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police officers spent more time at work—all of it
intense—than with their families. There were ties in a station house fortified
by adrenaline and sweat and shared danger. The strict hierarchy allowed it all
to work. So how did the alpha male—used to instant obedience and deference in
the workplace—function in the outside world? Was he able to impose the ironclad
rules of a small nondemocratic fiefdom to the broader world outside?
    How would one set up a
field study? Caitlin’s heartbeat sped up as she began drawing up a plan in her
head for collecting data correlated to a map, to ascertain whether signs of
deference and submission decreased proportionately to the increase of the
distance from the station house. Surely there would be a mathematical
correlation—
    A flash of blue, a
current of wind whipping at her skirt, a loud car horn honking angrily…
    Caitlin found herself
hauled back violently and held tightly against a hard, broad chest. In
self-defense, her arms had gone up to shield herself instinctively and now they
were splayed on his chest, hands over his pectorals. He was in instinctive male
protection mode—one hand to the back of her head, one hand around her waist,
protecting her vital organs and bringing her flush up against the front of his
body.
    They stood there for
long moments while the sound of the car horn faded into the distance. Caitlin
could feel the lieutenant’s steady, strong heartbeat—nothing like her own trip-hammering
heart. She could feel crisp chest hairs through the stiff cotton of his shirt
and she could feel…
    Oh God. His penis,
stirring against her.
    That often happened to
her on dates. A too-tight embrace for a goodnight kiss and her date’s cock
surged. Men were programmed that way. A little contact and wham! Off they went.
Or rather, up .
    However, this time there
was something different. For each surge of his penis, there was an answering surge
of heat and blood in her womb. It was uncontrollable, unstoppable, pure
instinct, wildly delicious.
    The lieutenant shook
her, hard.
    Her mind jerked back to
reality, heart pounding. She’d almost been run over by a car and only Alejandro
Cruz’s fast reflexes had saved her. His partial erection was a known male
reaction to the adrenaline released by danger. Hers, on the other hand…
    What was she thinking
of?
    Finally, reaction set in
and she started trembling. The lieutenant’s arms tightened for a moment, then
he held her away from him with both hands. There was no expression on his face
except for anger. If she hadn’t felt it with her own senses, she’d never have
believed that he’d had a partial erection. With her… for her.
    “Damn it, woman, what’s
the matter with you!” he blazed, jaw muscles tensely bunching. “Do you have
some kind of death wish? If you want to kill yourself, do it on your own time!
Not while you’re walking with me!”
    “I’m sorry,” she
whispered, eyes wide, seeing the anger on his face. He looked furious, the skin
taut across his cheekbones, eyes narrowed until only a black glitter showed.
    “Damn it, on this planet
a red light means stop!” He gripped her shoulder to turn her slightly, waving
at the traffic light with his other hand. He shook her lightly. “What the fu—
What on earth were you thinking of?”
    You , Caitlin wanted to say, but couldn’t. I was
thinking of you, your power and how to measure it.
    She was still thinking
of him. It was hard not to think of him as she was still feeling him.
    All over.
    She could feel the
steely imprint of his fingers on her shoulders, his hold only now relenting a
little. His arms had banded about her as he had pulled her to him, to safety.
She could still feel the hard muscles of his arms, the solid strength of his
chest, his cock surging against her.
    But now the lieutenant
was holding her away from himself and she looked up into the furious face, all
harsh angles, an angry red flush under the olive-toned skin.
    Distract the