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Connor.”
    He reached the top landing and turned to see Nita climbing the stairs behind him, a self-satisfied grin on her face. She knew damn well what she’d done to him and looked awfully proud of herself for it.
    â€œI’ve felt worse,” he said. As a Ranger he’d been shot three times, nearly blown up and just about flattened like a pancake when his parachute opened late. Although the pain he was feeling tonight definitely ran a close second.
    â€œThe boys giving you trouble?” she asked.
    â€œBoys?”
    Her eyes traveled down to the vicinity of his crotch. “The family jewels.”
    He just about laughed out loud. He couldn’t recall a woman ever coming right and asking him about his boys . “The boys are fine,” he assured her. “It’s the rest of me that aches.”
    She followed him to his room. “There’s a bottle of pain reliever in the bathroom cabinet.”
    â€œI think I just need sleep,” he said unbuttoning his shirt. He grabbed his bag from the bed and tossed it on the floor. Unpacking would have to wait until morning.
    â€œTough guy, huh?” She leaned in the doorway watching him. “I think I know what might make you feel better.”
    â€œOh yeah?” he asked. “What?”
    She stepped in his room, lacing her fingers and cracking her knuckles. “Take off your shirt.”
    He looked at her, eyebrow raised.
    She noticed the expression on his face and laughed. “Don’t get your boxers in a twist. I’m only going to give you a back rub.”
    â€œA back rub?” Connor wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Not that he couldn’t use a backrub right about now, but they hardly knew each other. It might be…awkward.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” she asked, walking toward him and rolling her sleeves. “Are you shy?”
    He couldn’t help wondering, by her taunting tone, if that was some sort of challenge. There was something about her, something wild and sexy and a little out of control. At the same time he’d never met a woman who seemed so confidant, so sure of what she wanted. It both intrigued and disturbed him. Intrigued him because, well, hell, who wouldn’t be with a woman like Nita? She was a walking contradiction. A puzzle he was itching to solve. And that was exactly the thing that disturbed him. She had a way of making him feel.
    Things he never let himself feel. Things he shouldn’t feel.
    â€œIt’s that curious nature of yours that I’m worried about,” he told her.
    â€œIf I was making a pass at you, believe me, you would know it. I don’t mince words.”
    â€œSo I’ve noticed.”
    She propped her hands on her hips. “Well, do you want a back rub or not? I guarantee you’ll enjoy it.”
    Oh, he didn’t doubt that for a second. He just didn’t feel it was proper considering they’d only met that morning. But the thought of not letting her made him feel like a prude.
    â€œYeah, what the heck,” he agreed.
    â€œThen take the shirt off and lay down on your stomach.”
    He shrugged out of his shirt and tossed it over the footboard, sat down and pried off his boots, then stretched out on the bed, laying his head on the pillow.
    He felt the bed shift as Nita climbed on. She straddled his legs, plopped down and made herself comfy on the back of his thighs. Then her hands were on his shoulders, her skin warm and a little rough, her thumbs working themselves deep into the muscle. If he hadn’t been so achy and exhausted, he might have been turned on by her touch, but the truth was, there was nothing sexual about her actions. All he felt now was relaxed.
    Nita gave a low whistle, as her hands slid lower. “You military men sure do know how to grow the muscles.”
    If he wasn’t half-asleep already, he would have laughed. “Out of curiosity, do you ever have a thought that you