He didn’t take his eyes from her face the entire time she made her little speech. He felt slow amusement start somewhere in the vicinity of his gut, climb into his chest so his heart felt lighter and a small smile finally reached his mouth.

“Did I say something funny? Because you’re smirking and it isn’t very nice.”

“Yeah, you said something funny. Kitten, we didn’t just have sex. That was off-the-chart sex and you know it. I look at you and get hard. You look at me and burn between your legs. You think I don’t know when a woman wants me? We’re going to have sex, as you so delicately put it, often and in ways you can’t imagine in your wildest dreams. So it is very important that you are comfortable being naked around me. And comfortable talking about sex, what you like and what you don’t.”

“I don’t like you smirking and being so sure of yourself,” she said. Her blue eyes flashed a deep violet that only made her all the sexier to him.

“At least you know your partner knows what the hell he’s doing. You’re in good hands.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against the tub. “I don’t trust you, Eli. I really don’t. I don’t want to be with someone I don’t trust. It was a mistake having sex with you. I couldn’t help myself. I take full responsibility for throwing myself at you, but that doesn’t mean I want to repeat the experience.”

He made a low sound in his throat, somewhere between a growl and a laugh.

Her gaze jumped to his. “I don’t. Maybe my body does. I won’t lie to you about that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t show restraint and learn control.”

“You do that, baby,” he said, still amused. She had no idea how much she was turning him on with her nonsense. She didn’t know the first thing about a wildfire out of control, and that was what they were together. But she’d learn and he was going to have fun teaching her. “In the meantime, while we’re here in this house, you can lose the panties and be very comfortable.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can see you’re going to be difficult.”

“I’m not trying to be, Cat, but seriously? You think this is a onetime shot?”

She nodded slowly.

“So when I put my mouth between your legs you’re not going to start pleading with me to be inside of you?” he demanded.

Color swept up her neck to turn her face a pretty pink. Her eyes went bright. Hungry. Her legs moved restlessly beneath the water. “I’m not expecting you to put your mouth between my legs.”