She made a face. “Fine, fine, not the best choice of words, but you know what I mean. We’re new, fresh, exciting. Let’s not mess things up by talking about an actual future together until we get to the point where it’s realistic.”

Right then he knew without question that she never expected to have that conversation with him. He wanted to argue and point out that they were already having conversations he’d never had with any other woman.

But she was also right in one sense: the change in their relationship was bright and new and shiny.

His gut told him it didn’t matter. One day or one lifetime, it would never be over with Catie. And—his heart kicked—that was fucking scary thinking, especially when she wasn’t on board… But so what? She was still in this, and as long as she was still in this, he had a chance to convince her.

So when they finally got home, he kissed the life out of her.

Moaning deep in her throat, Catie pushed at his chest.

“What?” he grumbled, nuzzling at her throat.

“My nuts!” She shook the precious half bag she had left.

Chuckling, he grabbed the bag and put it on the nearest flat surface. Catie dropped her keys beside it.

He did a double take. “What is that weird-ass fluffy thing on your keys?”

“What? That’s a raccoon. See his cute face?”

“It has crazy eyes—thing probably has rabies.” Deciding the topic of her bizarre choice in key chains could wait, he got back to kissing Catie.

Danny was hot and impatient and insistent, and it was frying Catie’s circuits. Somehow shrugging off her coat, she went to tell him she couldn’t just drop it to the floor—it’d be a trip hazard. But he was already grabbing it from her and throwing it behind him, where it wouldn’t be a risk to her as they went stumbling toward…

She had no idea where they were stumbling, having lost all sense of direction under the dark heat wave that was Daniel Esera. Of course she knew he was sexy. She’d had sex with him, hadn’t she? But there was an edge to him tonight, a smoldering intensity that had her nipping at his lips and shoving her hands under his tee when he threw off his own jacket.

Ping. Ping. Ping.

Danny had torn apart her fitted black shirt. She’d probably be mad about that later, but right now it revved her engine into overdrive. The fact he was so hot for her made her even hotter for him, the feedback loop a thing of violent pleasure.