He’d been so careful after that. Holding tight to his control. Never letting go. Surviving on sips of pleasure only.

Not with Eve.

He’d known she could handle any fire he sent her way, and he’d taken every last bit of pleasure that he could.

Her skin was flawless. No blisters. No burns.

But then, he’d seen the flames come toward her at Genesis. They’d burned over her flesh, but never actually hurt her.

What are you?

She’d said she couldn’t create fire, but was that another lie? He couldn’t trust her, wouldn’t.

But he sure as hellfire wanted her again.

He could easily grow addicted to Eve Bradley, and that addiction would be a very dangerous thing.

For him.

Especially for her. She didn’t seem to understand just how dangerous it was for him to want her. His desire could be deadly.

His fingers slid down the curve of her back. She wasn’t warm like him. Slightly cool to the touch, her flesh was so silken and smooth. Touching her seemed to . . . soothe him.

He wasn’t the type to want soothing.

He pulled away from her when his instincts told him to pull her closer. He dressed, yanking on extra clothes that he kept stored at the cabin.

Then he headed toward the door and didn’t look back.

CHAPTER FIVE

He’d left her. Eve had realized that fun fact about, oh, four hours ago. When she’d woken up alone, naked, and cold.

He’d given her a good orgasm—or three. Four? Showing a girl a good time did not mean that the guy could just waltz out the door when she shut her eyes for a minute. Talk about being an inconsiderate jackass.

When she got her hands on him . . .

The door to the cabin flew open. She whirled around. Weapon! She needed a—

Cain stood in the doorway.

Her eyes narrowed to slits. She still needed a weapon. Maybe a lamp to throw at his thick head so he’d get that a guy wasn’t supposed to desert a lady right after mind-blowing sex.

Even paranormals could do some pillow talk.

“Where were you?” Eve demanded then realized she sounded like some really angry girlfriend. Crap.

Wow. Not me. She’d never done the angry scene before. She guessed there was a first time for everything. Jack. Ass.

Cain lifted the object he was holding. “I went back for this. Thought you might want it. You were sure clinging to it tight enough back in Wyatt’s office.”

Wyatt’s laptop. Eve flew across the room and grabbed it. Okay, so it was black with soot and ash, kinda dinged up, but it didn’t look too bad. No, actually, it looked so good and sweet—evidence!—that she almost kissed it.

She rushed away from him, and sat down at the small table, and opened the laptop. Yes, yes, the power hummed right on and then—

“You’re welcome,” Cain drawled from behind her.

She heard the door shut. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced over her shoulder at him. He stood in front of the door with his hands crossed over his chest. Sometimes, she got a little too carried away with things. He’d gone back for the laptop. That was rather . . . awesome. And kinda sweet. Eve forced herself to turn away from the laptop and rise slowly to face Cain. “Thank you.” She needed that laptop. It was proof. Well, it was her proof, and so was Cain. Living, breathing, talking proof.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. “Thank me with a kiss.”

She could feel her flush getting deeper.

“It wasn’t easy to get it, either. Local cops are swarming that place, and I had to crawl through the rubble left behind in order to find it.” He took a step toward her. One. Then another. Stalking her. His gaze was on her face as he said, “I figure a kiss is the least I deserve for that little prize.”

Kissing him wasn’t exactly a hardship for her. She wet her lips. His eyes weren’t blazing—a good thing—they were back to being dark and intense. But she could still see the lust in his stare.

Her heart began to race faster. “A kiss . . . seems fair to me.” If he had been there when she woke up, she would have given him a whole lot more than just a kiss good morning.

Since he’d left to retrieve the laptop for her, Eve figured she could forgive the guy. The laptop was way more important than pillow talk.

She had her priorities. Most days.

So she was the one that closed the distance between them. The one to lift her hands and curl them around his neck. He was still warm to the touch, but not as hot as he’d been before. Eve rose onto her toes as his head lowered toward her.

The kiss was easy, light. Exploring.