* * *

NAKED AND SATED, Brook Lynn snuggled into the warmth and security of Jase’s hard body. They’d gone at it like animals, dozed and then gone at it again. And the sex had been amazing, just as before. But—

I’m such a slag, adding a but.

But. Since they’d committed to each other, she’d expected something...more. More intimate. More meaningful. More emotional than physical.

I’m seriously complaining about four orgasms? I think I can hear women all over the world cocking their guns to shoot me.

“Should we call ourselves Brase?” she asked to distract herself. “Or maybe J-rook? Jaselynn?”

He snorted.

“Too soon for a Hollywood nickname?”

“Considering the things we’ve done to each other,” he said, “nothing is too soon.” He smoothed the hair from her temple and stroked the shell of her ear, careful of the implant.

She tensed at first, but the more he did it, the more she liked it, and soon she was leaning in to the touch. It was so new, a pleasure she hadn’t known she could have until him. “Are you really my boyfriend?”

“I am.”

“And I’m...”

“My girlfriend.”

She kissed the spot just above his heart and stroked her fingers over his chest. “Then I need to know more about you. Where are you from?”

“Oklahoma City. But I’ve lived in Mustang, Yukon, Norman, Moore...McAlester. Even Pawnee.”

“Have a favorite?”

His arms tightened around her. “Definitely Strawberry Valley.”

She playfully bit his nipple. “Trying to seduce me when I’m already naked?”

“Maybe it’s not only your body I’m hoping to seduce,” he grumbled.

Her mind? Her...heart? She sucked in a breath. It was far too soon in their relationship for love...right?

A pang shot through her...one of longing. Was that what had been missing from their lovemaking—the love?

I want him to love me, she realized. And he could—surely. I won this from him. I can win more.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I’ve been here all my life,” she said. “Never really wanted to live anywhere else.”

“Is there somewhere you’ve wanted to visit?”

“Wichita Mountain.” She remembered the way Harlow Glass had bragged about all the fun she and her family had there, climbing Mount Scott, seeing the patchwork of lakes, the rock formations and the bison herds.

“Camping?” He laughed. “You?”

“Hey! I told you we did it once a year when I was a kid. I excel at camping.”

He rolled her to her back, a grin still in place. “I’d like to go camping right now. At Lake Bliss. And I know just where I want to stake my tent.”

She moaned as he slipped a finger deep inside her.

A vibration rattled the nightstand. A ring followed.

“Ignore it,” Jase said, kissing her neck. “The rest of the world no longer exists.”

“But what if Jessie Kay needs me?”

He lifted his head to check. “It’s not Jessie Kay. It’s—” He whipped out an arm and swiped up the phone. “You’ve missed a call and two texts from Brad.” His tone had gone flat, his eyes dark. “He’d like to go out again.”

It reminded her of the anger he’d displayed at the wine-and-cheese tasting, the moment he’d gone still—a predator preparing to strike—and gave her a momentary twinge of unease. “I’ll tell him no,” she said, knowing she should have taken care of this already. This wasn’t the first time Brad had contacted her. “Tomorrow, after work.”

Jase gave a clipped shake of his head. “Now. This second.”

“No way. I’ll do it in person, not through a text.”

“Fine,” he said. “But you’ll do it this morning.”

I willingly hitched my wagon to an alpha. What did I expect? “First, you’ll need to adjust your tone if you want results. Second, I have too much to do at your place.”

“You’re right about the tone. I’m sorry. As for the other thing, your very generous boss will give you an hour off.”

Brad didn’t love her or anything like that, but rejection was rejection, and it always hurt. “Maybe I’ll let him down in stages.”

“In one swoop. This is necessary to his survival,” Jase said. “I don’t want him thinking there’s a chance he can have what’s mine.”

What’s mine. The caveman claim of possession reverberated in her head, thrilling her.

“He’s a nice guy, Jase, from a nice family. His dad is sheriff and one of the best—”

“Sheriff?” Jase asked, going still again.

“Yeah. Why? Is that a problem?”

The color drained from his cheeks. “No,” he rasped. “No problem. Just...tell Brad first thing in the morning.”

“Okay.”

Fiery green eyes locked on her. “And bring an overnight bag to work.”

“Ask nicely.”

“Or what? You start counting?”

“Nope. I put your body in a time-out corner.”

He arched a brow. “Going to be that girl, are you?”

“For sure. As long as we’re together, I’m going to use sex against you.”

“Well, well. I’m finally meeting that evil side I’ve heard so much about.”