Noticing my subdued attitude, Mason took me into his arms and gave me a long, soulful kiss.

“What do you need, sweetheart?” he asked when he lifted his head. “What can I do for you?”

I was in such a pickle that I didn’t even know where to start, but all I could think about was holding on to the man in front of me.

“I need you.” I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his, threading my fingers through his hair.

He held me close, taking over the kiss, and then grabbed my hands and tugged me toward the steps. “Let’s go upstairs. Our bed has been empty and lonely without you.” His voice broke on the last words, making my heart swell even more.

I followed him into our room, and we came to a stop next to our bed.

Mason took off his holster and laid it on the dresser before turning back to me. He stroked my cheek with his thumb as I looked up into his sorrowful eyes.

“I failed you,” he said again.

I put my finger over his lips. “Shh. I won’t listen to another word of nonsense. Even if I spend the rest of my life in prison, you haven’t failed me.”

He looked devastated as he pulled my hand down. “How can you say that?”

“Do you have any idea how blessed I am?”

“Blessed? But you were arrested! I might not be able to stop J.R., Rose.”

I shook my head. “You’re doing everything you can. That’s all I can ask of you. And you did everything in your power to get me out of there, including askin’ for help from Carter Hale. That’s not lost on me.” I wrapped my hands around his neck and stood on my tiptoes, my lips inches from his. “Mason, people spend their entire lives lookin’ for what we have.” I gave him a soft kiss. “I’m so thankful I can truly count on you.”

He kissed me back, his arm pulling me against his chest. Our mood became more desperate, and he pulled my sweater over my head and threw it on the floor. I unbuttoned his shirt, pausing only to run my hands over his bare chest before tossing the shirt into the growing pile of clothes.

He pushed me back onto the bed and unbuttoned my jeans and pulled them off. I was only wearing my bra and panties as I watched him unfasten his pants and drop them to the floor. He stood next to the edge of the bed for a moment, looking down at me.

“You’re so beautiful, Rose. I don’t think you know how beautiful you are.”

I sat up and stripped off his briefs, leaving him completely naked. “You’re beautiful yourself, Mason Deveraux. Every single woman in this county wants you, and you’re mine.”

I grabbed his hands and pulled him down next to me. We lay sideways on the bed, Mason naked and me in my underwear.

“You’re definitely overdressed, Ms. Gardner,” he murmured, reaching behind me to unhook my bra.

I quickly slipped it off and reached down to remove my underwear. Then I straddled his waist and leaned over him, my hair brushing the side of his face. “I love you, Mason.”

As he reached up to fondle my breasts, he raised his gaze to meet mine. “I’ve missed you.”

I laughed. “You missed my body?”

A grin lit up his eyes. “Yes. I think it’s time I tell you the truth—I only love you for your body.”

I slid my hands over his chest and down his firm abs, then lifted my eyebrows and gave him a sly grin. “That works out well, since I only love you for yours.”

He rolled me onto my back and leaned over me, kissing me so thoroughly my toes curled.

“I want you,” I whispered, wrapping my legs around his waist.

He plunged into me and I arched up to meet him, looking into his eyes. Our playfulness was gone now, and the gravity of our situation slipped back in. I reached my hand up to his cheek as we moved together. His face was blurry through my tears.

“I won’t let you go to prison, Rose. I swear it.” The intensity in his eyes scared me. I wondered what lengths he would go to in order to keep me safe.

I pulled his mouth to mine, my lips as demanding as the rest of my body. I came quickly with Mason close behind, and then he collapsed next to me and rolled me onto my side, our chests pressed together.

I closed my eyes and stroked his arm with my fingers.

“I can only stay a few more minutes before I need to get back to work,” he said.

“What are you working on?”

He hesitated, and I knew he was deciding how much he should share.

“Mason, you can tell me everything now. You’re not working for the county anymore. No more secrets.” Guilt shot through me as I said the words. I suspected I had far more secrets than he did at this point.

He pulled my hand from his arm and gently held it. “J.R. Simmons is rumored to have influenced a judge in Lafayette County. But every time I think I have something substantial to tie him to it, the evidence slips through my fingers.”

“That’s all you have?” I tried to keep the disappointment from my voice. “I suppose it will establish a pattern if Carter manages to tie him to the Fenton County DA and the judge in my case.” Still, as serious as the allegations were, I had doubts they were enough.

“That’s the part that has me confused.” He propped up on an elbow. “Carter Hale is trying to prove criminal behavior? That’s a huge risk for him. Why would he do that?”

My heart beat hard against my chest. “He’s just trying to give me the best representation possible.”

“I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Something’s not adding up here. Just like how he suddenly changed his mind about representing you. He hates my guts, and he took great glee in telling me no when I went to him on hands and knees. Less than an hour later, he took the case. When I asked him about paying the retainer, he told me it was covered. He claims he’s doing it pro bono for the publicity, and because Neely Kate gave him a talking-to, but I’m not so sure.”