Damn. She was turning into a real girly-girl.

Her ruminations turned to the first time they were together, when they wound up wrestling on the cot in the therapy room. She had experienced the most mind-blowing orgasm she ever would have conceived possible. And yet it only got better every time she saw him. A shiver of anticipation ran through her as she thought of the night to come.

But she stopped herself, looking at the attractive woman staring back at her in her bathroom mirror. Had she forgotten how bad this could be?

He was a baseball player. What would happen once he got healthy? Would he leave her for the trophy girl when he was once again a star?

She should run. She should get out now, bolt before she got in too deep.

But it was too late: she had already fallen hard for him. And how could she help it? He was drop-dead gorgeous, with six-pack abs and biceps to die for. He was also funny, kind, and patient, liked her family, and was very good to her.

Crap. Try as she might, she couldn’t find a flaw, not one thing she could point to and say, There! That’s why we shouldn’t be together!

Other than her fear.

But she was tired of running, and being afraid. What was that quotation she once saw in a card shop by Anaïs Nin, about how the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom?

And that’s where she was.

So for tonight, one night, she decided not to fret and just go with the flow. The little kitten he’d given her mewed in approval as she filled her dish, and she gave Bella (the little thing scratched her and was a vampire, she was certain) a quick pat along her tiny body. When she heard his knock at the door, her insides turned to jelly, and she had to stop herself from running to answer it.

“Hey,” she said, sucking in a breath as she saw him dressed in a black leather jacket, crewneck sweater, and jeans. His hair was a little mussed and curled attractively around his collar, only emphasizing his firm jaw, perfect nose, and dark, liquid eyes. He could have stepped out of a GQ ad even in his casual garb with that killer body and Colgate smile.

And he was holding roses.

Dozens of them, red, white, and yellow.

“They are gorgeous,” Jessica said, breathing in the delicate tea scent. “But I told you before, you don’t have to do this!”

“Of course I do. Stop fighting me.” His eyes met hers as the kitten swirled between his legs, and she saw the emotion there. For her. “Oh, and I got you something else. It’s kind of silly, but I thought you might like it.”

He handed her what looked like a baseball card. But instead of a mean-looking batter or intense pitcher gracing the front, she was astonished to see it was a photograph of her at six years old, dressed in a baseball uniform with a bat, ready to take on the world. She was missing a tooth, and her hair was barely tamed in two braids.

“Rory sent me the picture.” He shrugged as she looked at him in astonishment.

When she turned the card over, there was her name, cited as the Sonics MVP and Sexiest Honorary Member. Beneath that were her stats: name, age, her eye color, her freckles, even her dimples. He also had her rehab average (A+), and attributes that included kindness, patience, and fortitude. His favorite feature: her hair.

What he cherished most: her heart.

Tears stung her eyes, and she was filled with warmth. When she was able to look up without making a complete fool of herself, she gave him a grateful smile.

“I think this is the best present I’ve ever gotten, next to the kitty,” she said sincerely, touched by his effort. She put it on her refrigerator with a magnet, so she would see it every day.

“I am glad.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but changed his mind and twirled her, openly admiring her funky dress, tights, and flats. “You look great!”

“Just something I threw on,” she said with a grin, but was pleased at his compliment. Terrell had promised her that looking stylish didn’t mean being uncomfortable, and this outfit proved it. She felt as good as she did in her sweats, but the little touches like the orange ballet slippers with the Bohemian print dress made her appear pulled together.

“Shall we?”

They had planned an outing to the sculpture gardens. She knew he had put a lot of effort into researching the place, checking the times, and buying the tickets. But when he reached for her hand, she experienced that spark of electricity that always simmered between them. After that baseball card and the kitten, she had to fight the impulse to pull him back into her condo and frantically lock lips with him. Fortunately, when her eyes met his, she saw the same inexplicable desire burning there.

For her.

“Damn.” Without another word, he yanked her into his arms, and his mouth took hers with a passion and longing that left her breathless. His hand cradled her head, holding her firmly, as his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her up against his hard-muscled body. When he finally eased his lips from hers, she had to hold on to him for support.

“Wow.” He finally came back into focus. “You sure know how to say hello.”

He smiled, but the fire in his eyes burned brighter. “Think you want to skip the outing?”

His voice was husky, deep with erotic promise, and she could feel him hot and hard against her. Jessica batted her eyes, still reeling from his sexy greeting. “Are you reading my mind?” she asked teasingly, unbuttoning the top of her dress and displaying the black lace bra. “I got this for you.”

He kicked the door closed behind him and hoisted her over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing. “Put me down!” She laughed, pummeling his back. She earned a spank on her backside for her trouble. She gasped, then continued protesting. “You’re going to hurt yourself, and undo all my work…”

“Too late.”

But when she landed on her bed and he crawled on top of her, nudging her legs apart, she knew that he had no intention of letting her go. Not that she wanted him to. “I was only kidding,” she tried weakly as his mouth descended to hers.

“I wasn’t,” he growled. “You tease me like that? Sorry, but I’m calling your bluff. You know how long it’s been since I’ve been with you?”

The amusement left her face as his lips began to rain hot kisses on her throat. “You’ve seen me every day,” she tried breathlessly.

“Yes. In PT. You know what kind of torture that was? Being alone in that room with you, and not being able to do this?” He cupped her breast, his thumb lightly teasing the lace-covered nipple until it was hard and erect and she was squirming beneath him. “It’s unbelievable, how good we are together.”

“I know,” she admitted softly, shuddering as he pressed a kiss in the sensitive place behind her ear. “It’s been like that for me too.”

“Happy to hear it,” he whispered, letting his fingers trail suggestively from her knee to her thigh. She felt her body tingle in response, the need building, and she wiggled helplessly beneath his touch.

He seemed to know exactly what she was experiencing, for he brought his hand to her other knee and traced a dizzying path along her tights, increasing her arousal.

“Tonight I’m going to touch you all over, kiss you everywhere. I want to make you want me so much you’ll beg me.”

She gasped, and her eyes went wide at his words, especially when his mouth lowered to kiss her between her breasts. She started to correct him, to tell him she was already crazy about him and wanting this, but the wild woman inside of her sealed her lips.

And a moment later she was entirely grateful.

He palmed her through her clothes, and the aching desire inside her was beginning to burn out of control. His other hand was still on her thigh, and he brushed her teasingly there. Arching, she tried to make contact, but he was already tracing down the other leg, making her frantic with desire as he repeated the process over and over, ignoring her pleas.