He thumbed the other direction. “Back door.”

  I followed where he pointed and slipped out into the darkness. I stopped for a minute once I was outside. The winter air was a bracing jolt.

  Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I began walking. A moment later, I glanced ahead to see a silhouette turning onto the sidewalk. My pulse galloped faster. It was McKenna.

  “McKenna!” My words were ahead of my brain, but it kicked in quick.

  What the hell are you doing? You’re not a good bet, not for someone like McKenna.

  Shut up.

  The list of reasons I wasn’t a good bet for anyone for anything more than casual was pretty fucking long. Yet I didn’t want to think about that now.

  The air felt sharp and crisp as I began to jog. She didn’t hear me call her name.

  “Hey,” I said when I reached her.

  She jumped back and let out a startled gasp.

  “Oh, hey, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  When I looked into her eyes, I saw raw fear flickering in the depths. Protectiveness rose inside me like a roar. I wanted to bundle her into my arms and make that fear disappear.

  “Seriously.” I reached a hand out to curl it over her shoulder. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” I could feel the subtle tremor in her body. “Are you okay?”

  She blinked and looked away quickly. My hand fell away. It was beyond clear that she needed space. She curled her arms around her waist before she brought her eyes to mine again. “I’m fine. I guess I startle easily,” she explained.

  That was maybe an understatement. But then, maybe I was being an idiot. “Sometimes I can be a dumbass.”

  “What do you mean?

  “It’s dark, and you’re walking alone down the sidewalk. I’m not worried about anything, but with the world we live in, most women don’t want some guy appearing like that.”

  Her lips curved into sort of a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I know you didn’t mean any harm, Jack. It’s just me.”

  I wanted to ask who hurt her, but now most definitely wasn’t the time for that.

  “Should I walk you home? Or are you parked somewhere nearby? Would you like me to go the other way and leave you alone?”

  This time, her smile was a little more than the shape of her lips. “I’m guessing we’re walking in the same direction.”

  “I think we are.”

  “In that case, please walk with me while I walk home.” When she chuckled, the throaty sound zapped through me like a fiery sizzle.

  McKenna reached into me, kicking away the compartment I’d tucked my heart inside. She made me want things I knew weren’t sensible.

  I must have delayed a little too long because she prompted, “Jack?”

  “Let’s walk together.”

  I fell into step beside her. We were quiet with nothing but the sound of our footsteps on the sidewalk. There were a few icy spots here and there, but she deftly dodged them.

  She stopped in front of the harbor. “I love it here.”

  I glanced over. Electricity shimmered in the air like falling sparks around us. “Even growing up here, you still feel that way?”

  She nodded. Together, we looked out over the harbor and beyond into the inky waters of the ocean. A half-moon rose over the mountains behind us, casting a pearly shimmer on the water.

  “I do,” she said, her tone almost reverent.

  “You hear words like amazing, breathtaking, inspiring, and then you come to a place like this, and you feel those words,” I offered.

  I’d seen beautiful places and been in the wilderness before, but Alaska was unique. It felt like nature’s cathedral. It snatched your breath out of your lungs. The world felt like so much more, with its beauty enough to wipe clean all the daily worries of life.

  I felt McKenna glance toward me and slid my gaze to meet hers. It literally felt like sparks striking stone when our eyes collided, and heat shimmered in the air.

  “It is like that.” Her lips curled in a soft smile. “I’m glad you like it here.”

  “Like isn’t adequate.”

  “No, it’s not, is it?” she mused in a raspy whisper. There was a splash in the water. “Seal, probably.”

  “You can guess that in the darkness?”

  She shrugged. “Things sound a certain way. Otters are a little messier and splashier in the water than seals.”

  “I bet you know all the best places.”

  She considered that before her smile widened. “I probably do. I can show you a few.”

  My heart surged in my chest. It wasn’t just lust when it came to McKenna. Warmth curled through me like wisps of smoke.

  “I’d like that.”

  She curled her arms around her waist again, shifting on her feet.

  “Let’s keep walking before you get too cold.” I reflexively reached out, sliding my hand down her back in a coaxing touch. I was relieved when she didn’t leap in fear this time.

  When we began walking again, my hand fell away. I wanted to hold her hand, to slide my thumb along the soft skin of her wrist, to feel her shiver from desire instead of cold.

  She glanced sideways. “It’s cold.”

  “A little,” I teased in return.

  A few minutes later, we turned off Main Street. As we approached her place, reluctance slowed my pace. We stopped in front of her house.

  “Tell me something.” She peered up at me.

  “Anything.”

  A gust of wind whipped down the street and blew her hair in a little swirl. “What if…” She narrowed her eyes as she studied me.

  The only light came from the glow of the lights on the porch. Her gaze was intent, and it felt as if she was trying to read into me while she tried to make a decision.

  “What if we just—” She bluntly said, “I don’t want a relationship.”

  “I don’t either,” I answered honestly.

  “I want you.”

  At her words, need surged inside me like a fist pounding on the door, loud and insistent.

  “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you,” I offered in the charged pause.

  “What if we just had one night?”

  Chapter Sixteen

  McKenna

  What if we just had one night?

  I could not believe how bold I was.

  Jack was silent. With every second that ticked by, I could hear the rush of blood in my ears as my heart pounded hard and fast. The air around us felt electric.

  Just when I started to think I’d been far too reckless, his eyes locked on mine. “One night?”

  With a swallow, I nodded.

  “That’s it?”

  I blinked. Even though it felt physically impossible, my heart raced faster. “Well, it’s a start.” I collected myself. “I don’t want things to get complicated.”

  “We agree on that. I’m not sure one night will be enough.”

  Just when I didn’t know where to go with this conversation, he added, “But I’m not about to miss that one night. Your place or mine?”

  With my pulse careening wildly, I gestured to my steps a few feet away before glancing down the street to his house. Although only two small houses separated mine and his, the distance between them seemed impossibly far. Right this very second, I needed what he was offering. I needed the escape.

  Jack’s hand closed around mine. It was warm, strong, and secure. A feeling I didn’t expect.

  I led him up the steps, stumbling a little on the top one. He released my hand, his palm landing on my hip as he steadied me. Everywhere he touched felt like lightning striking through me.

  Thank goodness for force of habit and muscle memory. I managed to punch in the code to get into the house before we rushed through the door.

  The living room area was dark, but I’d left a light on over the stove in the kitchen. It cast a soft glow in the background as I turned to look at him. The door clicked shut behind him, and quiet fell around us.

  My eyes were instantly snagged in his intent blue gaze. He studied me soundlessly. “Are you sure about this?”

  “I’m not sure about anything,” I answered honestly. “But I want to kiss you again, and it’s been a long day, and I want to forget.”

  “Forget what?”

  Jack wasn’t supposed to elicit this urge to confide. I wanted to tell him my secrets and let him hold and comfort me.

  I shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Even if I was dodging, that was the truth.

  I lifted a hand, placing it on his chest just above the zipper of his jacket. I hooked my finger over it, curling my knuckle as I dragged the zipper down. The sound was loud in the quiet room.

  Jack never once looked away. When his jacket fell open, my hand dropped away. He took a step closer. It felt as if he was moving in slow motion, but then everything sped up. He unzipped my jacket, and his palms curled over my shoulders. The jacket slipped down behind me. He caught it with one hand, looping it over the coat rack by the door as he simultaneously shrugged out of his.

  Seconds later, his palms landed on the door behind me, caging me between his arms. He was right there, inches away from me. My heart drummed, and heat blasted me from head to toe. His presence was strong and encompassing.

  “One thing at a time,” he said.

  I took a shaky breath. “Okay,” I rasped.

  He dipped his head, dusting his lips over mine. It felt like a flame across my mouth. Heat prickled over the surface of my skin and spiraled through me. The air felt heavy, charged with electricity, as if just before a storm when thunder is rumbling, lightning is threatening, and the rain is about to break in a rush.

  I made a pleading sound in the back of my throat. I was distantly surprised at it. I didn’t usually want this much. I didn’t usually even feel this much.

  Jack had this disarming effect on me. All of my barriers fell away by the force of desire taking over.

  I flexed upward to meet him as his mouth claimed mine. His lingering kiss was knee-weakening and melted me straight through. His tongue swept in masterful, devouring strokes. I was near frantic. One hand fisted his T-shirt, and the other slid around to grip his back. I needed something to hold on to.

  By the time he lifted his head, we were both gasping for air. I sucked in deep breaths. My nipples were tight to the point of aching, and I could feel the moisture at the apex of my thighs. We stared at each other. A tiny corner of my mind registered that he looked as surprised as I felt.

  “One thing at a time,” he repeated.

  I felt a brush against my ankles and glanced down to see Snowy, the kitten I’d scooped out of the cold, sidling up to our feet. Jack looked down, a laugh rustling in his throat.

  “How’s Snowy doing?”

  It was just a simple question. Yet I experienced a little curl of warmth at discovering he remembered the name I’d bestowed upon the kitten.

  “Good, I think. She’s warm and dry and fed. She likes to scamper around and explore.”

  I pressed my palm on his chest, pushing him back. Snowy had already shown herself to be an independent girl, and with one more brush on my ankles, she walked over to the windows and leaped up, ignoring us in favor of the view outside.

  Jack’s lips curled in a smile. “She seems comfortable here.”

  “She is.”

  My knees barely held me up as I walked the few steps to my couch. All I knew was I needed something underneath me to keep me from melting to the floor.

  We stopped in front of it, and Jack studied me for another beat. He lifted a hand, brushing my tangled hair away from my face before dipping his head and kissing me again. He took deep sips from my mouth as he cupped my cheeks. Even though I told myself this was nothing more than pure lust, just a freak of chemistry, I felt almost cradled by his touch.

  Our hands began exploring. I stroked my palm over his chest, feeling along the hard-muscled planes. Another slipped around to trace up his back under the hem of his T-shirt. His skin was hot to the touch. All the while, I felt like pure fire, made of need and want.

  “I need…” I began when I shoved his T-shirt up.

  He reached up, catching his shirt just behind his neck and tugging it over in a quick swoop. My mouth went dry for a moment as I stared at him. He was fit, lean, and muscled, with a dusting of dark hair on his chest. I wanted more—to see more, to feel more, to touch more.

  He turned, tracing his knuckle along the edge of my blouse. I wore an open blouse with a fitted long-sleeved T-shirt underneath. With a shimmy of my shoulders, I shrugged out of the blouse. His knuckles trailed down my sides, teasing under the curves of my breasts. My nipples practically begged for his touch.

  Restless, with need driving me, I curled my hand on the hem of my shirt and lifted it up and over. Jack’s nostrils flared as he looked at me. For a few seconds, I felt shy. I was a curvy girl with plump breasts and a soft, rounded belly. He opened his palm, unfurling it and sliding it over my belly and then up to caress one breast and then the other. Fire shimmered on my skin when I felt the brush of his lips along my collarbone while his thumb and forefinger pinched a nipple. I cried out sharply.

  He lifted his head, then turned to sit on the couch. I moved on instinct, straddling him and sinking down over his hips. I simply… wanted.

  Our next kiss felt like a bonfire, with his touch kindling the flames higher and higher inside. His hands slid over the curves of my hips before one palm shifted course, moving up my back in a smooth pass. The feel of his calloused palm sent hot sparks scattering over the surface of my skin.

  It was hard to breathe. All I could manage to do was pant and suck in tiny gulps of air. Between the racing of my pulse and the need rushing through me, I craved release. Every touch fed into the gathering force of the fire like little flickers of oxygen, sending it higher and higher.

  “McKenna,” Jack rasped, his voice low and gruff.

  It took an effort to drag my eyes open. We studied each other for a moment, the dim light from the kitchen catching the deep blue of his eyes. One of my palms was on his chest and the other curled around his muscled forearm.

  I swallowed and swiped my tongue across my lips. “Yes?” I whispered.

  His knuckles trailed down my breastbone, resting at the clasp of my bra. “May I?”

  As if the question was even necessary. At my nod, I felt his thumb slide under the clasp. With subtle pressure, my bra fell open, and my breasts bounced free. I watched as his eyes darkened. He lightly cupped them both, his thumbs dragging in lazy strokes across the curves just under my nipples.

  My nipples tightened to the point of pain. “Jack, I need⁠—”

  Thank God he could read my mind because he bent low and his mouth closed over a nipple. The subtle suction caused me to cry out sharply, my fingers spearing into his hair. He gave the same attention to my other nipple, lingering over them both before he leaned back.

  “Fuck, McKenna,” he rasped as his hand slid down over my waist.

  “We could get to that,” I managed to tease.

  His chuckle sent a little shiver straight through me. “We could.”

  He rocked his hips just slightly, and I felt the friction of his arousal where it nestled against my core. My clit throbbed, the beat of my pulse pounding right there.

  I scrambled off his lap to quickly shimmy out of my jeans. I needed to be bare against him and feel all of him. While I could’ve felt exposed under his gaze, which never once left me, I didn’t.

  I savored the feel of his eyes on me like a caress. My skin felt prickly. I was so desperate for more, so desperate for his touch. I was down to my panties when he said, “Wait.”

  I froze, one hand curled over the edge of the elastic. “For what?”

  He reached for that hand, catching it and reeling me close until I stood between his knees. He shifted forward, dropping hot kisses on my belly while his thumb and finger squeezed one of my nipples. The sharp sensation arrowed straight to my core.

  My pussy clenched, and I could feel the slick arousal there. “Jack,” I pleaded.

  He lifted his head, his eyes meeting mine as he dragged his palm almost lazily over the curve of my belly. He cupped it between my thighs, his fingers pressing lightly against the damp silk.

  “What do you want, McKenna?”

  We stared at each other. All I could hear was my heart pounding a thundering clap of need for him.

  “You,” I said simply.

  His finger shifted, pushing the silk to the side and delving into my dripping core. I cried out, my hips rocking reflexively toward his touch. Once again, he took his time, teasing and exploring and barely coasting over my clit.

  His fingers disappeared when I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore. He dragged my panties down, and they fell around my ankles. I kicked them to the side. His touch was back where I needed it in a fiery second, sinking into me with two fingers and stretching my channel. It was a miracle I remained standing because I felt like liquid, made of need. For him.

  He leaned forward, bringing his mouth to my sex. I thought maybe it was impossible, but there I stood as a man sat before me fucking me with his fingers and bringing me to a racing fast climax with his tongue and subtle suction on my clit.

  Pleasure exploded, sizzling fast. I cried out, feeling myself clench around his fingers as pure sensation shattered through me. Just when my knees gave out, he caught me firmly and brought me back over his lap.

  I felt the subtle crinkle of his hair against my skin as we looked at each other. I was stunned, awash in the aftershocks of pleasure.

  “We can stop right now,” he said.

  “No way.” My voice was low but clear. I needed more. I needed him inside me.

  I reached between us, making quick work of the buttons on his fly even though my hands were rushed and almost clumsy. I glanced down when his cock sprang free as I shoved his boxers out of the way.

  He shifted, moving his jeans down just enough. I curled my palm around his cock. It was warm, the skin velvety soft. I swiped over the drop of precum rolling out the top, lifting my thumb to lick it. His eyes darkened. Abruptly, he moved. “Condom.”