Miami Heat

Miami Heat

Savannah Stuart

Miami Heat Copyright © January 2010 by Savannah Stuart All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. eISBN 978-1-60737-508-1 Editor: Jana J. Hanson Cover Artist: April Martinez Printed in the United States of America

Published by Loose Id LLC PO Box 425960 San Francisco CA 94142-5960 www.loose-id.com This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Chapter One Rafe Jackson scrubbed a hand over his three-day stubble and shoved open the door to his boss's office. He already knew it would be empty, and he needed a place to cool down. After a three-day stakeout in a shitty motel—in the middle of Little Havana no less—he had nothing to show for his time and effort. He clenched his fists as he collapsed onto one of Captain Garcia's beat-up leather chairs. His team had finally gotten someone to flip on Sandrino Carbajal. Unfortunately all they'd ended up with was a dead witness and too many empty takeout boxes. Carbajal was a slimy bastard. He might be one of the biggest importers of heroin in Miami, but he was nothing more than a drugdealing pimp who liked to beat up women. The sound of the door opening caused Rafe to turn. He grunted a greeting when he saw his boss. “Good to see you too, Detective.” Captain Garcia rounded his desk and dropped a thin manila file in front of him. “We were so close to turning that guy—” His boss held up a hand as he sat. “Don't worry about it. Christmas came early this year.” Rafe frowned, unsure what possible reason Captain Garcia could have to be grinning. “What the hell are you talking about?” The older man leaned back in his chair. “About an hour ago, Bishop Ortiz beat the holy hell out of a waiter at some sandwich shop. Didn't like how long his food was taking, I guess.” Rafe straightened in his seat at the sound of the name. Ortiz was a midlevel thug for Carbajal. He did a lot of the other man's dirty work. “So?” “So, the kid is in the ICU, and it doesn't look like he's going to make it.” “Which means Ortiz is looking at doing time for murder.”

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“Exactly. And we've got a witness this time. A very reliable one. Comes from a wellrespected family. If we cut Ortiz a deal, he might turn on Carbajal.” “Who's the witness?” Garcia flipped open the file. “Well, that's the part you might not like. It's Madison Dubois.” “Madison's your witness?” Rafe couldn't keep the rising pitch out of his voice. The captain looked up. “Listen, I realize that you know her, but she's all we've got.” Rafe snorted. Damn right he knew her. Not as well as he'd like, but he definitely knew the sexy brunette. The little vixen had always gotten under his skin, and the sad part was she had no idea how bad she affected him. If she was in front of him right now, he'd…well, he wouldn't do a damn thing because he was a fucking pussy. He'd just stare dumbly into her bright violet eyes and wait for her to swallow him whole. “Is she here now?” he managed to rasp out. “Yeah, she's in interrogation room three.” “Who's with her?” “Armenta. He's taking her statement. Thought it would be easier to do it in one of the rooms instead of—” Rafe stood abruptly. Armenta didn't know how to talk to witnesses. He had no problem interviewing suspects, but witnesses? The man had no tact. Hell, he'd probably scared the shit out of her by now. “Madison and I go back a long way. Permission to talk to her, sir.” It wasn't necessarily a question. His boss raised his dark eyebrows but simply nodded. Without giving him a chance to change his mind, Rafe quickly exited the office. He hurried down the hall toward the stairs. The interrogation rooms were only one floor up. Taking the stairs two at a time, he made it to the room in minutes. Rafe started to knock, then stopped himself. He opened the door and pulled up short. Armenta sat at the table by himself, tapping his pen against a pad of paper. “Hey, Jackson, what are you doing here?” “Where's your witness?” “Uh, bathroom. Why?”

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Rafe shrugged. “I know her. Thought it might be easier on her if I was in here while you were taking her statement.” Armenta adjusted his shoulder holster and leaned back in his chair. “She's fine. Besides, I like the alone time. She is one hot piece of—” “Say one more word, and I'll shove that pen into your throat.” Rafe surprised even himself with the heated intensity of his words. Madison was gorgeous, sure, but there was a lot more to her than looks. The petite brunette was shy, sweet, and didn't realize how smoking hot she was. Rafe had been friends with her brother Andre since he was ten and she was four. And she hadn't grown into that tight body until she was twenty. Unfortunately for him, he'd had a thing for her since she was seventeen-goingon-eighteen and way too young for him. He'd been twenty-two and just out of the Marine Corps when the first hint of attraction hit him. When he'd come home, she'd taken his breath away. He'd never felt like such scum in his life either. So, he'd avoided her completely until she turned eighteen. Even after that he'd managed to keep his distance. “Down, boy. I didn't mean anything by it.” Armenta shook his head and chuckled as he glanced at his watch. When Armenta frowned, all of Rafe's senses went on alert. “What is it?” “She's been in the bathroom almost ten minutes,” he muttered. Rafe's heart pounded an erratic tattoo against his chest. Getting to a witness in a police station would be stupid, even for Bishop Ortiz. But if he was desperate enough, he just might try it. Rafe cursed and sprinted down the hallway. After announcing a male presence, he shoved open the door to the ladies' room and entered with his gun drawn. Armenta was right behind him. “Madison! You in here?” Rafe tried to push down the panic rising in his throat. There was no answer. After sweeping each stall and finding them empty, a healthy dose of fear wormed its way into his gut. The thought of anything happening to Madison was too much to bear. “Lock down the station. I'm going to alert Captain Garcia,” he barked at Armenta. The other detective nodded before they raced for the stairs. If anything happened to Madison, Rafe would never forgive himself.

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***** Madison crouched near the corner of Rafe Jackson's porch. It had been almost three hours, and he still hadn't come home. Since it was a Monday night, she'd assumed he wouldn't have a date. Well, she really hoped he didn't. If so, she'd be stuck out here all night. January in Florida wasn't that cold, but it was cold enough. She tried to snuggle deeper in her coat, but it was no use. Earlier she'd grabbed one of her button-down belted coats that was all about style and not practicality. Hell, she'd planned to meet friends after work for drinks. The walk to the bar was only a few blocks. She hadn't needed anything thicker. Now she was stuck sitting on a porch, freezing to death. After the insane day she'd had, Rafe's house was the only place she could think to go. She couldn't go home, and she definitely couldn't stay with any of her family or friends. Unfortunately she hadn't talked to him in four months. The last time she'd seen him, he'd acted like a royal jackass to one of her dates. The guy had gotten a little too touchy, but she'd been in complete control of the situation and had been about to handle things before Rafe barged in and just took over. She was tired of him treating her like a kid. Even so, he was a cop, and she trusted him with her life. Madison just hoped he'd help her now. Bright headlights coming up the drive jerked her out of her thoughts. As she peered over the top of the oversized wicker chair, she held her breath. Relief coursed through her when she saw Rafe's two-door Ford truck. Okay, relief and a healthy dose of fear. Considering the way he'd practically threatened her date with bodily harm all those months ago, he was probably going to be a little more than angry when he found out she'd snuck out of the police station a few hours ago. The door slammed, and she tried to crouch lower even though it was impossible. Just because she wanted to be invisible didn't mean it would magically happen. The seconds seemed to tick by in slow motion. When she heard his footsteps stomping up the few stairs of the porch, she popped up from her hiding position. “Rafe?” At the sound of his name, he swiveled toward her, surprise written in every line of his face. “Madison?” His voice was scratchy and tired.

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Rafe wasn't necessarily handsome, but he definitely had that tall, dark, and mysterious thing going on. Where she had dark hair and pale skin, everything about him was dark. Dark hair, very tan skin, dark eyes, and of course, he always seemed to be in a dark mood. She couldn't be sure since he didn't know who his father was, but she guessed he had a little bit of Cuban running through his blood. He had a perfect tan year-round without working at it. She'd seen him with his shirt off on more than one occasion, and the man had a body like a Greek god. With perfectly sculpted abs and pecs, he certainly got his share of attention from women. Not that she'd really noticed. Much. She scooted the chair out of the way and fought to stay calm. “I didn't know where else to go.” In response, he crossed the few feet between them. Before she realized what he planned, he'd grabbed her arms and pulled her into a tight hug. She couldn't even catch her breath as he lifted her off the ground. Her day had pretty much sucked. She hadn't even realized she'd needed this kind of contact, but it was exactly what the doctor ordered. Allowing herself to relax, her arms wound their way around his neck, and she laid her head against his shoulder. She could stay like this all day. They might have their differences, but Rafe had always been there for her when she needed him. She actually felt safe in his embrace. His very muscular embrace. And damn, he smelled good. That thought jerked her back to reality. She did not need to be noticing how her brother's best friend smelled. Rafe thought of her as a little sister anyway. So even if she dared to dip into her forbidden fantasy, it was just plain stupid. Pulling her head back, she cleared her throat. “Uh, Rafe?” His entire body jerked, as if he'd forgotten who he was holding on to and immediately he dropped her. Her boots made a loud thud when she hit the floor. “How'd you get here?” “I drove. And before you ask, I parked in your garage.” She'd known it would be empty. His truck was too big to fit comfortably. “What the hell are you doing here? Half of Miami PD is looking for you.” There was an edge to his voice she'd never heard before. It sent a strange shiver down her spine. She ignored it.

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“I think I might have gotten into some trouble, and you're the first person I thought of.” At her words, his face softened a little. Not much, and it probably wouldn't be discernible to anyone else, but she'd known him forever. He shook his head. “Come on, you little minx. Let's talk about this inside.” After he unlocked the door, he held it open for her. As she walked past him, she got the strangest feeling in her gut. Once she was in the foyer, she stuck her hands in her coat pockets as he locked the door behind them. “Hungry or thirsty?” His gravelly voice rolled over her. “I could go for a glass of wine. If you have any. Or a beer would be fine.” She snapped her mouth shut when she realized she was rambling. He shrugged out of his brown leather jacket and hung it on the hook by the door. “Yeah, I think I've still got that bottle of red you got me as a housewarming present.” “Really?” Rafe made some sort of grunting noise as he headed for the kitchen. She assumed he meant for her to follow, so she did. As she took a tentative seat on one of the chairs at his kitchen table, he grabbed a long-stemmed wineglass from one of the cabinets. “Want me to tell you how half of Miami PD is out hunting for you right now?” he asked without turning around. She inwardly cursed. She'd been hoping he hadn't heard about what happened. “I guess you know about what I saw, huh?” He glanced over his shoulder as he pulled a bottle opener from one of the drawers. “Oh yeah. When you disappeared, word spread.” She clasped her hands tightly in her lap. “I didn't mean to run. It just sort of happened. That detective guy, Dave something…” “Armenta,” he supplied. “Yeah. That's the one. He freaked me out. As I was giving my statement, he started talking about drug running, possible witness protection, and then he brought up Sandrino Carbajal. I don't want anything to do with that monster! I've heard what he does to people, Rafe. So, I told him I had to go to the restroom, and I left.”

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“Damn it, Madison! You never think anything through,” he muttered, still not looking at her. “That's not fair. You know what? Screw you!” She pushed up from the table, sending the chair flying backward. After dealing with that jerk detective and waiting out in the cold, she was dangerously close to crying. And she refused to cry in front of Rafe. Self-righteous bastard. She'd watched someone get nearly beaten to death. Was it too much to ask for a little sympathy? She turned on her heel and stormed out of the kitchen. He'd been treating her like this since she was a teenager. Somehow he knew how to get under her skin and make her feel like a stupid kid without even trying. “Madison.” Rafe grabbed her arm just as she made it to the front door. She hadn't even heard him follow her; she had no choice but to turn and face him. She placed her other hand on her hip. “You're such a dick sometimes. I made a mistake in coming here.” Madison tried to pull away. Even though his grip wasn't hurting her, it was unrelenting. “Will you calm down for a second? Listen, I'm sorry. I'm glad you came to me.” “Don't tell me to calm down, and don't treat me like some irresponsible teenager. I did think things through. I'm scared, and when I told that detective guy that I wanted to talk to you before I signed my statement, he told me he was in charge of the case and I could talk to you only when I was finished.” Something dark and almost predator-like crossed Rafe's face. “He said that?” His voice was so low it was barely a whisper, but it still sent a shiver skittering down her spine. Unable to find her voice, she simply nodded. Rafe dropped her arm and rubbed a hand over his face. “Come on, minx. Let's get you that glass of wine.” Part of her wanted to leave, but she knew it would be stupid when cops and possibly dangerous people were out looking for her. Madison followed him back into the kitchen and sat, waiting while he poured her a glass. After he got a beer from the stainless steel fridge, he sat across from her. “You need to go back to the station.”

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She bit her bottom lip but held his penetrating gaze. “I know. I was just thinking maybe you could go with me tomorrow.” When his jaw clenched, she knew he was going to say no so she continued. “Please. Promise you won't tell anyone where I am. Just for tonight.” He sighed, and she wished she knew what was going on in his head. Finally he spoke. “Fine. But you're staying here tonight. I'm not letting you out of my sight. And we're going to talk about this later.” The last thing she wanted to do was talk about everything she'd seen. Still, she was relieved he wasn't dragging her down to the station. Maybe she should just tell him what she'd seen and get it over with. “I saw this guy beating some poor kid while two men in suits just watched. I tried calling the police but couldn't get through the first time, so I did the only thing I could think of. I got their attention and told them the police were on their way before I ran away. If I hadn't, I think the guy planned to kill him. When I made eye contact with the guy throwing all the punches and kicks, I knew he looked familiar. After reviewing mug shots, I realized why. I've seen him on the news before.” She snapped her mouth shut so she'd stop rambling. Rafe swore softly under his breath. “That was a stupid thing to do,” he muttered. She bit her bottom lip and prepared for another lecture. “And also really brave,” he continued, his voice softer. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She sucked in a breath at the almost intimate contact. Rafe viewed her as a younger sister. In her gut, she knew that. When he touched her, however, it made her stomach do funny things. Since he didn't move his hand, she cleared her throat. Immediately his hand dropped. Her thoughts were starting to wander to visions of what was underneath Rafe's clothes. No good could come of that. “Thanks for letting me stay here. I promise I'll stay out of your hair. Just point me to the guest room.” A small smile played across his normally hard lips. “I was planning to crash in front of the television and watch a movie. It's not that late if you want to join me.” “Sure, but do you have something else I could change into?” She'd been wearing her snug jeans and sweater all day, and all she wanted to do was relax. “I'll see what I can find,” he practically growled at her before stalking from the room.

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She shook her head at his retreating figure. The man was such a mystery. Sometimes he was so sweet and other times he acted like a big grumpy bear.

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Chapter Two Rafe stretched out on his soft couch and propped his feet up on the coffee table. He couldn't believe he and Madison were going to be sleeping under the same roof. Of course, she'd be in the guest room. Not exactly like he'd imagined it, but he'd take what he could get. “Well, they're a little big, but they're comfortable.” Madison's voice pulled his gaze toward the entryway of his living room. His throat clenched. Loose sweatpants and one of his old T-shirts from high school should not be sexy. Unfortunately they were. At least on her. He'd put on about fifty pounds of muscle since then so his old track-and-field T-shirt fit her perfectly. It stretched across her rounded breasts, showcasing that she wasn't wearing a bra. Not that she needed one. For her petite size, she had surprisingly large breasts, and they were still perky. Just once, he'd like to hold them, lick them, taste them… He bit back a shudder. Who was he kidding? Once would never be enough, and he knew it. Madison took a few tentative steps toward the couch, so he scooted over a couple inches and tried to smile. From the strange look she gave him, he doubted he'd managed even that. Just being around her pushed his entire world off-kilter, making it impossible to think straight. Trying to be subtle, he leaned forward and grabbed the DVD box of the movie he'd put in. At the same time he shifted one of the throw pillows and moved it so that it covered his lap. He held out the box. “This okay?” “Works for me.” She tucked her feet underneath her and picked up the wineglass he'd brought out. “Thanks for getting this.” “No problem.” He started to press Play, but he could feel her gaze on him. Glancing over, he lifted his eyebrows. “What?” “Can I ask you a question?” “I think you just did.”

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Her lips pulled up at the corners. “Don't be a smart-ass. I haven't seen you in a few months, mainly because I've been so mad at you, and I want to know why you got so upset at my date that night.” Ah, shit. Anything but that. She didn't need to elaborate because he remembered that night well. Four months ago he'd been casing a club, looking for a witness who'd skipped out on his court date. The last thing he'd been expecting to see was Madison dancing with a preppy-looking asshole. The guy had been like a fucking octopus, groping all over her. If anything, that loser was lucky he'd left with the ability to walk. He shrugged, trying to keep the movement casual, but his shoulders were tense. “That guy was all over you. It was obscene.” “Whatever. We were dancing, and he was barely touching me. You're worse than my brother and my mother combined. For the record, you still owe me an apology.” She twisted around and set her drink on the table next to the couch. When a few locks of dark hair cascaded over her shoulder, he resisted the urge to run his hands through it. “I'm never going to apologize and, for the record, the last thing in the world I want is to be your brother.” He didn't know what came over him, but the words tumbled out. Rafe was risking a lot by admitting this to her. The Dubois were practically family. Hell, they were the only people he could count on. Her pretty mouth opened a fraction and when a flash of hurt lit up her violet eyes, his gut clenched. “No, I didn't mean it that way.” She snapped her mouth shut and started to rise. In that instant, something primal came over him. She might think he was the biggest asshole in the world, but he was going to make it very clear what he wanted from her. Lightning fast, he reached out and clasped her upper arm. She let out a tiny yelp as she fell into his lap. “What the hell are you doing?” She twisted in his lap, and his cock surged even harder against his lounge pants. “I don't want to be your brother, Madison.” Rafe shoved the pillow out of the way and when she tried to move again, she wiggled right over his erection. Immediately realization dawned on her face. Her face flamed. “Are you…?”

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He gritted his teeth and nodded. “I am.” For a moment she stared at him with wide eyes. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head. And that wasn't a good thing. Madison overanalyzed everything. For once, he just wanted her to feel and not think. Okay, more than once. Without giving her a chance to protest, he went at her fast. His hand wrapped around her waist as he kissed her. And this wasn't a brotherly, chaste kiss, either. This was a tongue deep, soul-searching, I-want-inside-you-right-now kind of kiss.

Madison felt as if she were going to explode. Rafe Jackson was kissing her. Her. And there was certainly nothing brotherly in the way his hand was reaching under the hem of her T-shirt. His tongue danced against hers, sending shock waves to all her nerve endings. Heat had formed deep in her belly. When he threaded his fingers through her hair and cupped her head in a tight grip, she let out a low moan. He held onto her with a surprising intensity. As if he thought she'd bolt if he let her go. Hell, maybe she should. Forbidden. Confused. Incredibly hot. Words bounced around in her head, but she couldn't make sense of anything. All she could do was feel what Rafe was doing to her body with a simple kiss. An unfamiliar heat pooled between her legs; her breasts were suddenly heavy. They tingled and ached, and she desperately wanted him to touch her there. Rafe pulled away. His hand was still around her waist, his fingers were barely grazing her skin under her shirt, and his other hand still cupped her head. “I'm sorry, minx. You just make me fucking crazy,” he muttered. His breaths came in short, shallow gasps as he spoke. She wasn't sure what to say. The last thing in the world she'd ever expected was for him to kiss her. She'd always found him attractive and on occasion, she'd had a fantasy or two about what it might be like to kiss him, but nothing compared to the reality. Now that she'd tasted him, she wanted more. A lot more.

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“I don't want to stop.” The words came out as a whisper. She didn't know what the hell she wanted, but she didn't want him to stop kissing her. That much was clear in her jumbled mind. Rafe withdrew his hand from around her waist and guided one of her hands to his cock. “You feel what you do to me?” Her cheeks heated as her fingers grasped his hard length, but she was helpless to stop it. “I feel it,” she whispered. “You drive me crazy. This is all I ever think about when I'm with you.” Before she could think of any suitable response—if there even was one—he came at her again. And this time, his kisses were harder. More demanding. And a lot more sensual. His tongue brushed against hers with insistent strokes. He grabbed her by the hips and twisted her so that she straddled him. The unbearable heat between her legs grew even worse. She needed something to relieve it. She'd masturbated on occasion, and while it was pleasant, she always felt like something was missing. Instinctively her legs squeezed together, and she started grinding her hips against his. The feel of Rafe's hard length was unmistakable. There were too many clothes in between them, but there was no doubt what he wanted. Even with the layers, when his cock rubbed over her, she moaned into his mouth. “Absolutely crazy,” he murmured before playfully biting her bottom lip. She'd had no idea he was attracted to her. She wondered how long he'd felt this way, but pushed her questions aside for another time. Right now, she was going to take what she wanted. None of the men she'd dated in the past few months had been able to make her feel what Rafe did by simply kissing and holding her. She'd been ready to experience sex for a while but had never had the urge to completely give herself to a man. Until now. Now she completely understood. Her best friend had told her she'd simply know when she was ready. If someone was going to introduce her to sex, Rafe was definitely the man for the job.

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Part of her brain told her to slow down and think about what she was doing, but for once she didn't want to think. She only wanted to feel. Suddenly bold by all his attention, Madison tugged at the bottom of his shirt and lifted it off. She blindly tossed it across the room before her fingers splayed over his very muscular chest. He had just a smattering of dark hair covering him. When she trailed her fingers down his ripped six-pack, his muscles clenched under her touch. She felt like a kid in a candy store. This incredibly sexy man—whom she trusted—was attracted to her and was allowing her to touch him all she wanted. “You like?” The words seemed to rip from him. The word yes stuck in her throat, so she simply nodded. Thinking was hard enough, let alone talking. “If you get to see me, I get to see you.” Rafe's hands slid from her hips to her waist. Panic started to set in at the thought of him seeing her naked, but the heated look in his dark eyes set her at ease. Before she could contemplate the ramifications of what they were doing or change her mind, she lifted her arms and let him pull the T-shirt over her head. For a brief moment, she couldn't see anything but as soon as her T-shirt was out of the way, she was suddenly very aware of just how naked she was. When she started to cover herself, Rafe grasped both her wrists and placed her hands on his shoulders. “Is this what you want?” His voice sent shivers over her skin. “Yes.” Rafe made an almost pained sound deep in his throat before leaning forward and sucking one of her nipples between his teeth. Arching her back, she pushed her breast deeper into his mouth. She wondered if she should slow down, but her body wanted more of what he was doing. He raked his teeth over her sensitive skin. There was a strange, low buzz in her ears, and she couldn't focus on anything but what he was doing with his mouth. Her exposed skin tingled everywhere, partially from the cool air rushing over her, but mainly because of Rafe's talented

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tongue. He traced a moist path around her hardened nipple, then repeated the sensuous teasing on her other breast. Everywhere he licked and kissed, she felt on fire. Her pussy had completely dampened, and he hadn't even touched her between her legs yet. This is what sex was all about. And she couldn't wait to experience it with Rafe. When he circled her nipple with his tongue, he pressed his teeth lightly over her hardened bud and tugged. She let out a little yelp at the sudden pressure. It was as if an invisible line of pleasure ran straight from her breast to her pussy. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he continued to tease her. Her other breast ached, but she was too nervous to tell him she wanted him to touch her there too. Luckily, he must have read her mind. The hand that had been resting on her hip skimmed up her rib cage before it settled directly underneath her breast. He held it for a moment, as if weighing it. She'd always been a little self-conscious about the size of her breasts. For her small stature, they'd always seemed too big for her figure. The way Rafe was lavishing them with attention pushed her insecurities aside. Every time he licked and kissed her, his hips moved, thrusting his cock against her. Taking her nipple between his forefinger and thumb, he lightly pinched her. His movement only increased the pressure between her legs. “I want…” Damn, she didn't know what she wanted. This crazy lust curled through her entire body, yet she wasn't sure how to voice the very thing she needed. He lifted his head slightly. Through a haze she caught his dark gaze. “What do you want, sweetheart?” Her heart did a funny little flip at the endearment. He'd called her “minx” for as long as she could remember, but “sweetheart” was something new. Unfortunately she didn't know how exactly to answer him. So she said the only thing that came to mind. “You.” Something dark flashed in his eyes. He reached around and grabbed her ass in a tight, dominating grip. She couldn't keep the panic out of her voice. “What are you doing?” “Bedroom. Now.” His neck muscles corded as he stood, bringing her with him.

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Immediately she wrapped her arms around him. When her breasts pressed against his chest, she let out a small shudder. The bedroom sounded perfect. Her surroundings were a blur as he headed down a hallway toward the back of the house. Madison's heart pounded so loudly against her chest she was sure anyone in a ten-mile radius could hear it. As soon as they made it to his bedroom, a little worry managed to work its way into her mind. When Rafe pulled back the comforter and laid her on the bed, most of those worries disappeared. He was looking at her with such heat in his eyes, something in her gut told her she probably couldn't do a lot wrong right now. “Don't move,” he ordered quietly before disappearing into his bathroom. Seconds later he returned, holding something in his hand. She was thankful he didn't flip the bedroom lights on. Instead, light from the bathroom streamed into the room, giving just enough brightness to keep it intimate. An involuntary shiver snaked down her spine as he walked toward the bed. He almost looked like a predator stalking its prey. Not that she minded being caught. When he tossed a few foil packets onto the bed, she realized he'd grabbed condoms from the bathroom. Three? The sight made her swallow. “Having second thoughts?” Rafe stood at the foot of the bed, and she was surprised by the nervous note she caught in his voice. She propped up on her elbows, pushing her breasts out farther. His gaze briefly strayed from her face to her chest but just as quickly returned. She shook her head. “No.” His shoulders relaxed, as if he'd been dreading her answer. Was he crazy? All he had to do was touch her, and her entire body burned with need. He'd turned her into this primal being she almost didn't recognize. She didn't want to think about the consequences. She just wanted him to relieve the ache between her legs. “Good.” He knelt onto the bed, leaned forward, and hooked his fingers under the elastic of the pants he'd given her.

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Wordlessly he tugged them down her hips and legs and tossed them onto the floor. If she'd felt vulnerable before, it was nothing compared to now. Completely naked, she was stretched out on his sheets and desperately wanting to cover herself. “You're not wearing anything underneath?” he choked out. She shook her head.

Rafe rubbed a hand over his face. A dark thatch of fine hair covered her mound. He couldn't believe Madison was stretched out on his bed completely naked. She looked like a gorgeous offering to the gods. But she wasn't an offering for anyone except him. He wanted to taste all of her and didn't know where to start. Grasping her ankles, he spread her legs farther apart and nestled deep between her thighs. It was obvious she was turned on, but he could tell she was a little nervous. Hell, so was he. He'd finally gotten her where he wanted her, and he didn't want to fuck this up. “I want to taste you.” Not wanting to break the intimate moment, he kept his voice a low whisper. Eyes wide, she nodded. That's all he needed to know. Leaning down farther, he inhaled her sweet scent before dipping his tongue between her pussy lips. Her hips jerked, and her legs immediately started to clamp around his head at the first contact. Without stopping what he was doing, he placed both hands on her inner thighs and pressed them outward. When he touched her like that, she relaxed, letting her legs fall farther open. His balls pulled up tight as he stroked between her folds. Just tasting her, he was ready to explode. Fantasizing about this and actually doing it were two completely different beasts. He'd been dreaming about getting her on her back and underneath him for longer than he cared to admit. Now that he had her there, he wanted to kick his own ass for taking so long to make a move. If he fucked this up, he could ruin his relationship with his best friend, and ultimately with

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her. When he was kissing and touching her, it was hard to focus on that. His skin tingled everywhere, and his cock kept making jerking motions, telling him to fuck Madison's sweet cunt right now. It was on a mission and it wanted inside her now. Even though he wasn't an animal, he sure felt like one. He wanted to fuck her with an urgency that scared him. Then when he was finished, he wanted to fuck her some more. Instead of pounding straight into her, he was going to give Madison the foreplay she deserved. With the exception of her breasts, everything about her was delicate and small. Including her pussy. He swirled his tongue around her slit then delved deeper. More than anything, he wanted to taste everything she had to offer. Her juices coated his tongue. Licking higher, he continued stroking until he reached her pulsing clit. She sucked in a deep breath when he raked his teeth over the small bud. After licking it a few times and earning more than a few breathless moans, he shifted so he was a little higher.

All of Madison's nerves were on fire. She'd fooled around before but never had a man touch or kiss her so intimately, and the sensation was almost more than she could take. Rafe's stubble was at least a few days old. She loved the way it rubbed over her skin. When he trailed kisses over her hipbone, another moan escaped. The pressure between her legs was just about unbearable now. And he was taking his sweet time. She thought men wanted to get right down to making love—no, having sex—something else she needed to remember. Rafe hadn't made any mention of this being anything other than sex. And that was fine with her. She completely trusted him with her body and her pleasure. Something she couldn't say about any of the men she'd dated in the past. Even if things didn't progress past this night, he would make sure this was enjoyable, and he'd never make her feel uncomfortable afterward. Of that she was sure. He might drive her crazy with his bossiness, but he was a good man.

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By now he was feathering kisses along her abdomen and rib cage, so she threaded her fingers through his dark hair. “I want you inside me.” She hoped it was okay to just tell him what she wanted. Rafe's head lifted with a jerk. As she met his dark gaze, she knew it was most definitely okay to tell him that. He made some sort of grunting sound as he moved over her and grabbed for one of the condoms. Without moving off her too much, he managed to shimmy out of his pants. She only got a second to see his cock. And that was enough to send her senses haywire. Trying to bite back her panic, she forced herself to relax. Millions of people did this. She reminded herself that she'd been ready to have sex for the past year. The reasoning behind her virginity wasn't even that big a deal. In high school, she hadn't been remotely interested in the opposite sex. Then in college, she'd been so driven to graduate with honors, dating had taken a backseat. Now that she'd finally gotten her business off the ground, she was ready to move past the whole virginity thing and find a sexy man to keep her warm at night. The only problem was, she hadn't found a guy who made her hot enough to want to do anything about it. Until now. Apart from her family members, Rafe was the one man she trusted more than anyone. Without a doubt, she knew she was safe with him. As that thought rolled over her, she immediately felt her muscles relax. In seconds he'd ripped a packet open and had sheathed himself. Thankfully he didn't just pound into her. He nestled between her thighs again and teased her pussy opening with his finger. When he inserted one, her body opened and welcomed the foreign intrusion. The pressure against her inner walls was exactly what she'd been waiting for. “You're so tight,” he murmured before leaning down and sucking one of her nipples into his mouth. That only increased the pleasure zinging through her. Rolling his tongue over the hardened bud, he continued his onslaught between her legs. He pushed deeper inside her with his finger. Somehow he'd managed to figure out the nuances of her body. Knew exactly what she wanted when even she didn't know how to put her feelings into words.

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Just as quickly, he pulled his finger out, then pushed it in again. Her hips rocked against his hand. She loved what he was doing, but it still wasn't enough. When he withdrew his hand, her body mourned the loss. Almost immediately he rubbed his cock over her slit. “Sweetheart, you're so fucking tight, but I'm going to ease in, okay?” His normally hard expression was so caring and gentle, it pulled at all her heartstrings. “Yes.” Her stomach did a somersault as he pushed the head in. The tension she'd felt between her legs lessened. Then it was back, only worse, the farther he pushed in. She sucked in a deep breath as she tried to accommodate him. It was damn near impossible to catch her breath. Her stomach clenched but when he cupped her cheek, the action grounded her. She was able to relax and simply let go. When he'd buried himself balls deep inside her, she wrapped her legs around his waist and savored the feel of skin on skin. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but her pussy was soaking wet, and her body was automatically adjusting to his size. “Damn, woman. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a virgin.” His words made her tense for a moment, but he didn't seem to notice before he claimed her mouth. Instead of rocking into her, like she'd been expecting—and mentally preparing for—he stayed where he was, gently grinding his hips against hers. She could feel his cock pulsing inside her, but he was barely moving. It was the most foreign, amazing sensation. She could only imagine what it would feel like when he started thrusting into her. Somewhere in her lust-induced haze it registered that he had no clue this was her first time, yet he was taking such gentle care with her. Her heart squeezed at the thought.

As his tongue danced against hers in erotic little flicks, her pussy began contracting. Rafe reached between their bodies and rubbed a finger over her clit. He was so close to coming, it was embarrassing. He felt like some crazed sex maniac barely holding onto the last shred of his control. Madison's pussy fisted so tight around him, all he'd have to do was move, and he'd come. Fucking pathetic.

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Luckily her breathing was getting shallower, and he could feel her cunt clamping around him. With each little pant she made against his mouth, the tighter her cunt gripped him. Oh yeah, she was close. If he did one thing right tonight, he was going to make sure she came before he did. He grasped onto that thought to refrain from rutting like an animal. “Oh.” She jerked her mouth away from his, and her head fell back. Dark hair pillowed everywhere. He increased his movements against her clit, careful not to put too much pressure on the sensitive area. It happened so quickly, he wasn't ready for it, and he was damn sure she hadn't been expecting it. Her ankles locked behind him; her back arched as a climax rolled over her. She made a few unintelligible, gasping sounds, and he just let go. Clutching the sheets next to her head, he began moving. His thrusts were wild and unsteady. The faster his hips moved, the tighter she seemed to clamp around him. With a shout, he exploded. The orgasm ripped through him with violent intensity. He was vaguely aware of her breasts bouncing, but he managed to catch himself on his forearms so he wouldn't smash her. His hips were still jerking as his cock tried to empty everything into the condom. After a few more thrusts, he groaned before collapsing. Instead of crushing her, he rolled to the side and fell onto his back. The sheets instantly cooled him. “Damn,” he muttered. “Damn good?” Her voice seemed so small in the quiet room. He chuckled but couldn't find the energy to move. “Very good.” After a few moments, he sat up and dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. “I'll be back in a sec.” Feeling way too good and way too proud of himself, he strode toward the bathroom. As he started to discard the condom, his throat clenched and his hand stilled. He cleared his throat. “Madison?” he called out. “Yeah?” “Are you on your period?” Complete silence.

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He started to ask the question again when she answered. “No.” That one word sent an arrow right through the middle of his chest. “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. A small amount of blood covered the condom and unless he'd somehow hurt her, she was—or had been—a virgin.

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Chapter Three Madison's heart rate increased as she waited for Rafe to return from the bathroom. As soon as he'd asked that question, her gut had twisted. Shoving the comforter and sheets out of the way, she saw a couple drops of blood. Her hand fisted the sheet. She hadn't expected to bleed. And she really hadn't wanted to tell him she'd been a virgin. At least not yet. A few seconds later Rafe stood in the doorway of the bathroom. With the light behind him, outlining his broad, tall form, he looked intimidating. As he came to sit on the edge of the bed, she grabbed the end of the sheet and pulled it up to cover herself. She knew there weren't any rules for how to act in a situation like this, and she figured keeping her mouth shut was probably best. He clutched something in his right hand, but she couldn't see what it was. “Is there something you want to tell me?” His deep voice enveloped her. “Not particularly.” She tugged the sheet higher. “Are you… Were you a virgin?” “Yeah.” She bit her bottom lip. His face was so damn unreadable sometimes, and she hated that. When they'd been kissing and having sex, he was an open book. She could tell exactly what he was feeling. Not now. “Why didn't you tell me?” She shrugged. “It's none of your business.” His eyes narrowed, and she'd known him long enough to see that he was trying to restrain himself. “It sure as hell is my business. I shouldn't find out I've taken your virginity after the fact.”

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Her shoulders tensed at his words. Of all times, she didn't need a lecture from him. “First, you didn't take it. I gave it up.” His jaw clenched before he muttered something inaudible. When their gazes collided, his expression was a lot softer. “Here.” He plucked the end of the sheet from her hands and moved it away. With his other hand, he lifted up what she hadn't been able to see before. His hand shook a little as he brought a warm washcloth in between her legs. “Does this hurt? Do you hurt?” “No,” she whispered as he gently swiped between her legs. Something strange fluttered in her stomach as he took care of her. She didn't know what to make of her feelings, so she ignored them. She also pushed down the small twinge of guilt for not telling him. If she were totally honest, she hadn't really been thinking about his reaction. She'd been more focused on finally wanting to have sex. It had been a relief to realize she wasn't a freak or destined to be a forty-year-old virgin. When he was finished, he tossed the cloth into a hamper in the corner of his room, then slid into bed next to her. He lay on his back and stretched his arm out for her to cuddle next to him. “Are you…angry with me?” she murmured into his chest. “Hell no. I'm angry at myself.” That got her attention. She twisted her head so that she could see him. “Why?” “I should have been more gentle.” “You were perfect.” “You're sure I didn't hurt you?” The note of panic in his voice compounded the guilt she was desperately trying to ignore. “Yes, I'm sure. I'm sore but I'm also, well, I don't know what I am, but I feel good.” He let out a long sigh and tugged her closer against him. “Get some sleep, sweetheart. We'll talk in the morning.” She let her head fall back against his chest and shut her eyes. The sound of his steady breathing was incredibly soothing. Before she realized it, the blackness of sleep had overtaken her.

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***** Rafe ripped open the package of maple-flavored bacon and set it on the counter along with the full loaf of bread and eggs he'd laid out. The aroma of the cinnamon coffee he'd made ten minutes earlier was strong. He just hoped it made its way back to his bedroom soon. He was used to quiet in the mornings, but he wanted to see and talk to Madison. The vision of enjoying many more mornings with her swam in front of him. The thought of sharing his home and his life with a woman would have once terrified him. Not anymore. He didn't know what she wanted, but he didn't want anything casual. The thought of her dating someone else got under his skin in the worst way. And the thought of her—no, he couldn't even go there. Last night, before they'd made it to his bedroom, he'd practically visualized his single status flushing straight down the toilet. After having a woman like Madison in his arms, he simply knew there wasn't anything better. She was it for him. Rafe was aware that her feelings weren't as strong for him, but he planned to make it impossible for her to walk away. “Is that cinnamon coffee?” Madison's sleepy voice from the doorway caused him to turn. His gut clenched when he saw her. She wore a long blue T-shirt of his that hung midthigh, showcasing smooth, toned legs. Her dark hair was messy and sexy, and he wanted to hoist her over his shoulder and haul her right back to his bedroom. Since he wasn't a caveman, he simply offered her a smile and grabbed a mug. “Yeah, you want some, right?” “Yes, please.” She sat on the edge of one of the chairs and crossed her legs. From the way she sat, it looked like she was ready to bolt at any second. Maybe she was nervous. Maybe she had regrets. Hell, he couldn't tell. She was harder to read than any female he'd known. After pouring her a mug, he set it down on the table next to her and leaned in to kiss her.

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As his tongue connected with hers, his entire body burned. Her minty taste surprised him. Though he was loath to do it, he managed to pull back. It was either that or take her on the kitchen floor. That wasn't a bad idea, actually. “You taste good.” A shy grin spread across her face. “I found an extra toothbrush.” “You hungry?” “Starving.” She took a sip of her coffee and sighed in appreciation. He tore his gaze away from her and returned to the stove. Maybe talking about last night while his hands were busy would be easier. “Do you want discuss last night?” “Well, what's there to say?” Okay then. She wasn't going to make this easy. “For starters, do you regret anything?” “No!” Her heated answer only served to stir his blood. He glanced over his shoulder, ready to fire questions, but stopped himself. As long as she didn't have any regrets, that's all he really needed to know. Besides, they had to discuss more important things. “After breakfast we're going to have to head down to the station.” “I kind of figured. Do you think we can stop by my place first so I can change?” “No problem.” Ten extra minutes wouldn't make a difference. He'd already called his boss and told him he'd found her. The kitchen was quiet as he laid out strips of bacon. After a few minutes of silence, he washed his hands and turned to face her. If he didn't ask, it would eat away at him. “Why did you decide last night you wanted to…?” The rest of the question hung in the air, as if suspended by an invisible string. Her cheeks turned a dark shade of red, but she didn't break his gaze. “I'm twenty-six, I trust you, and mainly…I was really turned on. No one's ever gotten me that hot. I figured if I was going to have my first time with anyone, it might as well be you. It's not like it was out of the blue though. I've been thinking about this for a while.” The blunt honesty of her words hit him directly in the chest. That's one thing he loved about her. He'd known her practically forever, and she didn't put on an act around him. Why would she? She'd always viewed him as a member of the family. She was completely herself all

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the time. It was refreshing. And she always went out of her way to help people. Her two employees consisted of one struggling college student who was always late, and a single mom who often called out because of her kid. Not to mention, she'd been a virgin up until yesterday. On one level, he knew it was totally caveman of him to even care, but that Madison had chosen him for her first time touched something deep inside him he hadn't even known existed. At the same time, he still couldn't believe she'd decided to lose her virginity to him. She was the kind of woman who deserved a romantic setting or something other than the way they'd done it for her first time. “I can feel the heat of your brain waves from here. What are you thinking?” she asked. “Just that I wish I'd known it was your first time. I would have done things a little differently.” She shrugged, and a dark stain of crimson flushed down her neck. “I'm not complaining, trust me.” His gut clenched as he watched her. Suddenly food didn't seem so important. “Are you too sore this morning?” Her violet eyes seemed to flash an even darker, smokier shade as she shook her head. He flipped the stove off then shifted the frying pan off the hot stove eye. He was across the room in seconds, grabbing her by the hands and pulling her from the chair. His cock pressed painfully against his boxers. If this wasn't so new to her, he'd take her on the kitchen table. “Wait.” The subtle demand in her voice took him off guard. “What?” She pulled her hand away from his and pointed to the chair. “Sit.” More curious than anything, he did as she ordered and sat on the sturdy wood chair. As soon as he did, she knelt in front of him and grasped the elastic of his boxers. “What are you doing?” His throat clenched as he spoke. “You got to taste me last night,” she whispered. So she wanted to taste him? He couldn't help the smile he could feel tugging at the corners of his mouth. She was the perfect woman. Or at least perfect for him. Once he'd realized how

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limited her sexual experience was, he'd planned to ease her into things and work up to asking for blowjobs. He sure as hell wasn't going to stop her from exploring. Lifting his hips a couple of inches, he let her pull his boxers until they pooled at his ankles. His cock pulsed and looked even bigger in the bright light of the kitchen. With her kneeling in front of him, all the muscles in his body were pulled taut, waiting for her to make her move. When she ran her tongue over her bottom lip, a few drops of precum seeped out of his penis as he imagined her running that pink tongue over every inch of him. She grasped him by the base and tentatively leaned forward. As she did, his hips involuntarily jerked toward her mouth. He was like a man possessed. And his cock apparently had a mind of its own. Instead of backing off, she took the head of him fully in her mouth. She rolled her tongue over him in tantalizing little strokes. A shudder raked over the length of his entire body. Watching his cock move in and out of her mouth was enough to make him come on the spot.

Madison had never felt as powerful before as she did holding Rafe's cock in her hand. As she ran her tongue over the head of his penis, she risked a quick peek at his face. His eyes were half-closed, and a red flush had spread across his broad chest and corded neck. Energy hummed through her as she squeezed him with her hand. While she sucked, she also stroked him, her fingers grasping around his hard length. It was impossible not to take pleasure in the sounds he made. The thought of giving head had always turned her off, but now she understood why so many women liked it. All the power was in her hands right now. She might be on her knees, but he was the one moaning. All because of her. Her hair cascaded around his lap, creating a curtain over her movements. As she sucked, he gathered her long hair and held it away from her head and neck. Her lungs burned with the need to breathe as she took him deeper, but she didn't care. Every little sound he made got her pussy wetter. The growing dampness between her legs was

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almost embarrassing. Giving him head was giving her as much pleasure as it was him. Well, almost. “I'm so close, sweetheart,” he rasped out. Continuing to stroke him, she took him as deep as she could manage. Then repeated the process with renewed vigor. His hips thrust again and as his movements became more jerky, she could feel his last shred of control begin to slip away. When his body stiffened underneath her, she knew he was close. Tightening her grasp, she pumped his cock harder with her hand and mouth. Her sucking sounds were almost louder than his growing moans. “I'm about to come. Move if you don't want to swallow.” His words were barely above a whisper. Move? No way. True to his word, a few seconds later, his cock seemed to swell in her mouth before he exploded. His salty essence hit the back of her throat in long spurts. She continued to suck him until he'd completely emptied himself. When she lifted her head and saw his face, a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth. Big and strong Rafe, who was nearly twice her size, was panting, and his dark eyes had a glazedover, almost dazed look. She could probably nudge him, and he'd fall off the chair. She tried to bite back her smile, but it was impossible. “Feeling pretty proud of yourself?” he murmured. Madison lifted an eyebrow and nodded. She rose from the floor and before she realized what he planned, his hands snaked out and grabbed her by the hips. He pulled her close so that she was straddling him. “What are you doing?” She gasped. In response, he moved his hips, and she realized his cock was already growing again. It wasn't completely hard, but it was getting there. “I think I might be too—”

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“Sore. I know. That doesn't mean you can't come.” His hands fisted around the bottom of the T-shirt she was wearing, and he lifted it over her head in a swift movement. Maybe she should feel nervous about being completely naked in the bright light of the kitchen. The way he stared at her knocked out any trepidation she might have had. His dark gaze roved over her chest and down to where their hips met. His cock jutted between them. Under her scrutiny, his hips jerked upward, and his cock slid over her clit. She let out an unexpected gasp at the zing of pleasure that shot through her. He did it again, and the dampness between her thighs grew. “You like that?” he asked. Unable to speak, she simply nodded. The stimulation against the sensitive bundle of nerves was amazing. A satisfied grin spread across his face before he leaned forward and captured one of her nipples between his teeth. She'd already been turned on, but when he'd taken her T-shirt off, the cool air over her skin turned her nipples into hardened nubs. When he increased the movement of his hips, she squeezed her legs against his thighs in an attempt to gain sweet release. His cock rubbing against her folds and sensitized clit was enough to send her over the edge. When his movements stilled, she started to protest, but he lifted his head from her breast and met her gaze. “Patience, sweetheart.” Wordlessly she nodded as his lips returned to her breast. All he had to do was call her “sweetheart,” and she was willing to do whatever he wanted. An endearment coming from him was such a foreign thing. It put all sorts of naughty thoughts in her mind. He grasped her other breast and cupped it. With his thumb, he lazily rubbed her aching nipple in erotic strokes. The action was slow and deliberate and surely supposed to drive her crazy. His head dipped between her mounds as he feathered kisses along her skin. Before she had a chance to mourn the loss of his mouth on her nipple, his other hand came up and tweaked her wet nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

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While he teased both her hardened peaks, he kissed and licked the outside of her breasts, making sure he didn't miss a single spot. It was almost too much to take. Her pussy was dripping with need, and he had to feel it. When she ground her hips against his, he chuckled lightly against her skin, sending shivers fluttering across her body. Thankfully he thrust his hips upward again, rubbing his cock between her folds but not penetrating. Between the pinching and tweaking of her nipples, the stimulation of her clit was all she needed. Her thighs clenched and gripped his body as the climax shot through her. The orgasm wasn't as powerful as the one from last night, but it rolled over her like warm honey. Sweet and sensuous. Her entire body tensed as she rushed over the edge. Her pussy spasmed, and Rafe didn't stop his assault on her breasts as she rode through her orgasm. As her climax subsided, so did the fuzziness in her lust-filled brain. In her wildest, Technicolor fantasies, she hadn't imagined sex would be like this. So overpowering and pleasurable. Masturbating with her fingers was nothing compared to having Rafe's cock inside her. Now that she'd had him, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen when she had to return to her “real life.” When she wasn't staying at his place because of external circumstances. Despite what she'd told herself, she wondered if it would be hard to go back to being just friends after what they'd shared together. A bead of perspiration ran down her back. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled tighter against him. She wished they could just go back to bed and block out the rest of the world. “Are you sure we have to go to the station today?” she whispered against his stubbled cheek. “Shit,” he muttered, as if he'd forgotten. “Unfortunately yes.” She bit back her disappointment. She knew she needed to make that statement. As long as she didn't have to deal with that jerk from yesterday, she'd be fine. Still, she'd rather stay in bed all day with Rafe.

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Chapter Four “You can park right behind the store,” Madison directed Rafe. “I know.” Over the past year, he'd been to her store numerous times, usually with an excuse just so he could see her. Of course, he'd only been in her apartment a few times but after last night, that was going to change. He planned to spend a lot of time with her in the future. Rafe killed the engine and surveyed the back of her place as he got out of his truck. Madison's two-bedroom apartment was directly above her bookstore. Right in the middle of Miami's shopping district, she'd managed to snag prime real estate when someone had been forced to foreclose. “You have an alarm system, right?” he asked as they strode toward the back entrance. “Of course.” She fished her keys out of her purse and unlocked the door. As soon as it swung open, they stepped into the hall that led to her bookstore. She opened the alarm keypad next to the door but froze. “What is it?” he asked. “You hear that?” Rafe's brow furrowed. “No.” “Exactly. The alarm is supposed to buzz when I open the door. I normally have thirty seconds to turn it off—oh, wait.” “What?” He drew his gun and stepped in front of her in case someone ambushed them. “I don't think I set the alarm before going to the police station yesterday.” “You don't think?” “I don't remember. After everything that happened, I called the police. Then I ran back here to get my car. I think I might have come inside before I left, but I don't remember.” “Stay put.” He kept his voice low and his gun in front of him.

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She took a seat at the bottom of the stairs that led to her apartment, and he headed toward the store. Using his free hand, he pushed the dividing curtain to the side and stepped inside. Everything was silent. After sweeping each aisle, he allowed himself to breathe. Nothing appeared out of order. Her bookstore was as it should be. Perfectly neat and quiet. Even if someone wanted to ambush her, it would be damn near impossible. With the exception of the five aisles, everything else was open. Three large displays showcased a variety of books, and the coffee area was furnished with just tables and chairs. A few minutes later he found Madison still sitting, her knees pulled up tight against her chest. “Is everything okay?” “Looks good.” He still kept his gun out as they ascended the stairs. When they reached her door, he plucked the keys from her hand and unlocked it. The front door opened directly into her living room. From what he could see, nothing looked out of place there either. “Change and pack an overnight bag,” he ordered as he shut the door behind them. “Why?” “Chances are Ortiz doesn't even know about you yet. You haven't filled out a statement, but once he gets wind that there's a witness with the ability to put him behind bars, he might make a move. Until we know more, you're not staying here.” She bit her bottom lip, and he could tell she had a bunch of questions ready to fire at him, but she simply nodded and shrugged out of her coat. “Give me five minutes.” After giving her room and closet a quick once-over, he left her and headed for the kitchen. It was almost impossible that Ortiz knew who Madison was. Sure, the guy knew someone had seen him, but since there wasn't any paperwork filed, he couldn't have even gotten her name yet. Rafe was still pissed at Armenta for scaring her at the police station, though the detective might have done them a favor in the long run. They'd have to increase her security at work, but at least he'd be able to keep an eye on her at night. Deep down he knew he needed to involve her family—or at least her brother—but he wasn't sure how she would feel about that. She was fiercely independent, and her family could be smothering.

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Involving them would mean they'd want to whisk her away somewhere. Or worse, her brother, Andre, would want to stay at his place 24-7 to keep an eye on her too. The thought of being in the same house as Madison and not being allowed to touch her made his stomach clench. Now that he finally knew the fantasy of having her was nothing compared to the reality, he felt like a randy teenager again. After making sure all her appliances in the kitchen were off, he walked back to the living room. Just as he collapsed onto her pale blue love seat, a scream ripped through the air. “Rafe!” His heart jumped in his throat, and he bolted upright. As he sprinted for her bedroom, the sound of breaking glass sent a shiver snaking down his spine. When he reached the bedroom door, Madison nearly bowled him over as she ran into him, trying to escape. He grabbed her by the shoulders and yanked her out of the entryway. “What's going on?” “Man with a knife. Out the window. Down the fire escape.” She pointed with a shaky finger. Cautiously he entered her bedroom. Shattered glass littered the floor beneath the windowsill. He hurried toward the window and peered out. From his position, he could see a man wearing a black ski mask descending the metal stairs. “Police! Freeze!” he shouted, but the man didn't break stride. After a visual scan of the neighboring street and Madison's back parking lot, Rafe realized there weren't any cars. Which meant the man was parked nearby or had an accomplice waiting somewhere close. He fired his gun. With all the metal bars in the way, it was an impossible shot, but he wanted the guy's attention. The ricochet of the bullet made a loud pinging sound, and it shocked the guy enough to pause and look up. Rafe couldn't make out much except the height and build of the assailant. His first instinct was to chase after him but he couldn't leave Madison alone. That might be what the men after her wanted. “Rafe?” Madison's terrified voice brought him back to the present.

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He inched away from the window and turned to face her. “Are you okay?” She shook her head, and her dark hair swished around her shoulders. “Did he touch you?” “No. When I stepped out of the closet, I caught him sneaking out of the bathroom. He must have been hiding in the shower. Before I could make a move, he ripped my lamp from the dresser and tossed it through the window.” It could be a robbery, but the chances of that were slim. The guy probably hadn't realized she wouldn't be alone so he'd tried to sneak out unnoticed. An icy fist closed around Rafe's heart when he thought about what could have happened to her. “Did you notice anything else about him?” “He had on a mask, and it looked like he had handcuffs hooked to his belt.” Rafe scrubbed a hand over his face and tried to stop the rage crawling through his gut. If the guy had brought handcuffs it stood to reason he had more on his mind than simply silencing Madison. “Have you finished packing?” “Just about. I need to grab some toiletries.” “Hurry up.” He zipped up the duffel bag lying on the bed while she scurried toward the bathroom. Unless someone had leaked the information, there was no way Ortiz should have found out about Madison so quickly. One way or another, Rafe was going to find out who was behind this and someone was going to pay.

***** Rafe paced in front of Captain Garcia's desk, unable to sit still for longer than thirty seconds. Someone had tried to kill the woman he was pretty sure he loved. He didn't know what to do with all his emotions. Before he'd joined the force he'd been a marine for four years. Out of those four years, he'd spent three and a half in war zones. Keeping a calm and level head in any situation was second nature to him. Until today.

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When the door swung open and his boss stepped in, a heavy dose of reality hit him square in the chest. If he let on that this was really personal, Garcia might take him off the case. “I got here as soon as I could,” Captain Garcia said. “I didn't know who else to call. I've got Madison locked in one of the interrogation rooms with Leslie Austin.” Austin typically worked sex crimes, but she was someone he could trust, and Rafe knew she'd have a calming effect on Madison. “Good choice. I've been thinking about what you told me on the way over. We're going to play this close to the chest. I've suspected a leak for about six months, and I think I know a way to flush this guy out using the girl.” From the way he was talking, it sounded like he wanted to use Madison as bait. Over Rafe's dead body. “Wait a minute—” Captain Garcia held up a silencing hand. “Hear me out. Madison is going to make her statement today. When it's filed, I'm going to let it slip that she's at a safe house in Key Largo. Of course, she won't actually be there.” A lot of the steam that had been building up inside Rafe dissipated. That actually sounded like a solid plan. “Who will watch the house?” “I've got two guys in narcotics itching to bring down anyone connected to Carbajal. Ortiz is second best, but if they can get him to crack, they're one step closer to shutting Carbajal down.” “You really think Ortiz will go after her himself?” “No, I don't, but it's worth a shot. Besides, if there is a leak…” The rest of the sentence hung in the air. Rafe didn't need him to finish it. If there was a leak, then the dirty cop—or cops—might want to take care of Madison without outside interference. He scrubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. The only thing he needed to worry about was getting her the hell away from here. “Okay. She should be wrapping up now. I'm going to stash her at my place for the next couple of days, but I'll be available on my cell. No one, not even her family, will know where she's spending her nights.”

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After they went over a few more details, Rafe headed toward the interrogation room and tried to squash the impending sense of doom hanging above his head. Over lunch he planned to hash out the plan with Madison. He'd done this numerous times with witnesses and informants, but she was so much more than that. For so many years he'd kept his desire and feelings for her at bay out of fear of losing the entire Dubois family. Now he wished he'd made a move years ago. If anything happened to Madison, he'd never forgive himself.

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Chapter Five “I can't even tell my family where I am?” Madison dropped her purse onto Rafe's coffee table then collapsed onto the couch. He shook his head. “I'm sorry, no. I called Andre and told him you'd be closing the shop for a couple of days.” “This is the busy season for me, Rafe. I can't afford to stay closed longer than that. And neither can my two employees.” November through February was one of her busiest times of the year. All the snowbirds migrated south for the winter. And that was a very good thing for her bank account. “Trust me on this. You have to stay out of sight if we're going to flush these guys out.” She gritted her teeth because she knew he was right. After everything he'd explained over lunch it made sense to hide out, but she hated the thought of some thug dictating her life. And she really hated the fear clawing at her insides. A stranger had been in her apartment today, and she couldn't even go through her things to make sure nothing was missing. The thought of someone touching and looking at her private things was nauseating. Her place was supposed to be her safe haven, and some asshole had violated that. Rafe said someone would fix her window so at least that was taken care of. There was also going to be an undercover guy staying at her place. Cop or not, the thought of someone she didn't know in her home made her uneasy. Rafe had been sitting on the armrest of his couch, but he slid down so that they were nearly touching knees. “What's going on in that head of yours?” She let out a heavy sigh and tried not to sound ungrateful. “I'm just worrying about everything.” “Nothing's going to happen to you. I promise.” He took one of her hands and threaded his fingers through hers.

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Surprisingly the small gesture had a soothing effect on her jittery nerves. “So what exactly did you tell my brother? Did you tell him I was staying with you?” He shook his head. “No, he got the same story as everyone else. On the off chance that anyone was listening to the conversation, I couldn't tell him the truth.” “Are you going to tell him—” She nearly bit her tongue off trying to stop herself. His dark brows arched. “Tell him what?” She opened her mouth but was saved when his cell phone buzzed. A burst of relief bloomed in her chest. Of course he wasn't going to tell her brother about them. Andre and Rafe had been best friends for almost two decades. Even when Rafe had been sent overseas, they'd stayed in touch via phone calls and e-mails. If anything, they were more like brothers than friends. Even though he'd never actually said it aloud, she knew how much Rafe valued that relationship, especially since his own family life was nonexistent. What was she thinking? He cursed when he glanced at his caller ID. “Give me a sec.” He pushed up from the couch and walked toward the kitchen. Madison grabbed her purse then headed for the back bedrooms. It was only midafternoon, but her brain and her body were running on fumes. Giving her statement at the station hadn't been as bad as she'd thought it would be. The woman, Leslie something, had been a lot nicer to deal with than that jerk from yesterday. When Madison had signed off on everything, the woman had started telling her stories about Rafe when he was a rookie. When he'd joined Miami PD, Madison had just been starting college. She hadn't seen a lot of him those first few years, but she remembered how handsome he'd been in his uniform. Nowadays his uniform consisted of a suit and tie. Not that it mattered. The man looked good in anything. It scared her that she was actually taking notice. Even though she'd always been aware that Rafe was attractive, she was now connected with him in the most intimate way. She didn't regret anything, but it frightened her that she didn't know what their future held. She started to enter Rafe's bedroom but stopped in the doorway. Just because they'd slept together didn't mean she'd be staying in his room. Or at least she didn't think it did. It's not like they were dating. Besides, she was staying at his place because he was officially protecting her. Not because they were dating. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if they actually

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were dating. There had been a subtle, gentler difference in the way he treated her since they'd slept together. And there'd been a not-so-subtle change in the way he looked at her. Of course that made her happy, but she wasn't sure what that meant as far as a potential relationship went. Did she even want to date him? She shook her head, then headed across the hall. After hooking her purse on one of the iron bedposts, she collapsed onto the bed without bothering to pull down the dark brown comforter. The guest bedroom was fairly sparse and had the same masculine feel as Rafe's bedroom. A bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and a few black-and-white prints featuring various Florida beaches hung on the beige wall. It was obvious a female hadn't touched his place. The thought gave her a strange comfort. Sandbags weighed heavy on her eyelids, so she gave into her body's demands. “Madison?” Her eyes flew open at the sound of her name. “Yeah.” Rafe stood in the doorway of the guest room, a frown marring his face. “What are you doing in here?” “Taking a nap.” Wordlessly he stalked to the bed and scooped her up like she was a sack of feathers. “What are you doing?” She couldn't muster enough energy to struggle. “Putting you where you belong.” He didn't look at her as he answered, but she noticed the way his jaw clenched. Seconds later, he laid her on his bed and started to pull her sweater over her head. She swatted his hands away and sat up. “Hey, what are you doing?” His lips quirked up slightly at the corners. “I only have one rule in my house. If you're in my bed, you're naked. No exceptions.” “Is that right?” He nodded. “And if you disobey my rule, you get punished.” “That sounds promising.” Suddenly sleeping was the last thing on her mind. She could feel her cheeks flame as he raked a heated gaze over her face. Taking her time, her fingers skimmed

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her stomach as she slowly lifted her sweater off. At her place, she'd changed into a matching black and pink bra and panty set. Rafe swallowed hard when her top came off, making her glad she'd taken extra care with her lingerie. When he reached for her, she scrambled back against the pillows, just out of his reach. “You're on the bed, so if I have to follow your 'rule,' then you have to strip too.” Standing, he shrugged out of his sport coat before pulling his shirt off. She sucked in a deep breath. It didn't matter that she'd seen it before—the sight of his bare chest made her want to find out what kind of punishment he would dish out if she disobeyed his silly rule. “Keep going.” She nodded toward his pants. Wordlessly he shucked his pants and boxers. With the light streaming in from the blinds, she could see just enough of his hard body. Instead of jumping her, however, he strolled to the dresser and withdrew a condom. Her stomach clenched as he took his time opening it. His large hands were steady as he slowly rolled it over his cock. In the dim light, shadows bounced off the walls, creating an intimate, sensual atmosphere. Once he'd sheathed himself, he came at her from the bottom of the bed. He slowly crawled across the sheets and comforter until he was on top of her. “You're still dressed,” he growled, his deep voice sending shivers dancing over her skin. Her nipples hardened under the lacy cups. “Why don't you do something about it then?”

Rafe liked this playful side of Madison. She'd always been easygoing, but he hadn't been sure what to expect in the bedroom. It was a relief that she didn't take things too seriously. She knew practically everything about where he came from, and she'd never once made him feel like he wasn't part of her family or wasn't good enough. She was it for him. He'd known it for a while, but he'd always wondered if his intense feelings would extend to the bedroom. Now that he knew, he definitely didn't want to let her go. Women were a fucking mystery sometimes, though. He couldn't understand why she'd gone to the guest room earlier. He wanted to make sure she stayed in his bed and his life. Permanently.

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Stretched out on the sheets and pillows underneath him, she arched her hips as he slowly unbuttoned her jeans. He bit back a shudder when his knuckles skimmed her clenched abdomen. With uneven breaths, he slid her pants down her legs, trailing his fingers along her soft skin. He didn't know what kind of lotion she wore, but an exotic coconut scent enveloped him as soon as her skin was bared. He'd imagined her naked or wearing lingerie more times than he cared to admit, but actually seeing her splayed before him called to something primal inside him. He wanted to fuck her over and over and claim her so that she knew she was his. After this mess was over, he wasn't going back to being friends. Being around her and not being able to touch her wasn't an option. If she simply wanted a fling, he'd have to walk away. It would be the hardest thing he'd ever have to do because he'd probably lose her family in the process, but he wasn't that much of a masochist. He couldn't see her out with other men, and he wasn't willing to settle for casual. “Did you wear this for me?” Somehow he squeezed the question out. “Yes.” The answer was low and throaty, and the sexy sound directly affected his cock. He fingered the flimsy strap of her panties before tracing along her hipbone. Everything about her was soft and inviting, and he wanted to touch all of her. Every single inch. His hands fisted around her hips before sliding to her ass and grasping the part of her skin that wasn't quite covered with the Brazilian bottoms. A tiny, unintelligible noise escaped from her when he dug his fingers into her buttocks. He could touch her all day and not get tired of it. Right now, simply looking wasn't enough. He wanted to taste. His hands stayed firmly against her ass as he dipped down to nip her jaw. Her back arched when he raked his teeth over her skin. A moan tickled against his ear when he continued kissing along her jawline and neck. Madison's fingers dug into his back as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her grip was viselike and if she kept grinding her hips against him, he was going to shove her panties to the side and start fucking with no foreplay. His chest grew tight at the mere thought of being inside her again. When his lungs expanded, her peaked buds grazed against him as their skin connected.

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Everywhere they touched, he felt on fire. It almost felt as if his skin was too tight for his body. Simply being near her made it easy to forget about the outside world. Finding a willing woman had never been particularly hard, but it had been a while for him. After seeing Madison at that club all those months ago, he'd known he would eventually need to come to terms with his feelings for her. He just hadn't known how. If she'd been anyone else, he'd have made his move long ago. He considered the Dubois family, and he hadn't wanted to fuck things up with the only people he'd ever really loved. Being with Madison was worth the risk, though. It had finally hit him that if he didn't make a move, she'd end up with someone else. That kind of regret wasn't something he was willing to live with. Having her thrown into his lap this way wasn't what he'd expected, but he'd take what he could get. “That feels so good,” she whispered as he trailed kisses farther down her neck and chest. When he came to the flat section between her breasts, he inhaled her sweet scent as he ran his tongue along the swell of her breasts. Everything about her threatened to overload his senses. The fact that even her sternum turned him on told him he was in serious trouble. He dipped his tongue, then a finger, underneath the lacy cup of her bra and drew it down until her nipple was visible. Her normally pale pink nub was cherry red and rock hard. He ran his tongue over the distended tip, wetting it before blowing on it. She gasped and arched her back, trying to push herself farther in his mouth. Biting back a chuckle, he pulled the material down and sucked her nipple into his mouth. And not a gentle tug, but hard and demanding. A whimper escaped, and her hips pitched against his with wild, uneven thrusts. He loved how responsive she was to his every touch. The woman was like dynamite. With his mouth still firmly teasing her, he reached around her back and unhooked the flimsy bra. The skimpy scrap of material was obviously for show, and he really hoped she had more of the sexy lingerie stashed away. If not, he'd buy it for her. Hell, he'd do that anyway. When things settled down, he wanted to take her on a real date. He wanted to treat her the way she deserved. Nothing about his feelings for her was casual, and he needed to make sure she understood that. When Madison let out a gasp of surprise, he lifted his head. “Did I hurt you?” he whispered against her skin.

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Mouth open in a perfect O, she shook her head as she gazed at him. “No, but if you don't hurry up, I'm going to hurt you.” Her words came out throaty and sensual. “Is that right?” he murmured. At her jerky nod, he pushed her sexy panties to the side and inserted one finger into her pussy. He groaned aloud as he slid into her. She was dripping wet. Even more so than last night. Oh yeah, her body was primed and ready for him. When her pussy clamped around his finger, he added another to stretch her. Not that it did any good. Her vagina fastened around both of them and held tight. “You ready?” he asked, his voice a low whisper in the quiet room. Her violet eyes had darkened to an almost bluish hue as she nodded. Instead of pulling her panties off and breaking their contact, he left them pushed to the side and slowly buried himself inside her. Her cunt spasmed and clenched around him until he was balls deep and ready to blow. Stamina had never been a problem before. Women normally took a lot longer to climax, and he'd never minded. Hell, he still didn't mind. Rafe wanted to enjoy every inch of her. He just knew he'd feel like a jackass if he got off before she did. Nice and slow. He chanted the words over and over in his head. He needed to take things slow. His abdomen and throat clenched as he lifted up on his forearms to gaze at her. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve her, but he wasn't going to fuck this up. Still buried deep inside her, he sat up and hooked one hand under her knee and lifted it so that it was on his shoulder. A shocked expression covered her face, to be quickly replaced by one of pleasure. When he started rolling his hips against hers, she lifted her hips and met his strokes in perfect rhythm. He glanced down and couldn't tear his gaze away from the sight of his cock pushing into her tight pussy. Her swollen clit peeked out from its hood, begging to be touched. Her breathing came in short gasps each time he thrust into her. And each time, he was closer to exploding. But not yet.

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Her pussy squeezed his cock the faster he moved. Her back arched as if she was ready to vault off the bed. Reaching between her legs, he lightly pinched her clit between his thumb and forefinger.

“Yes,” she hissed. Madison clutched the sheets as Rafe rubbed the button of her clit. Every part of her was sensitized. Last night had been amazing but this…this was so much different. Panic and worry no longer flowed through her. Now all she was experiencing was pure pleasure. Her pussy lips were swollen and aching, and his touch only increased her arousal. With the sheets rustling beneath them and her own heavy breathing, she barely heard the sounds their bodies were making. Skin slapping against skin. Rafe looked positively predatory as he moved. Every muscle and sinew in his arms and hard chest were pulled taut. His neck corded tightly as if he were working at controlling himself. Even his eyes appeared darker, more lethal. As he continued pushing into her, he let her leg drop and leaned forward so he could reach one of her breasts. His palm cupped her completely while the pad of his thumb brushed over the hardened tip. Combined with the sensuous action of his other hand, she felt ready to fall apart at the seams. Touching herself had never compared to this. Having his cock deep inside her while he did wicked things with his hands was pure bliss. A powerful contraction rippled through her as her climax hit. It seemed to swell under her skin like a tidal wave before surging straight to all her nerve endings. Her head fell against the pillow as tingles raced to her fingers, toes, and everywhere in between. “Rafe.” “Say it again,” he growled as he increased his movements. As their eyes locked, her heart beat an erratic tattoo against her chest. His dark gaze was scorching. “Rafe.” She repeated his name, but her throat constricted and the word was barely a whisper against her lips.

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Not that he seemed to notice. Hungrily he slanted his mouth over hers. When he tugged on her bottom lip with his teeth, his entire body jerked with almost violent intensity. He pulled back, and his thrusts became jerky and uncontrolled. With a loud groan, he drove into her again and again before collapsing on her. He didn't seem aware of his weight as he squished her against the bed. His chest expanded into hers, making it difficult to breathe. “Uh, Rafe?” She wiggled her hips, trying to get his attention. “Damn.” He groaned as he rolled off her. Although her lungs thanked him, the rest of her body mourned the loss. Using what small reserve of energy she had left, she rolled onto her side to face him. As she stared at him, a smile touched her lips. Rafe's profile was harsh, but there was so much softness about him that most people didn't see. When she was younger, he'd always taken the time to help her with her homework; when she was in college, he'd helped more than a couple of her friends out of scrapes. Now he was looking out for her when someone wanted her dead. If she'd lived ten lifetimes, she never would have imagined they'd end up in bed together. Yet they had. And the really strange part was, it didn't feel awkward at all. At least not for her. He made her feel completely at ease about her body and everything they'd done so far. He'd managed it without even trying, really. Rafe was just himself, and that alone was enough. He hadn't had much to say on the subject of the future, and she wasn't going to push. After he disposed of the condom, he slid back into bed. She scooted as close as she could and draped an arm and leg across him, covering half his body. At the same time, he sighed contentedly and wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. Big Rafe Jackson was a cuddler. Who would have thought?

***** Rafe sat on the edge of his bed and watched Madison's sleeping form. Everything about her was so peaceful. And not just when she was sleeping. She was impetuous sometimes, but she had a level head about the important things. Something he needed to remind himself of.

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Hell, at twenty-six, she ran her own successful business, and she hadn't taken a dime from her parents. Not that they hadn't offered. She worked hard and was so giving of her time and herself to anyone who asked. She simply brought out the best in people. Himself included. He scrubbed a hand over his face and eased off the bed. After grabbing his discarded boxers from the floor, he slipped them on and left her to nap. The past couple of days hadn't been necessarily traumatizing, but a lot had happened. No doubt she needed extra sleep. Rafe picked up his cell phone from the living room as he headed toward the kitchen. No missed calls. That could be a good or a bad thing. He opened his refrigerator and eyed the sparse contents. As a bachelor, he'd learned to cook long ago, but since his last stakeout assignment he hadn't had time to restock anything. He flipped open his phone to dial his favorite pizza place when it buzzed in his hand. His captain's cell number appeared. Immediately Rafe's fingers tightened around the slim device. The last he'd heard from him, the sting operation had been set in motion. Normally an undertaking like that would take longer, but the vice guys were hungry to bring down anyone connected to Carbajal. “Yeah?” he answered. “You're never going to believe who we caught sneaking into the safe house,” Captain Garcia said. “Ortiz?” His gut told him they wouldn't get that lucky, but a man could hope. “Detective Dave Armenta.” Disgust laced his boss's words. “He's working with Ortiz?” A wave of nausea swept through him. “Looks that way. There's more. He showed up with a garrote wire, handcuffs, and…condoms, ammonia, and bleach.” For a moment, Rafe fought to breathe as the implication set in. His free hand balled into a fist. He'd never particularly liked Armenta, but Rafe never imagined he could be involved with scum like Ortiz. And he was not only willing to kill for him, it sounded like he had a lot more planned. “That motherfucker! Has he talked yet?”

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“He rolled over on Ortiz pretty quick. When I threatened to throw him into public holding, he cracked. Right now I've got him in a private cell. He's in complete lockdown with a guard 24-7.” “Is anyone else involved?” “Not that we know of, but I'm launching a full-scale investigation.” “Who's bringing Ortiz in?” “I've already got two men on their way. And, good news, looks like that server he roughed up is going to make it. He's conscious and eating on his own. Guess the doctors were preparing for the worst.” “Until this mess is sorted out, I want to keep Madison with me.” “I agree. Can you head down here tonight? I know you're—” Rafe cut him off. “Don't worry. I'll be there.” He snapped his phone shut and laid it on the counter. He'd have to distance himself from questioning Armenta. If he didn't, he was likely to strangle the piece of shit where he stood. Or shoot him. That didn't mean he couldn't talk to Ortiz, however. Chances were, if the dirty detective was in bed with Ortiz, he was probably involved with Carbajal too. Now it was just a matter of who made a deal first. Either way, they were both doing jail time. “Where will you be?” Madison's soft voice from the doorway caused him to turn. “I'm going to have to head to the station soon. We might have good news about the case.” He leaned against the counter while she took a seat at the kitchen table and explained what his boss had told him. As he finished the recap, she frowned at him. “I don't understand how this is a good thing for me.” “If the young kid he beat up pulls through, it's unlikely you'll be needed as a witness. Even if you do need to testify, it's simple assault and battery. Any lawyer worth his salt will be able to get Ortiz completely off or on supervised probation. And truthfully, he'll probably pay the kid some money to make it go away.” “So he's not going to jail?” Her voice rose with each word.

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“I didn't say that. If Armenta rolls over on him, he will. But, if Ortiz rolls over on Carbajal first, we'll probably have to make a deal with him. Either way, Ortiz is doing jail time, and you're no longer a problem to him. You were a problem to him personally, not any of his associates, so you don't have to worry about any backlash.” She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned back in the chair. “You really think it'll be okay for me to go home?” “Not right now but as soon as everything is official, yeah, you'll be good to go. I'd say a day or two at the most.” Her eyes brightened as she pushed up from her chair. “So can I call my employees and tell them to be ready to come back to work soon?” “Yes—” She cut him off as she rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you! I'm sure you'll be happy to have me out of your hair.” As he slid his hands around her waist and pulled her snug against his body, another thought set in. He understood that she'd be happy to return to her life, but she hadn't said anything about the subject of them. Hell, she hadn't even broached the subject of their future. And they definitely had one. It was just a matter of finding the right words. Of somehow explaining how much she meant to him without sounding like a total jackass. When her tongue danced against his, he shoved those thoughts aside. There'd be plenty of time to talk later. Right now, he wanted her naked and underneath him again.

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Chapter Six Two Days Later

Madison glared at her cell phone as she put it down on her kitchen counter. Two days had passed. Two freaking days, and Rafe had called her once. And that was only to tell her that Armenta was behind bars and Ortiz was no longer a threat. He'd also informed her that he had an officer watching her place as a precaution though she was no longer in any danger. She'd thought about calling Rafe, but there were some things her Southern heritage wouldn't allow. If the man wanted her, he needed to take the reins and pursue her. She didn't care if that was wrong or right. It was simply the way she felt. Something the pigheaded man should know about her by now. She understood he was busy. Fine, she could deal with that. How hard was it to pick up the phone and call? Her stomach twisted as another, worse thought set in. Hell, maybe it was only a fling they'd had. She'd avoided even thinking that way, but that's what it was shaping up to look like. She might have told herself that something casual would be okay. That was before she'd developed feelings for him. Groaning, she opened her fridge and pulled out an unopened bottle of white wine. Nothing like a little alcohol to dull the senses. Sex definitely messed up everything. She should have been smart enough to know that. How had she ever thought she'd be able to see Rafe after what they'd shared and act like nothing had happened? She nearly dropped the bottle opener when her phone rang. Her heart sped up until she saw the name on the caller ID. “Hey, Andre.” “Hey, Sis. Don't sound too happy to hear from me,” he said.

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“Sorry, I'm just tired.” Not exactly true, but what was she going to say? Your best friend didn't call me after we shared a couple days of incredibly hot sex. Ugh. “I'm just checking on you. Ran into Rafe earlier, and he wanted to know how you were doing.” Well, he could have called himself if he really wanted to know. “Oh, was he working?” She hoped her question sounded casual, not pathetic. “Nah, I ran into him at Coco's Coffee Shop. He was there with Roxy.” “Roxy… Wait, his ex-girlfriend, Roxy?” Madison's fist tightened around her phone. At one time she'd actually liked the tall, leggy blonde, but right now she wouldn't mind wringing Rafe's neck. And maybe Roxy's too. “Yeah. I haven't seen her in forever. It was great to—” “I've gotta go, Andre, but you can tell Rafe that if he wants to know how I am, he can pick up the damn phone and call me himself.” She snapped the phone shut and glared at it. Her brother could make whatever he wanted of that. Maybe she was being a little irrational, but she didn't care. Rafe was too busy to call her, yet he could have drinks with his ex-girlfriend. Her phone rang again. This time she didn't jump. She glanced at the caller ID, fully expecting it to be her brother again. Her throat seized when she saw Rafe's name pop up. For a second she contemplated not answering but knew she'd drive herself crazy if she didn't. After the third ring, she pressed the Talk button. “Hey.” “Hey, how are you?” “Good, just been busy with work.” She bit back a sharp retort. She wanted to yell at him for not calling and let him know how much he'd hurt her, but if he viewed what they had as casual, she wanted to salvage some of her pride. “I think you'll be happy to know that Ortiz has agreed to turn state's evidence against Carbajal. They've gotten lawyers and it'll probably go to trial, but it looks like they'll both be doing time.” “What about that detective guy?”

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“He's going to prison for a long time. Turns out he has more skeletons in his closet than anyone imagined, most of them not even related to this case. The state's attorney refused to cut him a deal. I think we'll be able to keep it out of the media for a while though.” The knot in her chest loosened. She'd been hoping everything would work out but hadn't been holding her breath. “That's wonderful.” “I figured you'd be happy. Listen, there's something I need to talk to you about. Not related to the case. Are you free tonight?” The serious tone of his voice made her stomach roil. Oh God, she was not going to sit through the “let's be friends” or “I'm getting back together with my ex” speech. Not from Rafe and not tonight. She needed to gain some semblance of control over the situation. She'd meet with him, all right, but it was going to be on her terms and when she chose to see him. “I-I can't tonight. I have plans. What about tomorrow morning?” She was thankful he couldn't see her. If he were standing in front of her, there would be no doubt she was lying. And she wanted him to know she hadn't been waiting around for him to call. Even if she had been, he didn't need to know that. “What are you doing?” “I have a date.” She tried to bite them back, but the words just slipped out. It was a lame attempt to salvage some of her pride. She really didn't care. It was all she had to hold on to at this point. Silence. “Uh, Rafe?” “With who?” “Who what?” “Who are you going on a date with?” he ground out. She cringed and forced the lie out. “Just a guy I met at work.” “Madison—Shit, can you hold on, my boss is calling.” “Sure.” She raked a hand through her hair and leaned against the counter. She wanted to bang her head against a wall. Why had she said that?

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After a few minutes, she hung up. If Rafe's boss had called, it was no doubt about one of his cases. Sighing, she set her phone down then finished pulling the cork from her bottle of wine.

***** The lights in Madison's shop were off, but Rafe could see a few lights on in her upstairs apartment. He killed his engine and grabbed the manila file he'd brought from the passenger seat. The file was an excuse to see her, but he'd be damned if she was going on a date with anyone. He should have called sooner. He knew that. He just hadn't thought she'd go and find herself a date in less than forty-eight hours. Not after what they'd shared. It was his own fault for being such a pussy. His heart beat against his chest like a jackhammer as he strode toward the back entrance. She was probably going to be pissed that he was using a key he'd borrowed from Andre. And she had every right to be. He knew her alarm code but was surprised that he didn't have to turn it off. Well, surprised and annoyed. Even if she didn't have men trying to kill her, she should still keep her alarm on. He hurried up the stairs and knocked on her door. She'd been distant on the phone earlier, and he didn't want to give her a chance to turn him away. “Who's there?” There was a trace of uncertainty in her voice. “It's me.” “How'd you get past my alarm?” There was an accusing note in her voice. He gritted his teeth. Why didn't she just open the door? “You didn't have the damn thing on. Are you going to leave me standing out here all night or let me in?” He heard the lock turn, then the door swung open. Madison's hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she wore a skimpy yellow tank top and matching shorts. It looked like a pajama set. Even though she had her heat on, her nipples were visible through her top. His cock lengthened as he drank in the sight of her. The past few days without her had stretched out for an eternity. Not that he had anyone but himself to blame. He should have just sucked it up and called, but he hadn't wanted to tell her he loved her over the phone. Hell, he hadn't been sure how to even tell her in the first place. “What are you doing here?” She crossed her arms over her chest and didn't step back or offer to let him in.

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He cleared his throat and held up the manila folder. “I wanted to bring this by. Shouldn't you be getting ready for your date?” It was impossible to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. “That's none of your business,” she snapped, then swiveled on her heel. As she sauntered farther into her living room, he couldn't help but watch the seductive sway of her hips. He'd memorized that erotic walk long ago. “Oh, I think it is,” he growled. She turned around and glared at him when he shut and locked the door behind him. Before she could move, he dropped the folder onto the small table by the entrance and stalked toward her so that she had no choice but to back up. And he kept going until he had her up against one of the walls. With nowhere to go, he caged her in with his hands on either side of her head. Her chest rose and fell, drawing his attention toward the low scoop of her top. Her breasts were practically spilling out. Is this what she'd planned to greet her date in? If the material shifted down just a little, he'd get an eyeful of her perfect nipples. Somehow he forced himself to look at her face. He'd been going crazy since she'd told him she was going on a date, and he wanted answers. “Why the hell are you going on a date tonight?” She swallowed hard but just as quickly her violet eyes flared. “Why the hell do you care?” Rafe took a step forward until his body was pressed against the length of hers and his stiff cock nudged her lower abdomen. “Does that answer your question?” Confusion flitted in her eyes for a brief moment. “I turn you on. So what? I know we didn't talk about the future, but I can't be just one of the women you date. I don't want something casual, Rafe.” “Neither do I!” The words came out stronger than he'd intended. “Then why were you having drinks with your ex-girlfriend when you can't even be bothered to call me and ask me out on a real date?” “Ex-girl… You mean Roxy?” In response, Madison bit her bottom lip.

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His gut twisted when he realized what she must be thinking. “Damn it, woman. I ran into Roxy while I was waiting for one of my informants. We talked for about five minutes before her fiancé showed up.” “Oh… So you're not getting back together with her?” “Uh, no. How did you even know about that?” “My brother. And don't change the subject. If you didn't want to talk about that, then what did you want to talk to me about that was so important?” “Us.” “Us?” The word was a breathy whisper. “Yes. We didn't have a chance to really talk, but I wanted to make it official, Madison. I'm not going to be seeing other people. I only want to date you.” When she nervously moistened her lips, heat spread across his abdomen. His hips surged as he remembered her pink tongue running over his cock. She looked like she might let him off the hook but just as quickly, she frowned at him. “Well why the hell didn't you call me the past couple days? I know you were busy, but it doesn't take that much effort to pick up the stupid phone!” Her voice was heated. He knew he should tell her the real reason. The words stuck in his throat. “I've been at the station working for practically forty-eight hours. You already know about Armenta, but we've been working with Ortiz to build a case against Carbajal. I haven't even had a chance to get home.” When she opened her mouth, he cut her off. “I know it's not an excuse, and I'm sorry. You deserve better than that, and I can't do anything about it now, but I promise it won't happen again. I should have called, and you have every right to be upset.” He held his breath as a few seconds ticked by. Finally, she sighed. “I guess I'll let you off the hook…this time.” “Maybe you should cancel that date then.” Almost immediately, a crimson blush stained her cheeks. “I don't have a date.” His heart leaped at the admission. “You lied to me?” She shrugged and let out a nervous laugh.

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Before she could say another word, he slanted his mouth over hers. The past few days had been torture without her. Hell, he should be at the station instead of with her, but they'd deal without him for a few hours. He'd been working practically two days straight anyway. He needed to tell her the real reason he hadn't called, but that could wait until later. Now all he wanted was to be inside her. Madison tasted sweet and almost tart. As if his hands had a mind of their own, they wrapped around her waist and latched onto her ass. The shorts she wore barely covered her cheeks. His fingers strayed under the material and grasped skin. A shudder snaked through him as he savored the feel of her underneath him. “You taste good,” he murmured against her mouth. “Drinking wine,” she said between kisses. Rafe felt almost animalistic with his need to be inside her. The relief coursing through him that she wasn't going out with some random guy was incredibly potent. Even the thought of someone else touching her had him balling his hands into fists. “Ah,” Madison let out a tiny moan into his mouth, and he realized he was kneading her ass a little too hard. He also realized she had way too many clothes on. His hands skimmed to her hips, and he began shoving at the material of her skimpy shorts. When they pooled around her ankles, she kicked them away and wrapped one leg around his waist.

As Madison draped her leg around Rafe's waist, he tugged at the hem of her top before practically ripping it off of her. Her shirt joined her shorts somewhere across the room moments later. A low rumble started in Rafe's throat as he hoisted her up and back against the wall. Her ankles locked behind his waist as he sought out her neck with his mouth. When he raked his teeth against the sensitive skin, her back arched against him. Tingles shot to all her nerves as he continued feathering kisses to the spot behind her ear. She nearly came undone when he sucked an earlobe between his teeth. Being naked while he was still dressed was incredibly erotic.

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The ache between her legs grew each second. She hadn't realized how it was possible to miss someone's touch so much, but her body hummed with the need to have him inside her. It was as if she'd been given the keys to the candy store then they'd abruptly been taken away from her. Now that she had Rafe touching and teasing her again, she wasn't letting go. The rough denim of his jeans rubbed against her clit each time she shifted against him. “I've missed touching you,” his whispered words vibrated against her skin. “Me too.” Touching herself definitely wasn't the same as having his talented hands on her body. Her nipples pebbled as they rubbed against the cotton of his shirt. While the motion was pleasurable, she ached for skin-on-skin contact. When she went to tug on the bottom of his shirt, he encircled her wrist and held tight. Using his body as a weight, he kept her pinned against the wall and took hold of her other wrist before grasping them both above her head. The action pressed her breasts out even farther. Completely naked and at his mercy, she'd never felt so exposed—or turned on—in her life. While keeping her arms in place, he kissed her like a starving man. Hungry. Hot. Primal. That's what he made her feel. As his tongue rasped against hers, she squeezed her legs tighter and began grinding against him. Her pussy clenched with the need to have him inside her. Rafe tore his mouth away from hers. “Bedroom or here?” “Room,” she gasped. After he released her wrists, he wrapped one of his hands around her waist and the other gripped her ass as he headed down the short hallway that led to her room. As he deposited her on the bed, she immediately missed the feel of his hands on her body. Before she could dwell on it, he knelt between her legs and gently pressed his hand on her abdomen. “Lay back.” The two words, quietly spoken, were a subtle order.

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He didn't have to tell her twice. Leaning back against the soft covers, she let her legs fall apart as he buried his tongue between her lips. His licks were long and slow. With each stroke, her stomach muscles jerked with need. He was bringing her right to the edge of release but going slow enough that he didn't push her over the cliff. The torture was incredibly erotic. She dug her heels into the bed and clutched the comforter with her hands as he swirled his tongue deeper inside. On instinct, she scooted closer to the edge of the bed, willing him to give her what she wanted. He chuckled against her folds and flicked his tongue higher until he was sucking and teasing her clit. Her hips jerked when he lightly raked his teeth over the sensitive bud. Feeling bold, her hands splayed over her stomach, then inched toward her breasts. Apprehension at the thought of touching herself in front of him flared through her for a brief moment, but she pushed it away and cupped herself. Biting back a moan, she slowly rubbed her thumbs over her nipples. The swiping motion sent a shot of increased desire to the growing heat between her legs. As if hooked by an invisible string, each time she flicked or pinched the tips, her pussy clenched in response. Between his uneven strokes and her self-induced pleasure, her body hummed with what felt like an electric current. The pressure of his tongue became more insistent as he swirled around her bud. When he removed one of his hands from her inner thigh, she immediately tensed, knowing what was to come next. He inserted one, then two fingers into her pussy with barely restrained gentleness. The intrusion was just what she needed. Her walls clamped around him. In even strokes, he pushed into her then pulled out, dragging his fingers against her inner walls. As he continued to drive into her, he stopped licking her. “Do you trust me?” At his words, she raised her head. When she met his darkened gaze, her insides heated. His question was barely audible above the sound of her breathing, but she nodded. Pushing up on her elbows to get a better view, she watched as he withdrew his fingers from her and licked one, then the other. Her breath hitched as he dipped his finger back into her pussy, then swirled it around her clit, spreading her juices.

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“What are you doing?” she whispered. In response, his head dipped between her legs again. She let her head fall back against the covers as he gently sucked her clit into his mouth. When he trailed his finger over her slit, she readied herself for penetration, but he bypassed her pussy and kept going. Her thighs and abdomen tensed when he rubbed a finger over her tight rosebud. She felt more than saw him lift his head away from her clit. “Trust me.” His gentle order sent chills skittering over her skin. “I do.” At her words, he slowly inserted a finger into her ass. She might trust him but all her muscles pulled taut at the foreign intrusion. Undeterred by her reaction, he continued licking and laving her clit while he probed her from behind. Too many sensations assaulted her at once. A little bit of pain but a lot of pleasure surged through her. Now she understood what he'd been doing earlier. He'd used her own juices so he could slide his finger into her ass. When he started to slowly pump his finger in and out, she thought she'd spring off the bed. The fragrant wave of sex surrounded them. And it was all her. Her desire. Her heat. The strong scent was an overpowering aphrodisiac. Rubbing her palms over her breasts, she forced herself to relax and enjoy what Rafe was doing to her. He wouldn't hurt her and if she told him to stop, he would. Of that, she was completely sure. The combination of his torturous mouth, his wicked finger, and her own hands was too much to take. As an unexpected, abrupt climax rocketed through her, her pussy spasmed out of control, and her ass contracted wildly around his finger. The sensations flooding her veins were a powerful torrent of pleasure. Her heart rate quickened as she rode through the last wave. She moaned when he withdrew his finger, surprised she missed the intrusion. Her rubbery legs fell and dangled off the edge of the bed. Chuckling, he trailed a few kisses up her stomach and breasts, and only stopped when he reached her mouth.

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Hungrily he nipped her bottom lip. “Are you too tired for more?” he murmured. The effects of her orgasm were still rippling through her, but she definitely wasn't too tired. The thought was ludicrous. “Hell, no.” “Good.” He pushed up and tugged his shirt over his head. She only had a brief moment to enjoy staring at his ripped abs before he clutched her hips and rolled her over. “On your knees.” His demanding words sent a delicious chill through her. Even though her legs felt like JellO, she pushed up onto all fours.

After kicking off his shoes, Rafe pulled a condom from his back pocket then unbuckled his belt. He didn't take his eyes off Madison as he stepped out of his pants and ripped the foil packet open. Today he hadn't bothered with boxers, choosing instead to go commando. Something told him that he'd be doing a lot more of that in the future. Too many layers of clothing meant the longer he wouldn't be inside Madison. Up on all fours, staring back at him, she looked good enough to eat. With her legs spread, he had a perfect view of her ass and pussy. Her pink lips were open and swollen and waiting for him. As he rolled the condom over his length, his hips pitched forward, imagining her pussy clenching around him. “Scoot up,” he growled. His cock jerked as she unsteadily crawled forward on the bed. The thick comforter rustled beneath her movements. As he joined her on the bed, he ran a palm over her smooth ass and shuddered. Her head was cocked slightly toward him, and all the lines and muscles in her back and arms were tense. “Everything about you is beautiful.” His words pierced the quiet room. Her jaw ticked, but she didn't respond. Instead, her head fell forward, and her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. The almost submissive gesture touched something deep in his core. Grasping her hips, he plunged into her. She gasped and jerked backward against him, completely impaling herself on him. Her cream and heat surrounded him.

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His cock pulsed inside her, but he didn't move. He was afraid if he did, he'd come too fast. And he wanted to draw this out as long as possible. Her cunt stretched and adjusted to his girth, wrapping around him like a silk glove. She trusted him with her body. That much he knew. When she'd allowed him to touch her in one of her most intimate places, he'd known without a doubt that whatever anger she'd felt toward him earlier was gone. He'd like to put more than his finger in her ass but that was for another day. “Touch yourself,” he rasped out, surprised his brain was functioning enough to talk. Wordlessly she levered herself onto one arm and reached between her legs. She'd come already but he wanted to make up for the last couple of days without her. Her pussy milked him, but he still didn't move. Leaning forward, he ran his hands up her hips and over her rib cage until he was cupping her breasts. From this angle, they were heavy in his hands. Rolling the hard buds between his fingers, he took pleasure when she pushed back against him and moaned. That was the only hint he needed. Continuing to tease her breasts, he began thrusting in and out of her cunt in measured movements. With the exception of their labored breathing, the sound of his balls slapping against her was the only thing penetrating the quiet room. He was ready to explode, but she was close to climaxing again. He could see it in the tight lines of her back and shoulders and feel it in the energy humming through her. “Let go,” he whispered as he pinched her nipples. She stopped touching herself and clutched the sheet with both her hands. Her inner walls clamped around him with startling force as she moaned something inaudible. He guessed her body was still hot and primed from her previous orgasm. Increasing his pace, he moved his grip to her hips and began pounding into her with little finesse. His thrusts were jerky, unsteady, and wild. The tighter she fisted around him, the hotter his blood burned. When she started milking him in tighter and faster contractions, he took his own advice and let go of his control. His grunts intermingled with her gasps as they rode through their climaxes together. Spasms surged through

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his body like a category five hurricane. As he spent himself inside her, it took the last remaining bit of his energy not to collapse on top of her. With a sigh, she fell against the sheets and rolled over onto her back. Her expression was one of pure satisfaction. Pride swelled in him, knowing that he'd put that look on her face. Sighing, he tossed the condom into the wastebasket then lay beside her. He propped his head up under a bent arm and simply watched her. After a few minutes of silence, she shifted so that she was facing him. “Why didn't you call the past couple days?” Her question wasn't all that unexpected, but he'd been hoping she'd let his earlier excuse slide a little longer. “I told you.” “I know what you said, and I believe that you've been busy. That still doesn't explain why you didn't call. I know you, and when you want something, you go for it. I expected a lot more effort.” He cleared his throat and placed a hand over her hip. Trailing his finger over her curves, he tried to formulate his words without sounding like a jackass. “For lack of a better excuse, I uh, I was scared.” “Scared?” Her brow furrowed. After voicing it aloud, he really did feel like a jackass. “After finally being with you, I saw my bachelorhood flush down the toilet. It freaked me out.” At his words, her frown increased. “How am I supposed to even respond to that?” “It's not how it sounds… Damn it, Madison, I love you. I have for a while. I want to be with you and only you. I guess I just needed to get used to the idea that our lives were going to change. Your entire family means a lot to me, and if—when—we take this next step, things are going to be different. I think once Andre gave me your key, he got the idea that something is going on between us, and he seems okay with it… Damn it, I think I'm fucking this up, but I've never been in love before. The bottom line is, I acted like an asshole, and I'm sorry.” He'd never been so honest with a woman in his life or put himself on the line like this. The erratic thump of his heart sounded in his ears. “You love me?”

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He swallowed hard. “Yes.” She bit her bottom lip. “Rafe, you know you mean a lot to me. I've always loved you like a brother, but until a few days ago I'd never thought about you in romantic terms. I don't know—” Tugging on her hip, he pulled her closer so that their naked bodies were flush against each other. “You don't need to say anything. I'm just letting you know what my intentions are and that I'm in this for the long haul.” She sucked in a startled breath at his last admission. Instead of responding, she leaned forward until their lips meshed. He'd been at half-mast but as soon as they connected, his cock began to lengthen again. Rafe didn't know what it was about Madison that made all other women pale in comparison. He planned to take the rest of his life to find out.

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Epilogue One Year Later

Madison dropped her array of multicolored shopping bags onto the bed she shared with Rafe and immediately dug into the oversize pink one. Their wedding was less than two weeks away, and she'd finally gotten around to buying lingerie for the honeymoon. She laid out a black corset, a pink teddy, and a white bustier, then eyed them critically. Rafe wouldn't care what she wore, just as long as he could get it off her easily. But that would be no fun. Her gaze narrowed on the black lace-up corset. It would take him forever to unlace it and would drive him mad. She plucked it from the bed. “I don't know why you even bother.” The sound of Rafe's deep voice caused her to turn toward the doorway. “You're home.” She dropped the lingerie onto the bed and flew to him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she allowed the invisible weight on her shoulders to lift. “I told you I would be.” His week-old stubble scratched her face as he pulled her into a tight embrace. “I know. I've just been worried,” she whispered in his ear. He'd been working with the vice team down in Key West for the past couple of months, and she'd only seen him a handful of times. Last-minute wedding plans had kept her busy, but it would be virtually impossible to erase the nagging voice in the back of her head. “Nothing could keep me from seeing you walk down that aisle, or…” His hands dropped from her waist as he sidestepped her and made a beeline for the bed. He picked up the white bustier with the ruffle trim and grosgrain ribbon and turned to face her with a wicked grin on his face. “I thought you told me not to bother.” She placed a hand on her jean-clad hip.

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“I'm going to shower. When I come out, be wearing this.” His gravelly, uneven voice sent shivers down her spine. When he started talking in that sexy voice and raked that familiar heated gaze over her, the man knew she'd do any damn thing he asked. She took a few steps toward him and grabbed it from his fingers. “You better hurry, or I'm starting without you.” “Fine, just don't finish without me.” He ripped off his shirt and started tearing off his pants as he hurried toward the bathroom. Smiling to herself, she shimmied out of her jeans and tugged her sweater off. The last year had flown by at record speed, but her love and attraction for Rafe hadn't faded. If anything, her feelings grew every day. Their lives were far from perfect, and it felt like she spent half her time worrying about his safety, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

Savannah Stuart Savannah Stuart has been reading romance for as long as she can remember. When she discovered erotic romance, she knew she’d found her niche. Most of her stories have a touch of intrigue or suspense, but the one thing she always includes is a Happily Ever After. In addition to writing (and reading of course!), she loves traveling with her husband. Check out http://www.savannahstuart.com to catch up on Savannah's latest news.