brother, Drew, but no way was he willing to sacrifice his bachelorhood as his now-married middle brother, Cale, had done. Ben had had lasting relationships, but marriage wasn’t on his agenda. Marriage got in the way. It was a distraction he refused personally to entertain. And that was an opinion he’d learned most women disagreed with vehemently.

  He “did” relationships, occasionally, but on his terms. Something else he’d learned most women vehemently disagreed with over time. Eventually they always wanted to rope him in, tie him up and keep him from what he loved—fighting fires.

  Leave now, he thought. Make a clean getaway. Under no circumstances should he act on the impulse urging him to awaken the incredibly sensuous woman with her face buried in the pillow on which his scent lingered.

  He circled the bed anyway. Carefully, he sat on the edge of the mattress and reached over to smooth a hank of honey-blond hair from her face. Bending down, he kissed her cheek. “Jana?”

  She let out a sigh and hugged the pillow tighter. “Hmm?” she murmured.

  More male pride rose up inside him. Without an ounce of doubt, he knew he was the reason she was so utterly exhausted. “I’ve got to go to work,” he said quietly. “I’d like to see you again.”

  He didn’t lie. Although
he did wonder if some latent chivalrous gene was playing a role here. He couldn’t let her think she was just a one-night stand, now could he?

  “Hmm…me, too,” she said sleepily. Her eyes never opened so much as a slit.

  “How about an early movie tomorrow afternoon and dinner afterward?” He’d shot right past chivalrous straight into wanting to get to know her better.

  “Can’t,” she demurred and rolled over. “Family stuff.”

  “I’ll call you,” he said, but couldn’t help wondering if she’d heard him or if she’d even recall their conversation. He grinned arrogantly. She might not remember what had just taken place, but no way in hell would she ever forget him.

  After adjusting the bedclothes over her bare shoulder, he quietly walked out of the bedroom and headed for the front door. He made sure to double-check that it locked behind him, then trotted down the steps to his pickup, parked at the curb in front of the apartment complex.

  By the time he climbed inside the cab of the truck, he realized he didn’t have her phone number. Not only had he not thought to ask her, but he didn’t even know her last name. The security gate had locked behind him, so he couldn’t check her mailbox, either.

  He muttered a curse and started the truck, gunning the cold engine to life. Maybe he should take it all as some sort of cosmic sign that last night was all they’d been allowed and leave well enough alone.

  He scanned the building for an address. He spied the black wrought-iron numerals, then repeated the digits over and over in his mind so he wouldn’t forget.

  He shifted the truck into gear, hit the blinker and pulled out onto the deserted side street, double-checking the name when he reached the intersection. By the time he exited the freeway fifteen minutes later, he decided the cosmos had it wrong.

  His reasons for wanting to see Jana again had nothing to do with hot sex. It’d been months since a woman had snagged his interest. That alone required further exploration. Practically demanded it, in fact.

  As he pulled into the parking lot of the firehouse, he grinned. Maybe hot sex was partly responsible. Hot sex and the amazing high he got when all that passion filled her eyes as her world splintered.

  Oh, yeah, he thought. Definitely worthy of a more detailed investigation. In bed, and maybe out, too.

  JANA, Lauren and Chloe had been planning their quarterly pampering for weeks, and Jana couldn’t think of a better time to be sitting in the elegant, private steam room of one of Beverly Hills’ most luxurious spas. The totally relaxing and much-needed massage had been wonderful, too. Even her kinks had kinks, compliments of the most incredible night of her sexual life.

  The hot steam worked wonders on the stiffness still in her legs, her inner thighs in particular. Muscles she hadn’t realized existed ached. Tension, of course, was no longer an issue, thanks to Ben.

  She bit back a groan of pleasure at the reminder and closed her eyes. With little effort, she imagined his hands, cupping the weight of her breasts. Could almost feel the glide of his tongue and teeth grazing her tight, sensitive nipples.

  “Come on, Jana.” Lauren’s voice interrupted the start of a very promising fantasy. “We deserve to know something.”

  The three of them sat in a circle on the warm ceramic tiles. Jana adjusted the knot of the thick and fluffy pink towel secured between her breasts, then gave her two best friends a glare filled with minor disapproval. “You’re lucky I’m even speaking to either one of you. You knew I had too much to drink, yet you tossed out that dare knowing I wouldn’t walk away from it.”

  Chloe’s husky laughter filled the steam room. “From that glow in your cheeks, I guess you were in really good hands.”

  Oh, and what hands he’d had, too, Jana mused privately. Ben had shown her pleasures she’d never imagined possible. The man was an incredibly skillful lover, generous and completely unselfish. He’d been so in tune with her body, he’d played her like a virtuoso, knowing just where to stroke and strum for maximum pleasure.

  She’d give just about anything for an encore.

  “He could’ve been a serial killer for all you knew,” Jana complained good-naturedly.

  “A serial killer wouldn’t have left you with that satisfied smirk you’ve been sporting all day,” Lauren argued.

  The smirk in question reappeared. “That’s not the point,” Jana returned.

  “That’s exactly the point. So…” Lauren nudged Jana with her elbow. “What happened?”

  The earth moved. “He took me home.” He’d taken her over the moon.

  Chloe leaned forward, folding her arms over her knees. “And?” she pressed.

  “Did he kiss you?” Lauren asked.

  Jana cleared her throat to keep from grinning like a fool again. He’d kissed every inch of her body, just as he’d promised. He’d kissed places she’d only read about being kissed. “For starters.”

  “Starters? Ooh, bless your heart, do tell,” Chloe’s Southern accent thickened. “And, honey, don’t think you can skip over a single detail.”

  Lauren pushed a wilting platinum curl away from her face. “I’m proud of you.” Her eyes gleamed with curiosity. “Now, what happened?”

  Pride had nothing to do with it, Jana thought. She had, after all, embarked upon a one-night stand with a total stranger. Not exactly her smartest decision, regardless of the outcome. She’d only been half joking when she’d said Ben could’ve been a serial killer. She really didn’t know what had gotten into her, but once again blamed her stubborn streak and alcohol stronger than she was used to for her uncharacteristic journey into promiscuity.

  Although, she silently mused, she wouldn’t trade last night for anything in the world. She had, after all, had herself a real, beyond tingles orgasm.

  Another grin she couldn’t contain curved her lips. At least now she had more than enough firsthand experience to conjure up a hot fantasy or two.

  “Did you invite him in?” Lauren asked her.

  Jana nodded. “Yes.”

  “How long did he stay?” Chloe wanted to know.

  All night long.

  Jana shrugged and looked down at her feet. “For a while.”

  Lauren made a sound of disapproval. Not, Jana assumed, because she’d actually done something reckless and carefree, but because her friend wanted all the juicy details.

  “What time did he leave?” Chloe asked, her Georgia drawl filled with skepticism.

  Jana bit her lip. She had no idea. She’d been awakened by the ringing of the telephone when Chloe had called to announce she’d be at Jana’s in thirty minutes. As she’d scrambled to get ready, she’d recalled wisps of a conversation. She had no clue if the images floating around in her head were real or a dream. “I’m not sure,” she admitted.

  “I don’t believe it!” Lauren exclaimed, then squealed. “You did it?” She grabbed Chloe by the arm. “Do you believe this? She actually did it.”

  Thank heavens they’d splurged on a private steam room.

  “Well?” Lauren prodded Jana with her elbow again.

  Jana rolled her eyes. “Did it? What are we? Sixteen again?” Yes, she was stalling, but she wasn’t sure about sharing such intimate details of her time with Ben, even with her two oldest friends. The night had been…special, she decided.

  Chloe leaned over so far she nearly put her hand out to keep from falling off the ceramic-tiled seating area. “Well? How was he?”

  Perfect, Jana thought. Abso-freaking-lutely perfect.

  “He made the earth move, didn’t he?” Lauren wanted to know.

  Jana laughed, embarrassed because that’s exactly what she’d been thinking.

  But the earth had moved. Like a big seven-pointer on the Richter scale complete with enough high-impact aftershocks she’d felt them in her sleep. Ben had turned her world upside down then taken her on a flight through the galaxies into a place so blissful and heavenly she’d never wanted to come back to the solidity of earth. Just thinking about it had her wanting to book a
nother round trip.

  Lauren gave her a stern look. “You’re being intentionally evasive, Jana.”

  “I don’t think she knows how much that gives away,” Chloe added.

  Jana had given plenty of herself away, and heaven help her, she’d do it again in a heartbeat—with Ben. “Can’t I have a private moment?”

  “You gave up the right to privacy the minute you confessed,” Chloe argued. “Now fess up. We have a right to know. Did you get laid or not?”

  A small sigh escaped Jana’s lips. She had absolutely no willpower.

  “Okay,” Lauren said slowly, nodding her head. “You got lucky. Exactly how lucky?”

  As much as Jana would’ve liked to, she couldn’t blame the heat of the steam room for the blush stinging her cheeks. Two pairs of eyebrows rose dramatically as Lauren and Chloe stared at her, stunned into absolute silence.

  Jana’s smile shifted into a full grin and she laughed. Another first—she’d just shocked the two most unflappable people she knew.

  “Are you going to see him again?” Lauren asked once her temporary stupor faded.

  Chloe shot Lauren an annoyed glance. “This was supposed to be a one-night stand. Why do you always want to make everything so complicated? Sex for the sake of sex is not supposed to be difficult.”

  Lauren turned to look at Chloe with an impatient expression of her own. “We’re not all sexual revolutionaries. Some of us like the idea of having the same man in our bed more than once.”

  “At least I’m honest about it, Yankee,” Chloe said, then smiled sweetly as she flipped Lauren the bird.

  Jana gave them both a stern look, then stretched her legs out in front of her and leaned back on her hands. “As amusing as you both are, I don’t feel like refereeing another civil war reenactment today.” Chloe and Lauren had been arguing, albeit always in jest, since their days together in high school.

  Tipping her head back and closing her eyes, Jana lifted her face toward the tiled ceiling. “I think he told me he wants to see me again,” she said. “I’m not sure, but I think it was some time this morning when he left.”