“Oh, wow. That’s a great name,” she said, studying him. “Big John. I love it!”
“Thanks.” He actually blushed, and suddenly seemed fascinated by his tennis shoes.
“You know, the guys are all betting your name is something really nerdy or embarrassing. And here you have a strong, solid name that suits you so well.” She leaned forward. “But why’d you tell me?”
He shrugged. “You’re a cop, and you’re Micah’s sister. I know I can trust you. I feel it here,” he said, placing a plate-sized palm over his gut.
She was beyond touched. “Thank you. Your secret is safe with me. After all, we wouldn’t want to upset the betting pool, would we?” He laughed quietly. As she watched him, gave the man some thought, the pieces began to fit together. “You joined the team with Nick six months ago.”
“Yeah.”
“He said you were in the FBI together. You were undercover, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“You were deep inside and you got made, didn’t you?” she asked, gauging his reaction to see if she was right. He tensed, looked into her eyes, and she knew before he spoke.
“They made me, the group of terrorists I helped take down. After the job was done and the lot of them were arrested, they figured out I was an agent, learned my real name. Mine got erased, and I didn’t bother to pick a new one. If I don’t exist, why do I need some name on paper?”
“True. So who coined the nickname Hammer? Or did you make it up?”
“No, Nicky did, by accident. When we first met, he said my fists were as big as the business end of a sledgehammer. The short version stuck.”
“Well, that’s true, too, but I still prefer John.” She winked. “I won’t spill it in front of anyone.”
“Say, I was wondering…”
The big man faltered, and stared over her head into the forest. Not because he saw anything dangerous or interesting out there. He had that look on his face men sometimes did when they were about to—
Uh-oh.
He cleared his throat, and tried again. “I thought maybe, before you head back to Los Angeles, I could, um, take you to dinner sometime? If you wanted. I mean, nothing serious. I just think you’re really cool and well, sexy and— Crap, I’m totally messing this up.”
Oh, God. How sweet was that? There was just one problem. A big, snarky redheaded one.
“You’re not messing anything up,” she assured him. Lord, how to let him down without hurting his feelings? “It’s just that I’ve already sort of been seeing someone. Not that it’s serious, but I don’t think—”
“Damn.” He smiled ruefully. “Should’ve figured, considering how much time you’ve spent together. But I thought maybe there was an outside chance for me, since he won’t claim— Never mind.”
“Won’t claim what?”
“Nothing. Forget I said anything.” Now he seemed anxious to drop the subject.
Sweeping the man with her gaze from head to toe, she came very, very close to accepting his dinner invite. However, wonderful as he seemed, the temptation was fleeting. In fact, the idea of being with a man who wasn’t Aric made her stomach hurt. It was an actual physical reaction that was troubling, how her entire being rejected the mere suggestion of getting close to another male.
Oh, God. I don’t want any man but Aric.
“I don’t really understand what’s going on with me and him,” she admitted. “I thought it was a simple out-of-town affair, as slutty as that sounds, but now? I don’t know. It’s more complicated than I thought if I can’t go out with someone as great as you.”
“It doesn’t sound slutty to me. Being alone sucks, you know? Sometimes it’s really nice to have someone, even if it’s not forever.” His expression grew wistful for a moment; then he shook himself. “Anyway, thanks for being honest. I’d thought maybe things were different with you two. At least I know it’s not me, and I’d never poach off one of my friends.”
“That’s good to hear, ’cause I’d hate to rip out your heart and eat it for a snack.”
Both of them faced Aric, who’d somehow come upon them without either of them noticing. He seemed mighty pissed, too. As she took in Hammer’s smile, she wondered if the big man hadn’t heard his friend approach.
“It’s all good, Red.” He waved a hand at Rowan. “You can’t blame a guy for trying to catch a gorgeous, smart, kick-butt woman, can you?”
Aric snorted. “Guess not. Just don’t let it happen again.”
“No prob. I’ll leave you two alone. Rowan, until later.” With a wink, he headed toward the building.
“I hope I didn’t hurt his feelings,” she said, frowning. “He’s a fantastic man.”
“Just how fantastic is he?” Stepping up, he wrapped both arms around her, pulled her flush against his over-warm body. “As good as this?”
His lips nibbled at hers and his tongue flicked gently, rather than swooping in for the searing, take-charge kiss he usually delivered. This one was no less dominant, but was… tender. Sweet and searching. Instead of a bolt of lightning, the tingle spread to her belly and toes like ripples on a beautiful pond, sparkling with light.
One of his hands cupped her cheek, and his thumb stroked her jaw as he deepened the kiss. He ate her mouth slowly, as though savoring her as long as possible, before drawing back. “My room?”
“Let’s go.” The words were out before she thought twice. The need to be with him was like an irresistible pull, so powerful a force it was useless to fight it. So she didn’t try, just for tonight.
Again, she thought of Hammer—no, John—asking her out, and mused over her refusal. Though she’d been tempted, there was really no question that she couldn’t have done it. The two men were as different as night and day; one a gentle giant, one all fire and tempest. John was very nice, but… the redhead called to her blood, challenged her, excited her as no man ever had.
For all his sarcasm and rough edges, most of it was a front. Aric was kind, and he cared almost too much. His guilt over Beryl had nearly killed him. He was loyal and loved his “brothers.” He’d stuck by Rowan through Micah’s recovery.
He was spontaneous and fun, too. She thought of their rendezvous outside the Grizzly and her libido heated. No man had ever taken her in public before, or at least in a place where anyone could’ve happened along. He made her feel alive, and he had a wicked sense of humor.
Aric had wrapped himself around her heart. And refused to let go.
The walk to his quarters was quick, and they burst inside stripping off their clothes. In his bedroom, he pushed her gently onto her back and moved over her like a blanket, alive and real. Her palms skimmed his back, mapped his muscles, his spine. When he brought the head of his cock to her opening and began to push inside, she opened, welcoming him. Sought the connection that was more than just physical, though she didn’t know what exactly that might be. It was the same mysterious thing that drew her to him time and again, a force bigger than the both of them.
Then she quit analyzing and let herself go, got lost in the thrust of his body, the way he danced over her gracefully. Stoked the fires higher. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she arched to meet him, taking him in as far as possible, kissing and licking the salty skin of his neck and chest. His chest rumbled, so obviously he liked her attentions. She kept it up, kneading the round globes of his ass as he made love to her.
And there could be no doubt—this was making love.
Right then, her heart trembled under an assault it had never experienced before. Hadn’t wanted to know. She wouldn’t name it, but it hung there in all its soul-shattering intensity, with the power to heal, to liberate.
Or to decimate.
“Oh, God, baby! I can’t stop,” he panted. He drove into her, picking up the pace.