Midnight Hero - By Diana Duncan Page 0,51

scent still tantalized his nostrils. When his need still roiled his senses.

When he did not know if he would survive the night.

In spite of reassuring Bailey to the contrary, in spite of his training, and SWAT on alert, nothing was certain. He’d seen incidents explode without warning—turn lethal between one breath and the next. Watched fellow officers die so quickly they didn’t realize what was happening. He did not know if he would ever have a chance to make love to the woman who held his heart.

“Please, Con,” she whispered. “I need you.”

He groaned. “I want to.” Tempted, he scrubbed an unsteady hand over his jaw. Battled the throbbing ache. There weren’t enough baseball stats in the universe to distract him. Not enough icebergs in Antarctica to douse the volcano seething inside.

He silently counted to a hundred. “Baby, there is not enough blood in my body to make love to you and operate my brain. If the bad guys show up, I won’t hear them until too late. I sure as hell won’t be in any shape to fight.”

She blinked. Blinked again. “I’m not…I didn’t…”

“Not to mention,” he continued in a gentle tone, “I don’t want our first time together to be here, like this. Not under these circumstances. Rushed. Desperate.”

The sensual haze cleared from her eyes like morning mist burned away by harsh daylight. Color flooded her cheeks. She buried her face in her hands. “I’ve lost my mind. I’m so sorry.”

He heaved a silent sigh. For a few minutes, he’d wondered if he’d also hurtle over the cliff into a freefall. Now that both of them had stepped back from the brink of insanity, tumbling over the edge was impossible. “It’s all right, sweetheart. You’ve ridden too many scary highs and rough lows today. It’s bound to affect your equilibrium. Only natural to seek comfort.” He’d experienced the same highs and lows, the same fears. But he couldn’t afford to seek comfort. He had to stay strong—at least on the outside.

She squeaked like a stepped-on kitten. “You were comforting. I attacked you.”

“Did you hear complaints?” He kissed the bright curls on top of her head. “I’ll take a rain check on that tactical assault.”

“How can you possibly even want me when I’m so…unworthy?” Her agonized question was muffled in his shirt.

“None of that. I’ll always want you. Every minute of every day for the rest of my life.”

“Self-control has never been my strong suit where you’re concerned. I got caught up in the feelings and forgot where we are and the situation we’re in. That’s not like me at all.”

He grinned. The all-male part of him loved knowing he could blow her mind with mere kisses. Just wait until he got her in his bed. He’d send her into nuclear meltdown. “That little confession makes me feel like the luckiest guy alive.”

“I can feel you grinning. I’m such a doofus.”

“I’m not laughing at you, baby. And you’re anything but a doofus.” He rubbed the taut, quivering muscles in her back, pleased when she relaxed. “For a civilian operating under incredibly stressful circumstances, you’re doing great.”

“I jeopardized your safety.” She sounded near tears. “I’m sorry. I never want to hurt you. In any way.”

“Hey, now.” He tipped up her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong, and you didn’t hurt me. I wouldn’t have let things get out of hand.” Close, but he’d pulled out of the firing line in time.

Barely.

“I had this romanticized view of you…a valiant knight in shining armor. I didn’t want to face the gritty truth, the blood, the violence, the death.” She swallowed so hard it looked like it hurt. “But this job is what you’re meant to do.” She sighed. “I’m just not sure I can handle the day-to-day reality of it.”

“That’s your choice to make.” And he prayed she would choose him.

“Yes.” She gulped again. “Con, even if I find the courage to stay with you, it might not be the right choice. You might regret being with me if I can’t support you the way I should.”

So, they’d circled around to that again. Fear of abandonment was nipping at her heels. “You think even if you choose to stay, I’m going to suddenly decide you’re not the woman I think you are? And walk out on you, like your father?” When she flinched, he gathered her close and kissed her eyelids, her cheeks, her warm, succulent lips. “When are