“Jesus, Drew.” His gaze drifts down my body, slowly taking in every dip and curve along the way. Goose bumps dance across my skin, but I’m not sure if it’s from the cool breeze of the air conditioner or the feel of his eyes on me. “You . . . fuck.”

I feel like I should be ashamed by how much I’m enjoying watching him struggle in front of me, but I’m not.

The opposite, to be honest.

If he never touched me, I think I’d still be able to get off on the memory of him in this moment. I love the way his voice is so hoarse, he sounds like a stranger. I never want to forget the way his muscles are so tightly corded as he twists his hands into the comforter to hold himself back. I’ll dream about the way his eyes go black before he bites his lip.

But wow do I want him to touch me.

And I want it now.

I inch closer, sliding my leg in between his and putting my hands to the back of his head, tangling my fingers in his long hair like I’ve wanted to do all day. I pull gently, angling his head so our eyes meet again. I open my mouth to talk—to plead—but Jasper beats me to it.

“How are you real?” He lets go of the comforter, moving his hands to my bare back. “How did I get invited to speak at a book club meeting and end up getting to be here with you?”

“I don’t know.” My breath catches in my throat as his hands begin to move lower. “You’re lucky, I guess.”

His arms tighten around my waist and he pulls me into him so that I’m on his lap. I’m straddling his thighs with my chest pressed into his, our faces so close that I couldn’t look away if I wanted to. So close that I see the absolute sincerity as his voice drops to a whisper and he says, “The absolute luckiest man in the entire fucking world.”

Then the room flips and so do I.

I’m no longer on his lap.

I’m on my back in the middle of the bed, the antique chandelier only visible for a moment before Jasper is over me. His body fills my vision and I watch with acute focus as he pulls his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side, a cocky smile spreading across his face before he moves to all fours and crawls up the bed.

Holy shit.

After kissing him, I knew this was in him. But knowing something and seeing it are two completely different things. Watching him moving up the bed, seeing this wild and uninhibited side of him that he shields so well from the rest of the world, makes my mouth go dry.