Antonia’s eyes flew open. Sorry? With her hands still gripping his strong arms, she pulled him closer. “For what?” she breathed.

Aiden dropped his hands to her waist, his thumbs gently caressing her hips, but he did move back a scant. “I truly didn’t come over here to liquor you up and have my way with you.” There was an edge in his voice, as if he struggled against his desire. His breath was ragged as he continued. “I don’t want you to think...”

Antonia was confused. And aching. The excited shiver that still coursed through her body made her breasts heavy and full as the juncture between her legs grew wet. These were all of the feelings she had missed with Derek. She felt them with a new man, a powerful arousal that needed to be sated. Why not tonight? Her hands traveled up his arms, to the sides of his face, cupping his lean cheeks. The stubble she ran her fingers against thrilled her all over again. Only seconds before, that stubble had tickled and scratched her neck. Why not tonight? He started this and, by god, she would make some progress. In the darkness, Antonia leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. She caught his lower lip by accident, and her hands moved to tilt his head down to adjust accordingly.

He groaned, relaxing his body as she took her first tentative kiss. Aiden’s arms circled her waist, pulling her against him. She wanted desperately to take off her sweatshirt to feel the heat of his bare chest. His body crowded against hers, pressing his bold arousal to her softness. He returned her kiss, his mouth covering hers hungrily. Antonia did her best to keep up with his demanding lips, countering with an urgent and exploratory tongue. She savored the smoky sweet flavor of whiskey, as his scent and taste pulled her down, below the surface, into new depths of pleasure. Antonia was fully prepared to drown in the wet darkness of her own lust, as she pushed against his body, helplessly rocking her hips for more sensation.

Between his devouring kisses, she shrugged out of her sweatshirt, pulling her arms out of the sleeves and forcing it over her head. Aiden slipped his hands upward and gently tugged at her loose ponytail until her curls cascaded around her shoulders. She tossed her sweatshirt to the floor and returned to his lips. Feverish with want, she was ready to swoon from his careful ministrations. His hands left her tangled curls and traveled slowly down her neck to her chest, settling on her pounding heart. Finally, his large hands cupped her breasts, pushing them up against the neckline of her tank top. Antonia arched against him, tipping her head back against the refrigerator. “Please,” she begged as his fingers fanned against each nipple, causing them to tighten beneath her shirt.

His hands left her swollen breasts and swiftly took her by the thighs. Antonia yelped in surprise when he hoisted her against his midsection. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he spun her around and set her on the edge of the kitchen sink. His lips returned to her neck, pressing kisses along her hot skin until his tongue lathed down to the tops of her breasts. Antonia balanced herself against the sink, legs still wrapped around him, pushing her sex against his grinding hips. As his wet tongue dipped into the valley of her cleavage, she gasped from the pleasure.