Racked by ecstasy, she cried out and twisted to meet his thrusts. As she shuddered around him, Sloan shoved her face against his sweat-slicked shoulder and buried her scream. Each tremor burned through him relentlessly, melting reality into oblivion. His straining thighs pressing hers wide, he drove into her with pent-up wildness. In only moments, fiery talons of sensation ripped through him in a harsh, convulsive climax … frenzied … tumultuous … violent. Groaning, gasping for breath, he plunged into her, feeling his body explode inside her, pulses of fire flowing between them.

When it was over, he held her shaking body while the heated tremors faded. His quick, hard breathing feathered her face as he willed his pulse to slow.

He was stunned by the primordial possessiveness that had overcome him, by the very rawness of his male hunger. He couldn’t understand his restless, aching need to possess her. The pleasure he’d had with Heather had been shattering, totally wiping out the memories that usually plagued him during sex.

He raised his head. She was limp and trembling, her eyes dark and dazed with remembered passion, her pale cheeks framed in a wild tangle of glorious silver-gold hair. His heart twisted in his chest.

Sloan stirred, easing the crush of his weight off her.

“Don’t leave me—” Her whisper of alarm was a plea as her fingers tightened on his bare shoulder.

“I’m not leaving.” Shifting his body, he drew the rumpled covers up over them both and settled her against him. “I should check on Janna and close up the house for the night, but that can wait.”

Relief flooding her, Heather burrowed into the heat and strength of him. He hadn’t left her this time. He’d remained with her, holding her tight against his warmth, his muscle-corded arms wrapped around her, his lean, sinewy hands absently stroking her naked skin.

It was not that Sloan truly cared about her, she knew that well enough, despite his present tender regard. But she would take what comfort he would give her. She sighed, feeling his heart beat strongly against her breast. She wanted him to go on holding her like this forever. She wanted to feel this close, this safe, always.

Sloan lay beside her, his thoughts in turmoil, his passion spent. He knew he should return to his own bed. It wasn’t wise to stay—not when they were both so vulnerable. But he couldn’t walk away. He wasn’t strong enough.

He’d considered himself invincible, yet he couldn’t steel his heart against the insidious desire to keep Heather close and just hold her.

He breathed her in, savoring the sweet warm fragrance of her skin. The taste of her clung to his mouth, and he pressed his lips against the silk of her hair.