Page 105 of Wicked Heat

“Mmm?”

“You know that recreational activity we talked about?”

His eyes skim over me in a way that’s as intimate as a caress. “I do.”

I move to him, slide one arm around his neck, then cup my other hand over his package. “I don’t really want to play tennis.”

I feel his cock go hard as he lowers his mouth to mine and murmurs, “Baby, I am very glad to hear that.”

“Since the first moment I saw you. You took my breath away,” Ash says as we snuggle together on top of the bedspread.

“The first moment? Are you talking about the day you crashed Nikki and Damien’s ceremony? Or the day you first suggested your sex-for-services scheme with me?”

He chuckles. “The lady has a point. I definitely wasn’t a Class A kinda dude.”

“More like class Triple X,” I tease. “But I wanted you, from the first moment, too.” It’s the truth, and I know he hears it in my voice.

“Interesting,” he says with a sensual lilt as he traces his fingertip over my arm, bare in my short-sleeved tee. “I was an ass, and you wanted me anyway. Very, very interesting.”

“I’m an enigma,” I quip.

“I love a good enigma,” he says, then rolls on top of me and closes his mouth over mine in a kiss that’s wild and claiming.

I melt into his touch, my body responding. There’s no hesitation, no worry. I’m his now, wholly and completely, my desire so potent I just might die if I can’t have this man right here. Right now.

As if he can read my mind, he breaks the kiss, then eases back to meet my eyes. The corner of his mouth curves up in a wildly sexy half-smile, and he slides off the bed, then slowly strips. His shirt first, then his slacks. I watch, my breathing fast and my skin tingling as he reveals the lean, tight body I’ve come to know so well. He’s completely exposed except for what’s under his black briefs. And they aren’t hiding much.

I swallow, then lift my face to his. He smirks, then urges me toward him. I crawl to the edge of the bed, and he slowly tugs my tee over my head. I let it fall to the floor, leaving my breasts bare.

“Ash,” I whisper, but he presses a fingertip to my lips. Then he lifts me by the waist and tosses me back onto the mattress. I laugh, then reach out my hand for him. When he takes it, I tug and he topples onto me, his mouth immediately finding mine, his hands exploring my body over my remaining clothes until I’m so turned on I have to fight to keep from begging him to rip my skirt off.

Because I don’t want to rush this. I want to savor it.

This joy I’ve found.

This man I love.

I don’t want to push and get to the part where I’m afraid.

Where I remember just how much Rory broke me.

He rolls over, taking me with him so that I’m straddling his waist. He’s hard, and I can feel his cock pressing against my ass through his briefs. I slide back just a little, wanting to tease both him and me.

“You’re mine,” he says, those chocolate brown eyes meeting mine. “You’ll always be mine.”

“Yes,” I whisper as he pulls me to him. As his mouth finds mine. As his teeth nip at my lower lip and I taste blood.

I pull back, startled, and that’s when I remember—eyes.

Ash’s eyes are blue, not brown.

And when the man beneath me grins, all I see are his bared fangs on Rory’s face.

Rory.

I sit bolt upright, yanked out of the nightmare. Gasping, I suck in air, as I look around, frantically trying to get my bearings.

Ash’s condo. Ash’s bedroom.