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“That was weirdly hot.”

The corner of his lip twitched up. “Just wait ’til you see what I do next.” He closed the last of the distance between us, pushing the thick flannel he’d lent me off my shoulders until it hit the floor.

He brought his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground with zero effort. My legs automatically slid around his waist, and then his lips were on mine again.

The word finally screamed through my mind. It felt like it had been hours or days of verbal foreplay. Watching this grumpy, muscular piece of man candy slowly show his nerdy side as my attraction grew.

Now we were finally here, chest to chest, lips together, and I needed his touch more than I needed my next breath.

“Bed,” I mumbled against his lips.

“You’re not in charge here.” The flat authority in his voice had me shivering and tightening my legs further.

Tell me what to do in my day-to-day life and you’ll bring out my bitchy side. In the bedroom, though, I was willing to negotiate for power.

He moved away from the wall and toward the kitchen, putting me on the counter without releasing his arms from around me. Heat still radiated from the fireplace to my left, and I wanted that heat against my skin.

“Strip,” he ordered, his mouth straying from mine to my neck. He sucked at a sensitive place behind my ear, and a little groan fell from my lips.

“Make me.”

I felt his lips curve into a smile, and he pulled back to meet my eyes. “You really want to go down that road, Briar?”

I bit my lip, a lock of hair falling into my face, and nodded. I hopped down from the counter, brushing intentionally over the tented front of his jeans, then took a few backward steps toward the bed. He followed.

“You know you’re picking a fight you can’t win?”

I cocked my head, watching him until he was close enough to touch. Reaching out, I palmed his length through the thick denim of his jeans. He grunted, his eyes fighting to stay open.

“You sure about that, Mountain Man?”

With fumbling fingers, he took the zipper of my hoodie between his thumb and forefinger, managing to get it halfway down my chest before I squeezed his length and he lost his grip. Taking an intentional step forward, I lowered his fly and slid my small hand through the opening.

“Oh shit.” His head fell back at the new contact. His length was impossibly hot in my hand, thick and eager in a way that had heat pooling between my thighs.

I stroked him teasingly with one hand while using the other to undo the button of his jeans and work the material over his hips. The tight black boxers fit him like a glove, hugging his ass in a way I was a little jealous of.

“Are you willing to admit defeat and do things my way?” I asked, circling my thumb over the head of his cock.

“No… ahh… no way.”

His fingers clamped around my wrist before things could go further. Faster than I could track, he had both my wrists secured behind my back in one hand.

“That’s better.”

His cock still tented his boxers, but I was okay with letting him take control… for now.

He used his free hand to finish unzipping my hoodie and push it off my shoulders. The fabric slid down my arms, leaving goosebumps in its wake. It caught against my crossed wrists, and he tied it loosely around my arms, holding them behind me.

Could I get out?

Of course.

Did I want to?

Not a chance.

Mr. Tall, Dark and Flannel was bringing out his best moves, and I wanted to see what he had in store next.