Jesse poured some into the water. "It will help your sunburn." Ah, back to the sunburn. Though she wasn't sure how a bath would help after the ointment had already been applied. But who was she to argue? she reasoned over the loud drumbeat of her pulse in her ears. When he hooked his fingers beneath the very thin edges of her panties, she let him, her eyes closing on a soft exhale as he carefully pulled them down. He did nothing for a moment, and she opened her eyes to find him kneeling before her like a splendid knight. "You're beautiful," he said. He was no longer the charming bad boy of golf. He was an amazing man with desire written in his eyes. Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to the curls between her legs. Instinctively, she gasped. "Never be embarrassed in front of me," he commanded as he rose, his lips trailing up her body. She allowed herself to relish every touch. When he stood before her, she melted into him. Hesitantly, she kissed him. She felt as much as heard the groan that rumbled when she slid her hands along the chiseled contours of his body, her palms savoring the well-defined muscles of his back. Then around to the front, her fingers circling his nipples. For a few incredible moments, he let her maintain control. She touched and kissed, explored as she wanted. Then suddenly this strong man had had enough. "Careful, Kate," he said, his voice ragged. "If your hands get any lower, you're going to find yourself in my bed, on your back, with me sliding inside you." She realized in that second that if he tried, she wouldn't say no. The last remnant of her no-sex rule was gone. Finally, completely. And suddenly she felt wild and free. He guided her into the tub, his hand holding her arm securely so she couldn't slip in the oily water. The water was warm and soft against her skin as she allowed him to lay her back. She sighed with pleasure and closed her eyes, sinking down until the water lapped at her chin. She looked up at him towering next to the bathtub, his chest bare, his button-fly jeans riding low on his hips, the top button left undone. She could see a glimpse of that place where his tan gave way to untanned skin, the narrow trail of hair running down his abdomen disappearing from sight. "You're amazing," she murmured. His smile crooked at one corner as he sat down on the floor next to her. She watched him watching her, his fist resting on his bended knee, his chin on his fist. Then his smile disappeared and he dipped his hand into the water. Anticipation raced through her, mixed with a start of nerves. "Jesse?" "Shhh," he whispered, his palm gliding through the water, then slowly over one breast, then the other, bringing her nipples to taut peaks. Clearly his intent wasn't for her to relax. Proof came when his hand dipped lower, down along the curve of her belly, then lower still, before he parted the curls between her thighs once again. This time he didn't stop. He touched her intimately, circling gently. "Yes," he murmured, nudging her thighs apart a little more, before sliding one lean, slightly calloused finger inside her, and she moaned. The invasion was both hot and heady. "You're tight. Relax," he commanded gently. "Spread your legs for me, sweetheart." She wanted to, though her mind instinctively whispered of wantonness. He stroked her then, and her brain lost control, her body overriding any concern. She whimpered in a way that made him pause. Which only made her whimper even more. "Is this too much?" he asked, his finger gliding slowly. "Yes," she groaned. But when he started to pull out, she clutched his hand. Helpless to fight this need, she didn't care about being proper. She wanted this, needed it in some primal way that was beyond words. His low chuckle was ripe with arrogant satisfaction, but she didn't care about that, either. And when he slipped a second finger inside her, hard and deep, she shuddered with her own pounding pleasure. She couldn't seem to help herself when she shamelessly arched her hips to him. His touch taunted and teased, circling her. Her body reached for what he wanted to give her. "That's it, Kate." Her body shimmering with passion, her eyes fluttered closed. "That's it," he whispered, boldly stroking, pulling out until the tip of his finger touched her most sensitive spot, circling, then sliding deep once again. "Lift your knees for me," he instructed, his voice low and passionate. When she looked at him again, his expression was filled with a wealth of emotion. "Open to me, Kate." Her heart pounded, then slowly, dragging in her breath, she did as he had instructed. She lifted her knees until her feet were planted on the bottom of the tub, offering more of herself. He studied her face for one last, long second, then he nudged her legs even farther apart, leaning forward and kissing her wet knee. "Yes, sweetheart, just like that." A shiver of heat ran through her as he pulled the drain plug, allowing the water to escape, then he slid his hand down the inside of her thigh to the core of her. His palm briefly cupped her before he ran his palm up her other thigh, the water draining, draining, the waterline slowly, maddeningly, lowering against her body. It felt like the water licked at her. Then his hand, sliding lower and lower, parted her, and he slipped his finger deep once again. Composure and common sense were lost, and all she wanted was more of what he was giving. When she thought she couldn't feel anything better, he slipped a second finger inside her. She squirmed, seeking something that she knew of but had never experienced. His fingers delved deeper, stroking long and slow, his thumb expertly finding the tender nub. Needing to hold on to something, she brought her hands up, clasping the porcelain sides, and she refused to think about how she tilted her hips to give him more of her. "Yes," he murmured, stroking faster, bringing her closer and closer to something that she wanted. His tone was so tender, every ounce of dominant male arrogance replaced by awe. She felt a true sense of sexiness that went far beyond her earlier attempts. She felt the need to buck. She was vaguely aware that her head rolled from side to side, vaguely heard how his breathing was thick with his own desire. She wanted to reach out to him, touch him, but when she would have he held her secure with his touch. "You're almost there," he whispered. "Reach." And she did, thrusting her pelvis against his sliding fingers. And when his thumb and forefingers closed ever so gently on her clitoris, her world exploded, shuddering through her like a lightning bolt. Blue and electric. Intense and all-consuming. He cupped his palm to her mound, helping her to manage the shock of sensation, her entire body tense. It wasn't until her orgasm spun itself out that every ounce of tension evaporated. The next thing she knew, Jesse had her out of the tub, cradled against his chest, as he carried her out of the bathroom and laid her like a precious gift on the bed. She saw his primal satisfaction that he could make her feel such intensity. She had never let go completely before. But now she was with the man she had dreamed of for a lifetime. She didn't care about right or wrong. She understood that she could touch, feel, revel, and he wouldn't think less of her. Suddenly she understood that this man would allow her to let go of inhibition and she would not have to feel guilty afterward. That's when she knew what she wantedâto make him feel the same spiraling need he made her experience again and again when he touched her. He always kept himself under a cast-iron controlâpotent and all-consuming. Even after his bold proclamation that they would make love, he had maintained a safe distance between them. And she was tired of it. Surprising him, she rolled to her feet to stand before him. His gaze turned wary, as if he sensed the shift in her. "What is it?" he asked. She didn't answer. With her heart pounding hard, she reached low and undid the remaining buttons on his jeans. "Kate, what are you doing?" Kate knew that she had never needed a man before, but she understood now that she needed to share her love for this one. She had tried before, but he had always turned her away. She wasn't going to let him turn her away again. Because she did love himânot because he was the boy she had cherished while growing up. But because he had grown into a man who was good and kind, only he kept that goodness hidden beneath a facade of wild boy charm. He had scoffed when she said he was trying as a father, but only a good man would have put everything aside to do what was right. And he had been that sort of man from the day he arrived and saved her from looking like a fool during the cooking show. Again and again, he saved her. Now she would do whatever it took to save him in return. She would kiss him, she would cherish his amazing strength. He had said they would make love. She realized he was correct. And she also realized that it didn't make her like her mother. But before they could share that ultimate bond, she had to find a way to break through the barriers he had erected around himself. She had to make him feel. She realized in that second that Jesse was all about making other people feel. Making other people smile and laugh. But he didn't allow the same for himself. He didn't allow himself to let go. Didn't allow himself to give his heart. He had been through a string of lovers without ever giving more than pleasure. Her eyes implored him when she started tugging at his jeans. "I'd be careful if I were you, Kate. You're playing with fire." She only tugged harder until he had little choice but to step free of the denim or push her away. She saw the war that ragedâthe vulnerability that flashed in his eyes. But he did step free, the simple action not so simple, one brick in his wall chipped away. He stood before her like a man sculpted from granite, hard and solid, no doubts left that he wanted her. She didn't care that she was naked, damp from the bath. She felt alive as she never had before. "Kiss me," she whispered. She didn't wait. She reached up. A breath shuddering through him, he leaned down, giving in, and brushed his lips over hers, once, twice, before he pulled her to him. Both of them naked, their kiss turned hard and rough, hot and wet. She couldn't get close enough. When she grew impatient, he didn't laugh or grin. He groaned like a man lost before they fell onto the bed and he captured her hands above her head. "I want you, Kate," he murmured, sucking one nipple deep in his mouth. "I want to make love to you." "And we will, just as you said," she promised, her body arching to him for more. He nipped and kissed and laved her nipples with his tongue. Her body yearned again. But this time it wasn't about her. "But not yet," she added. She felt the entire length of his body tense with confusion. She rolled off the bed. He followed, but didn't get farther than the edge of the mattress before she stopped him with her hand against his chest. "What are you doing, Kate?" There was a tremor in his voice. "I'm going to make you feel," she whispered. Wariness flared in him, proving to her that she was right. This strong man didn't allow himself to feel. But she wasn't about to give up. She pressed her hand to his chest, leaning into him. He sat, his gaze still formidable. But heat mixed with danger when she kneeled before him. "Kate," he said, his tone warning. "What, Jesse?" "You seem obsessed with proving that you've grown up. Let me assure you that there's nothing left to prove." He sounded so stern, so forbidding, and she bit her lower lip with a sudden spurt of nerves. But something more powerful than that urged her on, pushing at her fears. Hoping he couldn't tell how she trembled, she boldly ran her palms up his naked thighs. His body shuddered, his erection straining, his pulse visible in his neck as he tried to keep control of himself. Without a word, willing him with her eyes, she tugged at his knees. But he didn't budge, his breath growing ragged. "Spread your legs." Just as he had said to her. When he didn't move, his every muscle taut, she whispered, "I want this." Jesse felt his body's need, along with the need not to give up control. He had never felt so on fire for a woman in his life. But he didn't want to taint the one person he knew who was nothing but pure goodness. Making love to her was one thing. Letting her go down on him was another. Taking from Kate seemed impossible. But when she leaned forward and began kissing a path up his thigh, he didn't know how to maintain his defenses. After long ticking seconds, he spread his legs with a desperate groan. She moved between his thighs and looked at him one last time, her gaze filled with an emotion so genuine that he felt tears burn in his eyes as she finally, inevitably lowered her head, gently taking his hardness in her mouth. Instantly, sensation like he had never experienced before exploded through his body. She moved on him, her hot, wet, slick mouth gliding over him with an innocent desire that made his blood pound relentlessly. Jesse wasn't sure how long he could take the sweetness of her. She took him back in time to innocence and purity. Even as her lips circled him, her inexpert motions bespoke that innocence, sending a shiver of unadulterated need coursing through him. His head fell back, and though he told himself to move her away, his hands only guided her, taught her what his body wanted, what it started to demand. Sensation built, control became harder to maintain. He arched over her back, running his palms down her spine to her hips. A deep moan rumbled in his chest. Kate heard it, he could tell, because she grew even more bold. She reached low, cupping his balls, taking his length deeper in her mouth, hot and wild, wet and sweet. He knew that if he didn't do something, he was going to come. And he didn't want that. Not now. So he tried to pull her away.