She let her hands trail down his ridged abdomen before encircling his already hard cock with her greedy fingers.

“Shit,” he hissed. “That feels good. But don’t think you’re going to get out of doing the dishes, young lady.”

Tightening her grip, she began to move her hands up and down while nipping at the damp flesh of his back. His cock swelled even larger under her ministrations and he had to place a hand on the tiled wall to brace himself. “Are you sure?”

She heard him suck in a breath and then a groan. “Honey, I’m not even sure of my own damn name when you do that. After the other night you should remember that payback is a bitch.”

Brinley remembered the evening well. Jason had kept her on the edge of orgasm with his fingers and tongue for what seemed like hours before letting her go over. What had followed had been the most intense pleasure of her life but she wasn’t sure she could take that every single time they made love. She was far too needy to be able to wait that long.

“No teasing tonight.” Brinley wriggled from his back to his front so they were face to face. “I can’t wait that long.”

Jason’s rough hands massaged her bottom as the warm spray ran over their bodies, amping up her arousal. “I thought you enjoyed the other night. I know I did.”

Her fingers glided up his arms to his wide shoulders. “I did. Very much. But I need you now. Any complaints about that?”

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her neck, nuzzling at a sensitive spot behind her ear until she was sighing and grinding against his large frame. His cock was trapped between their bodies, a rod of steel pressed into the softness of her belly.

“Not a one. The truth is I don’t think I can wait either. I can’t keep my hands off of you.”

Thank heaven for that. It felt like those magic fingers were everywhere at once. Pinching and caressing her nipples and then sliding through her already drenched slit, circling her swollen clit. Waves of heat swept over her flesh like a wildfire through the prairie.

Her hips bucked underneath his hands as she climbed ever closer to the top. In the humid confines of the shower it felt like they were the only two people in the world, insulated from all the worries and problems weighing on her shoulders. Here in this place she could forget all of that and just be a woman with her man.

Pressing her back to the cool tile, Jason lifted her effortlessly in his arms. Her feet no longer touched the ground but she trusted him implicitly to keep her from harm. His head dipped and he captured a nipple in his mouth, sucking it in deep and then scraping the sides lightly with his teeth until she was trembling in his arms.

Her nails dug into the muscles of his back, her breathing short and labored. “Now, Jason. Please now.”

He didn’t make her wait, lining up his cock and plunging deep with the first thrust. Brinley cried out at the beauty of being so sublimely filled as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her forehead resting on his, the room started to spin and arrows of pleasure headed straight to her clit as he began to move. Each stroke rubbed her g-spot even as the cascade of water sluiced over her overheated flesh. The double sensations quickly sent her straight to the top and she whispered hot words of encouragement in his ear.

Feeling his fingers tighten on her hips, he thrust harder and faster, pinning her to the wall until she couldn’t breathe, could barely catch her breath. She was on fire from the inside out and would happily turn to ash in his strong arms.

When her climax hit the world seemed to shatter into thousands of pieces. Light and color danced behind her lids as Jason thrust one last time before growling his own release. Her whole body tightened painfully but the pleasure washing over her was too good. Too intense.

She watched fascinated as Jason came down to earth with her, his features relaxing into a smile of satisfaction. He looked sated, his eyes heavy-lidded but still taking in every detail of her shattered appearance – her messy hair, swollen lips, and love bites on her skin that would surely turn into bruises. The damn alpha male knew what havoc he’d created and would probably strut around if she let him.

Who was she kidding? She wanted to strut too. The sex had been that brilliantly good.

She clung to him as he lowered her onto the tile, her legs still shaking from her shattering orgasm. Cuddling her close and whispering silly romantic words, he held her until her breathing returned to normal. But it was her heart that still ached painfully.

She was in love with Jason.

It wasn’t simply lust or friendship but something much deeper and infinitely more wonderful if he felt the same. He clearly cared for her but was it enough? Could it grow into something that would last? She wanted a lifetime with him.

She was willing to go out on a limb and find out. She’d heard the saying that faint heart never won fair lady. Well, hell, it was probably the same in reverse. If she wanted something – someone – she had to stand up and go for it. She’d been playing it safe for too long.

He was worth it.

Chapter Twenty-Six

‡

Jason laid back on the blanket and pillowed his head on his hands, his stomach pleasantly full. After their hot sex in the shower, they’d reluctantly dressed and set up their picnic in the backyard. He’d ordered from the local diner and they’d delivered tasty fried chicken, potato salad, rolls, and two large slices of chocolate cake. Brinley had opened a bottle of wine to go along with the meal and he was feeling a little sleepy and mellow. Other than the case being stuck, today had been a good day.

Brinley rolled over and pillowed her head on his shoulder, throwing an arm over his middle. “You’re quiet. Is everything okay?”

“Too much good food and wine. Not to mention the great sex before,” Jason chuckled, letting his fingers play in her long, silky hair. “I think I need a nap. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

Jason’s fortieth birthday had come and gone a few months ago while Brinley had just passed her thirtieth. It was another obstacle, although not insurmountable. He had friends who had married women that were several years younger and so far those couples were completely happy.

Whoa.

Where had that thought come from?

He wasn’t going to marry Brinley…or anyone. He had too many scars, mostly internal, to ever tie someone to him for a lifetime. He had nightmares and he couldn’t even get a decent night’s sleep. Hardly husband or father material.

“You’re not old. Age is just a number. It’s all in how you feel.”

Then I feel about seventy.

“I think I’m out of shape. Working on the dining room kicked my ass today. I admire the fact that you’ve done so much on your own.”

“I don’t mind. But I’d like to have as much done as possible before school starts. I won’t have any time then. I’ve been lucky that Logan likes home improvement. He’s helped a lot.”

Jason rolled onto his side so he could see her face. “That reminds me. Logan mentioned that your ex Greg has been coming by uninvited and bothering you. Do I need to have a talk with him?”

Brinley rolled her eyes. “I’d hardly call him my ex. We barely dated and we never kissed. He’s more of an acquaintance that never made it to the next step. Honestly, he’s kind of a jerk.”

Jason had never met this Greg but he didn’t like him one bit. And that didn’t have anything to do with being jealous or anything. He simply sounded like a real piece of work.

“Maybe he and I should have a chat. I can let him know how things are.”

Brinley ran her finger up his arm, sending tingles to parts in a southerly direction. Suddenly he wasn’t all that tired anymore.