He wondered how long it would take her to circle back there. “Like you were?”

“Do you have my file memorized?” Her gaze met his.

“Pretty much.” He reached out and smoothed the hair off her cheek. Let the silky strands slip between his fingers. “I know the basics. Your uncle got custody and sent you to a girls’ boarding school.”

“Right.”

His fingers lingered on the side of her face, brushing over her soft skin. “I’m guessing it sucked.”

Her eyes searched his. “Are you saying that because you’re worried about your son?”

Now was the time. He could just set the record straight and move on . . . but the need to test her pulled at him. “The situation is very different.”

“Forget I said anything.”

He dropped his hand to the mattress. “I think you’re disappointed in me.”

“I don’t know you.” She looked away, but not before a shadow moved behind her eyes.

“We’re in bed together.” Him on top of the covers and her beneath, but the inches of material didn’t matter. Being right on the edge, if she gave him the okay he might just rip through the covers to get to her.

“I thought you were supposed to be sleeping.” She picked at the blanket. Folded it down and tucked it under her armpits.

The shirt outlined her breasts. No bra here. That meant no sleep for him. Blew his concentration all to hell as well. “Not really in the mood right now.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Touch you.” A stupid but honest answer, and it was out there now.

He started to get up, move away. Last thing he wanted was for her to worry that the threats to her safety started inside the cabin. No matter how many times he told her she held the power and he had full control over his needs when he dropped his zipper, he needed to back it up by showing her.

“Do it.”

The scratch in her voice hit him first. He froze, then sank back down with his weight on his elbow. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”

“Me either, but I want you to.” She lifted her hand and traced the backs of her fingers over the scruff of his beard. “Just wipe everything away.”

He could give her relief. Let her find a release of some of the tension trapped inside her. She deserved that. Probably needed to find some sense of peace, if only for a few minutes. But that meant touching her, just like he’d been aching to do.

The call to forget the job and lose himself in her echoed in his head until he couldn’t hear anything else. He’d taken this assignment instead of farming it out to his team because he needed a diversion. Rick kept coming around, insisting they talk. Gabe had never been a runner, but he’d needed to break away. Gain perspective. Not kill Rick even though every word he uttered begged for it.

“Here.” She took Gabe’s hand, weaving her fingers through his.

Her warm palm pressed against his as her shoulder touched his arm. The brush must have had her nerves jumping around because her legs shifted in a flurry of constant motion. She’d gone from stiff with an expression of deep concern, to one of wonder.

A danger sign flashed in his brain. He should drop her hand and scoot his ass off that bed. Should have done a lot of things. He picked kissing her. Not a shattering move. A simple one. Lifted their joint hands and pressed his lips to the back of hers. Licked his tongue down to her wrist.

She watched him, her gaze following every touch. “The beard.”

“You don’t like it?”

“The opposite.” She traced a finger around his mouth. “I can’t help but wonder what it will feel like everywhere.”

Jesus. “You are a temptation, Natalie Udall.”

And that was a fucking understatement.

He didn’t hold back one more second. Shifting his weight, he leaned in, giving her all the time to pull back, slap him, hell, knee him in the groin. But none of that headed his way. If anything, she lifted her chin, bringing her mouth closer to his.

Then he was kissing her. Not sweet or lingering. No, he dove right into a devouring, oxygen-sucking kiss. Heat blasted around him as a hand slipped around her waist and tugged her in closer. Soft grumbling sounds filled the room as he crossed his mouth over hers.

Forget treading water. Hands, lips, the sweep of his tongue over hers . . . it all mixed together and combined to pull him under. Before his brain could send a signal to his hands to keep still, they started moving.

His fingers slid under the covers. Over her stomach, learning every amazing curve. He didn’t stop until his palm rested on top of her underwear. Her heat warmed his hand. Raising his head, his gaze locked with hers as he started a gentle rub, a brushing back and forth of his thumb, inching lower.

When she opened her legs even wider, he peeled away the sheets and blankets cocooning her. Pushed them to the side, freeing her.

He needed to see her, all of her. Touch her.

A sudden burst of energy pumped through him. He could feel his nerve endings snapping to life as he trailed his fingertips along the inside of her thigh. The lean muscles intrigued him, but the softness of her skin turned him inside out. The curves, every inch of her alive with feminine power.

She didn’t wait for him. She covered his hand with hers and brought his fingers right to the place she wanted them—between her legs—pressing them tight against her.

He leaned down and kissed her neck. Felt the thump of her erratic heartbeat under his lips. His mouth traveled over her as his finger slipped under the elastic band of her underwear. Over the soft patch of hair. Sliding down as he drew the tip through the wetness there.

He circled and caressed as her muscles tightened. “You’re ready.”

“Yes.” Her fingers clenched against his arm.

“This time.” He kissed a line from her throat to the back of her ear and felt her shiver in response. “But you won’t be in charge after this.”

“Yes.” She exhaled the word on a breath.

He eased his finger inside, just barely, and stopped. “Say it, Natalie.”

Her head shifted on the pillow as she reached down to drag him in deeper. “Now, Gabe.”

“I say when.” He toyed with her. Licking her ear. Rubbing his fingertip around her clit.

A low groan rumbled in her throat. Her knees rose and her inner muscles clamped down on him.

Sweet damn, she was ready. Her body begged for more, and he needed to see her lose it. Watch that mouth drop open and feel her close around him. But not yet. He knew he could get her there, make them both ache for release.

He kissed her, deep and long, as his fingers slid in just a bit farther. When he raised his head, she grabbed the back of his neck and kept him close. “Gabe . . .”

“What do you need, baby?” He kissed his way back down her throat to that sexy collarbone. “Tell me.”

Her back arched. “I want to come.”

Good girl. He debated using his finger versus his mouth but the need to taste her overtook him. Sliding along the mattress, he took the covers with him, pushing them to the end of the bed. Of course she didn’t wear pants or sweats, because then he might have stood a chance against his need for her. He sat back on his heels and took in every last inch. Her long legs carried a faint hint of a tan from the summer that had ended months ago. From the dark purple toenails to the shadow at the edge of her underwear, he loved every secret she hid under all those boring work clothes. But he had one left to discover.

He skimmed shaking hands up the outsides of her legs and up her thighs. Didn’t stop until his fingers slid under the leg bands of her underwear and his palms traveled around to her ass. Firm and tight, her cheeks filled his palms perfectly. He’d enjoy that sensation another time. Now he needed her on his tongue.

He peeled the material down and off in one long, tortuous pull. Whipped the underwear behind him, not caring where it landed. With all his focus centered on her body and the peek of the flat stomach he saw beneath the hem of the shirt, he put his hands on her ankles. Pushed her legs up and out, opening her wide.