“No.” She stepped gingerly off the road. “Two pairs of eyes are better.”

He wiped rain off his forehead. “Juliet, the rain is freezing, and this will just take me a minute. Now get your ass back in the truck.”

“I am so finished taking orders from you, Quinn. Kiss my butt. Twice.”

He barked out a laugh and turned to shine the light into the trees. No animal stared back. With a shrug, he turned and was on her before she could take another breath. Hands on her hips, he lifted her easily, walking backward until he’d opened the door and plopped her on the seat.

Enough was enough. She kicked out with all the frustration and anger she’d stifled for days. And nailed him right in the thigh.

They both froze for a second. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he was faster. He pulled her toward him, his mouth smashing hers with what must be the anger and frustration he’d stifled for days.

Sharp teeth nipped her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth in surprise.

He dived in.

Gone was the congenial sheriff and the gentle lover. In his place stood a primitive man she wanted more than her next thought. His fingers threaded through her hair held her in place. His hips kept her legs apart, and his mouth took what he wanted. No finesse, no kindness, just pure, raw lust.

Sharp pangs of need ripped through her. Her clit ached. She moaned deep in her throat.

He released her, his eyes blazing.

She ripped open his shirt, needing to feel him. All of him.

His free hand grabbed the bottom of her shirt and hauled it over her head. The second the flimsy material was free, his mouth took hers again. One flick of his finger released the front clasp of her bra, and his hand, calloused and demanding, palmed her breast. Her nipples peaked. He tweaked one, and she whimpered with raw need.

He released her hair and grabbed her jeans with both hands. The button zinged against the windshield, and the zipper ripped free. Strong hands dragged off her boots, the jeans, and her panties. Jerking down his jeans, he gripped her ass, lifted her, and impaled her.

She gasped in shock.

He was too big…too much.

Rain slid down his torso, and she rubbed her hands into the wet hardness.

He stood in the rain, at home in the dangerous storm. Droplets pelted him, matting his hair and dripping over the hard angles of his face. Hard hands kept them groin to groin. His easy strength in bearing her weight cascaded tingles through her abdomen. Hot and sexy, those tingles had nothing on the flaring nerves where his cock stretched her.

His gaze pinning her, he ran one hand up her spine to secure the back of her neck. Then he lifted her and plunged her back down along his length. His groin slid against her clit.

Spikes of pleasure rippled from where they were joined. Her mouth opened wide on her exhale.

A satisfied smirk creased his face.

Need and want shot through her. She grabbed his shoulders to lift herself, to get him moving.

The hand on her hip and the one at her nape prevented her movement. His watchful gaze kept her captive as he stood in the storm, holding her. Controlling them both. Then he waited. Determination sharpened his cheekbones, hardened his jaw. The man would wait until day broke.

Something feminine stretched awake inside her. She took in the dangerous warrior, seeing him finally for the primal being he was at heart. The sheriff tempered his wild nature with good humor and a protective embrace encompassing the entire community. For the first time, she glimpsed the predator inside.

Feminine instinct took over. She smoothed her palms on his shoulders and relaxed her body. Relaxing into his strength, to his will, she allowed him to take her wherever he wanted to go.

A masculine gleam lightened his eyes.

He shifted until they both stood in the rain, her back to the truck. Then he thrust inside her, pounding with a ferocity wilder than the storm. The coolness of the water contrasted with the heat from the male taking her, throwing her into a maelstrom of sensation. The hard pounding, the chilled rain, the warm man, the love bursting through her heart…swirled together until her mind shut down.

His fingers gripped her hips, his hard shaft pounded inside her, leaving his mark as completely as he’d left his brand in her heart.

With a cry of his name, she broke. Splinters of shooting pleasure cut through her, and she rode them out, lost in the sensations. He growled her name and ground against her. The orgasm lasted forever. Finally coming down, she relaxed against him. He held her tight.

Quinn walked them back to the open truck door and set her gently on the seat.

Her heart clutched. Not a word had passed between them. Without looking at him, she grabbed her shirt off the steering wheel and scooted over to the passenger side.

What now?

…

Juliet frowned at Sophie sitting across the scarred wooden table in their booth. The scents of grease and burned toast coated the air. “I don’t care how bad your cravings are. I shouldn’t be out in public today.”

Sophie rubbed her baby bump. “Come on. Leila is at Loni’s, and I needed a greasy meal from the Dirt Spoon. Nobody will recognize us here.”

Juliet shook her head. “I appreciate you letting me stay the night, but we should’ve stayed at your house for breakfast.”

“The guys had to fix fences after the storm last night. It was easy to get away so we could talk.” Sophie studied her. “You were rather disheveled when Quinn dropped you off last night.”

Disheveled and heartbroken. The sheriff hadn’t said a word after handing over her clothing and dropping her off. Well, nothing but an order to stay at Jake and Sophie’s until he fetched her the next day. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Juliet muttered.

Sympathy curled Sophie’s lip. “I understand. I’m married to a Lodge, remember?”

“Yes, I know. But Quinn and I aren’t married. Heck, we’re not even talking.” Sure, he’d mounted her like she was a prize mare the previous night, but without talking, there was no intimacy. “I could just shoot him.”

“Been there, seriously considered doing that.” Sophie took a deep drink of an herbal tea before grimacing. “Shooting Jake, I mean. I never wanted to shoot Quinn. Until now.” Loyalty lifted her lips in a sweet smile.

“I’ve probably broken enough laws lately,” Juliet said wryly. “I’ll be right back.” She headed to the restroom, filing through the room filled with several people she’d seen at the bar the previous night.

She reached the door, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled. Slowly turning around, she already knew who she’d see.

“Morning, JJ,” Freddy said.

She took a breath to scream and halted as he drew a gun. A shiny, almost too big for his hand, silver gun. It wavered.

“You have a choice.” Freddy glanced toward the busy restaurant. “Either come nicely with me, or I’ll take both you and your pretty friend. Please, JJ. I just wanna talk to you.”

“Go where?” She edged toward the bathroom. If she could get inside, maybe there was a lock.

“My partner would like to discuss the missing millions with you.” Freddy grabbed her biceps. “Please. It’ll just take a minute.” Desperation creased his forehead.

“There’s no money.”

“Nobody is stupid enough to give away that kind of money.” He swung her around and dug the gun into her ribs. “If you want, you could make a lot of money with us. You’ll need to relocate and start over, but hey, you’re good at pretending to be someone you’re not.” Kicking a back door open, he pulled her into the chilly morning air.

“Fine. I’ll go with you.” She could scream and struggle, but there was a good chance the gun would go off. Even if the idiot didn’t shoot her, he might shoot somebody else. It’d be a lot easier to jump out of a moving vehicle when he drove past the police station.

“Thank you. I promise, you’ll be happy you did.” He dragged her around the corner to the alley. “I can’t believe how clean the alleys are in this stupid town. Who has clean alleys?”

“I think it’s a county ordinance.” She stumbled over a puddle, splashing mud on her jeans. “You know the sheriff is going to skin you alive for this, right?” Quinn might not like her any longer, but a woman kidnapped in his county would truly anger him.

“Jesus, JJ. The guy fucks you, and you think he’s invincible?” Freddy’s hold tightened. “He’s a stupid hick—one who’ll end up dead if he comes after you.”

“Who’s your partner, Freddy?” She eyed the end of the alley. Maybe she could trip him and make a break for it.

“Oh, you’ll meet him. He’s got some real good ideas for making money.”

A black SUV slid into the alley, and a man jumped out. Much bigger than Freddy, the guy wore guns in a shoulder holster, leg holster, and at his waist. He reached them in two strides. Dead blue eyes stared into hers. “Where’s my money?”

The moment changed from an irritating one with Freddy to a deadly one she wasn’t likely to escape. Her mouth went dry.

A truck sped by the other end of the alley.

The guy tugged something from his pocket. He grabbed her hands and zip-tied them, pulling too tight. She bit her lip to keep from giving him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt her.

Getting in the car would be disastrous. She jerked away and opened her mouth to scream. He manacled her around the waist and yanked her into his body, slamming a hand over her mouth. She struggled, kicking and twisting, but he hauled her to the car and tossed her in the back, where she smashed into another man. The first jumped in beside her. “You drive, Fred.”