"But you want me to remember you."

He sighed and stared hard at her. It unnerved her, having such a gorgeous man looking her up and down. She'd been right about him. Now that he'd shaved, he stopped her heart.

"I'm not going to lie to you, Robyn. I do."

"I think I remember the trip. From Oregon to Texas. Jet said that's when we traveled in your truck together."

"Is that all you remember? You don't recall when I pounced on you? When I threw caution to the wind and almost made love to you in the back of that Hummer?"

Robyn's breaths came in short pants and she took another step closer. "I want to. I want to know everything about you. I want to know what drove you to find me on your own. I want to know...what we shared."

He stared at his feet, seeming to concentrate on staying calm after she'd spoken. But his scent was now spicy. His passion had returned.

"I may remember Jet's face, but I remember your scent. And it makes me wonder if..."

"If what?" he prompted, lifting his gaze just enough to peer at her through his lashes. That look made her forget to breathe. It reached into her chest and took hold of her heart.

"If I'd remember more by kissing you again. If I knew what you tasted like, it might trigger something else. I want to remember you, Mackenzie. More than anything."

Within two strides, he came right up to her, invading her personal space. He grasped her shoulders with his strong hands. "I can't kiss you."

He might as well have slapped her. Robyn tried to step back, to put some distance between them, but he held her fast.

"Listen to me." His voice was quiet and smooth, almost like velvet caressing her skin. "If I kiss you, I won't be able to stop myself. If I kiss you, I'll touch you. If I touch you, I'll make love to you. On this patio, in that pool, on the stairs, in my bed..."

Robyn's nipples responded almost painfully, hardening

beneath her robe. The terrycloth chafed her while her legs trembled under the weight of his gaze. The man was electrifying, burning her to a crisp with the heat of his words.

"I've been waiting far too long to find you just to stop at a kiss. You might not remember that time in the truck, but I do. I remember how you taunted me, goaded me to touch you until I couldn't stand it anymore. And the way you pressed into me, wanting full contact, demanding it... It's all that's sustained me these months. I knew when I found you, we'd be able to finish what we'd started.

"But Christ, Robyn, you don't remember any of it! You remember Jet of all people. It's like starting over. I can't pick up where we left off. Not anymore. I'm a stranger to you. Knowing we have a history probably intrigues you, but you're not ready for any of it. Maybe you never will be. And I've got to come to terms with that. I've got to--"

Without thinking about her actions, she stood on her tip-toes and kissed him, fully on the mouth. Mac yelped in protest and pulled away, but her fingers were locked in his hair. His warm breath puffed on her face and she breathed it in, desperate to get as close as she could.

She flinched as his eyes shot daggers at her, flashing gold in the night, but he didn't push her away. His fingers dived into her hair and held on tight, before yanking her mouth back to his.

Nothing was gentle about him. All his pent-up rage, expectation, and disappointment was in that kiss, as his tongue opened her mouth to taste him. He was in full command, delving, groaning, forcing her to keep up with his heady onslaught.

And she did.