"I mean..."

"Right after you came." Still moving with an indolent lack of haste, he grazed his teeth over the side of her neck, her shoulder. Down.

She held her breath...and then those same teeth lightly sc.r.a.ped her nipple and the sparking sensation arched her back.

"You are so s.e.xy." His big hand left her breast and instead he held the side of her face. "But we do have to talk."

That had to be a joke. But no. He looked plenty serious. Incredulous, she shoved at his shoulders, but he didn't budge. "Why would you start all that if you didn't plan to-"

"Because you're irresistible." He kissed her forehead. "And I can't stop thinking about all those s.e.xy sounds you made, how you looked and smelled and how it felt to be inside you with you squeezing me so tight."

Instead of pushing him away, her fingers curled against his muscular flesh. "Cannon."

"s.e.x isn't always like that."

What an understatement. "Not for me anyway."

He shook his head. "Not for me either, honey. Maybe you don't realize, but we're good together. Better than good."

It'd be nice to think they had something special going on, because for her it was so much more than physical.

But how could she be sure? "You've always enjoyed s.e.x." He'd told her so.

"True. But with you, it's more." Plumping up her other breast, he brushed his lips over her nipple, making her want so much more. "It'll always be more." He blew gently against her, then met her eyes. "I know it, whether you do or not."

Squirming against him made her very aware of his erection on her belly. Hoping to forestall the inevitable, she twined her arms around his neck and slid her foot up his hairy calf. "We could talk later."

Taking her by surprise, he caught her hands and slowly stretched them up high over her head. He took his time, pinning her legs with one of his.

Excitement shuddered through her. Yes, she could use a quick trip to the bathroom. And she wouldn't mind a quick gargle to ensure she didn't have morning breath. But everything was secondary to how he made her feel right now.

Antic.i.p.ating what he'd do next, she held her breath and tried not to wiggle.

"Now," he murmured, after a soft suckle of her nipple. "Tell me about your dream."

Wait, what? Experimentally, she tugged at her wrists; he held her secure. Frowning, she shook her head to deny him. "It was dumb."

He shifted both her hands into one of his. "Tell me anyway."

"Why?"

"Because," he said, then gently sucked at her nipple until her breath left her in a vibrating moan. Curling his tongue around her, he tugged free, leaving her nipple achingly taut. He blew against her, then whispered, "I want to know."

"You're diabolical."

"I'm incredibly turned on." His gaze met hers. "And incredibly determined to get you to open up to me."

"If I tell you, are you going to stop teasing me?"

"I'll only stop if you don't."

Well. That was incentive enough to get her talking. "It really is dumb."

"Most dreams seem that way once you're awake. Not so much when they're happening."

True enough. She tried to ignore her embarra.s.sment. "I...I was in the dark." Her face heated. As an adult woman, she shouldn't still be afraid of the dark.

But sometimes she was.

"Go on."

"I couldn't see much but I knew people were watching me." It didn't take a trained shrink to know why she hated to draw attention. "I could hear them in the shadows."

Cannon petted her, over her hair, her jaw, her shoulder. "That sounds pretty awful to me."

It had been. But she knew that Cannon, if ever faced with that situation, dream or reality, would bravely face the darkness. Finally, she admitted the worst part. "I smelled...kerosene, too."

"d.a.m.n."

More than most, Cannon understood the significance of that, how she'd been threatened to be burned alive... . The dream, the latent feelings it had invoked, returned, and she started shaking, her breath strained.

He kissed her cheek, maybe to remind her she wasn't alone-maybe just to get her talking again.

"Hands started grabbing me." No matter which way she'd turned, they were there. She looked into his beautiful blue eyes. "I was ready to scream."

Very gently, he asked, "Why didn't you?"

"I woke up."

Quiet, still petting her, now down her side and over her hip then back to her hair again, Cannon soothed her. "All things considered, that's a pretty gruesome nightmare."

All things considered. She swallowed hard and nodded.

"Thank you for telling me."

So kind and understanding. And so brave. Without thinking it through, she said, "I wish I was more like you."

He gave a gruff laugh and bent again to her breast. "I'm eternally grateful that you aren't." Taking the very tip of her nipple into his mouth, he touched his tongue to her.

G.o.d, he was good at this. At teasing and revving up the urgency.

She wasn't nearly as good at taking it. Straining in his hold, she shivered. "If you're not going to follow through, then you have to stop that."

To her disappointment, he released her and sat up. "Know what I think we should do?"

Knowing she would never understand him, she shook her head.

"Let's grab a drink, juice for me and coffee for you." He stroked his hand over her belly, between her legs. "We'll let things simmer a bit."

"Simmer?" She was already boiled over, d.a.m.n him!

"It's hot enough, but antic.i.p.ation will make it more so. We can shower together. What do you think?"

"You'll have s.e.x with me again?"

He grinned. "Count on it."

She wanted him now, but she also needed to visit the restroom, and brush her hair, and clean her teeth. "I like it. It's a good plan."

Skeptical at her quick agreement, Cannon stood. "We can head to the shelter later today to check out the dogs. And I want to talk to Margaret, make sure she knows everything that's happened."

She took his extended hand and left the bed. "I was thinking it might not be a bad idea to get hold of Vanity, too. She can see if Heath's posting anything online."

"Good idea." He retrieved the SBC shirt from the floor and pulled it over her head, smoothing it into place, then lifting her hair out of the neckline. His gaze warmed. "I like you in my shirt."

Sighing, absorbing the sight of him in the bright morning light, she admitted, "I like you naked."

Without an ounce of modesty, he nodded. "Good to know."

His smile did it for her as much as his amazing body.

"But how about jeans until we get back in bed?"

Making a face, she said, "If you must."

As he stepped into the denim-commando-he reminded her of what he wanted. "I think we might get more talking done that way, don't you?" Not bothering to zip or snap the jeans, he put a perfunctory kiss on her forehead. "Do what you need to do and I'll go get the coffee started."

She watched him walk off, antic.i.p.ation and dread both warring inside her. This morning he had the kid gloves back on, but with an edge. All that teasing had been... She hugged herself. Delicious.

Somehow she'd convince him it wasn't necessary to be so careful with her. He didn't need to cater to her psyche, to understand her fears and weaknesses.

Overall, she'd rather he just ignore them.

Maybe once she totally opened up to him, she'd be able to get him to treat her like any other woman.

She'd been private so long, it wouldn't be easy. But she wanted him, all of him, with no holding back.

And with that in mind, she decided just how to make it happen.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

C annon stopped in the hall bathroom and braced his hands on the edge of the sink. G.o.d almighty, she packed a powerful punch to his libido. Walking away from her had almost taken more than he had in him.

He'd meant what he said. The buildup would be mindblowing. Given how new she was to this, the pleasure part anyway, he wanted to ensure she was as comfortable, as ready, as he could get her.

Last night... He shook his head. He'd been lacking patience and was high on l.u.s.t. Not the best combo to throw at someone who struggled with reaching the peak.

Not that she'd struggled much with him, but still... Using cold water, he splashed his face, ignored the morning beard shadow and quickly brushed his teeth. Knowing Yvette would primp a bit, brush her hair and probably put on jeans, he headed toward the kitchen. He'd just gotten to the end of the hall when a very light, tentative knock sounded on the door.

Lifting aside a curtain from the window, he saw Armie standing there. Good. With Armie he wouldn't have to be overly polite. He opened the door for him, saying, "You can't stay long."

A note in his hand, one foot in the doorway, Armie paused. He glanced beyond Cannon and when he didn't see Yvette, he whispered, "Want me to just take off?"

"Nah. Five minutes is fine." Knowing Armie would follow, he went on into the kitchen. "I wanted to talk to you anyway."

While Cannon filled the carafe in the sink, Armie pulled out the table chair closest to the wall. "This was in your door." He handed him the note.

Cannon turned it over and read, "Rissy was here." He smiled. "She must have come by this morning, a.s.suming I'd still jog."

"But you didn't."

He shook his head. No, he'd stayed put, enjoying how beautiful Yvette looked in peaceful slumber. "I guess when Rissy didn't see the usual lights on inside, she knew we were sleeping in."

Armie sprawled back in the chair, his legs stretched out, at his leisure. "She was probably worried."

"Yeah. I didn't get a chance to talk to her much last night, but I know by now she's heard what happened."

"She took off early," Armie said.

Cannon shot him a look. "Noticed that, did you?"

Shrugging, he slumped a little more.

"I'll give her a call later, maybe take her to lunch. I think some jacka.s.s must have hurt her feelings." Cannon measured coffee grains into the basket. "When she came over to tell me she was taking off, she looked... I don't know. Sad."

Armie was so silent that Cannon glanced back at him again.

Clearing his throat, his friend sat a little straighter. "You see her with anyone?"

"No, you?"

Armie shook his head. "I mean, she hung with the guys some, but none of them would do anything to upset her."

"No," he agreed. Everyone liked Rissy, and why not? She was funny and smart and pretty.

Armie sat forward. "You don't think she got involved with that idiot ex of hers again, do you?"

"No way." He turned to face Armie. "She's not a dummy."

"Right." He started to relax again.

Seeing the perfect segue, Cannon said, "But speaking of dumba.s.ses..."

"Were we?"