When she came, it was in a taut clenching of muscles that made her see stars. Danny was still moving, his back slick with sweat, but she heard his shout as he orgasmed, felt it in the powerful tension of his body.

Afterward, he slumped against her, his breath hot on her neck.

She found herself stroking his nape as she fought to catch her breath. When Danny staggered upright and made his way somewhat drunkenly to bed with her wrapped around him, she didn’t ask to be put down. She’d been partnering with him for so long on the beach races that she knew he’d never drop her.

They fell into bed together, but Danny got up a moment later with a groan and went to take care of the protection. He returned in a short few seconds—to fall facedown on the bed next to her.

“Dead,” he huffed out. “You killed me dead, River.”

She patted his back lightly, the angle awkward since she was lying on her back. “Mutual.” No point in attempting to hide it when her thighs were still quivering.

They lay there for several minutes, just trying to learn to breathe again.

When Danny finally pushed himself up onto his elbows, he shoved his hair out of his eyes and said, “I thought I knew sex, but I feel like a debauched virgin.”

Catie scanned his expression to see if he was flexing a bit of the famous Daniel Esera charm. He never did with her—she knew him too well—but this was a strange situation. But no, he looked normal, not as he did when he was doing his smooth-operator thing. “Well,” she admitted begrudgingly, “I can’t say I was expecting that degree of fireworks.”

“Fireworks, hell.” He scowled. “That was nuclear.” Leaning in, he pressed his nose to hers. “Admit it or I’ll have to bring out the big guns.”

“You dare tickle me, Danny, and I’ll go into your place, mix all your sugar with salt and all your spices with each other.”

“Way to hit below the belt,” he said but flopped over onto his back. “So we’re doing this again.” Not a question, because of course it wasn’t a question.

“Yep.” She stared up at the ceiling. “How long do you think it’ll take to burn out?”

Danny shrugged, though the word Never was starting to blare like a neon sign in his brain. He couldn’t face it just now—thinking this unexpected thing between them might not burn out and knowing that were two different things, and the knowledge held the power to alter the axis of his universe. “I accidentally read a women’s magazine in a doctor’s office once—”

Catie fake-coughed. “Accidentally.”