John’s expression was more serious than she’d ever seen it, and that was saying something as the man rarely smiled. “But I’m not about to turn away from this thing between us.”

“John,” she began, but he placed his hand gently over her mouth.

“Don’t say no. Give me tonight and tomorrow. After that, if you want to go back to the city, I’ll take you back the next morning.”

Two nights and one day. Could she do that and not fall in love with John? Could she have sex with him and protect her fragile emotions?

She wasn’t sure. But now that they were here, she wanted this time with him. Loving him might hurt, but she knew she’d have to live with regrets if she didn’t stay.

The tension around John had kicked up another notch. He looked ready for anything. She wished she were half as self-assured.

“Okay.” The word came out of her in a rush and some of the tension seeped from the room. This was crazy. She knew it was, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Her life had been a roller coaster for months now. Why not end this chapter of her life with one hell of a big bang? She almost laughed aloud at her unintentional pun.

“Okay,” he repeated and reached for her.

She expected him to take her straight to the bedroom, strip off her clothes and make love to her. After all, that’s what this was about.

Instead, he took her hand and led her down a short hallway to a bathroom. He flicked on the light to reveal a dated space with faded blue paint and chipped linoleum flooring. But the one thing the room had going for it was a large claw-foot tub.

John released her, put the plug in the tub and started the water running. “You take your time and soak while I bring in the luggage and fix us something to eat.”

He leaned down and kissed her. This kiss was a complete contrast from the earlier one. Their lips barely touched, the caress as gentle as a summer breeze. It left her feeling off balance and unsettled.

She should probably resent his heavy-handedness. And on one level, she did. But she also couldn’t help being pleased he’d gone to such trouble to get her here. It certainly fed her female vanity. Then there was the off-the-charts attraction between them. If she was honest with herself, she wasn’t quite ready to let him go yet.

He pulled back from the kiss and brushed his hand over her hair. Then he was gone. As his footsteps faded and she heard the door of the cabin open and close, she stared into the mirror that hung over the small sink, ignoring the crack in the upper right-hand corner. Her eyes were huge and her lips were moist. She touched her mouth, almost able to still feel his lips on hers.

What was she getting herself into?

Chapter Four

John did his best to ignore the sound of water splashing just a few yards away. The only thing separating him from a naked Topaz was his own self-control and a rather flimsy door.

He’d taken the liberty of packing some supplies in anticipation of bringing Topaz to his cabin, so they had plenty of food for their stay. He thought about opening a can of soup and slapping together some sandwiches, but he really wanted to feed her well tonight. Not only because she hadn’t been eating much lately, but also because eating could be a very sensual experience if done correctly.

He enjoyed cooking and often whipped up interesting meals for himself and his twin. But he’d never cooked for a woman before. When he dated, he usually took them out to eat or ate at their place, as he didn’t like having someone he just met in his home. Call him paranoid, but he liked his privacy.

But Topaz was special. He wanted her in his home. Hell, he’d move into hers if it would make her feel more secure. He didn’t care as long as he was with her.

He’d already whipped the cream for the strawberries, which were washed, cored and waiting in a bowl in the refrigerator. The water for the pasta was boiling and the sauce was simmering away. Everything was under control.

He wiped his hands on a towel and grabbed one of the glasses of wine he’d poured. The red had a full flavor he knew Topaz would enjoy. He went down the hallway and knocked once on the door before letting himself in.

There was a cry and a splash as she sat up in the tub and pulled her legs to her chest. The steam had dampened her hair and the fine ends were stuck to her nape and forehead. “What are you doing? Get out.”

Her eyes flashed with heat, some of it anger and, he hoped, some of it arousal. John crouched by the side of the tub and held out the glass. “Thought you might like some wine.”

Her skin looked so soft and touchable. He reached out with his free hand and stroked his fingers down her arm. Several beads of water skimmed her flesh before dripping back into the tub. He wanted to lick them from her skin.

“It could have waited.” Her tone was terse, but not quite as angry. “I’m naked.”

She glared at him and his cock jerked. He almost laughed aloud at the way his body responded to her even when she was annoyed with him. Instead, he settled on being privately amused. No need to let her know just how much power she had over him. Hell, all she had to do was breathe and he wanted her.

“Believe me, I’m well aware of that fact.”

His wry tone had her studying him closer. Her gaze dropped and he was grateful that he was crouched down and the tub hid the bulk of his lower body from her view. She looked back at her face, her eyes questioning. He ignored her unspoken question and lifted the wineglass closer.

“Here, try it.” He held the glass to her lips and waited. She sighed and parted them, allowing him to tip the glass enough for her to have a taste. She swallowed and he watched the long column of her throat ripple.

“It’s good.” She shook her head and sighed. “But it could have waited. What am I going to do with you, John?” The last was said with exasperated affection.

“Anything you want.” His jeans were uncomfortably tight, but he didn’t care. For too many years he’d gone through the motions of living. He’d lost interest in sex. Until Topaz.

He hadn’t been to bed with another woman since he’d met her and didn’t want to. There was something about her that spoke to him on every level. The more primitive part of him wanted to throw her over his shoulder and drag her off to his cave and keep her.

A reluctant grin tugged at his lips. Come to think of it, that’s pretty much what he’d done by bringing her here.

“What are you grinning about?” She snagged the glass from his hand and took another sip of the wine. A ruby drop lingered on her lips and he watched, mesmerized, as she licked it off with her tongue. His cock twitched and his balls ached. He wished she’d uncoil her body so he could see more.

“I don’t think you’d appreciate it.” He stood, not bothering to hide his erection. He couldn’t if he wanted to. The damn thing had a mind of its own.

Her gaze went to the front placket of his jeans and then flew to his face.

“I want you.” His words were blunt, just like he was. “Never doubt that for a minute.” He stared at her for a few more moments, enjoying the view of her naked body.

Even free of makeup, her face was beautiful, maybe even more beautiful than when she wore the stuff. Her skin was smooth, her eyelashes long and dark, her eyes a golden brown that pierced his soul. And her lips, her lips were plump and full and so very kissable. It was easy for him to imagine her incredible mouth wrapped around his dick, sucking him off.

He shifted his weight to his left foot as his arousal grew even more uncomfortable. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. I left your suitcase on the bed. Wear something comfortable.”

She raised the wineglass in a smart salute. “Yes sir. Anything else, sir?”

Her sassy answer teased a reluctant smile from him. It also made him realize that he was issuing one order after another to her. He rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he had more finesse with women. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

Better to get out before he said something to make her angry. Right now, she was going along with his plan, and he didn’t want to do anything that might cause her to want to leave.

“John.” He looked back at her and she waggled the wineglass at him. “Thanks for the wine.”

He grunted and left the bathroom. “I’m putting the pasta on now. You’ve got about fifteen minutes ‘til dinner is on the table.”

Topaz watched the bathroom door close and slowly uncoiled her body, letting her knees slip back into the water. She shivered and sank down until the water lapped at her neck. She was hot and cold at the same time.

She’d had sex with a variety of talented lovers over the years, but never had she met a man as elemental as John. He exuded raw magnetism and sexuality that drew her like a lodestone.

She took another sip of the wine, knowing she needed something to fortify her for the coming evening. At some point they would make love and, if it were anything like their last encounter, it would be explosive and intense.

“What am I doing?” she whispered.

The logical thing to do would be to get out of the tub, get dressed, eat and then sleep on the sofa for the night. The last thing she needed was a one- or two-night stand. John Knight was an exciting lover, but he was also a man who lived a life of secrets and adrenaline rushes. Why else would he start a security firm after a twenty-year career in the Army?

She wanted a man who would be satisfied with coming home to her every night, a man who didn’t have such a dangerous edge. In short, she wanted the kind of man like the ones she’d been dating for the past five years, the kind of men who’d bored her to death and left her cold.