“Sierra,” he rasped.

He covered her mouth with his own.

The kiss exploded like a light grenade.

Sierra told herself the raw energy that charged the atmosphere around them was probably generated by another adrenaline overload—it had been a busy day—but in that moment she did not give a damn. The heat filled her with a glorious sense of being alive. The fierce hunger in North’s kiss told her that he was caught up in the same crashing wave of desire.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, inviting him to deepen the kiss. He uttered a muffled groan and started to unfasten the front of her pajamas. The garment fell away. North’s palms closed over her breasts.

“You feel so damn good,” he said.

She inhaled his scent and got a little giddy.

“You smell good,” she said.

He gave a hoarse chuckle and went to work on the pajama bottoms.

She got his T-shirt off and flattened her hands against his chest, savoring the sleek, hard feel of his body.

“It’s been a while for me,” he said. “I want to take the time to do this right but I’m not sure—”

“This is the no-waiting line,” she said. “It’s been a while for me, too.”

She unfastened the front of his trousers and pushed them down over his lean hips. There were a couple of clinks and some small muffled thuds when the cargo pants hit the floor.

“So many tools,” she whispered.

He kissed her throat. “It’s important to use the right tool for the job.”

She moved her hand down to the hard, fierce erection pushing against the fabric of his briefs.

“Very true,” she said.

He wanted her. The knowledge sent shivers of intense excitement across all of her senses.

When she started to stroke him, he caught her hand.

“I need a minute here,” he said. “Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

“Okay,” she said.

He took off the briefs, unzipped his pack and reached into an inside pocket. He produced a small foil packet, tore it open and sheathed himself in one smooth motion.

“Do all badass Foundation cleaners carry condoms in their packs?” she asked.

“Can’t speak for the others but this particular cleaner bought some while you were shopping for cheese, wine and olives.”

“Good to know you weren’t wasting all your time over in the nutrition-bar-and-vitamin-water aisle.”

He came back to her, caught her face between his hands and gave her another heavy, drugging, senses-dazzling kiss. She was suddenly damp and consumed with an unfamiliar sense of urgency.

North leaned down to haul the quilts and sheets out from under the table. He rearranged the bedding on the floor again, went down on one knee and drew her down in front of him.

The next thing she knew he was flat on his back and she was sprawled on top of him. He was fever-hot and everything about him was rock-hard. When he reached down between her thighs she realized that she was soaking wet. He stroked her gently and she nearly screamed.