Free Temptation in Shadows by Gena Showalter Page B

out.
    The words were as powerful as a caress and Gabby flung herself over the edge, screaming her pleasure, muscles spasming, stars winking behind her eyes. She lost her hold on reality for a few minutes—maybe hours—spinning out of control, body washed with a bliss so sublime she would never be the same.
    Sean roared, loud and long, then found her mouth again, tongue thrusting home as his climax hit. Kissing him like that prolonged her own climax, taking her to yet another new height.
    Finally, he collapsed against her. Finally, consciousthought returned to her. The water was cold, she realized. At least Sean’s big body shielded her from the brunt of it. Her legs fell from him, but her feet were like blocks of lead and she was unable to balance her weight on them.
    He reached back, leaning away from her slightly, and twisted the knobs until the water stopped cascading. Without the hum of water dancing over porcelain, the raspiness of their breaths echoed.
    When he faced her, his expression was unreadable. “That ever happen to you before?”
    “A . . . a million times.” Her teeth chattered together, her wet skin like ice as the air brushed against her.
    “Liar,” he said.
    Yes, she was.
Nothing
like that had happened to her before.
    “You were as surprised as I was.”
    “Don’t—don’t delude yourself.”
    He helped her from the stall and patted her dry with a towel. He used the same towel on himself, and she liked the thought of the same cloth touching both their bodies.
Silly girl.
Repeat performances aside, this had to be a one-time thing. Couldn’t be more. He was dangerous, and when all was said and done, she had to run again.
    Didn’t she? She’d never considered working for an agency before, government or otherwise. But as she’d thought before, not having to constantly look over her shoulder and leave the things she grew to love would be nice.
    Rose Briar had lied to her, though. Not that lying was such a terrible sin, but they had thought to trick her into trusting and helping. It was proof that theywere just like everyone else. Their agenda was all that mattered and they would have no problem hurting her if she ever defied them, she was sure.
    Sean opened the bathroom door, and even colder air swept inside. As she glanced down at her dirty clothes, she shivered
and
shuddered, not liking the thought of putting them on again now that she was clean.
    “Under the covers,” he commanded. “I’ll have new clothes for us by morning.”
    So they would sleep naked? If so, they’d have sex again. She knew it, and couldn’t allow it. After the earth-shattering sex they’d just had, twice could lead to addiction. And whether she decided to work for Rose Briar or not—God, was she truly considering it?—she had to be ready to walk away from this man at a moment’s notice.
    Only way to stop it, really, was to make him want to keep his distance.
    “Thanks. Just so you know, I prefer real cotton. Oh, and thanks for the distraction,” she added as if it were an afterthought, trying for a cold tone.
    “You’re welcome,” he gritted out.
    “It was . . . pleasant. I guess.” Gabby sailed past him. Or rather, tripped past him. Her legs were still weakened.
    In the room, she dived for the bed and scrambled under the covers. Now that passion was no longer clouding their thoughts, she wasn’t as proud of her body and knew he would not be seeing it in quite the same way.
    The moment she settled, she felt the mattress dip. Her eyes widened as she swung her attention to Sean.He was scooting in beside her. He didn’t ask for permission but hauled her to his side.
    “There are two beds.”
    “I know. Now keep me warm,” he commanded.
    He was already warm, his body like a furnace. That heat enveloped her, drugging, delicious. “Okay, but I’m not yours,” she whispered, surprised by the sense of depression filling her. “I can’t be. And you called me yours in the shower, said it didn’t