Free Under Fire by Jo Davis

biz, especially not that of someone who was only a casual friend. She tried to envision Tony hanging off a bridge, risking his life to save hers, and couldn’t picture him mussing one perfect, golden hair on his head.
    “If I’m glowing, it’s because I’m happy to be alive,” she said evenly. “I owe Zack more than you can imagine.”
    “Yes, I suppose you do.” The light turned green and he gave his attention back to the road.
    Cori gaped at him in disbelief for a moment, then faced forward in disgust. Really, what had she expected? An undignified, weepy show of gratitude for her safety and well-being?
    She gazed out the window at the sunny January day, hardly listening as Tony prattled on about his sculptures and an upcoming showing at a small gallery.
    Was Zack resting comfortably? Had his nurses begun his breathing treatments? Damn, she should’ve checked before she left. What if he relapsed? In his weakened condition, he might not survive another round with pneumonia.
    If she hurried, she’d have a few minutes to drop by the hospital before her job tonight. He’d asked her to come, so it wasn’t as though she were pushing herself on the man. Nothing wrong with making certain he was being taken care of.
    “Here you are.” Tony pulled to a stop in front of the only rental place in town, just off the square. He put the car in park, letting the engine idle as he scooted around in his seat to face her.
    Brushing his knuckles lightly along her jaw, he leaned so close she caught a nice whiff of expensive cologne. “Why the silent treatment? Darling, please don’t be angry with me.” His long blond hair tickled her cheek as he fitted his lips over hers.
    After the initial shock of contact, Cori realized she wasn’t surprised by the kiss. Not really. Especially not after he’d shown some jealousy over her visits with Zack. She could’ve pulled away—probably should’ve—but curiosity got the better of her judgment, in spite of her annoyance with Tony. She couldn’t help wondering whether her girlfriends were right.
    By keeping Tony at a distance, was she truly missing out?
    Relaxing, she opened herself to the kiss, angling her head for better access. He groaned, spearing her lips with his tongue, invading with his moist heat. Devouring her mouth.
    The tingling began, welcome and long denied. Tightening her nipples, inciting the warmth at the apex of her thighs. Her response wasn’t totally unexpected. Tony was a seducer of the first order, and she’d been too long without a man’s touch. Without passion. She needed to be held, to feel a man’s strength pressing down on her body, his hardness sliding into her.
    I don’t have to wait. She buried her fingers in his hair, pressing closer, deepening the kiss. So easy to let him follow her home. She had no doubt he’d be fantastic in bed. Within the hour, they could be naked. Slick with sweat. Tangled in her sheets.
    She didn’t love him, found it difficult to even like him some days, but tender feelings had nothing to do with hot, blistering sex.
    Because that was all it would be. A hard, pounding, break-the-headboard fuck.
    Sex, not lovemaking.
    A kind, handsome face with huge blue eyes and framed by rumpled black hair ghosted into her mind. His beautiful, genuine smile, filled with hope.
    Come back tonight?
    The memory was a bucket of icy water dousing her blind lust in an instant. She still ached to be held and touched, but not by Tony. She didn’t want an empty encounter that would leave her lonelier and more dissatisfied than before.
    The next man she invited into her bed would be the last. The one who’d make sweet love to her for the rest of their lives. Cherish her as much as she did him.
    Tony wasn’t that man.
    Placing a palm on his chest, she pushed him back, breaking the kiss. The heat of his arousal radiated off him in waves, his heartbeat thudding under her fingers even through his sweater. The raw hunger in his dark eyes left no