He sucked.

The universe detonated. She arched her back, screaming his name. Explosions of electrical fire roared through her, sparking every nerve, shaking every muscle. Hot pleasure rippled through her and crested into waves.

He worked her, prolonging the orgasm until she really did want to beg.

Finally, the waves settled. Her body relaxed on the table, her muscles turned to mush.

Wetness slid along her face. Her eyes fluttered open. Was she crying? No. Then she frowned. “When did it start raining?”

He chuckled, finally releasing her to stand. “Just a moment ago.” Drawing her toward him, he lifted her. Firm lips brushed hers as she clasped her ankles behind his back.

Aftershocks of pleasure rippled through her sex. More. She needed more.

He lifted his head, his grin pure sin. “Hold on, Sunshine.”

She nodded before lowering her mouth to his neck. He tasted of salt and man—earthy and sensual. The corded muscle along his neck and jaw tempted her to nibble and nip, uncaring of their movements.

Or where he was taking her.

The scrape of a door failed to stop her exploration until the world shifted and she found herself on her back, spread out on a comfortable bedspread.

Rain glistened in Jake’s darkened hair, while hunger flared in his eyes. He stood by the bed and ripped his shirt over his head.

Such raw strength hitched her breath.

She couldn’t match him. Hell, a tornado couldn’t match him. “Um—”

“I’ll keep you safe.”

He slowly drew his belt free of his pant loops, the leather whipping through with a whisper that caressed down her body. After unsnapping his jeans, he kicked free of his clothing.

She swallowed. His cock was solid and huge. He reached into a side table for protection and rolled on a condom. Settling on his knees on the bed, he lowered himself so they were flesh to flesh.

She moaned in pleasure at his heavy weight, her nipples scraping against his hard chest.

Finally, she could explore him. Hard ridges of muscle filled her palms when she ran them across his chest. He vibrated, barely civilized, barely contained.

Then, his muscles bunching, his forehead sweating, he slowly, purposefully entered her inch by swollen inch.

“Jake, hurry up,” Sophie groaned, digging her fingers into his shoulders.

“Patience.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” Her words emerged garbled and breathy.

He chuckled against her lips and then kissed her deep and sure. With a hard push, he embedded himself fully in her. God, he was big. Almost too much. “Are you all right?”

Concern from the strong, controlled man above her shot emotion straight to her heart. Right where she didn’t want it to go. “If you don’t move, I really am going to hurt you,” she hissed.

His dimple dared her to try it. She nipped his bottom lip. His eyes darkened to liquid midnight. One hand held her hip in place. The other tangled in her hair. “And you were being so good. Now you don’t get to move.” His hand slid around and clasped her butt.

“Not a chance.” She tried to move against him.

He kept her in place.

Fire rushed down her torso.

His weight pinned her, the hand in her curls tethered her, and the hand at her butt kept her still. He was in complete control. He waited, his gaze determined, his focus absolutely on her.

At least a minute passed.

Finally, she relaxed beneath him. Obeyed his silent demand to submit. She could trust him—and she did.

He moved her against him. Then moved faster. Then started to pound. As he took over her body, he breached her last emotional shield. Heat coiled inside her, rolling outward, powerful waves lighting her nerves. She exploded. Tears filled her eyes as the intense ripples devastated her.

He thrust harder, prolonging her orgasm, filling the world with Jake Lodge. Finally, with a low growl of her name against her skin, he leaped into pleasure with her.

Exhaustion shuttered her eyes closed before he’d removed the condom and tucked her close. He smoothed a kiss against her damp forehead. “Go to sleep, sweetheart.”

With a sigh, she turned boneless. Warm and safe, she stretched into oblivion.

The dream started on Jake’s deck with the moon high in the sky. Sophie stumbled across the smooth wood, her gaze on the shattered dinner plates. “Um…”

Bob leaped onto the deck from the backyard. “Howdy!”

Sophie shrieked and dropped into a fighting stance. Okay, it was more of a yoga stance, but still. She could kick him if needed. “You scared me.”

“Oops. Sorry.” He kicked an uneaten dinner roll out of the way with his shiny golf shoe. “Looks like a big fight.”

Sophie’s face heated. “I think it was just an accident.” She straightened and studied the spirit guide, if that’s what he was. Tonight he’d donned an argyle sweater, striped knickers, golf shoes, and a captain’s hat. “Are you going to a costume party?”

He frowned, glancing at his outfit. “No. For some reason, I thought we’d get to golf together.” Sighing, he climbed up and sat on the deck railing. “So, you and Jake do it yet?”

Sophie dropped into a chair. Heat slammed into her gut. “Excuse me?”

Bob waved. “Just asking.”

Her spirit guide was a pervert. “That’s none of your business.”

He tugged his captain’s hat lower. “Oh. Sorry.”

She nodded. “That’s okay.”

His gray eyebrows slashed down. “It most certainly is not okay. Don’t be a doormat.”

She jumped to her feet. “I’m not a doormat.”

“I know. But you’re kinda acting like one.” He reached in his pocket and drew out a piece of jerky. Delight lifted his lips as he shoved the end in his mouth.

“Why do you say that?” Had he been watching? “Did you, I mean, did you see…”

“No.” Bob wrinkled his nose. “I didn’t see anything. If you’re playing weird sex games, I didn’t see anything.”

On all that was holy. “We’re not.”

“Okay. Don’t really care.” Bob choked on the jerky. With a growl, he threw the remains out to the lawn. “I meant that you agreed to design the garden for a group that didn’t agree to support you. Why would you do that?”

She frowned. “To be honest, I want to design a garden. And they don’t have to agree with me—we have different perspectives.”

Bob nodded. “I see. So what’s the problem?”

“I have another job. One that matters—especially since my uncle needs me.” She sighed.

“Don’t take this the wrong way.” He reached down and tugged up his mismatched sock. “You’re not much of a risk taker. With your odd past, I don’t blame you. But life is about risks.”

“I take risks.”

“Whatever.” Bob grinned. “Why else did you agree to design the garden? Come on. Dig deep here.”

Dig deep? Fine. “I like it here. I like being part of everything. It’s nice to, ah, belong.”

“Exactly.” Bob grinned, flashing sparkling white teeth. “Just remember that in the weeks to come.” He disappeared.

Weird. Her spirit guide was seriously weird. And maybe a perv.

Sophie awoke to a large hand idly caressing her hair on the pillow. Her back was pressed against his broad chest, and warmth flowed around her, through her. She slowly stretched sore muscles that hadn’t been used in much too long. And never like that. Jake had awoken her three other times during the wonderfully long night, and it was well worth it each time.

“Good morning.” His voice rumbled with sleep.

“Morning.” She snuggled into his warmth and stilled as parts of him hardened instantly. “What are you, a machine?”

He chuckled. “No. All of me just likes all of you. A lot.”

“Ditto.” She stretched like a lazy cat with a big yawn.

“We have to talk, Sunshine.”

Uh oh. Not exactly what a girl wanted to hear after an incredible night of sweaty sex. “’Bout what?” She masked her yawn this time.

“The condom broke.”

“Which condom?” Her brain was too fuzzy to capture his meaning.

“The third one.” Strong arms tightened around her.

“Oh.” Reality slammed with a thud as her eyes focused on the painting of a desert landscape on the opposite wall. Thick rust and orange cascaded in firm swipes illustrating hard rock. “The condom broke.”

“Yes.”

“Inside me.”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

His hand resumed playing in her curls. “How’s the timing on that? You know, cycle wise?”

Her heart pretty much stopped beating. “Ah, the timing.” She calculated in her head. Once and then again. “Um, the timing would be ideal if we were planning to procreate.”

He stiffened behind her. And not in the good way. “Ideal, huh?”

“Yes.” Dread made her limbs heavy. “But, hey. No worries to you. Really. I’ve got this.” Could this be any more awkward?

One smooth motion had her under him. All of him. Amusement warred with intent in his eyes. “You’ve got this?”

“Uh, yeah.” She nodded vigorously against the pillow, her face aching as embarrassment spiraled heat into her cheeks. She bravely met his gaze even as her breasts pebbled in response to his welcome weight.

“Sophie?” He lowered his face. His muscled body pressed her into the mattress. “Do you think you’ve gotten to know me during the time we’ve spent together?”

She groaned. Even with the recent revelation of her possible pregnancy, her body reacted to the feeling of him against her. She fought to keep from moving against him. From stretching up into his heat.