I make a big circle and as I approach the entrance to my building, a see a familiar man leaning against the wall. My first thought is Leo, but Leo is taller and leaner than this guy.

“Hey, Samantha.”

What the fuck is he doing here?

“Brandon.”

“You shouldn’t run at night by yourself.” He’s frowning down at me as I approach him, panting.

“I’m fine. What are you doing in town?”

“I’m here seeing family for a week, thought I’d stop in and see how you are.” He shrugs and grins. “For old times sake.”

“Old times, right.” I smirk and grin at him.

“So, how about it? Gonna invite me up?”

I prop my hands on my hips and tilt my head, eyeing the handsome man interested in getting in my pants. He’s not as tall as Leo, has black hair and blue eyes, a square chin. His body is cut and perfect, and he knows his way around a woman’s body.

But the thought of fucking him makes my stomach turn.

“Brandon, we had fun, but I’m seeing someone.”

“So, it’s true?” He laughs mockingly. “You always told me you were just interested in a hard fuck.”

“That’s true. That’s all I was interested in.” My walls immediately go up. Brandon is hot, but he’s also an asshole.

“I would have given you anything you wanted, you know.” He shakes his head and scowls. “I’ve been in love with you for years.”

My mouth drops. “We were fuck buddies,” I counter.

“That was your call,” he responds softly.

“Well, I’m sorry that we weren’t on the same page, Brandon. Had I known…”

“You would have stopped calling.” He interrupts. “I know.”

“Well, good luck.” I turn toward my building, but he stops me.

“How about you invite me in, and I remind you how good I make you feel?” He steps close to me, and pushes his hand up under my hoodie to cup my breast.

“How about you take your hand off me right now and I don’t kick your ass?” My voice is cold and hard, and I shuffle the bear spray in my palm, ready to show him who’s boss.

“Come on, baby, don’t be like this.”

“I believe she said no.” A hard voice comes out of the darkness. Brandon immediately releases me and steps away as Leo – Leo! – strolls to me and wraps his arm around my shoulders, kisses my temple and glares at Brandon. “Are you deaf?”

“Fuck off,” Brandon sneers.

“I believe she pretty much said that to you, too.” Leo chuckles. “Cut your losses, dude.”

“You don’t know anything about us,” Brandon begins, but Leo holds up a hand, stopping him.

“Do you want to press charges for sexual assault?” Leo asks.

“No, I want him to go.”

“Fine.” Brandon’s scowl roams my face. “Your loss.”

“Okay.” I shrug and turn my back on him, buzz Leo and me into the building and into the elevator before I jump on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and arms around his shoulders and kiss him silly, biting his lips, his piercing, soaking in his warmth and his smell.

“I missed you,” I whisper against his lips, grinning.

“Me too, and I’m pissed at you.”

“Why?” I hop down and frown up at him.

“You went running at midnight.”

“How do you know?” I ask and bite my lip.

“Well, you admitted as much to that asshole down there, and you’re dressed for a run.”

“Wait, you heard our entire conversation?” I ask incredulously. I wrack my brain, trying to remember everything that was said.

“I did.” He nods and sighs and runs his fingers down my cheek. “I almost killed him.”

The elevator arrives at my floor, and I lead him to my door.

“You seemed very calm.”

“I almost killed him.” At the sound of his voice, Levine comes running from the bedroom, jumps onto the arm of the couch and cries for attention.

“He missed you too.”

He strokes Levine’s back and watches me, his eyes steady and warm, but his mouth is set disapprovingly.

“I don’t want you running this late.”

“I only went a mile,” I counter.

He sighs and pulls me into his arms. He doesn’t just kiss me. He takes ownership of me.

And damn if I don’t love it.

“Please don’t do it again,” he whispers. “If anything happened to you, it would kill me.”

Well, when he puts it like that…

“Okay,” I agree.

“Thank you for sending the baby gifts today.”

I smile widely and bounce on the balls of my feet. “They got there?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty great. Maddox will love that guitar.”

“He should have a guitar like his daddy.” I nod. “How is the baby?”

“Small.” He laughs and shrugs.

“And Lori?”

“She’s great.” His eyes are happy as he lifts me into his arms and carries me to the bedroom.

“Do you want something to drink?” I push my fingers into his soft brown hair.

“Later,” he murmurs and kisses my temple.

“What do you want now?” I ask with a grin.

“I haven’t been inside you in too many hours to count, sunshine.” He sets me on my feet and strips me naked, his lips kissing my skin as he uncovers it. By the time he pulls my socks off my feet, I’m panting and on fire.

He pulls his shirt over his head, shucks his pants and guides me onto the bed, onto my back.

“Spread your legs, sweetheart.”

“Gee, this is awfully fast. I usually ask a guy to buy me dinner before he can just insist I spread my legs.” I giggle and he pinches my thigh, then bites it and kisses the hurt away.

He systematically kisses his way up my body; his hands are moving over me, gently caressing my breasts, my nipples.

He nuzzles my belly button and sighs. “Sexy.”

He leaves open-mouthed, wet kisses on my skin and climbs up to rest his pelvis against my own. His lips wreck havoc on my neck, making me squirm beneath him, my hips circling and inviting him inside me.

“I missed you,” he whispers.

“Me too, but it was only one day.”

“Missed you anyway.” He kisses his way over to the other side and sucks my earlobe, grazes my jawline with his teeth and settles in to kiss me stupid.