“At least he’s not here this time.”

“I still say he’s got this room wired. He’ll know.”

Unbuttoning his shirt, she fastened her teeth on his nipple.

He gasped. “Sam! The door’s wide open.”

“So? No one’s here.” She slipped her hand inside his pants and wrapped her fingers around him.

“God,” he whispered, shuddering in surrender to her stroking hand.

“I want you. Hurry.”

In their haste, they pushed clothes aside rather than removing them.

“Now,” Sam said, her eyes closed as she guided him to where she needed him more than the next breath.

“Look at me.”

She glanced up to find the hazel eyes she loved so much hot with desire and love. Tightening her hold on him she urged him on and released a long, satisfied sigh when he finally filled her. Without breaking the intense eye contact, she wrapped her legs around his hips to keep him still. Watching him, she reveled in the battle he fought with his control. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, a muscle in his cheek twitched with tension.

“Sam. Come on.”

When she released him, he seemed to go a little crazy, driving them both to a fast, explosive finish that left her feeling both drained and energized.

“Jesus,” he muttered into her neck several minutes of heavy breathing later. “Are you trying to kill me?”

Aftershocks rippled through her as she tried to catch her breath, the weight of him on top of her filling her more than the physical act ever could with a sense of safety and security. “I was planning to kill you, but now I’m thinking I’ll keep you around.”

Rolling off her, he laughed. “Gee, thanks.”

Sam reached for the blanket at the foot of the bed and covered them. Nuzzling his soft chest hair, she said, “I’m supposed to be working tonight.”

“Well, don’t blame me for getting sidetracked. I just came over to tell you dinner’s ready, and then suddenly your hand was in my pants. What was I supposed to do?”

“Exactly what you did.”

“What’s wrong, Sam?”

“Nothing.”

“Something.”

He knew. He always knew. “The case. It’s got me stumped. I can’t seem to find my usual mojo on this one. Too many distractions.”

“After what happened with Reese, I can see why you’d feel off.”

“It’s not that. I’m okay with that.”

“How can you be okay with being kidnapped, held hostage at gunpoint, threatened? Not to mention watching him kill himself right in front of you.”

She shrugged. “I’m a cop. Shit happens. You roll with it or you can’t get up the next day and do the job.”

“Still, it has to have some impact.”