The things he felt... They were too unsettling to contemplate after the hellish day, at such a late hour. Unable to help himself, he kissed her again, softly so she wouldn’t awaken. Her parted lips. Her throat.

Her now-soft ni**les.

She grumbled a protest and shifted, making him smile, a sappy smile that he felt in his heart.

The bruises on her arm wrecked him. He’d rather break a limb than see her marked like that. He kissed those, too, then carefully separated from her, standing beside the bed.

Her legs were still inelegantly sprawled, her tender sex exposed. Using only his fingertips, he touched her.

She mumbled in her sleep and turned to her side, drawing up one leg.

Yeah, he liked that view, as well.

He wanted to touch her again. Hell, he wanted to kiss his way down her spine to that perfect ass. Later, he told himself.

Rubbing both hands over his face, he got it together. She didn’t need to be molested in her sleep. He pulled back the covers, lifted her up where she belonged and covered her again.

It took him only a minute to clean up, and then he was beside her, turning her toward him and holding her close.

Knowing he’d never let her go.

* * *

THROUGH THE INFINITE darkness closing in around her, she saw glittering eyes everywhere, heard the snickers and whispers. Desperate to find the light, she began searching, groping blindly. She smelled kerosene. And death.

Another snicker, followed by a soft laugh. Someone grabbed her wrist, hard fingers squeezing in an iron grip. Another hand on her shoulder. Her neck. She silently fought. But more hands joined the eyes, faces getting closer—

Yvette jerked awake with a start, gasping, her eyes seeking...

“Hey.” Cannon was over her, his hand on her cheek. “You okay?” His fingertips touched her cheek, his brows drawn in worry.

Oh, God. Her face was wet. With tears? Humiliation squeezed her heart. “I...I’m fine.”

For the longest time he searched her face until she could no longer meet his gaze.

He turned to his back but pulled her up onto his chest, his hands clasping her backside. “You had a nightmare.”

Denials came automatically, but remembering his insistence last night that she trust him, she pushed past her reservations. “Yes.”

Maybe surprised, he held silent for a moment, then asked, “A bad one?”

“I’ve had it before.” Often. “It’s...unsettling.” She tried not to clutch at him, but the remnants of the dream, the helplessness and incessant fear hung with her.

His hands moved, cuddling her behind. “Want to tell me about it?”

God, no. She shook her head.

He stroked her behind, startling her by teasing along her cleft.

She automatically tried to slide away.

He gripped her cheeks again, resettling her. “I like you right where you are.”

She blinked at him, a little more uncertain now that bright morning sunlight flooded the room.

Of course, Cannon didn’t have the same reservations.

Looking at her mouth, his hands again palpating her rear, he said, “We never did have that talk last night.”

Dazed from the bad dream followed by his bold touch, she struggled to ground herself. “We had amazing sex instead.” Yes, if she could just concentrate on that...

“Very amazing.”

Levering up on her arms, she got a better look at him. Rumpled inky hair. Burning blue eyes. Those sinfully long lashes.

She couldn’t stop the groan of appreciation. Even resting, his biceps looked amazing. And his chest, the crisp hair, that fascinating happy trail...

“What are you thinking?”

“That I want to lick you all over.”

An arrested expression held him immobile for only a moment, then he flipped her onto her back and came down over her, pinning her in place. “I’d like that.”

She laughed. “Well, I hope so.”

“But first we’re going to talk.”

She groaned again for an entirely different reason.

“None of that.” He took her mouth in a barely there kiss. “Do you want to do this here, now, or would you rather hit the john and grab coffee?”

Twisting, she tried to see the clock, but he didn’t give her much room for leverage.

“It’s nine-thirty.”

“Wow.” Very late for him. “We slept in.”

“It was damn near dawn when I finally let you fall asleep.”

Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “So you didn’t sleep in, but you stayed here so I could?”

“Yeah.” Lazily, he cupped her breast, rolling his thumb over her nipple with single-minded purpose until it drew taut. His eyes narrowed with satisfaction. “I got to look at you. A pretty fair trade.”

He’d watched her sleep? Her face warmed, and then she realized... “I fell asleep.”

“Yeah.”

“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 scraped her nipple and the sparking sensation arched her back.

“You are so sexy.” 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—”