Lowering himself onto the couch beside her, he took her still-trembling body in his arms. She was still twitching a little from the aftershocks.

“Damn you taste good, cowgirl,” he told her once she’d ridden out the remaining violent waves of ecstasy. “Here, taste.” Ignoring her wide eyes, he pressed his mouth onto hers and dipped his tongue inside.

She clamped her legs around him and gripped his biceps hard enough to hurt. The way she dug her fingers in, as if she were holding on to him for dear life, made him ache to be inside her.

“Made up your mind yet?”

She pulled back from their kiss, still panting enough to make his entire life. “About?”

“Whether or not you believe the rumors. About me. Be honest.”

An impish grin lifted her lips. “Well, I can say with absolute certainty that you are, in fact, a madman.”

“That’s what they tell me, sweetheart.” He brushed his lips against hers to show her that, even as crazed as he was, madman or not, he could be gentle too—if that’s what she needed.

“Van…I need you,” she breathed. “Soon.”

The plea soothed every open wound he’d nursed for as long as he could remember. She needed him. And unlike the last woman who’d needed him, the one he’d failed miserably, he would be what Stella Jo Chandler needed. He would keep this one safe.

“You’ll have me. Soon. We’ll just have to be careful. I don’t want to cost you your job, cowgirl.”

She nodded. His eyes met hers and he saw it. She trusted him completely.

He would be worthy of that trust. Of her.

Or so help him, he’d cut out his own damn heart.

Walking back to her place discreetly was difficult enough. Doing it on trembling unsteady legs that were to support her nearly lifeless body was damn near impossible. She carried her jacket in one hand and her heels in the other, letting them dangle as she grinned like a drunken fool. The sun wouldn’t be up for several more hours, and she was thankful for the protective cover of darkness.

“Big date tonight?” a shrill female voice called out, startling Stella half to death.

Turning, she saw her least favorite coworker—the petite blond nurse who had claimed that Van would be hers and then tried to do him a favor in his room. A bright red ember flared from the tip of the woman’s cigarette. Stella took note of which residence she stood outside of and tagged it as ‘avoid at all costs’ for future reference.

“Smoking seems like an odd habit for a healthcare professional,” was all Stella said to the woman.

“Screwing clients seems like an odd habit as well—for someone who wants to keep their job, that is,” she retorted.

“Says the girl I found on her knees in his room.”

Despite her cool demeanor, Stella’s heart was racing. This wasn’t Jesse Ramirez catching her and Van in an awkward embrace. This was an enemy she’d somehow made who’d probably just watched her stumble out of Van’s cabin.

“Jealous, much?” the woman snorted as she blew out a puff of smoke. “Men like Van Ransom know what they want. And they always get it. Men like that don’t let minor interruptions and pathetic distractions get in their way.”

The glow of the porch light allowed her to see the smirk on the other woman’s face. Stella knew her own brow was scrunching.

Did grown women really behave this way? She’d thought this kind of behavior was reserved for teenage girls still in high school. She was disappointed in herself for letting this woman even get to her. She’d never engaged in any kind of a showdown over a man.

She hated that this random person was ruining the blissed out high Van had given her. Even more, she hated that she was letting her.

Forcing the biggest smile she could manage, Stella nodded towards her own residence. “Lovely chatting with you. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“Brandie. My name’s Brandie, for future reference.”

Stella turned and shot the woman a questioning look. She had no idea why this woman thought she cared to know her name.

The blonde practically bared her teeth. “You know, so you’ll recognize it when your boyfriend calls it out during sex.”

Stella nearly stumbled. What was this chick’s deal?

“Well, Brandie, I can assure you, I don’t have a boyfriend. But thank you for your interest in my personal life. Best of luck getting one of your own.”

Stella did her best not to stomp all the way to her front door. Once she was safely inside and away from prying eyes, she let herself remember how Van had made her feel. And made her feel he had.

The image of him on his knees, spreading her apart and pleasuring her body the way he had, heated her body from head to toe. The burning tingles returned and she touched her fingers to her lips. He’d been the perfect combination of rough and gentle.

Her muscles felt like liquid as she changed into a tank top and cotton boy shorts. The way he’d cupped her face in his large masculine hands when he’d kissed her goodnight came rushing back as she washed off her makeup. Glancing up at her bare face in the mirror, she blinked a few times. She looked…different somehow.

Her eyes were brighter, as if a spark had been lit inside of her and was shining brightly.

When did that happen?

She wasn’t certain if it was what had happened with Van Ransom, the confrontation with Brandie, or just having finally found a home where she felt like she belonged, but something had provoked a noticeably drastic change. Had brought her to life after a lifetime of being empty and numb. Her cheeks were flushed and she couldn’t remember noticing so much color in her own face before.

As she lay in bed that night, drifting in and out of consciousness, the reason for her change smiled behind her eyes.

It was him. It was all him.

“You look rested for someone who was out pretty late last night,” Van said as he stepped into the stables Saturday morning.

Stella couldn’t hide the smile that came with his arrival. “And you look like someone who should be enjoying his Saturday instead of spending it down here.”

“Who says I’m not? Maybe I enjoy my time with you so much I don’t even mind the smell of horse shit.”

“How romantic,” she deadpanned.

He advanced on her. “Didn’t realize we were doing romantic, cowgirl. But if that’s what you’re looking for, I can give it a shot.”

She pursed her lips as he came closer. “Van.” His name was a warning for him to behave. Jesse could pop in at any time, as could one of the volunteers from the local high school that ran the horses and mucked stalls on the weekends.

“Romance has never really been my thing, Stella Jo.” The deep rumble of his confession sent a shockwave through her core. “But if you want a candlelit dinner before I lick your sweet pussy next time, I’ll see what I can do.”

Her knees went weak. Men did not talk to her like this. She’d never heard anyone talk like this. Even more alarming, she liked it. A lot.

Heat pooled between her legs as he reached out with one hand and pulled her to him by her waist.

His intense eyes roamed her face, drinking her in with reverent wonder on his. “It’s like I opened the door. I can see everything you’re feeling, everything you’re thinking, in those beautiful eyes right now.”

She trembled in his arms. “What am I thinking right now?”

“You’re thinking about last night. About how good it felt and how you can’t wait until I make you scream my name again. You’re thinking you can’t believe how hard you came and you’re wondering if I can make you come that hard again.”

She tried to keep her blatant shock from showing. He’d pretty much covered the landscape of her thoughts.

“And can you?”

His eyes darkened as he licked his lips and stared down at her. “Babe, I took it easy on you last night. That was only the beginning.”