“We never stop at just kissing, and I need to process. You confuse me, Eli. I can’t think when you’re kissing me or your hands are on me, and I seem to do the craziest things.”

His lips whispered against hers, the lightest of touches, but he might as well have sent a flaming arrow straight between her legs.

“I love how honest you are, Cat,” he said softly, his mouth on hers.

The way he did that, talked right into her mouth was just as hot as if he’d kissed her. Well . . . maybe she was wrong about that because then he was kissing her and the ground shifted out from under her feet. The room spun. Her body melted into his. She didn’t even feel his hand loosen in her hair. Her arms slid up his chest and curled around his neck to bring his head closer. He kissed her and then he devoured her as if she was all he wanted for breakfast.

Eli broke the kiss and looked down into her dazed eyes. His heart stuttered in his chest. She was beautiful to him. Not just the outside packaging, but the way she gave herself to him when he touched her. The way she answered him so honestly, even if she was revealing things to him she’d prefer to keep hidden.

Her lips were parted just the slightest bit, looked swollen from his kisses, moist and soft and inviting him back. He didn’t try to resist the invitation, even though he’d promised her he would only kiss her. He knew she wore nothing beneath the shirt, because he’d asked her not to wear anything else. His woman always did what he asked, because for some reason, if it mattered to him, it mattered to her. Even when it was difficult for her.

Like this morning. Overwhelmed by her commitment to him, but not taking it back. He lifted his head again and ran his hand gently over her face. “You okay now, baby? We need to talk more?”

A hint of amusement crept into the dark blue violet of her eyes. “Is that what you call that? Talking?”

“It’s how I do my best talking. That said good morning to my woman. That said you’re safe with me. Did you feel it?”

“I don’t know. I’m still trying to put out the fire you started. You always scramble my brain.”