Denver had already thought it all through. "I don't think he is, but we'll keep an eye on him." Even if he wasn't involved, Denver couldn't discount the possibility that the fucks would come after Leese again. "He was easy game for them once already. They'll take another shot at him."

Stack narrowed his eyes. "This time he won't be alone, or drugged."

"And he'll be better trained," Cannon said. "He's a quick study who needs some fine-tuning."

"And some humility," Stack added with an evil grin. "I call dibs on that one."

Armie laughed, opened his mouth-and Stack said to him, "Shut up."

The sudden quiet as the shower shut off had every guy going still.

Muscles drawn taut, a low burning lust flamed into an inferno inside Denver. Now that he knew he loved Cherry, he wanted her even more.

And more often.

In several various ways.

He shoved back his chair. "I know you're all scouring the neighborhood tonight, but-"

"But you're not," Armie finished for him. "Stay here with her. We've got it."

Cannon agreed. "It's covered."

"I was going to join you after." After he appeased the never-ending hunger. After he had her. Maybe twice. Then he'd get his head on straight and join them to do what needed to be done.

Stack laughed. "Cherry would wound you if she heard you say that."

"Seriously." Cannon clapped him on the shoulder, his expression firm. "Stay with her, get some rest, and we'll let you know if we find out anything."

On a regular basis they got together to walk the neighborhood, talking to business owners and the elderly...but they were right. He could skip a night.

"Then I guess I better get my car in the garage." Grabbing his keys, he followed them through the house and out the door, and he didn't even mind their ribbing.

He could take a few jokes.

And for now, he could take Cherry holding back.

What he couldn't take was losing her.

Somehow, he had to draw out the brothers and send them packing-once and for all.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

CHERRY WAS STILL drying her hair when the doorknob turned and Denver stepped in. He leaned against the doorframe, wearing that hot, intent look that never failed to fire her own awareness.

"Almost done," she promised as she finished smoothing her hair using his flat brush. She wanted to look as nice as she could after the calamity of the afternoon. Just being fresh and clean went a long way toward restoring her confidence. "Just so you know, I used your toothbrush."

"Help yourself to anything you need."

Oh, that husky timbre to his voice was so sexy. "Glad you feel that way." She set the brush down and turned to face him. "Because I used your lotion, too." Generic and unscented, but her skin was now soft and sleek.

"You're primping." He put a hand to his groin and drew in a breath. "It's not necessary, girl, you know that. It's impossible for me to want you more than I already do. But I can be patient."

"Such a champion." She caught the edges of the pale blue towel and drew it open wide, waited a heartbeat, then let it drop to the floor. "But I'm not as strong as you, and I can't wait."

Before she'd drawn her next breath he had her scooped up in his arms and was striding for the bedroom. He came down on the mattress over her, kissing her long and deep while his hands cupped her breasts, kneading and cuddling.

He said nothing as he freed her mouth and kissed a path down her body, licking, biting gently...sucking.

Within only a few minutes she was lost. "Denver, now."

Instead of prolonging the pleasure as he often liked to do, he launched himself away from her, dug in the bedside drawer for a condom, and was back over her seconds later, kneeing her thighs apart, settling his weight on her.

She braced herself, her breath held, her heart thundering. But he slowed, carefully holding her face, kissing her so tenderly while whispering, "Cherry..."

He entered her in one steady, relentless press, staying firm against her until her body softened and accepted every thick inch of him.

"There you go," he whispered huskily. "That's my girl."

She couldn't speak. By now she'd expected to be used to his size, but each and every time it thrilled her anew to be so completely filled, so totally possessed.

"Move with me," he urged her, sliding a hand under her bottom and guiding her into matching his rhythm. Faster. Deeper.

The pleasure tightened, sweeter and hotter.

Denver pressed his face into her neck and groaned, his muscles flexing, heat pouring off his body. That did it for her. She clutched at him, muffling her raw cries against his shoulder as she let herself go. Seconds later, he did the same.

It was nowhere near late, but as she felt Denver relaxing she trailed her fingertips up and down his broad back. "Know what I want to do?" she whispered.

He groaned again, but manfully worked his way up to his elbows. He looked at her, then kissed her, and kissed her again. "Tell me."

Knowing he hadn't had much rest lately, she hoped to persuade him to turn in early. "I want to sleep." The yawn snuck up on her, perfect timing to stress her point and hopefully convince him. "I'm zoned, and you could probably use a good night's rest, as well."

His beautiful eyes smiled at her. "God love you, girl, could you be more perfect?"

She opened her mouth, but he said, "It was a rhetorical question. Sleep would be good, so stay put while I get rid of the condom. I'll be right back."

As soon as he disappeared into the bathroom, she got up to smooth the quilt they'd displaced, then turned down the bed and crawled under the covers, still naked.

He strode back in, but paused to stare at her. "Damn, but you look good like that."

Cherry reached a hand to her hair. "Like what?"

"In my bed, in my house." He held her gaze. "With me."

It's where she'd always wanted to be.

He turned out the light and joined her, pulling her into his arms. "We need to see about arranging it more often."

It was dark, quiet, Denver's hold secure. She waited just a little too long before she got up the nerve to whisper, "Okay."

Denver was already asleep.

CHERRY STIRRED AWAKE to Denver making love to her-for the second time. The first had happened in the middle of the night. He'd roused her with a hand between her thighs, his mouth at her breast and before she had a chance to catch up she'd been coming.

Now as he kneed her thighs apart and pressed into her, she opened her eyes to predawn light filtering through the curtained windows.

At his easy entry, she realized she was ready for him and wasn't even a little bit amazed by that. "Denver."

He kissed her. "Say it again."

"What?"

"My name." He rode her gently, his breath hot against her throat. "Say it."

"Denver," she whispered on a moan, the word breaking as pleasure sharpened.

"God, I love hearing that little catch in your voice when I'm inside you." He closed his arms around her, sheltering her, cradling her close, bringing tears to her eyes as another release built and then shattered, making her cry out.

The next time she got her eyes open, sunlight brightened the room and Denver sat beside her on the bed, holding coffee.

He smiled when she looked at him in confusion. "Sorry, girl, but I think I loved you right into a stupor."

The mention of love threw her, then she turned her head and saw the time. Still early, thank goodness. "I need to get moving or I'll be late to work."

Denver helped her to sit up then handed her the coffee. "You want to get ready here or at your place?"

"Since I don't have any clothes here, I'll say home."

He grinned at her. "Clothes are good-at least when you're with others. When it's only us, naked works for me."

She sipped the coffee and made appreciative sounds. "I thought you would jog this morning."

His smile went crooked. "Already did that while you recouped."

"Oh." Now she felt like a slug.

He tugged the sheet down to view her bare breasts, let out a slow breath, and stood. "It's going to take some getting used to, having you in my bed."

A complaint? She had her pride, too, so she lifted her chin. "If you'd rather I didn't stay over-"

His gaze shot to hers. "You're right where I want you to be." Then lower, more to himself than her, he added, "I'll just have to figure out how to rein it in."

The rest of the morning went the same way, with Denver touching her repeatedly, kissing her often, saying things that could be taken a dozen different ways. When he dropped her off at work it was almost a relief just to let her brain rest.

The weather was perfect and the kids got to play outside where they burned off some energy, which meant they were more settled when inside, too. It felt like she floated through the day, her happiness a live thing that made her heart beat faster and kept a smile on her face.

She knew Denver had arranged to pick her up from work and when it was finally time to call it a day, she had to resist rushing out to him.

But he didn't resist. He'd parked at the curb and stood outside his car, dark sunglasses hiding his eyes while he waited for her. The second he saw her she knew, because his teeth showed in a beautiful grin and he started striding toward her.

Oh, she could so easily get used to this.

When they reached each other, his grin settled into a smile. "I assume being we're surrounded by rugrats and their parents, I probably shouldn't grab you up and kiss you until you're talking to me in that hot, husky way, right?"

"Probably not," she said with disappointment.

"Then as soon as we're alone." He took her hand and led her to the car. Two miles down the road he pulled over, put the car in Park and reached for her.

And sure enough, when he let her up for air, her voice was very husky indeed.

After smoothing her hair, he said, "What do you need first? Dinner? Or would you rather head to your place so you can change and gather up whatever you need to spend the night while I check out your car?"

Whatever you need to spend the night. "Um..." Cherry licked her lips. "You're inviting me to stay over again?"

Pushing the sunglasses to the top of his head, he gave her a heated look that made her stomach flip-flop and her nipples tingle. "Given what I want to do to you, what I hope you'll do to me, it might be best to have the privacy."

What a terrific way to convince her. "Okay."

That slow smile came again. "I love an agreeable woman."

Again with the love word! "I..."

"You hungry?" he asked as he put the car in gear and pulled back out to the main roadway.

Bemused, she stared at him as she shook her head. "Not right now."

"Back to the house, then. I'll check out your ride while you get together enough for a few days."

Only a few days, she wondered? Damn, but he had her so confused. She had no idea where they stood, if he wanted her over often, or just for the short-term.

"Take a breath, girl."

She did, sucking in a shuddering lungful of air.

He reached for her hand. "One day at a time, okay?"

It no longer unnerved her, how easily he read her mind. She gave a sharp nod. "Okay."

During the rest of the drive, Denver asked about her day, about the kids she'd worked with. And he shared his day, telling her that he'd sparred with Leese, how Armie had been invited into the SBC, about the network Cannon had set up within the neighborhood.