It seemed everything in her opened for him, and everything in her was warm and willing. Slow, he ordered himself, though his need had begun to buck at the end of its tether, and he used his hands to guide her over the peak.

He watched pleasure turn her eyes to blue crystals, tasted her moan as he crushed his mouth to hers.

Finally, when their eyes met again, he slipped out of his clothes and into her, held himself there while they both trembled.

She said his name, a single, catchy sigh, then rose in welcome. No more wondering, but only wonder as they moved together. At last, she thought, at last. And broke apart.

She lay under him, weak and wildly happy, with her lips curved against his shoulder because his heart pounded against hers.

She’d let him lead this time, she thought, but he’d ended up as wrecked and satisfied as she had. She stroked a hand down his back, and over his very fine ass, because she could.

“My idea.”

He managed a weak laugh. “A good one.” He shifted to draw her against his side. “Yeah, this is good.”

“If we use my math and formula, we didn’t actually lose the bet.”

“I think, under the circumstances, we can forfeit the bet. We still won.”

She decided if she were any happier, little pink hearts and singing bluebirds would shoot out her fingertips. “I guess you’re right.” She let out one contented sigh. “I have to get up really early.”

“Okay.” But his arms came around her, signaling she wasn’t going anywhere yet.

She angled her face up for one last kiss. “Worth waiting for?”

“Definitely”

She closed her eyes and slept in his arms.

LAUREL WISHED SHE HAD A PENLIGHT. AND A TOOTHBRUSH. FUMBLING around in the dark the morning after never got any easier, she decided. At least she’d found her bra and one shoe. She let out a grunt of satisfaction when her seeking fingers hooked on the elastic of her panties.

A shirt, a shoe, and her pants to go, she thought, and her purse was downstairs where she’d dumped it. There she’d find mints and cab fare.

She’d have killed for coffee. She’d have maimed for even the scent of coffee.

On her hands and knees she continued to search the floor, then awarded herself a mental aha when she came across the other shoe.

“What are you doing down there?”

“Sorry.” She sat back on her heels. “I’m looking for the rest of my clothes. I told you I had to get up early.”

“How early is early? Jesus, it’s barely five.”

“Welcome to bakers’ hours. Listen, if I could just have the light for thirty seconds, I could find the rest and get out of your way so you can go back to sleep.”

“You don’t have a car.”