“I haven’t looked it up. I suppose it could be one of those sayings we hear and accept. Since I’d never experienced it, I was skeptical...until now. Now it feels real.”

“It does.”

I watched the way her lips moved.

The blue of her eyes swirled with emotions.

Julia should be afraid of the beast she’d awakened. Instead, she was pushing her petite body against mine and undoubtedly feeling my growing erection against her. She should run. I had to warn her. “Tell me good night. Don’t let me blur the line of our agreement. Go up to your suite and lock the door.”

“I don’t want to.” Her hand landed on my chest. “I’m open to blurring the line.”

“Does that mean you’re done discussing sex?”

“It means I want you to take me, Van. I can’t explain this desire. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I’m still not looking for forever because for once I’m satisfied with the present.”

Satisfied.

The concept was foreign to me.

It contradicted my need for more, bigger, and better.

I wasn’t satisfied.

I wasn’t satisfiable.

And currently, my state could be classified more accurately as insatiable.

As my thoughts filled with the possibilities before me, my breaths became shallower and my pulse kicked up a beat. Julia rose up on her tiptoes as her lips connected with mine. All day long as I’d contemplated the possibility that our evening could go in this direction, I’d told myself that if it did, I should be gentle and go slow.

Now, with Julia’s body against mine, those sentiments were washed away by the flood of my speeding circulation. I wrapped Julia’s long hair around my fingers as I fisted her golden tresses and tipped her head backward. Her moan filtered through the air as our kiss deepened. My tongue sought entrance as I unapologetically took what she offered.

When we separated, I asked, “Do you remember my rule?”

Julia nodded. “I invited. The rest is up to you.” Her pink tongue darted to her swollen lips. “I’m not completely inexperienced, but I like letting you lead.” Her breasts heaved as she took a deep breath. “I trust you.”

My eyes briefly closed.

If she only knew how wrong she was.

With my cock achingly hard, I couldn’t think about her misplaced trust. Now that her invitation was out in the air, I wouldn’t back away.

I couldn’t.

With the backdrop of the crackling fire, I made my proclamation, “Strip for me, beautiful.”

As pink filled Julia’s cheeks, I gently placed my hand on the side of her face. “I took your clothes off the other night. Now I want to watch as you take them off for me, knowing what’s going to happen, knowing what I’m going to do to you.”