As her fingertips rode the hard ropes in his stomach, sliding lower...lower still, tunneling under his underwear...he thrust against her, mimicking the motions of sex. A hot flood of liquid pooled between her legs.

She swiped her thumb over the moist slit of his erection. As he gave another thrust, she released him to reach up and suck the taste of him into her mouth.

His nostrils flared as he watched her. “Not sure how much more I can take. Ready to spill already.”

“I guess we’d just have to start all over again,” she rasped.

“You are...perfect.” His mouth returned to hers, actually slamming down, and it was hot. Wild. She met his tongue with her own, the two rolling together, hinting at what was to come...hard and dirty. He kneaded her breasts and plucked her nipples as he slowed to a lazy grind against her, stoking the ache inside her higher and higher.

Never been this good...and he hadn’t even moved past her clothing yet!

Jase knew exactly what he was doing. Fueling a fire deep inside her, making her want to burn.

“You feel so good,” he said.

She couldn’t think of a reply. Her thoughts were fragmented, each broken by a single need: more. More of Jase. More of his taste. More of his touch. More of his hardness. She rolled her tongue against his, even bit his bottom lip, passion driving her every action. Her fingers played with his hair, roved over his back. He was strong, even there. Especially there. His muscles were as hard as granite. She raked her nails over his shoulders, all the way around to his nipples, only to caress those beaded tips gently.

His shudder rubbed him against her all over again, and she finally found the right words to say. “I’m so close. Need...”

“Let’s get you closer.” He traced a fingertip between her breasts, down her stomach and dabbled at her navel before playing at the waist of her shorts. He tugged at the button, pulled at the zipper. “You wet for me, angel?”

Angel. It wasn’t the first time he’d used the endearment, but it still caused her heart to skip a beat, delight going head-to-head with...a sudden wave of suspicion.

Had he called Jessie Kay angel?

Brook Lynn froze. She had yet to tell her sister about the first kiss she and Jase had shared.

“Wait,” she whispered. “We can’t do this.”

Jase reacted as if she’d bellowed. He stiffened from head to toe. And then...then he withdrew from her and scrambled from the bed, standing at the side to peer down at her. He scrubbed a hand through his mussed hair. “You’re right. We can’t.”

“I just need to call Jessie Kay and—”

“No, you don’t.” The frost returned to his eyes, seeming to grow colder, thicker, by the second. “This was a mistake.”

Pleasure still coursed through her, and he considered what they’d done a mistake?

“I don’t understand,” she said, trembling inside and out.

“You want more than I have to give.”

“No. I don’t.” Except...

I do. I really do. Once would not be enough. Not even close. Two kisses, one touch, and he’d already addicted her.

“You deserve more,” Jase said, sounding tortured. Looking it, too.

“Why can’t you give me more?” she asked softly. Maybe, if she knew his reasons, she could—

No, no. I don’t try to change a man’s mind. Either I’m worth fighting for, or I’m not.

He offered her a smile so sad it broke her heart. “It’s like I told you. Relationships between men and women become toxic. Always. I don’t want that with you. I want to enjoy the time we have together.”

The time we have together... To him it was inevitable that they’d part.

“So that’s it?” she asked. “You’re not even going to try?”

Who am I, pushing like this?

A girl who wanted this man more than anything.

“If you knew half the things I’ve done...” He shook his head, adamant. “One day you’ll thank me for this.”

He feared her reaction to his past? “Tell me what you’ve done. Let me prove you wrong. Please, Jase. Give me a chance.”

He opened his mouth, and for one tormented moment he looked as if he would fulfill her request. Then he said, “Go home, Brook Lynn. When you come back tomorrow, I’ll be the boss, and you’ll be my employee. Nothing more, nothing less. For your safety and my peace of mind, that’s the way things have to stay.”

* * *

TRUE TO HIS WORD, Jase treated Brook Lynn like a distant employee twice removed the next morning...and the next and the next. Each time she arrived at the house, he gave her a new list of chores that involved cooking, cleaning, keeping house and even finding a venue for a “Congrats on the GED!” party for a girl she’d never met.

Also, Brook Lynn was tasked with those stupid daily affirmations. So far she’d offered gems like I will assume full responsibility for my actions, except the ones that are someone else’s fault—which will be all of them. And Every part of me is beautiful and brilliant...even the ugly, stupid parts.

At first, she simmered at midlevel anger over his treatment. Mouth-bag her and push her away? How dare he! But it wasn’t long before the anger began to slip away, leaving her with curiosity. What had shaped this man? The father he’d never known? The mother who’d allowed her boyfriends to hurt him before he was put into the system? The many foster families he’d gotten to know...only to lose? The job he hadn’t named?