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Monday?”
    A smile slowly spread over Jake’s face. “Scared?”
    Cassie’s head snapped up. “Of what? You?”
    Jake shrugged. “Of what might happen if I stayed.”
    The air grew thick in the room and Cassie struggled to breathe. Electricity charged the room and she expected to see sparks appear at any moment. Hell yes, she was scared. But not of him. Her own reaction to Jake, even when he was dressed in black pants and white shirt with his come- to- bed eyes, scared the living daylights out of her.
    “Whatever gave you that idea? You’re here to protect me from the bad guys who probably by now have decided it wasn’t worth their while to pursue me any further. I see no reason for you to stay when the job is done. At least until Monday.”
    Cassie took a sip of her now luke-warm coffee and prayed he didn’t notice the tremble in her hands. He had to leave before she made a fool of herself. She never knew she lacked self-control where sex was concerned. Her body screamed for release with the pulse between her legs increasing in intensity by the minute. The tips of her breasts chafed against the inside of her lace bra and she ached to take it off.
    “I’m staying.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s my job to protect you. I can’t do that when I’m on the other side of the city.”
    Cassie shook her head, but Jake quickly continued. “The only time I will leave is if you call Joshua and tell him you fired me.”
    Checkmate. Joshua made it abundantly clear that he will quit if she refused protection. She caught her lower lip between her teeth and resisted the urge to fling the mug against his head. Why did he have to be so calm when she was torn apart by . . . what? Fear? Irritation? Cassie silently acknowledged to herself. There was no other way to describe it. It was pure lust. And she had to deal with it. Professionally. Calmly.
    “Very well.” She rose from the chair and headed down the short passage. “I’ll ready the guest bedroom for you.”
    Before she disappeared into the room, Jake took out his mobile and punched in some numbers. She shut the door when he started to speak in hushed tones. If he had a lover he had to explain to, she’d rather not hear.
    The evening dragged and after Matt delivered Jake’s car and clothes, she prepared a light dinner of salad and steak. They ate in strained silence and Cassie wanted to shout with relief when she dropped the last dishes into the washer. Although it barely turned seven, she was exhausted.
    “I’m turning in. Please help yourself should you need anything.”
    She didn’t wait for his reply and closed her bedroom door behind her. After a quick shower, she shut the curtains, popped a CD into the stereo and slipped into bed. She shut her eyes, but image after image of her wild night in Mauritius played before her eyes. Every nerve ending paid attention and her memory replayed Jake’s god-like physique like a refrain in her mind.
    Sighing, she listened for movement in the apartment. She creaked open the door, but Jake was not in sight. Good. Returning to bed, she drew open her night stand and selected a soft vibrator. The light traffic from below should drown out any noise the toy could make.
    Selecting a silicone based lubricant, she switched on the toy and shut off the light. Dragging the vibrator down her neck she circled the sensitive peaks of her nipples without touching them. In her mind, Jake dragged his hands down her shoulders with feather light touches, until he cupped both breasts in his large hands. She arched her back as the rest of her body reacted to the imagery.
    Her free hand squeezed and kneaded her breast. Her mouth tingled as she remembered the feel of Jake’s lips on her hers. She sighed and pinched a painfully tight nipple . T he result reverberated to her toes. She became lost in the memory of that night and the room faded.
     
    Jake stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his hips. Grimacing, he stared at the bulge his