Yes. Matt wanted to howl at the moon he was so overjoyed. There wasn’t anything in the world a man wanted to hear more than his woman declaring that he gave her what no one else could.

“As soon as we met, I felt that connection I was always hearing about. I wanted to be near you, to talk to you. To kiss you.” She blushed a little and sat next to him. “It made me uncomfortable at first since you were coming to me for help. But I looked forward to seeing you week after week. The days you missed treatment were really hard to get through.”

“They were for me too, baby. You have been the highlight of my life for the past two months. I want so much more from you than an occasional night of passion. Do you? Or is that enough for you?”

Penny climbed into his lap and held his face between her palms. “I’m so sorry I treated you the way I did. I was just running scared. I do want more from you. I just don’t know how much more, and I know that’s not fair to you.”

“Let me worry about what’s fair to me. Just spend a little time with me. By the time I’m done with therapy, you’ll know if you want me to stay.”

“What if I don’t?”

“You’ll know.” He pulled her closer and held her still so she couldn’t look away. “So beautiful.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arms and she shivered under his caress.

“I love the way you touch me. You always make me feel so feminine and beautiful. You touch me like I’m delicate, even though I’m not.”

“You’re not delicate, you’re strong, which I find incredibly sexy. But being strong doesn’t mean you aren’t precious. Because you are, Penny. You are so very precious to me.”

She let out a soft pant and gripped the front of his shirt in her hands.

He took that as a directive and pulled his shirt over his head. “That can go.”

Her hands raced over his skin greedily. When she skimmed over his stomach and stopped at the waistband of his shorts, it was Matt’s turn to hold his breath with anticipation. He lifted his hips so she could unbutton him and then helped her slide them off. He quickly shed everything else while Penny took off her own clothes.

When she leaned over him the next time, her magnificent breasts swung in his face. It was a privilege to cup the heavy weights and take a taut nipple in his mouth. She sighed above him as he gently laved the tip. He loved watching her fall apart, the faces she made, the soft sounds that rose from the back of her throat.

He rose and walked to the bed, kissing and caressing the whole way. By the time they fell atop his sheets, Penny straddled him. She looked into his face as she took him deep inside. Matt gripped her hips as she rocked against him, taking him closer and closer to the edge every time. It wasn’t long before he hung suspended on the edge, staring up into Penny’s eyes.

They tumbled over together, Penny gasping her pleasure against his mouth.

After a few minutes of cuddling, Matt reluctantly got up to dispose of the condom. Once he got back in bed, he yanked Penny back against his chest.

“This time you aren’t running out on me.” He held her tightly and rolled, tucking her against his side. Her back was slick with sweat and it gave him a visceral level of satisfaction to know he’d worked her up. After a few minutes, Penny pushed up to sitting. His grip on her waist tightened.

“I’m not running away. Promise.” Penny’s eyes sparkled as she climbed from the bed. “I just need to wash my makeup off before I fall asleep.”

Matt dozed lightly, hearing the distant sounds she made, cabinets opening and shutting, running water, and the squeak of the pipes as she turned the faucet off. The bed dipped under her weight a few minutes later and his eyes popped open.

With one look,he knew he was done for. He’d never thought that by scrubbing off her makeup Penny would reveal the one thing he was powerless to resist.

“What are you staring at?”

She scrunched her nose at him before she leaned over and kissed him lightly. The freckles usually covered by her makeup were a beguiling pattern covering her pert nose.

Freckles. His Penny had freckles.

Yeah, he was done for.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

WHEN PENNY PULLED open the front door of Matt’s house the next morning, she’d only been intending to get one of her bags from her car. She wasn’t sure who was more surprised, her or the group of people standing on the doorstep.

“Hi, we’re here to see Matt Simmons.” The guy in the front was tall and well built. He was clean-shaven and wore his dark hair razored extremely close.

Military, Penny thought. As she observed the man standing behind him, she got the same impression.

Penny blinked several times before her brain kicked in. “Oh, yes. He’s here.” Before she could turn around, the group let out a collective whoop. “Ace!”

She whirled around to see Matt standing directly behind her. To her surprise, he kissed her squarely on the mouth before he reached around her and opened the screen door. “What the hell are you guys doing here?”

The group filed past them and into the house. Penny backed up slightly until she was half-hidden behind Matt. Surreptitiously, she patted the top of her hair down. She was seriously regretting her decision not to put on makeup and comb her hair before leaving the house.

“Penny, these are some of the guys from my old unit. This is Tommy McCann and his wife Danielle. And this is Saul Shepard and his wife Cora. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Penny. She’s the physical therapist I told you about.”