“Okay.”

“I’m going to do that now.”

“Okay.”

She stared at him a moment longer, then said, “Bye,” before escaping from the kitchen.

Weird, but Jess was weird. Pulling out his cell phone, he sent Kristan a text message:

U SO OWE ME.

In less than a minute she responded,

MEET U AT 9. BRINGING ICE CREAM.

He smiled and wrote back,

U BETTER.

Smitty opened his door. “You’re late.”

“You didn’t give me a time.”

“And what is it with you and that coat?”

“I love this coat.”

“It’s too big.”

“It’s not too big.”

Smitty took hold of the hood and pulled it down until it covered her face completely. “See? Too big.”

“Are you letting me in or are you going to keep abusing me in your doorway?”

Grabbing her by the too-big hood, he yanked her into his apartment.

“Hey!”

He unzipped her parka, spun her around, and yanked it off her back.

She stumbled forward. “What are you doing?”

“Abusing you inside my apartment instead of my doorway.” He grabbed her around the waist and tossed her across the room. “And now I’m gonna abuse you on my couch.”

Laughing, Jessie scrambled off the couch and took off running.

“You’re just making it worse for yourself ’cause you know I love the chase.” Slowly, Smitty followed after her. “I guess it’s time to pull out that firm hand we were talking about yesterday.”

Jess gripped the headboard, her knuckles turning white, her entire body bowing. Good God! The man had the most talented mouth she’d ever—

“God, Smitty.” She panted and writhed under him. Feelings so intense slamming through her, she tried to pull away. Smitty gripped her legs tighter, bending them back toward her chest and pushing them out so she was wide open to him.

Her hold on the headboard tightened, a sob catching in her throat. He slid two fingers inside her as his mouth continued to ravage her pussy. He found a spot inside her with his fingertips and rubbed it again and again until she exploded, her body quaking in climax, her muscles tightening.

She hadn’t even finished coming when Smitty was suddenly over her and in her. She gripped him tight, one arm around his neck, the other encircling his back. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking her ankles at the base of his spine.

He kissed her, his body rocking against hers. His cock filling her up, feeling so good inside her.

“Hold me tighter, Jessie Ann.”

Jess did, enjoying the fact that he didn’t mind. That he didn’t feel trapped by it.

Again, he kissed her, his tongue stroking herlike his cock. Their rhythm was effortless, like they’d been doing it forever.

Another climax tore through her, ripping her open, leaving her a groaning, sweating, panting mess on Smitty’s sheets.

When her eyes uncrossed, she found Smitty lying on top of her. Both of them drained. She stroked his sweat-drenched hair, enjoying his weight on top of her. His head on her breasts.

“Am I too heavy for you?” he was kind enough to ask.

“Nope.”

“Good. ’Cause I’m real comfortable.”

“Oh, well. As long as you’re happy.”

“Now you’re learning.”

She had no idea how long they stayed like that, holding each other. She drifted to sleep, and when she woke up a few hours later, they were on their sides, facing each other, their arms and legs intertwined.

Jess didn’t think Smitty was awake until, with his eyes still closed, he asked her, “You hungry?”

“Starving.”

Not bothering to open his eyes, he kissed her and placed his hand on top of her head. He started to push her under the covers and she slapped his hands away.

“I’m starving for food, you barbarian!”

Laughing, Smitty rolled onto his back. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.”

“Explain to me again why I can’t wear clothes.”

Smitty looked up from the steak he’d nearly finished devouring. “I find clothes distracting. You naked soothes me.”

She snickered and went back to her food. Once they’d finished, Smitty leaned back in his chair. She seemed relaxed and comfortable. So he asked her what he’d been wanting to ask her for days.

“Jessie Ann?”

“Hhhm?”

“What’s really going on with your Pack?”

She frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You lied to me the other day. No one was trying to break in. So what really happened?”

Jessie picked up her plate and took it to the sink, trying to give herself enough time to come up with another suitable lie. He wouldn’t let her do it this time. He wanted a straight answer.

When she turned around, the lie on her lips, he was standing right behind her. Startled, she jerked back against the counter.

“Tell me the truth, Jessie. No more bullshit.”

She opened her mouth, and he said, “And I’ll know if you’re lying.”

Her mouth closed and she peered up at him. She wanted to tell him. He could see it on her face, but she still didn’t trust him. For some unknown reason that bothered him. He needed her to trust him.

“Whatever you tell me doesn’t leave this apartment. It’s just between you and me.”