She decided it didn’t matter how or where he’d gotten them. All that was important was that he put one on and get inside of her right now!

She moved to the center of the bed as he flung himself beside her. The square packets of protection went flying. One landed on her belly, and she grabbed for it.

Zane raised himself on an elbow and bent over her. His mouth brushed against hers before moving lower to her neck. He licked and kissed and nibbled his way to the sensitive skin below her ear, then lower still to her chest. At the same time, he ran his hand down her belly.

She parted her legs long before he arrived. His fingers found her center at the exact moment his mouth closed over her left nipple. Breath escaped as she moaned her pleasure.

Tongue and fingers moved in tandem, circling, rubbing, teasing, pleasuring. She reached between them and took his erection in her hand. He was already rock hard. As she closed around him, he shuddered. His touch between her legs slowed slightly, then the pace resumed.

He shifted so he could rub her with his thumb while pushing two fingers inside her. At the same time he kissed his way up her chest and neck until he reached her ear.

“I want you to come for me,” he whispered. “Now. I want to feel your muscles contract around my fingers. I want to hear your breathing catch, and I want you to scream.”

The erotic image of his words made her shiver, then tense. She opened her eyes and realized that, unlike the previous night in the tent, this time she could see him. All of him. And that he could see her. And that he was looking.

Their gazes locked as he continued to touch her. He moved a little faster, pushed a little harder until she felt herself losing control. Then he kissed her, dipping into her mouth, mimicking the actions between her legs.

It was just enough to send her over the edge. She felt her eyes flutter closed as her release claimed her.

Pleasure rushed through her in waves of contractions. She arched her body toward him, sucked in her breath and maybe even screamed. Fortunately the sound was muffled by Zane’s kiss.

He continued to touch her, gentling the contact, slowing, until every last shudder had stilled, and she could think again.

“You’re so beautiful,” he told her when she looked at him. “All of you.”

She made a leisurely, visual exploration of his muscled chest, his flat belly, his jutting erection. He was a man who worked hard, and it showed.

“So are you.” She touched a scar on his thigh. “Want to tell me how you got that?”

“Not right now.”

He knelt between her legs, and she handed him the condom. As he ripped open the package, she brushed her fingers against the tip of his arousal. He flexed in response.

Anticipation filled her. She wanted him inside her. She wanted to feel him getting closer, even as she lost herself in what they were doing. She wanted to touch him everywhere, to be held by him. She wanted to love him.

Words clogged her throat, and then he was pushing inside her and speaking didn’t matter anymore.

Her body stretched to accommodate him. She drew her legs back to bring him in deeper. More. She wanted more.

When his arms came around her, she clutched his hips. They kissed. The rhythm of his body filling her made her pulse her hips. Anticipation spiraled to tension. He moved harder and faster, making her suck on his tongue. She dug her fingers into him.

The bed creaked, and outside thunder shattered the silence of the night. Phoebe didn’t care. There was only the moment, the man and what they were doing together. Then she lost control. Her orgasm claimed her, shattering her. She could only cling to him as he called out her name and sank into his own release.

* * *

LATER, WHEN THEY’D turned out the lights and found their way under the covers, she snuggled close to him. The sound of his heartbeat filled her with contentment.

He was asleep. She could tell by his steady breathing. By the way he stirred in his dreams. While he slept, she laced their fingers together and spoke the words she hadn’t found the courage to say any other time.

“I love you.”

The arm around her tightened. His leg moved against hers, and he sighed.

“Love you, too, Phoebe.”

His voice, thick and barely audible, made her heart stop. Her eyes popped open, and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

Had he really said the words or had she imagined them? If he had said them, was it something he’d mumbled in his sleep? An almost automatic response? Or had he meant them?

The questions haunted her for hours, until sometime before dawn when exhaustion gave way to slumber, and she finally relaxed against him.

* * *

A LOUD POUNDING pushed Zane into consciousness. In less than two seconds he was aware of a very naked Phoebe curled up against him and the sound of his brother’s voice calling his name.

“Hold on,” he yelled back and reached for his jeans.

As he stumbled from the bed, Phoebe stirred. “What is it?”

“Trouble.”

Zane knew Chase would never leave the cattle if something wasn’t wrong.

He collected his jeans and pulled them on, then walked to the door.

“What?” he asked as he opened the door and slipped into the hallway. He was careful to make sure Chase couldn’t see Phoebe in his bed.

His brother looked wet and miserable. “The water’s rising,” he said quickly. “Fast. Cookie’s moving the wagon. We need to get some men out there right now, Zane. We’ve got an hour at most.”

Zane swore. He’d been aware of the steady rain, but he hadn’t thought the rivers would swell up so fast. Must still be some runoff pouring in, he thought.