“It’s not a complaint. It’s an observation.” I giggled, then gasped as his mouth made my back arch. “Isn’t there something you should be doing?”

“Yes, and I’m doing it.”

Half an hour later, I was still nuzzled in his arms. My head was tucked under his chin and his fingers were stroking my side.

“I never want to leave this bed,” I murmured.

“There’s no place I’d rather be, but I need to find out what’s going on downstairs.”

I lifted up on my elbow. “You’d leave me all alone in this bed? Naked?”

“Now who’s insatiable?” he asked, pushing my head back onto the pillow and thoroughly kissing me before lifting himself up with a wicked grin. “I thought sleeping with you would make me less obsessed with thinking about you naked, but I think it’s actually worse now that I have the real image in my head. It’s a good thing I’m not in court or I might be too distracted by the memories of my tongue on your—”

“Mason!” I giggled. “You would not. You’d be Mr. No-Nonsense, only happier than usual.”

“Not just happier, more content,” he whispered. “Hopeful.”

“Me too.”

“Rose, I know we should take things slow, but I’ve waited for this for months, and I’m struggling to put on the brakes after last night. If you need me to slow down, please tell me.”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to slow down. I want to feel all of this with you without worrying that something’s too much, too soon. Let’s not set any rules except to be honest with each other.” A lump lodged in my throat. “And no secrets. I’ve had enough secrets to last a lifetime.”

“No secrets.” He kissed me softly.

My stomach growled and I laughed. “I think I’ve worked up an appetite.”

“Let’s get dressed and eat. I’m not sure when Jeff’s coming.”

He got up and found his pajamas on the floor.

I slid out of the bed and walked toward the bathroom, looking over my shoulder to see Mason watching my naked backside. “I’m going to take a shower. If you want to join me.”

He took a deep breath then stepped into his pants. “You have no idea how much I want to—”

I turned around to face him, leaning against the doorframe.

His gaze traveled from my face to my toes. “—but I need to…um…”

I laughed. “Get ready for when Jeff comes?”

“Yeah, that.” He crossed the room within seconds and pulled my body against his, his arms wrapping around my back.

He kissed me possessively, making me dizzy with desire and ready to climb back into bed. Obviously he felt the same way since he started to drag me in that direction.

Muffy scampered to the bedroom doorway and started barking.

Lifting his head, Mason asked, “Does she bark for no reason?”

“No,” I forced out. “Not usually.”

“Don’t leave this room,” he said. Then he rushed out of the room, still shirtless, shutting the door behind him.

I didn’t know how he expected me to sit here and do nothing, but I also realized that I’d only get in his way if there was real danger. Still, I was sitting naked on my bed. If Daniel Crocker had found us, no need to make it so easy for him.

I was rummaging around the rumpled bed for my pajamas when the door opened.

“It’s Jeff.” Mason stepped into the room.

I released a breath. “Oh, good.”

He bent down and retrieved his T-shirt and pulled it over his head. “If you still want to shower, feel free. We’ll be in the office going over my files.”

“Okay. I’ll be down in a bit.”

He started to leave then stepped into the room and tugged me to his chest, kissing me again. He lifted his head with a grin. “Let’s pick up where we left off later.”

I watched him walk out, wondering how he could set me ablaze in only a matter of seconds.

After I showered and dressed, I checked my cell phone on the nightstand then stuffed it into the pocket of my jeans. It was only ten percent charged and wouldn’t make it through the day. I had thought about turning it off before I went to bed, but I hadn’t wanted to miss a call from Jonah or Bruce Wayne.

When I went downstairs I wasn’t surprised that the two men were in the office, but I hadn’t expected that the French doors would be closed.

I grabbed my jacket off the hall tree and opened the front door to let Muffy out. Deputy Miller was in the same spot on the front porch, but this time another deputy was sitting beside him. Muffy ran out the door and stopped at the top of the steps, releasing a low growl as she looked at the deputies.

“Good morning, Deputy Miller.” I glanced over at the new guy. “And Deputy…?”

“Good morning, Rose.” Deputy Miller glanced at his partner. “Don’t mind Deputy Gyer. He’s not much of a morning person.”

Muffy continued to growl.

I bent down and rubbed the back of her neck. “It’s okay, girl, go potty.”

She slunk down the stairs, turning back to give me a look that assured me she wasn’t happy about it. I watched the deputy from the corner of my eye. He was young too, but probably a little older than Deputy Miller. He had short dark blond hair and his dark eyes were hard and unfriendly. He obviously took his job very seriously, which I supposed was a good thing in this situation. I just felt more comfortable around Deputy Miller.