The light changed. He didn’t wait for a honk. He just drove straight ahead. Piper hadn’t answered him. Not yet. They drove in silence the rest of the way to her gallery, and when he pulled into the open space right in front of her building, he was still trying to figure out exactly what he should say to her.

After killing the engine, Eric turned to her. He needed to tell her something reassuring. Something charming and easy. But when he opened his mouth—“Why only two lovers?” Those words burst out.

A small furrow appeared between her brows. “Two what?”

“Lovers. You only had two lovers. Why only two?”

“Because…” She leaned closer to him, as if she was about to impart a massive secret. “I don’t let just anyone into my vagina.”

God, she had not—she’d just—

Piper smiled at him. Then she laughed. “Your face is priceless.”

Her laughter was sweet and soft.

“I choose my lovers, Eric, and I choose carefully. I need to feel a connection, a white-hot intensity, and if that’s not there, then I don’t want to waste my—”

He kissed her. Because her smile was beautiful. Because her laugh was the best music he’d ever heard. Because he craved her, not ice cream. And as soon as his lips touched hers, the explosion of need erupted again.

He’d been trying for a tender kiss. A careful brush of his lips against hers. Instead, he kissed her once, softly, lifted his lips, and then he went back for more. His hands rose and sank into her hair as he kissed her with a wild ferocity. A stark lust.

She gave a little moan in the back of her throat. And she kissed him back the same way. With primitive, desperate desire. With a sensual need that shook him to his core. With a fierce hunger that made him ache.

His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he forced his head to lift. “Is it there?” A white-hot intensity.

Her breath came fast. Her eyes had darkened. “Yes.”

“Then what are we going to do about it?”

She turned away. Fumbled with the door. Forced it open and climbed from the car. Swearing, he hurried to follow her. Eric caught her wrist in his hand. “Piper—” He surged closer to her.

“Everything will change.” She stared up at him. Fear flickered in her eyes. “What happens then?”

Anything we want.

But he needed to back off. Piper was right. Everything was her choice. So, he sucked in a breath, and he let her go.

While she unlocked the door to her gallery, he scanned the street. He didn’t see any sign of Piper’s stalker, but the guy could be very good at hiding. It was late on a Friday evening, and the sky was already starting to darken. It would be easy for someone to hide in the darkness.