“Let me guess. This extremely horny moment was made possible by pregnancy hormones?Her giggle vibrated against his cheek. “Yes it was. Ugh, they’re insane.” She released his member and pulled away. “I think I’m starting to understand what it’s like to be you.”Throwing his head back, Aidan roared with laughter. “You mean what it feels like to be a horndog?”Wide-eyed, she replied, “uh-huh.”“Then why did you pull away?”“Well, because-” “That wasn’t me complaining, babe.”

“Pulling her eyes away, she figured it was best to keep such questions to herself. “You could have just, you know, asked me out instead,” she offered, though she wasn’t sure why. John let out a soft chuckle. “Very true. I guess I just…I wanted to keep you safe.”“Safe? From what?” Evangeline suddenly felt heat rush her face. Was this man just paranoid or what? “Safe from this? Or from you?”He looked up, placing his fork down on the plate. His stare was expressionless and she suddenly regretted her brazen accusation. “Both.” His reply had been simple, direct, stern. “Those people who did this to me, they’ll do worse to you if they think that we’re involved…if they think that their message wasn’t clear enough.”

“You like doing that, don't you?''Yes, I like kissing you.''No,' she said, 'lifting me off my feet. Carrying me around. Pulling me down to kiss you whenever you get the urge.' She turned to him with a mock glare. 'I think it goes hand in hand with the telling me what to do stuff.'He didn't let go of her hand as he lifted his to run the back of one knuckle down her cheek. 'You like it, too.”

“„It’s okay. It’s over.” He slipped back into his human form, pulling her against his chest, resting his cheek against hers. Their pounding hearts beat in unison. „I’ll never let anything happen to you. I promise. You’re safe with me.” Bethany’s fingers dug into his shirt as she shivered. „I know. I love you.”

“He closed the distance between them, slipped an arm around her waist beneath the blanket. His fingers traced her jaw, slid into the hair at her nape. “You are a fascinating woman, Paige. No wonder Russell chose you for this task. Or did you volunteer?”With a tug, she was flush against him. The blanket fell away as she let it go to press her hands against his chest. Paige closed her eyes. His naked chest.His skin was hot beneath her hands, silky and hard, and she wanted to pet him like a cat.How could she possibly find him sexy at a time like this?“Let me go,” she breathed.“Before you’ve done what you came to do?”“I didn’t come here to do anything.”“What did Russell offer you?”“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”“Were you supposed to seduce me? Supposed to leave me sated and exhausted in bed while you went through my papers?” His head dipped toward her. “Because I have to say, Paige, that I am very disappointed in your technique thus far. But I find I am quite willing to allow you to complete your mission.She knew she should pull away when his lips touched hers, but it was physically impossible. Not because he held her too tightly, but because her body was zinging with sparks that she didn’t want to end…”

“Impulsively, she leaned across the truck and kissed him on the cheek. He glanced over in surprise when she pulled away, but pleasure glowed in his eyes."What was that for?""Just seemed like the thing to do," she said."Well, feel free to do it more often," he encouraged. "I assure you I won't mind.”