His mouth quirked at one end, and at the same time his cheeks colored a brilliant shade of pink.

“You’re blushing,” she told him, using her elbows to prop herself up on the cushion behind her.

“I don’t think anyone has ever looked at me the way you are.” His grin widened. “I like it.”

Maybe Angi should feel embarrassed that she’d been caught ogling him, but at this point she could not have cared less. She might not be the most confident in her life choices, but she was no shrinking violet. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man, and she couldn’t remember ever wanting someone the way she did Gabe.

There was no apology or shame in that desire, and she knew he was telling the truth. He liked her asserting control, and she liked him even more for that.

She pulled off the sweater, leaving her in just the simple black bra she wore under it. If she’d planned better, she’d be wearing some lacy confection meant to entice her partner, but by the intensity of Gabe’s gaze on hers, he was plenty enticed.

He moved toward her again slowly, like he wasn’t sure if he would scare her away.

But her fear had been drowned out by desire and had no place in what was between them now. He trailed kisses along the length of her neck, and she moaned low in her throat when his hands cupped her breasts, thumbs grazing over the hard nipples. Her head fell back against the cushion. It took too much strength to hold it up. Strength she was using to keep herself in check so she didn’t fall over the edge from just the simple touch of his hands on her breasts.

Clearly, she was more desperate than she’d even realized.

Or maybe it was Gabe and the way he seemed to intrinsically know how to touch her in a way that made her want to writhe with pleasure. She tried—and mostly failed—to stay patient and let him go slow with her.

A part of her appreciated that he seemed content to take his time. Slowly drawing his tongue across her bare skin before peeling the bra strap down her arm and drawing one hardened peak into his mouth. His tongue swirled around her and her core pulsed with need.

Now, she wanted to shout. More. Right now.

But she was no green girl, and she’d had enough subpar experiences with the opposite sex to savor a man who knew what he was doing.

He was still talking, more to himself than her, she thought. Words of praise and explicit whispers of what he wanted to do to her. With her.

She was a big heck yes to all of it.

“This couch is too narrow,” he said suddenly, and she wanted to protest aloud when he released her.

Apparently, she waited too long to answer, because Gabe took her hands, pulled her up off the couch and then lifted her into his arms. He kissed her as he moved, and it was a wonder he didn’t trip over anything.