Oh, boy … She squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her neck toward him. Her heart started to pound. What did she think she was doing?

Not a thing, apparently, because he didn’t touch her.

She opened her eyes and blinked. “Could you, uh, hurry up?”

He didn’t touch her, but neither did he move away. Oh, God, why did he have to be so gorgeous? Why couldn’t he have wrinkly skin and a big potbelly instead of being a walking advertisement for hard bodies? “What are you waiting for?”

“I haven’t given a girl a hickey since I was fourteen.”

“I’m sure it’ll come back if you concentrate.”

“Concentration isn’t my problem.”

The gleam in those smoky green eyes indicated that her behavior had put her right on the border between eccentric and insane. Her burst of temper had faded. She had to extricate herself. “Oh, never mind.”

She spun around to leave, but he caught her arm. The feel of his fingers on her skin made her shiver. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t. I just need to warm up a little.”

Even if her feet had caught fire, she couldn’t have moved.

“I can’t just lunge and bite.” His thumb stroked her arm. “It’s not in my nature.” Goose bumps quivered over her skin as he lifted his hand and trailed a finger over the curve of her neck.

Her voice developed a really annoying rasp. “It’s all right. Go ahead and lunge.”

“I’m a professional athlete.” His words were a seductive caress as he traced a lazy S to the base of her throat. “Lack of a proper warm-up leads to injuries.”

“That’s the point, isn’t it? An … injury?”

He didn’t reply, and she stopped breathing as his mouth came closer. She felt a shock when his lips brushed the corners of hers.

He hadn’t even made a direct hit, but her bones melted. She heard a soft, indecipherable sound and realized it had come from her, the easiest woman on planet earth.

He pulled her against him, a gentle movement, but the contact sizzled. Hard bone and warm flesh. She wanted all of his mouth, and she turned her head to find it, but he altered course. Instead of giving her the kiss she yearned for, he touched the opposite corner of her mouth.

Her blood pounded. His lips trailed from her jaw to her neck. Then he got ready to do exactly as she’d asked.

I’ve changed my mind! Please don’t bite!

He didn’t. He played at her throat until her breathing came fast and shallow. She hated him for teasing her, but couldn’t make herself push away. And then he put an end to the game and kissed her for real.