No. It was her eyes that had fascinated him first, the swirl of green and gold, the way they so often betrayed what she was thinking... The jut of her chin when she was angry... Her courage, integrity.
Her smile.
Her long, long legs.
“You’re beautiful,” he said thickly, pulling back so he could wrap his hands around her ankles, stroke and explore his way upward. He found the sensitive places that made her jerk and breathe harder, the unbelievably soft skin behind her knees and on her inner thighs. The way she radiated heat the higher he got.
Tess bent her head to watch him, her eyes dilated, her lips slightly parted, her color high. Her fingertips rested on his shoulders. When he reached her warm, damp center, he wanted to press his lips to her, but, damn, he didn’t have it in him to play.
Making a ragged sound, he rose to a crouch and untied his boots so he could kick them off as he stood. Tess reached for him with urgency that matched his, yanking his T-shirt over his head then flattening her hands on his chest. She explored, her strong fingers kneading, tangling in his chest hair, delicately pausing at his nipples.
Zach’s backup pistol clunked down on the bedside stand. He’d never stripped faster. He tumbled Tess back onto the bed and went after her mouth even as he positioned himself between her thighs. Her legs wrapped around him and he started to push into her before his brain flashed a red light.
Swearing, he stopped, pulled out.
“What are you doing?” Tess exclaimed. “Stop!” Her legs tightened around his waist.
“Condom.”
She whimpered but released him. He grabbed the packet he’d taken from his pocket before he’d tossed his pants aside. In disbelief, he saw his hands shaking as he sheathed himself.
Worry about it later.
He pushed back into her, and her back arched in a long, luxurious spasm. Tess uttered little cries and held on to him with her arms and legs. They had a brief fight as he retreated, but then she surrendered to the rhythm, slow at first because... God, the tight clasp of her body felt so good he wanted to do this forever, then faster and faster because he couldn’t help himself.
Her fingernails dug into him at the exact moment he felt her small muscles begin to contract around him. She cried out his name. Zach reached down, grabbed her hips and drove hard, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth as his own orgasm roared through him. The pleasure went on and on, until he was wrung dry, and aware of some sharp emotion beneath his breastbone. It was an uncanny feeling, as though he’d received an injury without noticing.
Something else he’d think about later. He collapsed on her, knowing he was too heavy but unable to persuade his muscles to obey. Breathing was all he could manage.
But when he finally made the effort to roll... Tess wouldn’t let him.
“Stay,” she whispered. “Don’t go.”
The not-quite-painful sensation in his chest sharpened.
* * *
ZACH LEFT BEFORE DAWN.
Tess’s sleep had been so deep, she’d felt drugged when she became groggily aware that he was gently moving her arms and legs to free himself. She seemed to float higher on the mattress when he got out of bed and reached down onto the floor.
For clothes, she realized. All their clothes must be down there, mixed.
He picked up and discarded what must be hers, then dressed quickly. Her eyes had adjusted enough for her to see when he reached for his handgun.
“You’re leaving,” she mumbled, oh so brilliantly.
Zach sat on the edge of the bed, planted a hand on each side of her shoulders and bent to kiss her. He took his time, but had himself so thoroughly in control, Tess knew he couldn’t be persuaded to come back to bed.
“Trying not to be obvious,” he murmured.
She frowned. “I thought we were throwing out the rules.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to tell everyone else we did.”
“Oh.” Tess wasn’t sure that made sense, but arguing about it was pointless when he was so obviously determined to go.
“I have to shower, shave and change before work, too.” He nuzzled her cheek and sat up. “I’ll call.”
Dark against not-quite-as-dark, he left. A moment later she heard the front door open and close softly.
Instead of brooding, she set her alarm and tumbled back into sleep—better sleep than she’d had in weeks, because Zach had been here most of the night and because of the cameras he’d installed.