Page 34 of Stalked

It wasn’t like she missed it. Rosalyn had been raised in a house where affectionate touches were few and far between. It was one of the things she’d promised herself her child would never go without. Her son would be hugged and kissed until he squirmed to get away. He would know every day he was loved, not just by words but by gestures.

But watching Steve cross the room, secure the door to make sure they were safe and turn those intense green eyes back on her, Rosalyn was quite sure of the type of touchshewanted right now.

And a hug wasn’t it.

She wasn’t looking for comfort, like she had been six months ago. She wanted the heat she and Steve had felt together.

He slowly took a step toward her. She smiled at his hesitancy. The cop in him must be aware of the predator in the room.

Her.

And he was the prey. Big, strong sexy man probably wasn’t used to that.

“Do you want to take a shower first or do you want me to?” he asked.

“What about taking one together?”

“Rosalyn...” His words were a protest, but she saw the tightening of his body. The slight flare in his eyes.

She took a step toward him. “We’ll at least save water that way.”

“I have a feeling we’d be in there too long to save any water.” He tried to step around her so he could get to the other side of the room, but she moved so she was right in front of him.

“So take a shower with me and don’t save water.”

She could almost see his conscience pour over him. “Rosalyn, it’s been a really long couple of days. Traumatic couple of days.”

The words were for her benefit, not his. She raised one eyebrow and gave him a little snicker. “And you’re tired? Need a little you time? Drink a chai latte or something?”

She saw the smile he fought against. He wanted her—she knew he did. She wasn’t going to give up at his first token protest.

“No, I’m talking about you. You’ve had a rough couple of days, hell, a rough few months. There’s no need to jump into anything just because you’re relieved or grateful or whatever.”

“Generally I don’t pay my debts with sex, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

He winced. “No, I didn’t mean you were trying to pay me. I just meant—”

She stepped closer to stop him from saying anything further. He was digging himself a hole and she was afraid he was going to piss her off with whatever asinine thing came out of his mouth next.

“Steve, don’t overthink it.”

“Somebody needs to overthink it. Or at least think at all.”

He was protective of her and she appreciated that. But right now she didn’t want him to use his strength to protect her. She wanted him to use his strength to help her celebrate how good it felt to be unfettered for the first time in as long as she could remember.

She ran both her hands up his arms. She felt him tense but he didn’t pull away. She leaned in closer.

“I’m happy to be alive. I’m happy no one is going to find me and slip a note under the door tonight. I’m happy we’re both safe here together.”

She slid her arms to his shoulders, then around his neck, pulling his lips down to hers.

The heat was still there. Thank goodness it wasn’t just something she’d remembered, something she’d dreamed about. His lips were still as firm and hot and inviting as she’d known they would be.

But he wasn’t pulling her to him. His hands were on her waist, but they seemed neutral—neither encouraging nor discouraging.

“Rosalyn...” he groaned against her mouth.

He was going to let her go, she could tell.

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