I broke my wrists out of the bonds of my t-shirt and clutched him to me.

He laid his damp forehead down on my chest, and I could tell he was forcing his breathing to slow down.

I ran my hands down his back. He must be painfully turned on if what had happened to me was any indication. For a moment I felt nervous. I wanted to ... relieve him ... but didn’t know how to ask. And I wasn’t ready for him to be inside of me. Not yet. I wanted it, but I wanted to delay that point of no return just as fiercely. I would belong to him then. Body, heart, and soul, and I still wasn’t sure if he was fully mine in return. That thought terrified me and cooled the flow of lava coursing through me.

But Jack had asked me to take a chance on him. I tried to swallow my shadow of doubt.

“Are you okay?” he asked, looking down at me, a small furrow appearing between his eyebrows.

I nodded and smiled gamely. “After that? Who knew you were so talented with your hands, Mr. Eversea.”

He winked, and his dimple appeared. “I told you I was good with my hands ... you just assumed I meant for construction purposes.” He pressed a small kiss on my nose.

“Oh my God, your elbows must be in agony from this hardwood floor!” I was suddenly very aware of the fact I had been completely caught up in a tsunami of feelings. If the roof had blown off the house, I wouldn’t have paid the least attention. Embarrassment crawled up my cheeks as I came to terms with how I had just wantonly come apart in his hands.

“That wasn’t foremost on my mind ... but now that you mention it ... ” He rolled to the side. “Hey, now what’s with the blush?”

“I ... well, that was amazing ... I’m sorry I didn’t even ... couldn’t even ... ” Well, this was awkward. I had no idea what I was trying to say.

“Hey,” he turned my face to him. “That was the hottest freaking thing I’ve ever experienced. I actually am physically trying not to think about it, because I’m dying here. Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?”

“Will you sleep here tonight?” I blurted on a whim to cover my reaction to his words, perhaps. “I mean stay in my bed ... not ... ” I took a breath. “Just to sleep, I mean.” God, where the hell was my mind? Somewhere stuck in the bunched up blanket I was sure, because it sure as heck wasn’t in my head. I couldn’t articulate a damn thing.

“I’m not in any condition to walk right now, anyway, although the rain could double as a cold shower.” He laughed and kissed my forehead. “Yeah, I’ll stay. I’d like that.”

He helped me to my feet, as I clutched one arm across my bare chest, and handed me my shirt.

I quickly pulled it on.

“Is there anything down here you need to take care of?” he asked.

Apart from him? From under my lashes, I took in his body, head to toe. But my roving eyes and my traitorous blush gave me away again.

He groaned. “Seriously, Keri Ann. You’ll be the death of me. And now that I understand what that blush means, the question is,” he cocked his head to the side, “just what naughty idea were you having in my bathroom the other day?”

Damn, I knew he wouldn’t let that go.

“I’ll never tell,” I said, shaking my head.

He leaned in, a smile on his beautiful face and gave me a quick kiss before sweeping me up, one arm under my knees.

I squealed and grabbed onto his neck.

“Hold on,” he said,and headed for the stairs.

T W E N T Y – T H R E E

Jack took the stairs two at a time in the dark. I saw Joey’s door was safely closed. I didn’t ask how he knew where my bedroom was first try. He had been in my house alone for several days.

Luckily, I’d lit a candle in a hurricane jar next to my bed after the power first went out. I ducked my head into his neck and inhaled the scent that was fast becoming my all time favorite as he entered my room and headed straight for the bed. I had never really felt dainty before, or wanted to for that matter, but being held in Jack’s strong arms as he effortlessly moved about holding me, was a novel and not unwelcome feeling.

“Man, you have a lot of books,” he said, depositing me on my bed.

“I like to read.” I shrugged and nonchalantly grabbed the fourteen books caught up in my bedclothes and put them on the chest of drawers that doubled as another bedside table.

“Me too, actually. I get it. Can I borrow the light to go to the bathroom?”

I handed him the hurricane jar and told him where the spare toothbrushes were, and then lay back in the dark room. The thought of sleeping next to him all night roused all those damn butterflies inside me. I wondered if I’d be able to sleep at all.

He came back, handed me the lamp, and I quickly went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. Catching sight of myself, I did a double take and groaned. Damn. My hair had started drying and coming out of its pony. I looked horrific with wisps and kinks and teased pieces all over the place. I quickly pulled it loose and ran a comb through it. Since it was still damp, I’d probably look like a witch by morning. I quickly braided it to minimize the damage, brushed my teeth, and walked back to the bedroom.

Jack was lying under my comforter on his back with his eyes closed and his head cradled on his arms. I paused a moment to mentally capture the picture of Jack in my bed. It really didn’t compute. He opened an eye.

“What?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Just looking at you.”

“And what do you see?”

“A gorgeous man in my bed,” I said simply. That didn’t begin to cover it.

He reached over and flipped back the cover for me. “You see a lucky guy who gets to share a bed with a gorgeous girl.”

I scoffed lightly. “Right. Plain girl next door is more like it.” I climbed into the bed, keeping a few inches between us and rolled to face him.

He frowned at me. “You are more beautiful with your bare makeup-free face than most of the girls I know after four hours in the hair and makeup trailer.”

I didn’t say anything for a few moments. Finally, I managed a small thank you. Jack responded by reaching an arm out and dragging me to him, turning me, and pressing my back against his chest. He curled his muscled arm over my waist. I snuggled into the curve but stiffened when I felt his erection pressing against me. I bit my lip against the urge to turn in his arms and finish what we’d started earlier.

“Just ignore it. I am,” came his muffled voice in my hair. “Night, Keri Ann.” Then he inhaled deeply and kissed my shoulder. I sighed and closed my eyes, trying very hard to comply.

* * *

Sometime in the night I woke up utterly aroused and with Jack completely wrapped around me. My head was on his one arm, and his other was across my midsection. I listened for his breathing in the dark, expecting to hear the deep and steady rhythm that would tell me he was sleeping.

Then I felt the soft rhythmic caress of his thumb on my belly where my t-shirt had ridden up. That must have been what had gotten me hot and bothered and awake. I waited, willing him to continue. His body was hot at my back and one of his legs was hooked between mine, and then I felt his breath at my neck before he touched his lips to my skin.

I sighed, and with sleepiness making my inhibitions less bossy, gently moved his hand further up inside my shirt to cradle my breast.