“The first day I laid eyes on you, I thought you were the sexiest man I’d ever seen. You’re still the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. None of that has changed, except the fact that I’m no longer satisfied just noticing those things about you. I don’t want to only be attracted to you, I want to be wrapped up in you. I want your huge body towering over me as you put your arms around me. Your eyes looking at me and seeing me for who I am. I want your hands touching me, caressing me.” Her voice became a whisper and she swayed toward him, and everything in him wanted to believe her, that she wanted him, even now.

His heart pounded against his ribcage, and he noticed her own chest moving up and down with unsteady breaths. He remained in place, desperate to touch her but worried he’d upset her with his outburst.

She took two steps in his direction, placing her hand on the smooth, hairless skin of his chest. The feel of her warm touch was everything he needed right then, and a tremor ran through him.

“I want your lips on mine,” she whispered. “All the time.”

His gaze collided with hers, and he couldn’t have looked away even if the room caught fire.

It felt as if he needed her like the very air he breathed.

He touched her face with his left hand, sliding his palm across her cool cheek. His fingers threaded through her hair, and she shivered. Two thoughts ran through his mind as he lowered his head: how badly he wanted her, and how even though he didn’t deserve her, he couldn’t live without her.

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Andrew wound his right arm around her waist, pulling her body flush against his, soft against hard. He kissed her softly, a slight caress, and she felt the power restrained deep inside him. He was holding back.

Lauren wanted none of it.

“Andrew,” she whispered against his lips, curling her hands around his shoulders. She arched into him and nipped at his bottom lip. Asking him to let go.

He groaned, moving one arm around her shoulders and hooking the other beneath her knees. He swung her up and carried her to his bedroom, never breaking contact from her mouth. He laid her down on top of the comforter and crawled over her, caging her in between his hands and knees. He slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her deeply, running one hand down the length of her body. Her arms wound around his torso, her nails lightly trailing the bare skin of his back.