Surely we’re both too tired to make love, Abby thought in some distant part of her brain, but her body seemed to disagree. As Gage deepened the kiss and his big hands took control, heat burned through her, and the last of her weariness slipped away.

In minutes, she was naked and so was he. She wished she had more time to admire his amazing body, but the hungry need inside her demanded to be sated, and Gage seemed as ravenous as the lion on his wall.

They made love for hours, first in a frenzy of passion that ended in an earth-shattering climax, then more slowly, a lazy journey of exploration that spiraled into a second satisfying release. Exhaustion finally caught up with them, and she fell asleep in Gage’s arms.

It was almost dawn, gray light filtering through the curtains, when his restless movements awakened her. Abby found herself sprawled over his thick chest, her head on a muscled shoulder, one of his arms draped possessively across her middle. Sleeping on the ground inches apart wasn’t anywhere near the same as being held by him, loved by him.

Not loved, she reminded herself. Aroused by him, satisfied by him. Gage wasn’t the kind of man a woman dared to love. Still, it was a moment she wanted to remember. Abby closed her eyes, determined to absorb every sweet detail, but Gage’s restless movements ended any hope of more sleep.

Suddenly his big body jerked upright and his eyes flew open. “Cassie, no!” Gage blinked himself awake, leaned back against the headboard, and raked his hands through his thick dark hair. He looked at Abby, his blue eyes filled with regret and pain.

“It was only a nightmare,” Abby said, stroking a hand gently down his arm. “It’s over. Everything’s okay.”

Gage released a slow breath. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I should have thought about the nightmares before I suggested you sleep in here.”

A muscle tightened in his jaw as he swung his long legs to the side of the bed. “Not a subject I like to discuss.”

“Gage . . .” Abby reached for him, but he moved away. She watched him stride naked toward the bathroom, and desire swept through her, entirely unexpected after the incredible night they had shared.

Gage paused at the bathroom door and turned back to her. “On second thought, it’s probably better if you sleep in the guest room. That way, I won’t keep you awake.”

Hurt slithered through her. She had known their affair wouldn’t last long, but she hadn’t expected it to end so soon. Apparently last night had been enough for him. Or maybe she had somehow disappointed him.

She bit her lip. Or perhaps there was a woman in Denver he hadn’t mentioned before.