He placed his free palm against the truck and snuggled me against his frame. He leaned down and nipped my earlobe. “What do you want, Vivi?”

  “That. What you said earlier. All of it. And more.”

  His dark eyebrow shot up. “What more?”

  “You. Talking, laughing, holding hands, kissing my temple, cheek, lips. Making sure everyone knows were together.” I bit my lip. It was swollen and sensitive. I dropped my eyes and peeked at him through my lashes. I’d never been an ingenue, but I felt like one now. “You inside me. Moving over me, in me, surrounding me.”

  He inched even closer, so our chests brushed. “Fuck, Vivi. Fuck. That sounds amazing.”

  “I want you, Lennon. Now, tomorrow, in ten minutes, next week, next month, seven years from now. But don’t you dare make me wait that long.”

  “I won’t. Gah. I’m not sure I can make it through tonight after those sexy words came out of your mouth.” He shifted, and I felt the large, unmistakable bulge against my thigh, which spasmed with the need for more friction.

  My panties were sopping—embarrassingly so.

  “But you deserve for me to do this right. Perfect. Because that’s what you are to me, for me, my perfect Vivi.”

  “I’m not perfect, Lennon. Don’t you dare put me on a pedestal. Then you’ll just knock me off it and end up hating me or resenting me or⁠—”

  “Perfect for me, Vivi. You’re the yin to my yang, my missing piece. And you matter. So let me show you how much. We’re building the foundation for forever. A few days, even a few weeks won’t matter⁠—”

  “I can’t wait weeks,” I muttered.

  Lennon laughed and kissed the tip of my nose. “Noted.” He pressed his erection into my belly. “I don’t want to, either. But I have to say… This anticipation is pretty fucking delicious.”

  Chapter 19

  Chapter

  Lennon

  * * *

  After a few rowdy hours with my teammates at the restaurant, I’d taken Vivi back to my mother’s place late last night. There’d been a smile on my face when I got home, but I hadn’t slept well. And not just because Vivian had turned out to be first-class seductress. She was, and I’d enjoyed her dirty words.

  Nope, it was the freckles. Those tiny, wholesome spots dusting her nose made me lose my mind. I want to kiss each one, then start over and do it again.

  And the things I wanted to do to the rest of her body… Lust pulsed through me as I closed my eyes, leaving my kitchen and cup of coffee behind, and slid into the tantalizing images. We’d be heat and lust and love, mixed up in one electric dance to climax.

  I couldn’t wait. I also couldn’t rush her. Vivian had said those things to me was because she felt safe doing so. I understood that. I needed to breed more of that trust.

  But my dick didn’t want to listen. The bastard wanted in Vivian right now. And if it had its way, it wouldn’t ever leave the tight, warmth sheath of her body.

  I opened my eyes and returned to the kitchen island, which was a large rectangle that separated my kitchen from the living room. The countertop was dark-stained maple butcher block. Maybe not the most practical option, but I loved the satiny finish. My hand remained wrapped around my now-cool coffee mug because I’d been too busy fantasizing to drink the brew.

  But there was a question in there Vivian and I needed to address: I liked to be in charge. Absolutely in charge. Would she like that? Hell, I might not like that with her…. No, who was I kidding? I absolutely wanted to be aggressive, assertive, and fuck her to her very limit. Then do it again. “Shit.”

  Belladonna raised her head, giving me her full attention.

  “Nothing to worry about, Bella baby. Just that your dad’s a sick bastard. Want to go see Mom and Vivi?” Belladonna thumped her tail. “Maybe if I kiss her again like I did last night…” A wave of lust scorched its way through my veins. “Okay, I can’t keep kissing Vivi like that if I’m not going to get a release. I haven’t been this desperate to get off since I was fourteen and figured out how to orgasm.”

  I rose from my bar stool and dumped out my coffee. After putting the cup in the dishwasher, I grabbed Belladonna’s leash. She ran up to me, excited at the prospect of a walk. “Let’s go see Vivian,” I said.

  As I collected my keys, my phone rang. A hollow feeling settled in my stomach when I noted the Michigan area code. “Hello?”

  “Lennon Cruz?”

  “Yes, speaking.”

  “This is Detective Ahmed. I’m calling about your assault last September.”

  In an instant I was back there, on the ground, getting kicked, stabbed—a phantom hand fisted my throat, strangling me. I managed to lean against the wall before my knees went weak.

  I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. “Any news?” My voice was raspy, but at least I could speak.

  He sighed. “No. But don’t think we’re giving up. We aren’t. Especially now that there’s been another attack, very similar to yours.”

  My heart thrummed. “What happened.”

  “This couple didn’t survive.”

  A swallowed heavily, trying to keep my coffee in my stomach.

  “I can tell you a little more…if you’d like to know,” Detective Ahmed said.

  “Yeah. Anything. I think Vivi will want the details, too.”

  “She’s my next call,” Detective Ahmed said. “You two still talk?”

  “She just moved out here.”

  “Oh, good.” The relief in his voice was palpable. “Vivian seemed adrift and concerned by herself. I’m glad you talked her into the move. Being near a support network will help her get past the attack.”

  I realized Vivian and I hadn’t really discussed how she felt about what had happened. That made me an epic dick. Because we’d been through it together—and because I’d abandoned her for months—I needed to make sure we now worked together to heal.

  Detective Ahmed gave me a few gory details, some of which lined up to my memories of that evening.

  “Sounds like they’re escalating,” I said, heaviness growing in my gut.

  “Yes, it does. Which means they’re getting cockier. We’ll get them, Mr. Cruz.”

  “I hope so. No one should be exposed to that kind of evil.”

  “Agreed. I’ll be in touch if anything changes.”

  “Thanks. And I’ll be there with Vivian in about twenty minutes,” I told him.

  “Good. I think she’ll appreciate your concern.”

  When I arrived at my mom’s house, she handed me a cup of coffee the moment I entered the kitchen. That told me I looked even worse than I’d thought.

  “Vivian is on the phone with the detective,” she said, studying me.

  “The news was…gruesome.”

  She touched my cheek. “I’m so sorry you both had to survive that. But I’m glad, too, Lennon.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Vivian is special.”

  I nodded.

  “I’m spending the day with your sisters,” Mom said.

  “Good. They’re both workaholics. What are you doing? Can I pay for it?”

  I was proud of my sisters’ professions and ambition, but I liked that they were making time for my mother right now before she started chemotherapy next week. I liked to spoil them, too.

  “No, no. We’re going to do a day at Mia’s. We have movies and my favorite foods. Just spending time with them is a pleasure.”

  “Have fun,” I said. “Don’t do anything too crazy.”

  She chuckled. “As if. I think Mia and Nina are even more boring than me.”

  I liked it that way, mostly. I wanted my sisters safe and happy. They were safe, but I wasn’t sure they were happy, mostly because they never went anywhere or met anyone.

  I frowned. Maybe we all needed to adjust our priorities. I’d been so focused on providing for my mom and sisters, on being a good teammate, on reuniting military K-9s with their handlers, and then on protecting Vivian, I’d forgotten about my own needs.

  “I told Vivian you planned to take her on a date.” Mom eyed me diffidently. “Make it a good one, Lennon. She deserves to feel special.”

  “I will, Mom.”

  She gave a nod and offered me her cheek. I kissed it while she wrapped her arms around my waist. The hug lasted longer than usual. We both needed some level of reassurance.

  “Take care of my girl,” Mom said, pulling back. She patted Belladonna, then grabbed her purse and headed out the back door. I heard her car start a moment later. I chugged the last of my coffee and set the mug in the dishwasher. I’d just moved to the living room when Vivian opened her bedroom door.

  My breath caught in my throat, and I felt like I’d swallowed my tongue as I tried to take in all of Vivian in one greedy gulp. Impossible. I managed to rehinge my jaw and take a breath as I started at her cute little peep-toe pumps—yes, I knew exactly what those were, thanks to my sisters cooing over shoes for years. Her toenails were a glittery pink, her ankles and calves trim. The hem of her brightly colored, filmy skirt flirted with her knees, giving me a tantalizing view of her toned legs.

  The fabric clung just right to her hips, and I had no doubt that when she turned around, her perky little ass would grab my attention. The wide belt cinched in her waist, and the gauzy fabric settled at her collarbones, hiding her cleavage. Nonetheless, stunning.

  “Vivian. You are glorious.”

  Her luscious, shimmery pink lips parted as she smiled up at me, causing her mane of thick, auburn hair to spill over her shoulders and down her arms. She was so feminine—soft and bright, and she smelled as good as she looked.

  “Hi, Lennon. I hope this is all right for today.”

  “Yes, absolutely.”

  She fidgeted. “So…that wasn’t good news from Detective Ahmed.”

  I opened my arms, and she stepped into them with a heaving breath. Ah. She thought I’d push her way again. I pulled her even tighter to my chest and kissed her temple. “Want to talk about it?” I asked. “I should have asked before, but I was so caught up in my head, in my fear⁠—”

  “No. It’s over. I want it to stay in the past. A blip.”

  “I’m so glad you’re okay, Vivi,” I said. “So glad.”

  She squeezed me as a shudder rippled through her. “Same goes for me, Lennon. I…” She stepped back and smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. In fact, something that looked like fear…maybe longing moved in their depths. She cleared her throat. “Did you have a plan or should we come up with something together?” she asked.

  She wanted to change the subject. I wasn’t sure that was a great idea, but I didn’t push her. She’d talk when she was ready…I hoped.

  “Well, I thought we’d go to lunch, and then, if you’re interested, we could either go out on the lake in Conroe or play putt-putt.”

  Her eyes lit up with joy. “You remembered,” she breathed.

  “That you’ve never played putt-putt but always wanted to? Of course, Vivi.”

  She came closer, rose on her tiptoes, and kissed me. I clasped her tighter and happily kissed her back.

  Chapter 20

  Chapter

  Vivian

  * * *

  I’d been kissed by Lennon before, but I’d never been so consumed and involved in a kiss that every nerve in my lips, hands, and chest exploded with the need for more. With a gentle dip of his chin, Lennon touched the tip of his tongue to the bow of my upper lip, and I melted further, my mind so full of dopamine, I wasn’t sure I’d ever come down.

  His tongue smoothed against mine, and my brain melted. Thoughts scattered, pleasure mounted, and I could do nothing more than accept what he gave me. And it was so. Good.

  Eventually, he pulled back, his chest heaving, his dark eyes half covered by drooping lids, his lips still damp from our kiss.

  “Holy—that was so hot,” I breathed. “I’m surprised we still have on clothes, still have a standing house.”

  He winked, and I whimpered because Lennon winking did things to my insides—molten-chocolate things that might just be a mini orgasm.

  “You like kissing me, Vivi? I’ll kiss you all day, if that’s what you want.”

  “More,” I mumbled against his lips.

  “Well, I need to break this off now so I can take you out.” He spoke against my lips, as if he couldn’t bear to be parted from me.

  I understood, as I didn’t want to be parted from him.

  He rested his forehead against mine and heaved a breath. “It’s so hard to step back when all I want is to lay you out and feast on that beautiful body.”

  Definitely not-so-mini orgasm that time. I whimpered as I pressed my lips to his.

  “You are so perfect for me,” he mumbled. “I can’t believe I wasted months⁠—”

  I cupped his cheeks and stared into his eyes. “No, Lennon. No recrimination, no regrets. We have now. We need to focus on that.”

  He smiled, but his eyes held residual guilt and pain that nothing I said would eliminate. “Okay.”

  I smoothed my skirt, then my hair, enjoying Lennon’s gaze tracking my hands. “So…putt-putt?”

  A devious expression crossed Lennon’s face. “I think I’ll need to show you how to hold the putter.”

  I shivered. Oh, we were going to play…

  For lunch, Lennon took me to the Rainbow Lodge, which was a quiet, sumptuous treat set in a log cabin. When I glanced at the menu, I couldn’t help but smile.

  “You remembered I like trout,” I said, that warm fuzziness filling my chest.

  “And crab. Both are together in that one,” Lennon said, pointing to my menu. He could do that because he sat next to me at the white-linen-covered table, not across from me. His thigh brushed mine, and a pleasant little shiver worked its way up my spine.

  When he rubbed against my leg the second time, I dropped my gaze and bit my lip, excitement bubbling as I came up with a plan.

  “I’ll have the rainbow trout with lump crab and pecan butter,” I said, smiling at our kind-faced waiter…while sliding my fingertips up the inside seam of Lennon’s khakis. He ordered the mixed grill, and I flattened my palm at the top of his rock-hard thigh. When I wiggled my fingers, I could touch something else that was rock hard.

  Lennon waited until our server departed before he rasped, “You’re playing with fire, Vivi.”

  “I don’t think so,” I said. “I’m showing you what I want.” I leaned closer—so close my lips brushed his ear. “And I’m telling you I want you, Lennon. I want you badly. I’ve wanted you for months, and I expect you to make me feel better. No, I expect you to make me feel fantastic. Soon.”

  He turned his head and captured my lips in a too-short, but oh-so-scorching kiss. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

  He settled back against the chair and asked me about my morning. I told him of my preparations for his mother’s rounds of chemo.

  He frowned. “I expected to pay your salary.”

  “Nope. Neither of us wanted that.” I held up my hand. “She’s also housing and feeding me, Lennon.”

  “I don’t know how she can afford to pay you, though.” He shook his head. “My mom always provided for us—always—but that didn’t mean she ever made a lot of money.”

  “That’s between you and her. Please don’t put me in the middle.”

  He nodded. “You’re right. Sorry.”

  Our food arrived, and Lennon gave my hand on his thigh a pat before he reached for his napkin. I trailed my fingers across his leg, enjoying the intense flash of desire that slid through his eyes before I reached for my napkin as well.

  “What else should I know?” Lennon asked.

  “She’s correct that it’s better to have twenty-four-hour care, should she need it. Again, though, I’m not sure she will. The mass will be removed on Monday, and then we start a regimen of medication pretty quickly. It’s standard procedure so there isn’t a chance for a new mass to grow. I’ve already spoken to her doctors, and we have a plan in place if she reacts poorly to the treatment.” I picked up my fork but paused, meeting his gaze. “I can’t talk to you about her diagnosis or any of the details.”

  He nodded. After finishing his bite, he said, “I know. I won’t put you in that position.”

  We continued to chat as we ate. When we’d finished, I resisted the urge to order a decadent dessert because I knew the sugar crash would make me sleepy and possibly irritable.

  Lennon placed his hand at the small of my back as he led me out of the restaurant. I heard people whisper about him and ask who I was, and my stomach fluttered. I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny. But then he glanced down at me, and I realized Lennon was totally worth the slight discomfort that came with dating a well-known man.

  “It’s the worst here in Houston,” he said as we reached the sidewalk. “And in Canada, because hockey is basically what they eat and breathe up there. We don’t ever have to go.”

  “Well, there goes my plan for Whistler.”

  “I’m sorry, Vivi. It won’t always be like this. Once I retire, people will forget me.” He opened the passenger door to his truck and stared at his shoes.

  They were nice ones—stylish, with a strap across the top in a dark leather with a lighter sole. “I was teasing,” I said. I placed my hands on his chest and tilted my head back. A fine sheen of moisture bloomed across my skin, but I wasn’t sure if it was all from the humidity and heat. Desire pooled in my belly as I studied him.

  He met my gaze, his still worried. “I don’t want to mess this up. You told me I have one chance.”

  I shook my head. “Other people’s actions don’t reflect back on you, Lennon. And anyway, I enjoy spending time with you. I always have. It’s like…”I licked my lips as I struggled to find the right words. “There’s this invisible connection, but it’s more than that. As soon as I see you, my heart speeds up. I get giddy.”

  He smiled, his beard shifting so I caught the glint of his white teeth. “And I want you close—as close as possible so I can touch you,” he told me. He leaned closer. “And kiss you.” He rubbed his beard along the sensitive column of my neck. I whimpered. “And soon, fuck you.”