“No.” He nudged open a blue doorway and led her inside a darkened room, pushing her against the wall. “For tonight, there are no worries—no fears—no pain. Just one night, you and me, dreaming big.”
She blinked back tears. “I can do that.” Her voice was thick, and she cleared it. “How big are we going to dream?”
“Close your eyes.” His warm breath brushed her ear.
She trembled but did as he’d said. “All right. What now?”
He swept her up, pressing her head against his neck, moving to walk deeper into the darkness. “Keep them shut.”
“Okay.” She inhaled his masculine scent and nibbled up his jugular to lick beneath his jaw. Rough whiskers scratched her tongue, and she moved up, kissing his earlobe.
He sucked in air, and that powerful chest moved against her.
The world lightened a little behind her closed lids, and then he gently set her down. Her feet touched a thick rug, and she swayed, grasping his forearms for support. He lifted her shirt over her head and shoved her pants down, leaving her nude. Quick movements against her proved he was stripping as well.
She chuckled. “Can I open my eyes?”
“No.” He moved away, and the swish of a shower came on.
Her eyelids flashed open, and she stared in wonder at a wide shower with steam rising. “Hot water?”
He chuckled, pulling her under the spray.
It was so hot and wonderful, she almost orgasmed right then. “Oh my God.” She tilted her head back and let delicious heated water sluice over her. Tace moved in behind her, shutting the glass door, his big body pressing her into the spray. “It’s heaven.” How quickly she’d forgotten. She stepped back and wiped off her face, looking beyond the glass to a light blue energy-efficient light in the ceiling. “It’s hot water—real hot water.”
Tace nodded and stepped beneath the spray, groaning in pure pleasure. “To think we once took this for granted.”
“I know.” She moved into him, put her face against his wet chest, and held on with both hands around his waist. “Jax obviously doesn’t know.”
“Not yet. I’m sure the minute he does, he’ll turn off the heat to save gas for the generators.” Tace reached for a ledge on the stonelike tile and poured vanilla-scented shampoo into his hands. “Let’s not talk about Jax while we’re naked.”
She laughed and turned around, her back to him. “That’s a deal.”
Tace lathered the fragrant soap through her hair, and she couldn’t help but moan. Steam surrounded them, and his hands were magic. He rinsed her hair, washed his own, and then they took an inordinate amount of time washing each other head to toe.
Finally, Sami panted in rough need. “Tace.”
He spread both hands over her breasts. “I’m takin’ you in the shower, Sami. In the hot shower, just once for the memory. It’ll probably be a cold shower next time.”
“Now that would be a pity, although I love the sound of there being a next time and then another,” she said, running her hand along his impressive length. His cock jumped against her hand, and she smiled, feeling the fun and power of Tace Justice. “Let’s do this right, then.”
He speared one hand in her hair and tilted her head back. “Now we talk about you asking Jax to knock me out and take me from you.”
She smiled, desire ripping through her stronger than the hold on her head. “Want me to apologize?”
He leaned down and nipped her lip, sending shards of need zinging through her. “I was kinda hopin’ to spank you again.”
Humor and lightness bubbled up through her. “How about I spank you instead?”
“That ain’t how it works.” His drawl deepened, and he flipped her around, landing a playful slap on her butt.
She laughed out loud and tried to turn back around, only to have him hold her in place. “Tace.”
“What?” He leaned over her, his mouth on her shoulder, his hand flattened across her entire abdomen. The sheer power and strength surrounding her came from pure maleness, and she took a precious moment to luxuriate in Tace Justice.
She leaned her head back against his chest, trusting him to keep her from falling. “I’ve never trusted a man like you, Tace. I mean, like this.”
“This how?” he asked, running his palm up to her chest and then back down, playing between her thighs.
