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  This was different from last time. More intense, as if he was giving her more of himself.

  He unbuckled with a metallic clank, unzipped with a metal hiss, and shoved his pants to the floor with a swish that had her panting and ready for more.

  Holy moly on a double cracker. Her memory of him was spot on. Sometimes a girl just got a gift from the gods in this life. He was hard and thick and long . . . totally in proportion to his spectacular body. Knife wounds, healed and white, dotted his left thigh, while healed burns ran along the other one, next to the perfect bite mark from her mouth. Oh yeah. She’d forgotten about that.

  He rummaged in his bag and drew out a condom, which he quickly rolled into place. Then, his hold surprisingly gentle, he clamped her hips and lifted her, turning to set her the right way on the bed.

  Finally.

  “Now we’re gonna go slow.” He maneuvered his body into place, held himself with one hand over her, careful not to crush her.

  “Nope.” She bent her knees and manacled his arms, pressing up for just one touch.

  “Yes.” He obliged her, sliding a hand between her legs, driving two fingers inside. Easily. “Just making sure you’re ready.”

  She pressed her lips together to keep from begging. “I nearly choked on a pillow trying not to scream a second ago. I’m ready.” She was wet, her body primed.

  He did that crisscrossing thing with his fingers that he’d done earlier, and she whimpered. Actually whimpered.

  The sound made his eyes glitter, open and clearly hungry. Nothing veiled and nothing held back. There was no doubt few people in the world had ever seen that look on Clarence Wolfe’s face.

  “Now, Wolfe. Please.” Being polite wasn’t exactly begging.

  When he removed his fingers, her body felt empty, unfulfilled, until he guided the head of his cock into her.

  Finally.

  “Yes,” she breathed, digging her fingers into the sleek skin at his waist. “More.”

  He rocked against her, sweat dotting his forehead with the strain of going slow. Another inch inside, and he groaned, the tension between them almost too much. “You okay?” he grunted.

  Her heart rolled over and filled up with him. “Yes.” Her voice thickened. This close to being all the way inside her heat, with his body so hard and tense it had to hurt, he still paused to make sure she was safe. “Though I’d be better if you’d get a move on.” She opened her legs wider, her feet sliding on the bedspread.

  He rocked back and forth, in and out, giving her a couple more inches. She stretched around him, gasping, her clit firing again as if awakened from a long slumber. Maybe an entire lifetime of sleep. “I can’t wait any longer,” she moaned, pulling at his hips with all of her strength.

  “That’s unfortunate.” He dropped his head to the crook of her neck, his voice gritty, the tone pained. He kissed her jugular and reached under her, palming her entire butt again and lifting her against him.

  Thank God.

  She arched, taking more of him than he’d intended and feeling victorious.

  He growled against her neck, sending vibrations through her skin to zing her breasts and zap her whole body. “You are not in control here.”

  She dug her nails into his flesh, more than willing to leave scratches. “Fine. You be in charge but get all the way inside me. Now.”

  He lifted his head, his eyes piercing. “Are you really arguing with me right now?”

  Her eyes widened. “I wouldn’t be if you would just shove—argh.” She yelped as he powered all the way inside her, groin to groin, stretching her in every direction.

  He stopped moving, holding her tight, the hand on her ass firm. “Happy now?”

  She had to take a second to find out. He more than filled her, pulsing against her internal walls, owning her body in a way she never would’ve imagined. “Yes. I’m much happier now,” she admitted, smiling as the pain slid right to pleasure with an edge. “Now you can start moving.”

  His lids lowered. “Dana? You’ve pushed enough.”

  “Then you start pushing.” She tried to clamp her knees to his thighs, but she was spread too wide by his hips. At the realization, a shiver took her, landing hard right where their bodies connected.

  “Now you’re getting it.” He lowered his forehead to hers.

  “I want more of you,” she breathed, going on instinct.

  He lifted up, his gaze boring into her, his body taking hers. “Then I’ll give you more. On my terms.”

  “I’ll battle you for that.” She lifted against him as much as she was able, which wasn’t much. “You can spank me later. For now, let’s do this.” Her voice was breathy, almost husky.

  His eyes flared. “Oh, that’s a date, then.”

  Wait a minute. What had she—

  He slid out and then powered back inside her, watching her expression carefully. When she didn’t flinch or gasp or do anything but glide her hands up his chest, he did it again, this time with a little more force.

  “Yes,” she moaned.

  He powered into her, no longer going slow, and all she could do was hold on. Faster and harder, longer and deeper, he took her, his gaze an intense promise she couldn’t decipher. Energy uncoiled inside her, deeper than before, and her legs started to shake with an intensity that ran down to her feet.

  She fought the orgasm, wanting to prolong this time as long as possible.

  His jaw hardened and he tilted his hips just enough to pummel her clit. She exploded with a rough cry she couldn’t stop.

  His mouth took hers, stifling her cries, kissing her deep enough she could only moan as she shut her eyes and let pleasure surge through her, taking her into a moment of raw feeling with no thought. Ecstasy ravaged her, leaving her gasping for breath even as her body relaxed into a marshmallow.

  But he wasn’t done.

  “Fuck,” he murmured, holding her tighter.

  She held on to him, taking all of him, wonder filling her. His body tightened even more, the cords in his neck straining. He hammered faster and then held her against him, shuddering with his own release. He groaned, dropping his head to the safety of her neck again, his breath harsh against her skin.

  One more grunt, and he paused, not moving.

  She could feel his heartbeat slamming against hers. “Wolfe.” Hot, heated, slick skin filled her palms as she caressed up his flanks to his shoulders, rubbing soothing circles on the way.

  He lifted his head, his eyes soft. “Are you all right?”

  She laughed, feeling free. “I’m better than all right. How about you?” He was still inside her, lightly throbbing, his weight held off her by his elbow.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” he said softly, brushing the hair away from her face in a gentle touch that nearly brought tears to her eyes. “There’s water in the fridge if you want some.”

  Her chuckle emerged naturally. “I’m not thirsty.” Yet.

  “You will be.” The promise in his eyes stole what little breath she had left. “It’s gonna be a long night.”

  Her body woke right up again. “Is it?”

  “Yep. Now, about that spanking you mentioned . . .”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Wolfe finished his egg-white omelet, sitting between Dana and her dad at a long table with Evie, the three sisters, and a bunch of other relatives. The bride and groom had taken off for their honeymoon, and the bride’s mother wasn’t around, so it was a boisterous affair. Dana’s sisters had sent him knowing smiles, and her parents had been polite and friendly, no doubt not wanting to dwell on thoughts of what he’d done to their daughter the night before.

  There wasn’t much he hadn’t done.

  His limbs were relaxed, and his chest felt like he’d let it expand for the first time in years. Next to him, Dana chattered happily with Katie, and he got the sense of why his buddies had fought for family back home. This was everything.

  Dana leaned over him to talk to her mom, her breast brushing his arm. “Hey,
Mom? I forgot to ask why Hunter, Faye, and Miss A weren’t at the wedding last night.”

  Wolfe partially turned to face Evie. He’d met Hunter and Faye while on leave with his buddy Raider not too long ago. The three had been raised by Miss A in a foster home. Of course, that’s also when he’d met Dana. He’d found her in the woods and had tossed her umbrella in the river when she’d tried to stab him with it. He grinned at the memory.

  Evie delicately wiped her mouth on her napkin. “Hunter and Faye took his brother, Jackson, to some space camp in Florida. While there, I’m hoping they start ring shopping, as is Miss A.” She winked at her husband. “Miss A had another wedding up in Boston for one of her foster kids. I think she was acting as mother of the groom, and rumor has it the bride was a total bridezilla.”

  “Miss A will handle her,” Lissa said, tipping back a mimosa across from him.

  “Wish I could see that,” Katie agreed, reaching over to steal bacon from Charlotte’s plate.

  Good idea. Wolfe snagged a piece of whole-wheat toast from Dana’s plate, munching quietly. For the first time, he tried to think of a way to take out Rock without getting injured. Chances weren’t great.

  He liked Dana. A lot. Maybe she really would date him after all of this was over. She had to appreciate that he’d kept himself from breaking Mike’s hands the previous night, when he’d at least wanted to twist a thumb or something. And she didn’t seem to mind Kat being around or Wolfe being too blunt, so maybe there was a chance. It was hard to be anything but hopeful when surrounded by the Mulberry family.

  Mitch looked more at home dressed in ripped jeans and a worn T-shirt today. He pushed his plate away. “Okay. Now we get down to business.”

  The table grew silent.

  Wolfe leaned back to better see everyone, realizing his hand was playing with Dana’s hair. He dropped his arm. The woman had just dug right into his heart and planted her stubborn blond ass. What in the hell was he going to do now?

  Mitch pulled his bingo card from his back pocket with a flourish. “I have fourteen squares marked out.”

  Cards instantly appeared on the table with shouts of numbers, and when things settled down, Charlotte had twenty marked out. Lissa peered over her shoulder to read the card. “You cheat, you know.”

  Dana elbowed Wolfe. “Where’s your card?”

  He shrugged. Let Charlotte win this one. The brunette was smiling triumphantly at her sisters.

  Mitch elbowed him from the other side. “She does cheat. Where’s your card?”

  His ribs weren’t going to survive sitting between these two. Wolfe reluctantly drew the card from his back pocket, sliding it to Mitch.

  “Whoa. Twenty-four squares.” Mitch clapped him on the back. “You were one away from the entire card. Great job.” He laughed and tossed a mushroom at Charlotte. “And I know you cheated. Nobody did the tango last night.”

  “I got Lissa to do it in the bedroom,” Charlotte countered. “Rose and everything.”

  Lissa rubbed her nose. “I might’ve had a bit too much champagne, but I think I rocked it.”

  “Had to be on the dance floor, and you know it.” Mitch reached in his pocket and handed cash to Wolfe. “Four hundred bucks. Don’t spend it all in one place.”

  Wolfe took the bills, his ears heating. A thought occurred to him as he counted heads at the table. “This should cover breakfast.” As well as a very nice tip for the harried waitress, a forty-something woman with an excellent memory.

  Mitch clapped him again, this time harder. “It certainly should. That’s mighty kind of you.”

  Evie leaned around her husband. “That is very nice, Clarence. Thank you so much.”

  His ears heated more, and he just nodded, fighting the temptation to slide right into the warmth offered by these kind people. He got the feeling that whoever won bingo usually bought breakfast. Thank goodness his brain was working this morning. Dana leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, obviously not caring that her family was watching.

  She accepted him so completely and openly. He didn’t deserve that, but he wasn’t sure he could let her go any longer. He needed some time and distance to figure all of this out.

  Lissa’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. I forgot to ask how your dog is doing this morning.”

  “He’s hungover,” Wolfe said, relieved to be talking about anything but himself. “I sent him down to the river to dunk his head, and he’s probably asleep in the sun now.”

  Katie worried her lower lip across from him. “Doesn’t alcohol kill dogs?”

  Wolfe shook his head. “Most dogs but not that one. The vet can’t explain it, but Roscoe always survives. We try to keep him away from the booze, but accidents happen.”

  “Especially when there is cake involved.” Mitch started laughing, and his wife slapped his hand.

  Conversations started up again around them, and Wolfe turned toward Dana. She’d come to breakfast in a pale yellow summer dress with her long hair back in a ponytail. Her pretty pink lipstick made her mouth shimmer and all but beg for a kiss. Her eyes were a clear, happy green, and although she’d moved a little carefully this morning, she seemed relaxed.

  He gave in to temptation and reached out to knead her nape. “How are you doing?” He kept his voice low.

  “Great.” She sipped her orange juice, a muted pink tinging her cheekbones. “A little sore but in a good way.”

  Yeah, he got that. The scratches on his arms and chest were light and would fade, but he liked that she’d left her mark on him, at least temporarily. “Your family is pretty great.”

  “Thanks.” She leaned into him naturally, and he tried not to think beyond this moment. “I know we have to get on the road soon, so when it’s time, just let me know.”

  The desire to stay another day with everyone caught him by surprise, since he’d usually rather be alone. Oddly enough, he didn’t feel out of place here. But he and Dana had cases to solve, and he needed to keep an eye on Force and make sure he wasn’t killing his liver. “We have a few minutes.” He tugged on her ponytail, and she smacked his arm, laughing and then rolling her eyes at Lissa, who was openly grinning at them.

  Was it possible for him to have a real relationship with Dana? There were a lot of people to protect in this family, but he was one of the best. He settled his hand against her nape, stopping the kneading. “I was thinking—”

  “No,” Dana said, her smile remaining firmly in place. “I am not staying with my family while you solve all of the world’s problems on your own.”

  Well, then. That wasn’t exactly how he’d planned to word the suggestion, but she’d caught his gist. He could appeal to her father, but something told him that would get him punched in the gut. It’d probably tick off her sisters, too. “Hey. I forgot to ask about that scene with the bride last night. It had looked like she was actually going to hit you. You weren’t really going to fight, were you?”

  She shrugged. “No. Lissa would’ve tried to jump in, and Katie would’ve stopped her, and it would’ve been a mess if the moms hadn’t arrived in time. But nobody would’ve gotten hit. Well, probably.”

  Okay. The Mulberry sisters were nuts. He should probably be careful not to piss them all off at the same time. “I’m glad the moms stepped in,” he muttered.

  “Me too.” Dana speared a piece of melon and plopped it in her mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

  “Have you ever been in a physical fight?” Wolfe asked.

  She shook her head. “Not unless you count fighting over the television remote control with one of my sisters.”

  “I don’t,” Wolfe said.

  “Then, nope. Never been in a fight.”

  He needed to teach her how to fight. Not that he wanted her to fight, but those skills were necessary in their work. Even in her work as a journalist. “You should know how to protect yourself,” he said.

  She snorted. “You know I could help you on your case, right?”

  He wasn’t going to argue with her
in front of her family. “You are not on my case, and that’s the end of it.” He kept his voice low, but nobody seemed to be listening to their conversation, anyway.

  She patted his jean-clad thigh. “We can talk about that on the drive home. Either way, I’m on the payroll now, remember? We have actual assignments.”

  That was fine, but his fight with Rock could get her killed. During this escape from reality, he’d been able to banish the images of Candy Folks’s autopsy, but soon he’d be back at his crappy office searching for the guy who’d killed her while also preparing to either kill Rock or die trying.

  Dana brushed his arm, and the scent of orange blossoms wafted over him. “Congrats on winning bingo. Beginner’s luck and all.”

  “Thanks.” A chill clacked down his spine, and he stiffened, going on alert. He scouted the room, landed on a couple of kids eating pancakes in the corner, and then kept going to a window facing the golf course.

  Gary Rockcliff stood framed in the window, looking right at him.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Wolfe’s muscles tightened, and ice flowed through his blood. Gary Rockcliff jerked his head to the south and then disappeared. Barely keeping his cool, Wolfe set his napkin on his plate. “Excuse me.”

  Dana’s eyebrows rose, but everyone else kept up their conversations.

  His knife was in his boot. Oh, he’d end up in jail and probably be banished from all future Mulberry breakfasts, but if he got the chance to kill Rock right now, he was going to take it. All sound disappeared as he strode through the restaurant and outside to the club grounds, spotting Rock lounging in an outdoor seating area next to a board set up for tournaments.

  Wolfe counted the civilians in the area as well as the avenues of escape, his gaze never leaving his enemy. Heat and humidity swam around him, making his shirt too tight.

  Rock sat in a lounge chair at one corner of an unused outdoor fireplace and gestured to the seat across from him. “Please.”