She tugged on her ear lobe. “I, um, didn’t want to wake you.”

His gaze seemed to soften a little. “I got that. But your cheeks are flushed crimson and you were practically running away.” A pause. “Why are you regretting what happened so soon?”

She twisted her hands in front of her. “It’s…you.”

He climbed from the bed. Naked. Her eyes closed. Opened for a peek. Closed again. He was aroused. Already. That was a man thing, though. They always woke up ready to go. Didn’t they?

The floor creaked. He was stalking toward her. “Put on pants,” she squeaked without opening her eyes.

“You didn’t want the pants on last night. I sure as hell didn’t want them on, either.” But she heard the rustle of clothing. He was putting them on. “Why the change of heart?”

She cracked open one eye. Then another. He’d found a pair of jeans that he’d hauled onto his body, and the jeans hung low on his hips. His hair was tousled, his jaw still clenched, and his chest deliciously bare. Jumping him again was certainly an option. Not the best option, but a tempting one.

He took a slow, gliding step toward her. “Piper? Why are you trying to do the walk of shame escape with me? Because, sweetheart, we didn’t do anything wrong. There is nothing to be ashamed about.”

“Right. We’re two consenting adults. We had an attraction. We acted on it.” She hoped her voice sounded normal. All cool and casual. “I just need to go get dressed now. There’s a lot to do.” A nightmare she didn’t want to think about. She’d escaped the nightmare last night by jumping him.

But now, Piper realized she’d only made a bigger mess. Because it hadn’t been some one and done deal for her. In fact, she wanted him now even more than she had before.

Before, she’d only imagined what sex with Eric would be like. Hot. Rough. Wild.

After last night, though, now she knew exactly what sex with Eric was like. And, yes, it was hot, it was rough, and it was definitely wild. It was also amazing. Toe-curling. Mind-numbing. Ecstasy that hit in wonderful, never-ending waves.

It was the best kind of sex—and the most dangerous kind. Because it was the addictive kind. The kind where you started to think that maybe, just maybe, you’d found the right lover.

The only lover?

“Is this about Ben?” He took another step toward her. Only this time, the step seemed a wee bit menacing.

Ben. She winced at the name. When Ben found out, if Ben found out, he was going to think she’d gone absolutely crazy. “Do we have to tell him?”

Wrong thing to say. Absolutely, completely wrong. She knew that based on the way Eric’s whole expression turned straight to stone.