“Go back to bed,” he said gruffly.
Neither of them moved, and Jake knew his fate was sealed. He went to her in two resolute strides. She took a single step back. A gasp escaped her when his fingers closed around her arms. Then his mouth came down on hers and he couldn’t think of anything except the pleasure raging through his body.
“I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt,” he whispered.
“I’m not going to get hurt.”
“I’m not going to let him hurt you.”
He knew he was reacting to the nightmare. But there were other emotions involved. His attraction to her was tearing at his judgment, making him want her when he knew it would be smarter for him to walk away before the situation got too hot.
But the situation was already too hot. Jake felt every sizzling degree. He knew he was going to get burned. But the pleasure of this precious moment would be worth every hour of pain he suffered later.
She tasted as rich and forbidden as sin, and he fed on her like a man deprived. Jake figured that wasn’t far from the truth. He’d been deprived since she’d walked out of his life six years ago.
He kissed her until his head spun and his body felt as if it would explode. Pulling away slightly, he looked into her eyes. “I’ve been wanting to do that to you every single day for six long years.”
Her nostrils flared with each labored breath. “We can’t go back to the way it was.”
“No, but we can move forward.” He kissed her again. “The way I see it, I figure we’ve got some time to make up for.”
LEIGH HAD KNOWN this moment would come. She’d thought she’d been prepared for the onslaught of sensation, but nothing could have prepared her for the rush of sheer pleasure she felt when Jake kissed her.
He was the only man in the world who could sweep her away. Make her forget about right and wrong and consequences. The same thing had happened six years ago when they’d been holed up in that safe house. One touch had led to a kiss. One kiss had ignited a fire that had burned out of control for five days. Five days that had been imprinted on her mind, branded onto her heart, burned into her very soul.
She knew that it was dangerous opening her heart to Jake again, but Leigh was not strong enough to pull away. How could something that felt so right be wrong?
Behind her the fire crackled and popped. Leigh could hear the wind whipping around the cabin. Ice hitting the skylight in the kitchen. She was aware of the warmth of the fire on her back; the hard length of Jake pressed against her; his mouth on hers. One of his hands was at the small of her back, the other cupped the side of her face.
He lifted her up into his arms. She thought he was going to carry her to the bedroom, but instead he lowered her onto the plush rug in front of the fire, then lay down beside her.
Leigh was not totally inexperienced when it came to lovemaking. But Jake wasn’t just any man, and she invariably felt overwhelmed when she was with him. He was sure of himself, made no pretenses when it came to taking what he wanted.
She moaned when his hands closed over her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over her sensitized nipples. Need curled low in her pelvis as her body responded.
“I’ve missed being with you like this,” he said. “All those months of not knowing where you were. It damn near killed me, Leigh.”
“You kept an eye on me through your resources at MIDNIGHT.”
“I knew you were alive. But that didn’t make it any easier. It didn’t make me worry any less.”
He took her mouth in a kiss that was sexual and raw.
Leigh kissed him back with equal ferocity. Every emotion that had been locked inside her for the past six years came pouring out. The force of her passion for Jake stunned her. Made her realize that she was in over her head. Again.
But Leigh couldn’t deny there was something different about Jake tonight—an intensity of emotion that hadn’t been there before. In the way he touched her. In the way he looked at her. As if he were trying to keep her from slipping away.
He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “Leigh, promise me you’ll stay with me until this is over. Promise me you’ll listen to me.”
“I will.”
“Promise me you’ll trust my judgment,” he said. “That you won’t take any chances—”
“Jake, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Jake, you’re frightening me.”
“A little fear is probably a good thing right now,” he said. “It’ll keep you on your toes. Keep you cautious.”
Remembering the dream he’d had, Leigh asked, “Is this about the dream? Is that what has you so spooked?”
“This is about Rasmussen.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I don’t believe in premonitions.”