“I’m sorry,” she said when she could speak, pulling her face away from him in embarrassment. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just can’t stop crying.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He tipped her face up to his and smiled. “I needed a shower anyway. That’s the first hot water to hit me all day.”

She tried to laugh, but the emotions were so intertwined she was sobbing again. So he simply held her as if she were a little girl, patting her back, comforting her.

“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay. It’s over now. He’ll be out of here in a couple of days. And he won’t come near you again. I promise.”

Somehow those few phrases helped, as did the feeling of his strong arms around her. Warmth suffused within her, radiant and healing. The raw ache inside of her began to subside, replaced by a surprising upwell of a different feeling altogether that swept her like a tidal wave, bowling her over as if she were something small and insignificant like a pebble in its path.

Lifting her face to his, Jessica saw that his eyes now glittered with something other than anger. Desire. He was feeling it too, this primal attraction to another person that had nothing to do with logic and everything to do with the heart. She could sense it emanating between them, a shimmering energy that seemed to draw them inevitably closer like two magnets. So when he slowly lifted her face to his and brushed away a tear, she kissed him.

She took him by surprise; she could feel it. Then his lips brushed hers in a silent question, and she answered him eagerly. All of her instincts urged her on, knowing this was right, that this was what she needed to erase that pain inside her. She didn’t want to stop; she wanted Gavin to make love to her now.

He caught on quickly and pulled her up against his hard body as he tasted her, his hand sliding down her waist to her hips and positioning her firmly and possessively in his arms.

It was perfect, a melding of relief and passion. At first the kiss was tender and comforting, soothing away her pain and disappointment. And then it began to change to something deeply erotic as the heat built between them. Jessica moaned, no longer able to think, totally giving herself over to what was happening between them. His tongue stroked hers in a blatant imitation of what they were both craving, and she could feel his erection against her stomach, hard and pulsing. She had felt disgust when Zach touched her, but she wanted Gavin in a way she had never wanted any man.

Ever.

Somehow they made it to the cot and she was on her back. Desire shot through her, hot and fierce as he yanked down her top, and when he sucked hard on her exposed nipple, she nearly came off the bed, the exquisite sensation shooting through her trembling body. Her clothing was a hindrance now and she wanted it off, needing to experience him, skin against skin, naked and writhing…

“Please. I need…”

“I know, sweetheart. Let me…”

She was so aroused he had to help her. Gavin tugged her yoga pants down while she wrestled with her top and her bra. In spite of his urgency, there was a gentleness in his touch, a reverence for her that drove her insane. Then she was down to her panties, and he removed them quickly, cupping her between her legs as she helplessly ground into him.

“Gavin, now. Please, fuck me now!” Her request was more of a moan as she pleaded, hot and wet with desire, her body begging for relief. Thankfully, he was in the same mindset, for he somehow produced a condom, ditched his pants, and then thrust boldly inside her.

“Oh, God…” she whispered as her body expanded to accommodate him. The feeling was utterly exquisite, and she couldn’t stop her gasp of excitement. She could sense he was fighting for control as he slowly withdrew, but when she lifted her hips impatiently and met his, he swore.

“Damn.” He finally gave in to what was happening between them, thrusting deep inside her, holding her in position as he pounded her thoroughly. The tension had already built to a breaking point and she let go, shattering beneath him.

“Jess…” He arched his back and called her name, reaching his own thunderous climax. Far away she heard him groan with pleasure, pumping, throbbing as everything became very still. Then she was in his arms and he held her closely, tenderly, as if cherishing her above all else, and she could feel her body contracting around him.

One of the groundskeepers called outside to his companion, and Jessica slowly came to her senses. The room came harshly into focus; she saw the weights on the wall, the straps, and the exercise equipment, Gavin’s muscular arms with that sexy tattoo entwined with her own…

She had to get out. Now. The haze of pleasure quickly dissolved, and she slipped out of his arms and reached for her clothes.

“Jess…” He rose up on his elbows, watching her in bewilderment. “Are you okay?”

“We’d better get going,” she said shortly as she quickly got dressed. “We both have work tomorrow, and it’s late.”

“Don’t.” His voice was grim, and he came to stand beside her, slipping on his trousers. “Don’t do this.”

She couldn’t look at that sculpted chest and those biceps, the arms that had just held her moments ago, bringing her to utter ecstasy.

“I can’t talk about this now. Not tonight. I don’t have it in me.”

“Okay. But we are going to discuss this.” His tone was firm, promising her that he wasn’t letting her sweep everything under the rug as if it hadn’t happened.

It seemed like he wanted to say a lot more, but instead handed over her jacket. Jessica struggled into it, grateful for something to do.

“Can you lock the back door and I’ll hit the lights?”

It felt ridiculous to be talking about the normal things, lights and locked doors, when her mind was in a whirlwind. But it also helped to ground her, to force her to focus on a mindless job that needed to be done.

He nodded, and they took care of the final tasks before going outside and walking to the parking lot. Neither of them spoke as the night enveloped them. It was silent and still, too early for the music of the summer insects, too late for the chatter of spring birds. Jessica noticed the clouds had cleared, and a beautiful moon shone brightly above.

When she reached her car, he opened the door for her. His eyes met hers and she could see the question in them. “Are you all right to drive?”

“I’m fine,” she said abruptly, and then softened her voice. “See you tomorrow.”

With that she drove off, and didn’t look in the rearview mirror.

—

Gavin stood in the parking lot next to his Jeep, his mind racing a thousand miles an hour.

Their accidental encounter had been hot. It was something neither of them had planned, but once he had her in his arms there was no going back.

Yet it was more than just the erotic nature of their embrace that made this unique. He’d felt a connection with her that he’d never experienced with any woman.

He knew he should get his car and go, but he didn’t want to leave yet, didn’t want to lose the night and Jessica. It was ridiculous—she was already gone, and it was over. But he felt that if he went home alone to his townhouse, he’d fall asleep and it would all just vanish.

And tomorrow they would try to forget what had happened in the heat of the moment.

—

At the end of the parking lot, another car waited in the shadows. Roger had forgotten his wallet in the locker room and had to return after the game to retrieve it. He was thoroughly surprised to see Jessica and Gavin in the parking lot, engaged in what appeared to be a romantic tête-à-tête.

Well, now, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he saw Gavin close the door and Jessica speed off. Apparently the redhead, for all her proclamations of not dating ballplayers, made exceptions.

Starting his car, Roger grinned to himself. He wasn’t a math major by any means, but he knew enough to calculate when one plus one equaled sex. And Jessica’s little escapade had that written all over it.