Sydney dipped her fingers under his T-shirt, finding the warm skin on his back. A tremble rippled through him, and she loved knowing she’d had that effect on him.

He tore his lips free and turned his attention to her neck, sucking gently on her skin and running his tongue back and forth. “I want you, Syd.” His raspy whisper sent goose bumps down her spine, and she strained against him, needing to get closer. All at once, he withdrew from her, grabbed her hand and made for the garage door, stopping on the way by to scoop up her backpack.

Sydney half ran, half walked to keep up with him as he closed the distance between the garage and house. She’d never seen him quite like this before, and her heart beat fast with excitement and anticipation.

“Luke, I—”

The moment they were in the house, his mouth came down hard on hers, stealing the words right off her lips. He moved fast to get rid of clothing until they were both naked and trembling. While his hands moved over her reverently, he kissed her as if he’d never get enough.

Sydney gave herself over to him, willing to go anywhere he wanted to take her.

With his hands on her bottom, he lifted her and drew her nipple into his hot mouth as he walked them into the bedroom. He lowered her to the bed and came down on top of her, feasting on one breast and then the other.

Sydney raised her hips, seeking him.

Suddenly, he stopped, rested his head on her chest and took several deep breaths.

She ran her fingers through his hair. “What is it?”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. “I’m being too rough with you.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I put a mark on you,” he said, tracing a finger over a red spot on her breast.

“I don’t care.”

He followed his finger with his lips. “I do.”

“Don’t treat me like I’m fragile, Luke. Please don’t.”

“You’re not fragile.” Brushing the hair back from her face, he kissed her. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”

She shook her head. “No, I’m not. I fall apart over the slightest thing.”

“Coming home to find your dog gravely ill is not a slight thing, and you didn’t fall apart. You held it together all night long.”

“And then I fell apart.”

“Which is perfectly normal.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so,” he said, drawing her into another heated kiss.

“Make love to me, Luke, and don’t hold back.”

“So you want it hard and fast?” he asked with a sexy grin.

“I’ll take whatever you want to give.”

He kissed his way from her lips to her neck to the slight abrasion on her breast. “Is that so?”

“Uh-huh.”