“Maybe it’s the hair,” she considered, combing her fingers through it. “I used to imagine what it would be like to get my hands in it. Or the eyes. So moody, so dangerous.”

His hands lowered to her hips. “I’m beginning to feel dangerous.”

“Hmm. Or the mouth. It just might be the mouth.” She touched hers to it, then slowly, her eyes on his, outlined its shape with her tongue. “I can’t imagine there’s a woman still breathing who could resist it.”

“You’re trying to seduce me.”

She let her hands slide down, her fingers toying with his buttons. “Somebody has to.” She only hoped she could do it right. “Then, of course, there’s this wonderful body. The first time I saw you without a shirt, I nearly swallowed my tongue.” She parted his shirt to let her hands roam over his chest. His knees nearly buckled. “Your skin was wet and glistening, and there were all these muscles.” She forgot the game, seducing herself as completely as him. “So hard, and the skin so smooth. I wanted to touch, like this.”

Her breath shuddered out as she pressed her fingers into his shoulders, kneading her way down his arms. When her eyes focused on his again, she saw that they were fiercely intense. Beneath her fingers, his arms were taut as steel. The words dried up in her mouth.

“Do you know what you do to me?” he asked. He reached for the tiny black buttons on her jacket, and his fingers trembled. Beneath the sunny cap-sleeved suit, she wore lace the color of midnight. He could feel the fast dull thud of his heart in his head. “Or how much I need you?”

She could only shake her head. “Just show me. It’s enough to show me.”

She was caught fast and hard, her mouth fused to his, their bodies molded. When her arms locked around his neck, he lifted her an inch off the floor, circling slowly, his lips tangling with hers.

Dizzy and desperate, she clung to him as he wound his way into the bedroom. She kicked her shoes off, heedless of where they flew. There was such freedom in the simple gesture, she laughed, then held tight as they fell to the bed.

The mattress groaned and sagged, cupping them in the center. He was muttering her name, and she his, when their mouths met again.

It was as hot and reckless as before. Now she knew where they would go and strained to match his speed. The need to have him was as urgent as breath, and she struggled with his jeans, tugging at denim while he peeled away lace.