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“Is that the only reason you agreed to go out with him?”

His thumb moved back and forth on the back of her hand, sending delicious tingles down her spine. She envisioned his hands moving over other parts of her, and she averted her eyes again.

“If you tell me that you’re seriously interested in pursuing something with Eric, I’ll get up and leave right now.”

Logic and desire were waging a major battle in her head, and in the next sentence, the winner was revealed.

“Stay.”

Fifteen

Nick eyed her closely like he wanted to make sure he’d heard her right. “You want me to stay?”

“Yes.”

He leaned in and, maintaining eye contact, sought permission. Silently she gave it to him.

The moment their lips met, it was like a fire was lit, a raging, all-consuming flame. His lips were soft yet demanding, his passion unleashed, and hers too. She’d never had a first kiss as good as this.

Then he pulled her onto his lap, and she straddled him, her hands threading into his thick, damp hair.

When he nudged her lips apart and touched his tongue to hers, she moaned. She became acutely aware of every point of contact, especially in the center, where he was hard and full beneath her.

He slid his hands up the back of her pajama top and traced the track of her spine.

She couldn’t get close enough. Arching her chest forward, he took the hint and moved his hands around to the front. When his warm palms cupped her bare breasts, she moaned again, louder this time.

Nick pulled back from her mouth while continuing to fondle her breasts. “I knew it would be like this with us.”

“You did?” She could hardly concentrate while he was plucking her nipples and staring into her eyes.

He nodded. “You have no idea how badly I wanted this, wanted you.”

Her breath caught.

“Every day, sitting across the desk from you, I thought about kissing you, touching you.”

He squeezed her breasts, and her hips rocked forward.

“I imagined so many scenarios just like this.”

“You never let on, though.”

“It was hard not to.” He glanced down to where his erection nestled between her legs.

Dipping her head down, she reclaimed his lips, wanting to feel them again.

He moved his hands around to her back and dipped his fingertips just inside the waistband of her pajama pants.

“Your skin is so soft,” he whispered against her lips.

She skimmed her hands down the front of his polo shirt and felt his heart pounding in his chest. “I want to feel your skin too.”

He gave her that million-dollar smile, the one that had entranced her from day one. “Would you like me to take my shirt off?”

“Please.”

She scooted back while he crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his shirt up and off. It fluttered to the floor, joining the throw blanket that had also ended up there.