Page 84 of The Write Midlife

Two could play at that game.

She shifted in her chair, deliberately letting her skirt ride up just enough to give him a glimpse of thigh. His stare lowered, and she bit back a grin.

Even after all these months, they still couldn't keep their hands off each other. Mom would have found it hilarious—her once overly-cautious daughter, living out her own romance novel.

"Alright, folks," Jessie announced, checking her watch. "As much as I'd love to continue discussing the proper temperature for storing both cheese and passion, it's getting late."

The group started packing up, trading friendly barbs and promises to read each other's latest chapters. Nate's hand found the small of Melody's back as they said their goodbyes, his touch burning through the thin fabric of her blouse.

"Your place or mine?" he murmured in her ear.

"Yours," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I still haven't forgiven my downstairs neighbors for complaining about the noise last time."

His laugh rumbled through her. "I told you we should have bought them earplugs as a peace offering."

They made it to his car somehow, though Melody honestly couldn't say how. The sexual tension built like lightning waiting to strike. Nate drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting on her thigh, his thumb tracing maddening circles on her skin.

"You're going to make us crash," she warned him, but she was already shifting closer.

"Then stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

He glanced over. "Like you're plotting which surface to debauch first."

"Bold of you to assume I haven't already decided."

They barely made it through his front door before he had her pressed against the wall, his mouth hot and demanding on hers. She moaned into the kiss, her hands already working at his tie.

"God, you drive me crazy," he growled, trailing kisses down her neck. "Sitting there all evening, talking about sex in cheese shops..."

She laughed, the sound turning into a gasp as he found that ticklish spot behind her ear. "If I'd known cheese was such an aphrodisiac, I'd have written this book ages ago."

"It's not the cheese," he said, his hands sliding under her skirt. "It's you. Always you."

Her clever retort died in her throat as his fingers found exactly where she needed them. Instead, she pulled him closer, kissing him with all the passion that had been building all evening.

They left a trail of clothes from the hallway to his bedroom, stopping several times along the way because they couldn't keep their hands off each other long enough to make it to the bed.

When they finally tumbled onto the mattress, Melody took a moment to admire him fully in the moonlight streaming through the windows. He was beautiful like this—hair mussed from her fingers, chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, eyelids heavy with want.

“You doing an analysis on me, Archer? That look in your eyes says yes,” he teased, angling himself up on his elbows.

"Just doing research," she said innocently. "For the book."

His eyes narrowed playfully. "Research, huh? Need a more hands-on demonstration?"

Before she could respond, he was rolling them over, pinning her beneath him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer.

"I'm a very thorough researcher," she managed to say before his mouth claimed hers again.

Nate's kisses trailed down her body, lingering on her heavy breasts before moving lower. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her cotton panties and slowly pulled them down, his eyes never leaving hers. She lifted her hips to help him, and he tossed the panties aside, a wicked grin on his face.

He settled between her legs, his breath hot against her inner thighs. She could feel the anticipation building, her body aching for his touch. He didn't make her wait long. She gasped, her hands gripping the sheets as Nate took his time, his tongue and lips exploring every sensitive spot, driving her wild beyond belief.

"Nate," she moaned, her hips bucking against his mouth. He looked up at her, his irises turned near-black with lust, and the sight of him—gorgeous and dark-haired—between her legs pushed her over the edge. She came hard, pleasure electrifying her every limb as he continued to lick and suck, until she was a shaking, quivering mess on the mattress.

He moved up her body, his lips finding hers and stroking every inch of her mouth. She reached down, wrapping her hand around his hard, magnificent length, guiding him to her entrance.