Tonight, the shattering conclusion of his journey shocked him to his core. Riley Fox was the one. The one he’d been searching for. The moment he buried himself deep into her body, clasped her hands, looked into her eyes, a low hum vibrated in his gut and spread throughout every inch of him, refusing to be denied.

It was as if he’d found his other half. His mind settled, his heart ripped open, and he gave himself to her with each stroke, binding her body to his in the most primeval way possible for a man to claim his mate. He craved to protect her, push her, fuck her, comfort her.

Love her.

Holy shit.

“You okay?”

He blinked as the sound of her voice broke his short-term panic attack. No way could he tell her that. Not so soon, after a few hours in her company. Somehow, knowing Riley’s sense of control and order, he figured his big news would have her launching herself naked out the window into a pile of snow.

He’d need to ease her into the same realization. Failure wasn’t an option, because this time Dylan wasn’t letting her go.

He pushed the hair out of her eyes and tucked it gently behind her ear. Her skin glowed, her lips were slightly bruised, and her eyes shone like a woman who was well satisfied. Dylan fought the urge to beat on his chest like a primate. “I’m better than okay.” He propped an elbow on the pillow and leaned his head on his palm, studying her. “How’s your head?”

She gave a low chuckle and stretched her leg. “Not my head I’m worried about right now. Other parts are taking up my attention.”

“Just what I like to hear,” he growled. “Can I tell you the fantasy wasn’t half as good as the reality? And trust me, I can spin a very dirty fantasy.”

“I bet you can.” She smiled, her face open and relaxed as she gazed at him. “I never knew it could—it could be like that.”

He pressed a thumb against her bottom lip, dragging it over the tender flesh. “Me, either.”

She wasn’t ready to hear the words, but he could show her in other ways.

Dylan spent the rest of the night showing her over and over again.

chapter 8

Riley opened her eyes.

The bedroom was half lit, a lazy breaking sun shining through the windows. Her muscles ached like a bitch, she was sore between her thighs, and she smelled of sex.

She couldn’t remember a time when she felt this satisfied.

The deep rumble of a snore drifted to her ears. She turned her head and studied the angelic profile of his face. God, he was perfection. A blinding beauty mixed with the carnality of a sexual animal. Waves of white-blond hair fell over his forehead, and a rough stubble coated his jaw. The lean muscles of his face were relaxed in sleep, gentling the curves to blend in fluid symmetry. The sheet was tangled around his hips, baring his impressive back to her gaze, making her fingers itch to touch him, though she hadn’t had her hands off of him for over twelve hours.

What was she going to do?

In the cold light of morning, panic edged her nerves. What had she done? In one evening, she’d shared secrets of her past, stripped naked, let him make love to her in a variety of ways, and begged for more. But this couldn’t be real. Normal people didn’t begin relationships jumping into bed in the middle of a snowstorm. The evening seemed like a hazy dream of blurred images and feelings that could never survive. She didn’t need a mind-blowing sexual affair doomed to fail. She wanted something solid and real, reasonable in everyday routine.

Dylan McCray was larger than life. Bigger than a boring domestic schedule no matter what he said about his parents or his true goals. If she believed him, Riley knew she’d throw away her ridiculous list and go for it. She’d follow him anywhere, do anything, and live in a fantasy world that would eventually crash. And once it did, could she ever settle for something less?

No. At least this way she had a beautiful memory to warm her nights. She had more than she had before. It would have to be enough.

Swallowing past a lump in her throat, Riley carefully climbed out of bed. Grabbing her clothes, she tiptoed out the door, dressing quickly. She headed to the kitchen and peeked out the window.

The snow had finally stopped but there was definitely two feet out there. The walkways and paths were covered, and God knows there’d be no way to get down the mountain until some crews came out to clear the roads. Her heart beat faster and she fought back panic. She had to get out of here. Her instincts screamed the quicker the better to avoid a confrontation she dreaded. Should she—

“Morning.”

She whipped around. He stood in the doorway, feet apart, hip cocked. He’d put on a pair of sweats and was naked from the waist up. The sexy morning-after stubble made her ache to cross the room and rub it against her tender lips, slip her fingers around his rock-hard length, stroke, suck— Oh, God, what was she doing?

“Morning.”

“I’ll put on some coffee.” He motioned toward the window. “How bad is it?”

“Snow stopped but it’s a mess. I’m hoping the phone lines are back up. I need to get my cell phone from the car. Umm, any idea how I can get out of here?”

He filled the pot with water and took out the grinder. “Figured we’d spend the day together. I’ll have my staff get you towed. Plow guy should be here in a few hours.”

“Oh. Well, that sounds good, but I really need to leave as soon as possible.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I’m way behind on—work.”

He finished grinding the beans, filled the filter, and flipped on the brew switch. Then turned to her. “Got the spooks, Riley?”

She stiffened. Cooled her voice. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have a ton of work, messages to return, and can’t afford to be trapped on a mountain all day.”

He nodded, seemingly calm, but a dangerous aura pulsed around him. “I see. Are we going to at least talk about last night?”

She blew out a breath. “Sounds like an old eighties movie. I didn’t think we needed to, Dylan. Last night was amazing. But now it’s daytime, and we need to get on with our lives.”

“How neat and tidy. Sorry my answer won’t be.”

“What answer?”

“Fuck that.”

She jerked. Anger flooded her, pure and hot and mean. “Look, I don’t know what you think last night was, but I refuse to be spoken to that way.”

“Didn’t mind it last night when I was buried deep inside you. Seemed to like anything I said then.”

Her face turned warm. Damn, she hated blushing. “That was then. This is now.”

“Why don’t you tell me what last night was about, then?” Dylan rested his fists on his hips, challenging her with a gaze that dared her to lie.

Why was he doing this? Wasn’t he the man in the relationship? He was supposed to be stumbling over himself in an effort to get her quickly out of his house and praying they wouldn’t be talking about feelings or expectations. Screw this. She refused to cower under his overbearing high-handedness.

“Fine. You want me to be truthful, I will. Last night was wonderful. It was hot, and a fantasy, and a memory I’ll never forget. But I think we both realize we were trapped in a snowstorm, had some leftover feelings from our time together at college, and needed to get it out of our system. Now I need to go back to my real life. You wouldn’t fit, Dylan, and you know it. Let’s do the right thing by admitting our time together was special, and deciding to move on. Maybe even be friends?” She choked on the word but managed to forge ahead. “How does that sound?”

He moved so fast she never saw him coming. Suddenly he loomed over her, his hands gripping her shoulders, fury transforming him into the rebel archangel bent on getting what he wanted. “I think your plan sucks,” Dylan stated coldly. “I think you’re so scared of how deep things got the only way to feel safe again is to pretend it didn’t mean anything. I may not blame you, but I gotta admit, Riley, it’s pissing me off. I thought you were braver than that.”

She gasped. “How dare you! We spent one night together and that doesn’t give you a right to pretend to know me! All we have together is great sex. It’s not enough to base a relationship on.”

“I disagree,” he growled. “The sex is the best I’ve ever had, but it’s about connection. We get each other. It’s not rational or good on paper, but there it is. We fit. And walking away from it because you think I’m suddenly gonna spook, or some bullshit about me not owning nine out of the ten qualities on your ridiculous list is a cop-out.”

“It’s not ridiculous, it’s real! Don’t you get it? The sex is too good. We’re too—intense.” Her voice broke, making her even madder, but his grip gentled and he pressed his forehead to hers.

“I know it was intense, darlin’. I know it’s a lot to take in, and it was only one night, but here’s the truth. I’m giving it all to you in one shot. My whole life I’ve been searching for something incredible. My other half, a woman who made me feel whole. From the moment I found you in that car and carried you in, my senses have been in overdrive. And when I finally drove inside your body, felt your heat around me, I knew. I just knew.

“It’s you. I’ve been searching for you.”

Her body shook like it was in the grip of a fever. Fireworks went off in her brain, short-circuiting, and she tore apart in two. Half of her sobbed in relief and surrendered. The other half cringed in bone-gripping fear of the unknown and unrealistic.

Marriage and relationships were about compromise. Communication. Likability. Not this crazy hormonal ride, and soul-ripping, raw need. It couldn’t be.