“Sounds wonderful.”
“Then warm up the shower. I’ll join you in a minute.”
She nodded and headed for the bathroom, which was down the hall. The house was small and old-fashioned but it would take time and a shrewd investigator to realize it belonged to the rebels. Nate had neither the patience nor the skills to make the connection.
Jake called Devon and told her that he needed some time alone with Heather. Devon assured him that she understood and invited them to dinner the following night. Jake powered down the phone and set it on the nightstand. There was no way he was allowing anything to interrupt them this time. Heather was physically drained and emotionally exhausted. A few hours of privacy was not too much to ask.
The bathroom was warm and steamy. She’d folded her clothes and set them on the counter. Was she always this neat or was it a result of her frayed nerves?
His tiger paced restlessly, pushing against the metaphysical confinement, wanting free. He’d known from the beginning that he’d have to move slowly with Heather. She had good reason not to trust anyone. She’d also lost far more than he’d realized. Her stepsister and then her mother, which left her alone in a house full of men. Then one by one the men in her life proved she wasn’t their top priority. He couldn’t blame Landon or Dhane for the choices they’d made. He’d set himself on the same path. However, he hadn’t abandoned his sisters to do it. In fact they were one of the primary reasons he’d joined the rebel cause.
“You out there?” She sounded relaxed, almost sleepy.
He smiled. Relaxed was good, but sleepy wouldn’t work for what he had planned. “Depends on who you mean.”
She slid the curtain back a bit and peeked out. “I felt a draft when you opened the door, but then you just stood there.”
“Sorry.” He pulled his shirt off and dropped it to the floor. “I was lost in thought for a moment.”
“Understandable. Just don’t let it become a habit.”
“I’ll do my best.” He tugged off his boots and then his socks before unfastening his jeans.
“Was Devon okay with us bailing on her?”
“Apparently. She invited us for dinner tomorrow night.” She ducked back inside the shower as he took off his jeans. She’d already seen him naked. Wasn’t it a bit late for embarrassment? He pulled the curtain back and paused to enjoy the view. She stood beneath the spray with her arms raised, back slightly arched as she smoothed the hair back from her face. “God, you’re beautiful.”
She smiled, blinking the water out of her eyes. “Are you coming in?”
He stepped into the tub and shut the curtain as he thought of all the ways he intended to come “in” her. “I want you in my arms.”
With the faintest hint of a smile curving her lips, she accepted his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her wet, warm body. She wrapped her arms around him too, rubbing her breasts against his chest as the water rained down on them.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and pulled her head back until their gazes locked. “Open for me.”
Uncertainty flickered through her eyes but she parted her lips.
He claimed her mouth in a consuming kiss, needing her taste, her smell and the feel of her body inundating his senses. He needed to slow his approach, bring her along with tender patience. But desire pounded through him, laughing at his good intentions.
She clung to him, her tongue swirling around his. Her hands grasped him just as firmly and she rubbed against him urgently.
Needing to know exactly what she was feeling, he tore his mouth away from hers and looked into her eyes. “I want to form the link now. I don’t want to be inside you again without being able to share your emotions.”
“All right. What do I need to do?”
He stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “Just trust me.”
Her lips were parted and supple when he lowered his head again. He eased his tongue into her mouth, his lips meshing with hers. His arms wrapped around her, supporting and lightly restraining as he deepened the kiss. She responded freely, her tongue sliding hungrily over his.
For a long time they just kissed. His hands moved up and down her back, occasionally dipping down to squeeze her behind. She pressed against him, hips gently rocking as she waited for him to make the next move.
He scanned her shields, finding the best place to ease past the protection. As long as she didn’t resist, his entry should be painless. He pushed against the barrier and felt the resistance give. Energy rushed around him and through him, vibrant and addictive. He sank deeper into her mind as he anchored the link. She gasped against his lips then emotions surged into his mind. Desire, anticipation and a hint of fear. He wasn’t disheartened by the fear. It reassured him that what he was feeling was real.