Once his headache had eased up, Gabe had shared an amazing meal with Audrey. There’d been no recriminations or glares about being late. No telling him that the food was ruined. When he’d apologized, she’d laughed and said none of the meal was ruined from the delay.

Fuck, she’d been sweet. Had he ever had anyone care for him with such a loving mixture of practicality and worry?

After they’d eaten, she’d snuggled against him and picked a movie about a woman who wanted to be a spy. Light and funny. By the time it ended, the knots in his gut had disappeared.

Battles added up. Didn’t matter how much experience a man had, his body would react to pain and danger. It always took a while to descend from that adrenaline peak.

A shame he hadn’t gotten to enjoy sex, though. He liked the zing that adrenaline added. However, sex would’ve increased his blood pressure and probably exploded his aching head.

Turning his head one way, then the other, he smiled.

Headache was gone.

Mentally, he opened up the rules of engagement manual for male/female relationships. In the military, ROE defined the circumstances and manner in which the use of force might be applied. But for this…

He stroked over the sweetly curved body beside him in hopes that she’d wake and be in the mood. If she kept sleeping, he’d stop. Only a classless idiot pushed a woman into sex if she wasn’t interested. However, luring her into the mood? That fell in the sneaky-but-permissible category for the rules of engagement.

Hearing her breathing speed up slightly, he grinned and rolled far enough he could capture a breast. Fondle it. Was there anything nicer than the feeling of a breast cupped in his hand?

Blinking, she tipped her head back. “Gabe?” Her voice was husky with sleep. Damn sexy. As was the way her nipple suddenly puckered.

“Mmm.”

“Why do I get the impression you woke up wanting to play?”

My little librarian. “Is wanting to play a…what do you call it for sex?”

“Euphemism—and yes.”

“Then, yes. Let’s play.” He tugged on the spiked nipple and felt her hips give a tiny wiggle. Ah, the lure was working.

With a tiny giggle, she tipped her head up so he could kiss her.

Yes. He started to roll over on his soft, willing woman—and pain stabbed through him. A club to the shoulder, a knife to the back, and every muscle and joint ached. “Hell.”

“Oh, God, I forgot you were injured.” Eyes wide, she sat up.

His hand regretted the loss of the sweet breast. And he had to grit his teeth to keep from growling…because his erect dick throbbed almost as bad as his back.

“Oh, such a face…”

His eyes narrowed. “Did you just giggle?”