She seemed to struggle a bit against him and his cock twitched. The thought of her resisting him … of him having to subdue her … God, his cock hardened to a steel column. Role-playing with her was going to be fan-fucking-tastic.

He cupped her breast, then stroked down her body. He pivoted his hips against her so she could feel how hard he was, then he grabbed a handful of her flowing, floral skirt and drew it upward.

She shook her head, dislodging their lips.

“No, Adam. Please.”

He frowned as he saw the panic in her eyes.

“Sorry, Ash.” He released her skirt, but still held her hands and body in place, then grinned. “I just wanted to make good on my promise to dominate you in my office.”

Then he kissed her again, his lips persuasive on hers, and her stiff body relaxed. Then he glided his tongue into her mouth. Gently this time. Caressing.

She murmured and even arched a little against him. He could feel her nipples, like hard beads pushing through the fabric.

But as soon as he drew away his mouth and smiled down at her, she said, “Please let me go. We need to talk.”

The words were like a knife to the heart. Nothing good ever came from those words.

But he knew he was overreacting. He and Ash had finally gotten past all the obstacles to their happiness. She was his now. He’d shared the delights of her body while they’d shared intense, incredible pleasure together.

This was their happily-ever-after. There was no way this could be the end.

*   *   *

Ashley stared at Adam’s face. Uncertainty flickered through his warm, brown eyes.

Oh, God, she didn’t know what to say now. What to do. But she couldn’t let this continue without saying something.

She remembered that Adam had been in a serious relationship years ago, just after she and Jessica had left for college. Ashley had never met the woman who’d hurt Adam, but he had been devastated when she’d left him and as a result, he’d only had a couple of relationships in the handful of years since then. She knew he was afraid of having his heart broken again, and she definitely didn’t want to be the one who did that.

“Are you dumping me?” he asked as he stepped back, giving her room to breathe.

“No, it’s not like that.” She sidestepped him and walked to one of the two chairs by his small, round meeting table, then sat down.

He sat across from her. “What is it, then?”

She folded her hands on the tabletop. “A few hours after you left yesterday … in the afternoon…” She was aware of his intense scrutiny while he waited for her explanation. She sighed. “Dare came to see me.”

“What?” Anger flared in his eyes. “Why? I thought it was over between you.”