“If I had known how much it would bother you, we would have had more conversation.”

“Before you fucked me into the mattress? Yeah, how would that conversation have gone?”

Hunter sighed. They weren’t going to solve anything with the Black Eyed Peas making the walls shake.

He cupped her shoulder, caressed it. “Honey, if you don’t get some food and coffee into you, you’re going to be sick.” Her face tightened, and fury cascaded over her features. He held up his hands in self-defense. “I’m not ordering you to sober up; I’m suggesting. You’ll be in the same state as Ben, passed out on the bathroom floor and destined for a hangover, if you don’t take care of yourself. Now, if you think drinking away great sex is worth the headache tomorrow, by all means, I’ll stay while you get sloppy drunk and tuck you into bed safely. But if you want to be human when the sun comes up and you fly home . . .”

Kata didn’t say anything for long moments. “Why is it when you claim you’re trying not to control me, you still sound like you’re trying damn hard to do just that?” She shook her head. “Seriously, I don’t know why you’re still here or why the hell what I do matters to you.”

He stepped closer, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her flush against him. Her eyes widened, and he knew she could feel exactly how disinterested he wasn’t.

“Oh, it matters, honey.”

Actions spoke louder anyway, so he captured her lips under his in a taking both ferocious and absolute. Against him, she stiffened and gasped. But seconds after he found her fruity-tart tongue with his own, she threw her arms around him and dove into the kiss with her entire body. She lit him on fire . . . but it was more.

That something he’d felt the moment they’d met plowed through him with a vengeance. It drove him to possess her. It wasn’t enough to say he’d fucked her. It wouldn’t be enough to fuck her again. Not nearly enough. He wanted the right to see her whenever he wanted, touch her whenever—and however—he wanted. Protect her, care for her. Call her his—always.

There it was, the truth that had been simmering in his consciousness, the reason he was pursuing her so hard. Suddenly, it was crystal. He wanted her permanently.

Reeling back in shock, Hunter ended the kiss, stared down into Kata’s flushed face, her half-closed eyes, her swollen mouth, at the sensual siren that lived under her skin.

No question, he wanted her forever. And right now, she wanted almost nothing to do with him. He had eight days before he’d be returned to active duty. With the flare-up of clandestine activity all around Iran and their race to acquire nuclear weapons, along with the Venezuelan government’s perfect willingness to lend an illegal hand, he had no doubt missions were piling up. If he left without figuring out how to make Kata his . . . she might become Ben’s—or someone else’s—before he could step foot on U.S. soil again.

Unacceptable.

“What is with you?” Kata pushed against him. “You annoy me, start to make up for it with that killer kiss, then pull away? And then you try to pretend that you’re not a control freak? Whatever.”

She turned and blended into a nearby crowd. After a moment of observation, Hunter realized it was a small party. Given one woman’s short white dress and little bouquet of flowers, he’d guess they were preparing for a midnight wedding.

He watched them and smiled. He might be losing the battle right now . . . but the war wasn’t over.

Lunging for her, Hunter grabbed Kata’s arm and spun her around. “I have two questions. Will you answer that much?”

Frowning, she looked as if she was concentrating hard through the alcohol buzz. Hunter thanked her momentary infatuation with Patrón; she’d be more likely to tell him the truth now.

“Then you’ll leave me alone?”

No. “If that’s what you want.”

“Oh.” The slightly confused, crestfallen expression gave him hope. “Okay. What?”

“The sex between us . . . Help me understand why it made you cry.” When she looked ready to object, he leaned forward and whispered softly, “I won’t judge or give you a hard time. I need to know if I hurt you.”

She sighed, her shoulders sagging in defeat as she slurred her reply. “Fine. You win. You were right. It was too powerful. I don’t like feeling weak or needy. Happy?”

Very. Hunter kept his smile to himself. Good to know that his instincts weren’t wrong. “Not weak, honey, human. Last question.” And the more important one. “Are you against long-term relationships? Did you ever picture settling down?”

“What kind of question is that?”

He shrugged, pretending nonchalance. “Curiosity.”

Kata sighed and shook her head. “I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life, and I love my nephews. I see them . . . and want kids of my own someday.”

“Understandable. Most people want kids at some point, even me.”

“It’s just . . .” She scrubbed a hand across her face. “I keep looking for someone to share life with, someone patient. Not afraid of a mop or the stove. Even-tempered, understanding, not allergic to emotion.” She closed her eyes momentarily. “Someone sweet.”

Hunter stifled a grimace. She was describing a female with a penis. He’d make sure she figured out soon that wasn’t what she needed.

“One who likes antiquing and long walks on the beach?” he said, tongue in cheek.

“Yeah! Instead, I keep running into the party animals. Or, ugh, the ones who think farting contests are good entertainment. I once dated a guy who loved his gaming console way more than he’d ever love a woman. And then there are all the heavy-handed, demanding bastards.” She glared at him.

Hunter held in a laugh, feeling euphorically optimistic. Once she got to know him, she’d see they fit perfectly. He just needed more time with Kata and a way to keep them together. Letting her leave without a fight—taking his heart with her—just wasn’t an option. His father hadn’t had the balls to fight for his woman. After failing to man up, he’d curdled up into a surly, workaholic recluse. Hunter refused to follow in the Colonel’s footsteps.

“You still want to party? There’s a group who looks like they’re having way too much fun to pass up.” He pointed behind her.

Clutching his shoulder to steady herself, Kata glanced around and saw all the laughter, the embracing, the clinking glasses, the festivity. She flashed him a bright smile. “That looks fun!”

Chapter Five

SUNLIGHT slanted across Kata’s face like an ax. She grimaced and flung a hand over her eyes, squinting against the bright pain exploding through her skull.

What the hell had she done last night to earn this monster hangover?

With a groan, she rolled over—and encountered a solid chest, a heavy thigh draped over her own. Her eyes flew open wide. Hard, male, dangerous.

Hunter.

Had she slept with him again? Given that she was completely naked and even small movement strained muscles she hadn’t known she possessed, she guessed yes. Worse, merely sliding her bare skin against his hair-roughened flesh made her hot and wet. Again.

Despite the fact that Hunter was as subtle as a sledgehammer, and she usually refused to come within ten feet of such men, some part of her wanted to stay curled up next to him with his strong arms around her, and hear that deep voice rasp her name again.

Many men shied away from her big mouth and attitude. But Hunter? No matter how many times she’d told him to fuck off last night, he’d continued his pursuit. Their verbal sparring roused her, and he’d thoroughly proven he had as much upstairs as down. No matter what she’d said to him, he’d stayed with her and ensured that she remained safe. Kata remembered flashes of his brutal hunger and, oddly, his tenderness that, even now, made her shiver.

In every way, he made her feel more desirable than any man ever had. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t crave more.

Not a good development. He was controlling, could clearly catch any female he wanted, and was shipping out soon—everything she didn’t need.

Kata stretched, and her head started to pound in earnest. She winced again. What the hell had happened last night?

She scanned her memory but couldn’t piece everything together past the black spots. She recalled her party and Ben passing out . . . and, oh, the incredible sex with Hunter before running out on him. There’d been a club with lots of tequila, and Hunter had tracked her down. She’d revealed more to him about her family and her fears than she should have. Kata cringed. What had possessed her to bring up a bottomless-pit-of-shit topic like Gordon?

Grimacing, she rolled carefully away from Hunter, sliding out from under his thigh. Kata ignored the fresh ache in her head—and the flesh between her legs that still throbbed—then stood on wobbly legs.

Clutching her rolling stomach, she kept sifting through her memories as she tiptoed around the room for her clothes. At the club, she and Hunter had eventually joined a happy group, who’d soon left the hotel. She had a vague recollection of passing all the bright Vegas lights situated on Hunter’s lap, his lips whispering over her neck, his fingers swirling lazy circles on her clit under the cover of her skirt, as they squeezed into a cab with their new acquaintances. Everyone had been excited about going downtown, but she could only remember the orgasm she’d screamed into Hunter’s kiss, not why their destination had been important. Was there a better casino down there? A show?

Everything after the car ride was a total blank.

Kata bent, still feeling around the hotel room in the semidarkness for her clothing. Her panties were toast, literally now in three pieces. She could only imagine Hunter had done that in his haste to fuck her again. The thought shouldn’t make her wet, but . . . Kata cursed quietly. She had to focus.

Her skirt hung on the doorknob, her shoes just beneath. Her sweater strewn in the hall two paces into the room. Her bra? Missing altogether.

She had a vague recollection of Hunter stripping her down to her skin seconds after closing the door behind them, and she’d let him have his wicked way with her again. The wisps of memory made her hot all over.

Turning back to the bed, she watched the steady rise and fall of Hunter’s powerful chest. Most people looked softer or more vulnerable in sleep. He looked every bit as formidable as he did awake. And given his occupation, if she didn’t sneak out quietly, he’d wake before she could make a clean exit.

Running out on him seemed cowardly, but with attraction still tugging at her and her odd reluctance to leave him, she’d best find the door pronto. Besides, they’d shared a whole night, and her slightly achy throat told her that she’d screamed for him over and over. Hunter had to be satisfied with that. His oddly possessive behavior aside, what more could he want?

Kata glanced around for her purse, resisting the urge to take another peek at him. She didn’t dare wake him, or he might be motivated to start round . . . what, fifteen? No. Her need to pee would have to wait.

Finally, she spotted her bag on the floor near the closet, grabbed it, and scampered for the door. It took forever to undo all the locks quietly. Hunter grunted, his breathing paused as she flipped the door’s main lock. But she paused, letting silence slide over the room again. Within moments, his breathing became deep and even once more.

Kata opened the door and closed it behind her with a soft, final snick. Most likely, she’d never see him again.

As the thought hit her, she stopped dead in the hall. That was a good thing, right? Yes, their killer chemistry made her shudder even now, but he was a one-night stand. His job was pure danger. He dominated, pushing her, challenging her. Granted, when she’d been really furious, he’d listened. He wasn’t a jerk. But when she considered spending more time with him, icy panic rolled through her. Foreboding churned. Being with Hunter could change her life. Change her.

It hit her then that she feared for her heart. What had passed between her and Hunter hadn’t felt like a one-night stand. Despite her panic, something inside her screamed that she was making a terrible mistake sneaking out on him.

That feeling was so, so dangerous . . . but undeniable.

Kata spun around for his door again, then looked out the huge window near the bank of elevators. The sun was high in the sky. Crap, what time was it?

Pulling her cell from her purse, she nearly choked at the clock’s display. Her plane left in less than two hours!

Okay, so she’d have to deal with her feelings for Hunter once she returned to Lafayette. Maybe some space was good. They could both cool down, decide what, if anything, should happen next. If she was still thinking about Hunter in a few days, she’d ask Ben for his number. If not . . . maybe leaving now would be for the best. Besides, now that they’d had lots of sex, maybe Hunter was done with her.

The possibility depressed her.

Kata dashed to the elevator and raced in, pounding the button to go up to her suite. At the door, she wrestled out her little plastic key and slid it in. Ben stood there in a towel, staring at her as if Medusa had just walked in.