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  She wanted to stop him. Tell him he was wrong, she had felt emotion when they’d been linked. He may not allow it out, but it was in there lying in wait for the right moment to burst free. “Okay. Thanks. I will.”

  He nodded and walked out the door to the main part of the house. She still sensed his being there, but as he walked toward the kitchen area it became harder and harder to hold on to his presence. What was it about Joshua Lakeland that made her want to touch him? He was right about one thing, he was dangerous.

  Chapter Four

  “Um, Josh, I don’t want to pry, but what’s the deal with Tessa and you?” Will’s face was awash with concern.

  The two men sat at the dining table. Will cleaned a Glock 41 handgun while they talked.

  “There is no deal. I met her less than forty-eight hours ago when all of this started.” Once he saw Tessa cross the short hallway into the bathroom, he’d given Will a brief outline of the events following his arrival at the beach house.

  “Yeah, you said as much. But there is definitely something up between the two of you.”

  “You’re nuts. I just met her and look at all the trouble she’s caused me. I could be home sleeping in my own bed, or better, over at Kane’s letting Lena and her grandmother feed me.” That reminded him he needed to call his brother and check on the Flacks. He’d “borrowed” a cell phone while Tessa waited in the wooded area. The call to Kane had been short. Basically he’d said there was trouble and to check on Peggy and Bill.

  Kane was smart, he’d smell trouble before it struck and get his family to safety. Joshua had his own issues to deal with. Kane could take care of himself.

  “And yet you have not taken your eyes off the bathroom door for more than two seconds since she went in there.”

  It may have been the truth, but that didn’t mean he wanted to hear it. “Will, are you trying to piss me off?”

  Will’s toothy grin spread across his face. “I’m only pointing out the obvious, Josh. You clearly like this woman in spite of the fact she’s nothing but trouble. She’s beautiful, smart, knows about your gifts so she’s not going to freak out when you send a vase crashing across the room or electrocute some asshole, and you like her.”

  “You said that twice.” It was pretty rare that Joshua was afraid of anything. Yet his attraction to Tessa sent a streak of fear directly to his heart.

  “Yeah, because that’s the important bit,” Will said.

  “No. The important bit is that I don’t get to have the kind of life where a nice girl falls for me and we settle down in a Florida bungalow with a cat and two cars.”

  “Why not?”

  Joshua turned away from the hallway as he heard the bathroom door open. He felt a bit like a schoolboy caught staring at the popular girl in class. He saw a flash of white cross the hall out of his peripheral vision and heard the bedroom door close. Standing up, he stared down at his friend. “You know damn well why not.”

  Will stood up stretching. He had no fear of Joshua. He and Kane were the only people who didn’t keep their distance when he showed any kind of temper. “I know why you think you don’t deserve to be happy. I just think it’s a load of bullshit.”

  “Don’t push me.” Joshua’s voice was low and ripe with warning.

  Shrugging, Will turned toward the other end of the house, where his bedroom was located. He walked a few steps and then turned back. “I never met two more stubborn jackasses as you and your brother and I’ve known the two of you for too long to worry about pissing you off. Even Kane managed to find someone who makes him happy. I don’t see why you would risk losing the opportunity to find out if she’s the one.”

  “Will, you don’t understand.” The anger that had been building rushed away, leaving only regret in its wake. Joshua shook his head and looked up at his oldest friend. They’d been through more battles together than either would care to remember. He trusted him with his life.

  “Nah, buddy, you’re wrong, I get it. You think you’ve seen too much, done too many terrible things in the name of freedom. You’ve gotten it into that thick skull of yours that fighting for what’s right has made you the bad guy. I’m trying to tell you it’s a load of shit. If you don’t pursue that woman it’s not because you’re afraid of what might happen to her, it’s just because you’re afraid.” The hulking man gave his bushy blond head a shake, picked up the gun he’d been cleaning, turned and walked out of the room.

  Sometimes he really hated Will. Why couldn’t he be afraid of him the way everyone else was? “Shit.”

  Joshua looked at the door where he’d last seen Tessa wrapped in a white robe. He’d blocked her while he was talking to Will. Opening his senses, her willing mind embraced him. If he was smart he would lie down on the couch and forget about what he really wanted. Will’s infuriating words roiled around in his head. It wasn’t fear but good sense keeping him away. Wasn’t it? “Shit.”

  He stood and walked to the bathroom. He needed a shower and preferably a cold one.

  The water did nothing to alleviate his desire. If anything her presence just across the hall heightened his need. He could block her, should block her. But he loved the way her mind caressed his ever so gently. It was as if she were a drug and a highly addictive one.

  Pulling his jeans back on, he headed toward the bedroom. At the door he stopped. Should he knock or just walk in? Jesus, Lakeland. What the hell is wrong with you? She probably already senses you standing here.

  “You can come in, Joshua,” her voice called from within, confirming his thoughts.

  He shook his head and opened the door. She sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a long white T-shirt that must have belonged to Will because it fell to halfway down her smooth thighs. She was all leggy, curvaceous goodness and he was dying for a taste.

  “You look as if you are a man with a problem.”

  He did his best to block his overwhelming desire for her without losing the connection he felt with her. It wasn’t an easy feat to accomplish. “I seem to be getting in my own way at the moment.”

  She smiled. “Because you want me but you don’t trust me?”

  He walked closer until he was standing over her and she was forced to look up to meet his gaze. Her hair was damply stuck to her cheek and he pushed it back behind her ear. “Because I want you but I don’t deserve you.”

  “That just sounds like nonsense to me,” she said.

  “Are you saying you’d make love with me, Tessa, right now, after only meeting me two days ago?” His cock fought against the fly of his jeans. He wasn’t sure what he wanted her to say. He wanted her more than he’d ever craved a woman before in his life. Yet knowing how inherently good she was held him at bay. His mind was dark and scarred while hers had been a perfect blend of virtue, toughness and light.

  Her pretty lips turned up. “I’ve been thinking about it. Normally I’m not so easy. Actually I rarely hook up. Sex complicates things in my experience. Sex with a psi is even more complicated. I’m not very comfortable with the connection during sex.”

  He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t move away either. Her admission surprised him since they had been gently connected most of the time since they’d met. Watching her expression carefully, he recalled the way she had invited him into her dream the night before. Had that really been just for him? His body wanted to believe it.

  She stood up and pressed her palm against his bare chest. “Why did you block me while I was in the shower?”

  Her touch could bring him to his knees if he didn’t take care. “I didn’t want to scare you.”

  “Why would I be scared? What were you talking to Will about?”

  He put his hand over hers. “It’s not what we were talking about that worried me. I feel things for you I’ve never experienced before. I have my doubts that I can control it. You might be better off getting as far away from me as possible, Tessa.”

  Her other hand touched his stubbly cheek. “Control is your thing, Joshua. I never
said I wanted you to control yourself.”

  A feral growl rumbled in his chest. She was not making it easy to behave himself. His head lowered until his mouth hovered half an inch from her lips. “Tell me you want me, that you want this?”

  “Almost from the moment you walked into that room at the beach house.”

  All illusions of controlling his desires dropped away as his lips plundered her mouth. She was sweeter than he’d imagined and he couldn’t get enough. If she minded his assault he would not have known by the way her hands clutched at his shoulders and her firm tits pressed against his chest. Her tongue mingled with his and a loud groan pushed up from his chest.

  He wanted to be gentle and had to pull himself back to accomplish it. Instinctively he closed off his mind. He learned young that merging minds during sex had to be done with caution and she’d already admitted it was not something she generally enjoyed.

  His hand slipped down to the bottom of the cotton shirt. He hesitated, giving her time to say no and expecting her to toss him from the room at any moment. Instead she lifted her arms above her head in an invitation to undress her. No more hesitation, he slid the garment up and over her head, leaving her gloriously naked.

  Joshua took a step back to look at her lean, fit body and perfectly rounded breasts. He followed the line of her slim waist down to the swell of her hips. Her smooth skin was soft beneath his fingertips. “Jesus, Tessa, you’re gorgeous.”

  “You’re overdressed.” She tugged on the button securing his jeans and slid the zipper down. He hadn’t put his underwear back on, so when she pushed them down over his hips, his cock stood out, hard and ready.

  Stepping out of his pants, he cupped one perfect breast, lowered his head and captured the taut peak between his lips. She moaned and arched into him.

  Tessa didn’t touch him immediately. A moment went by where the only body parts touching were his mouth to her sensitive nipple. The soft scent of honeysuckle kissed her skin and went to his head. He sucked harder, tugging the morsel and making her cry out. Her hand circled his shoulder, and his arm wrapped around her waist as he released her nipple and moved up to her lips.

  She opened immediately for him and their tongues danced together. She was a drug and he felt an instant dependence. His hand slid lower, cupping the soft flesh of her ass and kneading as he pulled her tight against him. His cock ached for relief, but he wanted her pleasure desperately, maybe more than his own. The edge of her mind poked at his. He urgently wanted to let her in, but caution won out and he blocked her advances into his mind.

  Flattered and surprised by her offer, he still didn’t open up. Being with her was too raw and he feared he would lose control. At least for this first time he would close his mind.

  Soft lips and tender flesh would be more than enough, more than he deserved.

  Her consciousness nudged him again, and again he held her at bay.

  She pulled away. “You don’t trust me.”

  His chest tightened painfully and he brought his hand up to caress her cheek. “It’s not you I don’t trust, Tessa. I want you so bad I’m afraid I’ll lose control and hurt you. This first time let it just be physical and emotional. We can save other connections for other times.”

  “I understand.” The sorrow in her eyes told him she was not being completely honest. It nearly made him change his mind.

  He brought his other hand up to cradle her face and make sure he had her full attention. “I want every part of you in every way a man can want a woman and in ways most men can’t. I expect being inside your head while you come will be the most sensual moment of my life and I want to experience that over and over again. I just want to be a bit less crazed to be inside you physically than I am right now.”

  Her breath caught and her eyes glazed over. “Oh.” She swallowed. “Then you should probably fuck me now.”

  His cock jumped between them and a growl rumbled up from his chest. Grabbing her ass, he lifted her until she wrapped her long, powerful legs around his waist. “I wanted to go slow.”

  “No.” Her eyes were electric and in spite of his efforts to block her he was inundated by the wild waves of passion flowing off her.

  He pushed her away and her feet hit the floor before he turned toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” There was no doubt of the surprise in her voice.

  He didn’t answer, just rushed out of the room completely unashamed of his nudity. He practically ran to the bathroom, found what he needed and rushed back to find Tessa still standing in the middle of the room.

  She was stunning, naked and flushed from passion as she watched him. He grabbed a foil packet and tossed the box in his hand onto the bed. Tearing open the packet while walking over, he rolled the condom over his painfully hard cock.

  “I’m glad Will has a well-stocked bathroom.”

  She grinned. “I just hope that box is full.”

  With a laugh he picked her back up and again her legs wrapped around him.

  In two steps he had her back up against the wall. He reached between their bodies and found her soft folds sopping wet. Another animal sound pushed past his lips as he ground them against hers. He rubbed her clit and she bucked against him while her screams were muffled by his searching mouth.

  She was so wet and ready for him, he couldn’t wait.

  Grabbing his cock, he placed the head at the opening of her pussy and thrust inside.

  They both cried out and then neither moved for a long moment.

  “Tessa, you feel so fucking good.”

  She pressed on his shoulders, lifting her body and forcing his shaft to slide away before she clutched his hips with her legs and pulled him in tight again. “I want you to fuck me now, Joshua.”

  With one hand on the wall behind her head and the other under her ass he pulled his hips back and thrust forward again and again. Each thrust brought a soft, satisfying grunt from Tessa. He could listen to that sound forever. If he’d stretched her too far or caused her any discomfort he couldn’t tell from her hands gripping him tighter.

  She leaned back against the wall, deepening his penetration. Her lean, muscular legs clung to his hips, and her head was thrown back. Even with her eyes closed he could detect only rapture in her strained expression. He put both hands under her ass and his finger skimmed the tight, puckered hole between her cheeks.

  Her eyes sprang open and she screamed. “Yes. Oh God, yes.”

  He circled that sensitive spot again and she bucked, leaned forward and clutched his shoulders. Just the tip of his finger pressed the tight muscle. She came so suddenly and her body wrenched so hard he almost lost his grip on her. Her pussy convulsed around his cock. He didn’t stop thrusting or move his digit. Her orgasm continued to pulse until he couldn’t hold on any longer. He came in a shattering rush. Jerking inside her while her body still shook.

  Tessa slowly dropped one foot to the floor and then the other as his hands slid up her back not yet willing to let her go. Reluctantly he took half a step back and kissed her cheek.

  “Wow,” she said.

  He smiled and went to dispose of the condom before returning. She’d slid into the bed, but her eyes were wide open, watching him.

  That look alone had him semi-hard again. He got under the covers and pulled her against his side, kissing her temple.

  She was muscular, but in a feminine way. Her well-defined arm splayed sensually across his chest.

  He had kept her from experiencing him during sex, but he didn’t block her aura. He loved the harmony it created with his own. They probably should have slept. They both needed the rest, yet her lips found his taut nipple and sucked to the point of near pain. His cock jerked under the covers as if calling for equal attention.

  Her name pushed from his lips of their own accord. His fingers traced a path from her shoulder blades down the curve of her spine to the swell of her ass. She was perfect. He kept his other hand behind his head and allowed her to explore his chest and abs wi
th her tongue and lips. The dichotomy of wanton desire emanating from her and her gentle touch was driving him mad. He gritted his teeth to keep a rein on his passion and allow the experience to continue.

  The arm he’d been admiring a moment before slid down and out of sight beneath the covers. The first tickle of her touch slid along the tip of his cock. His rod jerked away from her attention, but settled back for more an instant later. As if it were her breath and not the pads of her fingers she tickled and traced her way from base to tip and then repeated the action.

  He had no idea such a whisper of a touch could drive him so insane with desire. She gave his balls the same attention and he heard his breath catch followed by a low moan.

  “Tessa, that’s so fucking good.”

  She smiled. Her index finger traced a path up the ridge of the vein running up his shaft.

  The first time had been too quick. If he let her continue this time would be just a fast. Grabbing her hand and his cock in one fist, he stopped her attentions.

  “You don’t like it?” The knowing smile on her lips told him she knew he did like it very much.

  “You first.”

  He loved the confused look on her face. He moved her hand away from him and used his weight to roll her onto her back. Using his forearms to keep his weight from crushing her, he looked down into perfect crystal-blue eyes.

  Her tongue poked out, wetting her bottom lip and another groan pushed up from his chest. Devouring her mouth, he pressed his hips forward so his cock pressed along her mound.

  Tessa lifted her hips to increase the pressure and moaned along with him while their tongues swirled together.

  Breaking the kiss, he slid down, trailing light kisses between her breasts. He leaned on his elbow and bent his head until he could suck one hard bud into his mouth and worried the other between his thumb and forefinger.

  Tessa arched her back, gripped his hair with one hand and the bedding with her other. A small cry escaped her lips.