“Cass? You awake?”

She didn’t answer.

Coward.

She felt the mattress sag as he sat down on the edge of the bed. Cautiously, she opened her eyes a slit and peered at him. He was leaning over, his face cloaked in shadows as he unlaced his gawdawful Doc Marten boots.

He turned his head toward her.

Quickly, she shut her eyes. She heard the boots hit the floor, plunk, plunk. Heard him breathing.

Was he watching her? It felt like he was watching her. She wasn’t sure if she liked the idea of him watching her when she couldn’t watch him back.

So open your eyes.

Nothing doing. She didn’t want to be the one to have to sleep on the love seat.

Coward, coward.

He got off the bed. The mattress sprang back up. She heard the erotic sound of his belt slithering softly through the loops as he took it off. This time she did open her eyes.

His face was turned away from her, the light from the bathroom falling across his bare back. He had already taken off his shirt and slung it over the love seat.

His chest was magnificent. Lots of sit-ups had gone into sculpting those abs.

Involuntarily, she licked her lips.

He stretched fully, like an animal, powerful and elemental. Even in the darkness, her face flushed hot. She felt feverish, adrift in some delirious dream.

Her body hummed as she watched him. Her senses buzzed as the room seemed to grow smaller and smaller and he seemed to grow bigger and bigger. She was damp and sticky and oh so achy.

He tugged off his pants and then shucked off his underwear. Cass squeezed her eyes shut again, unable to handle the intensity of his nakedness, but not before she caught a glimpse of his firm, lean-muscled thighs and tight butt.

A shiver shot through her.

Did he know she was awake? Was he putting on a show for her benefit?

He came back and slid between the sheets beside her without stopping to put on a pair of briefs. He was buck naked in bed with her.

She froze, tensed, not knowing what to do. She wanted to get more comfortable but she was afraid to move around. Was he going to reach for her? Were they going to make love?

A minute passed. Then two. Then ten.

Was he just going to fall asleep? The thought disappointed her.

Although it was a stupid thing to do under the circumstances, she let herself think about kissing him. His mouth crimson-hot on hers, his hands splayed flat against her spine as he leaned her backward.

She tossed, turned, closed her eyes and then opened them to stare at the digital clock glowing ghostly orange from the nightstand.

An hour had passed.

“Can’t sleep?” His voice was an electrical jolt, intense and jarring.

“No. You either?”

“I’m talking to you aren’t I?”

“Oooh, sarcasm. Learned that on the mean streets, didja detective?”

“Anyone ever tell you that you had a sassy mouth?”

“Only men who wanted to kiss me. You want to kiss me, Sam?”

“What do you think?”

“So why don’t you?”

He turned in the bed and his leg brushed lightly against hers. All the air rushed right out of her lungs.

But then he didn’t move again, or speak.

Don’t forget to breathe. Take a long slow deep breath in. Let it out nice and even. The hairs on her arm raised in anticipation. She waited. Still, he said nothing. I don’t care that he’s not answering me. No big deal. Maybe I misread his signals.

He’d gotten into bed naked. What was there to misread?

Just when she was beginning to think he might have lapsed into a coma, he spoke. “I don’t want to start something I can’t finish.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m at a place in my life where I’m ready for a relationship. I get the definite impression you’re leery of anything long term.”

“You’re naked,” she pointed out. “If you’re really looking for long term then why didn’t you put some underwear on?”

“I always sleep naked.”

“You could have made an exception this time, if you really didn’t want anything to happen.”

“Do you want something to happen?”

“I have to tell you, Sam that this is the lamest seduction anyone’s ever pulled on me.”

“I’m not trying to seduce you.”

“That’s really good because it’s not working.”

“You horny yet?”

“Hell, yes.”