He came back and sat on the edge of the bed to take off his boots. She leaned back on her elbows to watch as he removed his ankle holster. He walked over to set the holster and the gun on the dresser and then stepped to the end of the bed.

He stood there, silhouetted in the light of the bathroom, all wide, muscular shoulders and narrow hips, and she felt a tingly rush as he reached for her boot. He lifted it, slid down the zipper at the side. He slipped it off, along with the sock, and cupped her heel in his hand as he set the boot on the floor. Then he rested her bare foot on the bed and did the other boot with painstaking slowness, as if he enjoyed drawing the process out and making her wait.

His knee sank onto the bed, and the mattress shifted as he leaned over and rested his weight on his palm beside her hip. He slid his other hand over her damp jeans. Holding her gaze, he undid the button and slowly eased down the zipper. Leigh’s heart hammered as he stood again and pulled the cuffs. She arched her hips to help him as he stripped the jeans away.

He stretched out beside her, leaning on his elbow as he traced his finger down her front, grazing her navel and her silky white underwear before tracing back up again. His finger trailed down again, over her thighs, carefully avoiding the bruises on her knees. They were a hideous shade of purple today, and she was glad for the dim light in here.

“I didn’t mean to pin you earlier,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about it.”

Her chest squeezed. He was referring to the attacker pinning her the other night. She was surprised he’d brought it up and that he was tuned in to her feelings enough to think about it.

“It’s okay,” she said.

She turned on her side, sliding her thigh to rest on his hip. She kissed him and pressed against him, wanting to banish all the distractions that seemed to be everywhere. She wanted that look of desire back, and she rocked her hips against him. He kissed her, gently this time, drawing it out until the air between them grew warm and humid and the only thing she could focus on was his mouth.