He tried to concentrate on breathing. In and out. But he just pulled in her scent and wanted her even more.

“Don’t you want me?” Her hand fell away. “You said you did. You kissed me like you did. You made me think—”

He spun toward her. “I want you. Never doubt that.”

Her gaze searched his.

“But I’m not some gentle, easy lover.” She’d had two lovers. Two. Sure, he wanted to kick their asses, and he didn’t like thinking about them. But Piper was careful. She’d chosen those two men. Now she was choosing him.

“I never thought you would be. I thought you’d be rough. Wild. And hot.”

His eager cocked jerked toward her. “Why?”

“Because that’s pretty much how you always are—”

She was going to make him insane. “Baby, why do you want me in your bed, now? What’s changed?”

Her lower lip trembled. “I’m scared.”

“Being scared isn’t a good reason to fuck me.”

She flinched.

Shit, shit, shit. He’d done it again. Why did he always say the wrong thing to her?

But Piper lifted her chin. “It is if being with you makes me feel safe. If touching you makes me forget the fear and just feel pleasure. That’s what happens, Eric. I touch you, and my body ignites. Why can’t that be good enough? Why can’t I be—”

His hands closed around her shoulders, and he hauled her close. “You are too good for me.” Always had been. He’d known that for so long. But…

Now that he was touching her…

Now that she was pressed to his body…

Now that she was staring up at him with need in her golden eyes.

He was a goner.

He kissed her. Took her mouth with a firestorm of need and shoved his good intentions out of the door. She was what he wanted. What he’d always craved. There would be no going back. Not for either of them.

He pulled her up against him, lifting Piper easily and holding her close. He feasted on her mouth. Kissed her deep and hard and loved the soft moan that rolled in the back of her throat. That moan was good, but by the time he was done with her, Eric intended to have her screaming his name as she came for him over and over again.

His tongue thrust into her mouth. Her nipples shoved through the front of the shirt—his shirt—and he wanted those nipples in his mouth. He wanted her. Every single, delectable inch of her.