Annoyance chipped away at her mellow mood, but she had no idea how to proceed. It seemed he’d made up his mind. Still, she tried. “I’m naked.”

“Mmm.” His hand cuddled her breast for only a second, but given how sensitive her ni**les were now, it made her shudder. “I like you naked.”

Calming her heart, she said reasonably, “But you’re not naked.”

“Me being naked wouldn’t be a good thing.”

She thought it’d be a very good thing. “Why?” So that he wouldn’t understand, she clarified, “Why do we have to wait?”

He was quiet so long, doubts began to creep in. At the time she hadn’t cared about much except that reaching the unattainable—that incredible orgasm.

But now...well, maybe she’d done something wrong. Been too enthusiastic or loud. Turned him off somehow. Maybe—

“Stop overanalyzing, honey. Sharing that with you was about as hot as it gets.”

Relief had her slumping back against him. “Then—”

“Fact is, I want more than sex with you.” He surrounded her, hugging her with his muscled arms, aligning his strong, hairy legs against the backs of hers. His scent and heat lulled her; the sweet way he kissed her shoulder made her eyes feel heavy. “How much more...that’s something we’ll have to work out. But I know it’ll be better if we get there one step at a time.”

Her hand over one of his, she traced his knuckles. It amazed her how a man so capable of a brutal one-punch knockout could be so unreservedly gentle when touching her. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

“Because I have a boner, you mean?”

She nodded.

“I can handle it.”

She’d sort of like to see that—

He squeezed her. “Mind out of the gutter, babe.”

Hearing his amusement made her grin, too. “Sorry.”

“Go to sleep, and have sweet dreams.”

While so much confusion plagued her brain, she didn’t think she could, but with Cannon holding her, exhaustion won out. She closed her eyes and listened to his even, relaxed breaths, felt the heavy thumping of his strong heartbeat against her back. She realized she felt safe, protected. Not from anything specific, but in general terms.

Until she felt it now, with Cannon, she hadn’t realized how unsafe she’d felt for so very long.

The sense of well-being allowed exhaustion to creep in. As she slipped into slumber, she did indeed dream of Cannon.

And neither of them thought about their phones.

* * *

CANNON FELT HER body sink against his, her breathing deepen as she fell asleep. Thank God. If she’d asked him even one more time to take her, he’d have crumbled. But as raw as he felt, as desperate as he was to get inside her, he knew he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

She would deny it, but she needed gentleness, reassurance, a considerate lover.

At the moment, he wasn’t capable of that.

Letting out a pent-up breath, he hugged her carefully, protectively.

What the hell had he been thinking?

He’d wanted to sweetly seduce her, to ease her into a sexual relationship.

Instead he’d lost his head and laid her out in front of him. Naked. While he’d still worn his shorts.

He’d gone down on her as if eating her on his couch was an everyday occurrence instead of a fantasy he’d assumed would never happen.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he thought of her sweet taste, how wet she’d gotten for him, how she’d lifted to the stroke of his tongue.

Her broken moans.

The tensing of her slim legs, the fisting of her hands. How her back had arched and her belly had sucked in.

The tears in her eyes after her release had dwindled away, leaving her soft and shaken and dazed.

How she’d looked at him with wonder...just the way she used to.

He gave her ten minutes to make sure she wouldn’t awaken, then, knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep, he slipped from the bed, from her bedroom, and went to his own room to relieve himself. It didn’t take him long, not with her scent still clinging to him.

When he rejoined her in the bed, less edgy but still in need of her, she shifted in her sleep, turning to face him, snuggling in against his chest.

It took him a very long time to get to sleep, but he’d never enjoyed a sleepless night more, or for a better reason.

* * *

MERISSA DIDN’T ALLOW herself time for doubt. Any excuse in a storm. Yes, she knew that wasn’t how the saying went, but for her and her unique purpose, it worked.

She went up the steps two at a time because if she hesitated at all she’d chicken out. For the tenth time she checked her watch. Only ten-thirty. Not really late. But just in case... When she reached the right door, she tapped softly. If he was in bed, well, then, no reason to wake him.

She’d barely lowered her hand before the door swung open, and there stood Armie. Flushed, with mussed hair. Shirtless. Barefoot. The button and fly of his jeans opened to reveal a happy trail.

Her heart stuttered and almost stopped.

Until she noticed the redhead draped over his shoulder.

As soon as she did notice, he shrugged the woman off, stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind him.

They stared at each other...and slowly a frown replaced the surprise in his dark brown eyes. “What the f**k, Rissy.” He looked around her as if searching for someone. When he realized she was alone, he looked even more furious. “I thought you were Kelli.”