“Sweet Jesus,” he said in a hoarse whisper. I knew my body was attractive. My family genetics made sure of it, but hearing Rathe’s obvious appreciation made the awkwardness I was feeling vanish. He touched the thin straps of my panties and I inhaled sharply when he began moving those down my hips, too. When they slid down to the floor, I was completely bare. I didn’t have to step out of them because he was lifting me again and placing me tenderly on my back in the center of the fullsized bed. Rathe’s body leaning over me and illuminated only by moonlight made him look otherwordly. Too beautiful to be real.

“Catalina,” he whispered my name, making me tremble

“Yes,” I whispered back.

He inhaled deeply as if he’d forgotten to breathe. My eyes moved down his body, eager to see all of him. I wanted this. Every fiber of my body wanted him.

“You keep looking at it like that and this is going to be over real damn soon. My self-control is real fucking weak at this point,” he said, and my gaze snapped back up to meet his dark eyes.

His dark expression was exciting. “You are going to fucking destroy me, and I will relish every moment.”

Lowering himself over me, he held my gaze until he was only inches from my face. His elbows pressed into the bed beside my head, enveloping me in his embrace. His eyes flared and he lowered his head to the curve of my neck. “I swear I can’t get enough of you.” His breath hot against my skin. “You’ve bewitched me.”

He had no idea how true his words were.

He began to kiss my neck, taking small bites and licks along my skin, causing my thoughts to go to mush. His body was heavy on top of mine but I relished its weight. I felt possessed by him. His hands closed over my knees and eased them up and out slightly, while he moved his thick, long erection between my open thighs. Rathe stilled his body and lifted his head to look down into my eyes.

As I stared up into his, I saw the frenzy, excitement, turmoil, madness, and anticipation that neither of us could express in words. He slid inside me slowly, the feeling of our bodies joining unlike anything I’d ever imagined. The urge to get as close to him as humanly possible came over me and I lifted my hips, clinging to his arms and not wanting there to be any part of us that wasn’t touching.