"I apologize for that, too."
This couldn't be happening. How could she go from fearing for her life to arguing with him? It felt like foreplay.
She had never dealt with men in his circle before, much less had one attracted to her.
"You have a weird way of showing interest in someone," she whispered.
His hand slipped under her hair, cupping the back of her head. "If there's one thing you need to know about me, I get what I want...and I want you."
"Who says you can have me?" she said.
"Shut up, Aubrey Haydon," he murmured so close to her lips she could feel his breath against her cheek.
She closed her eyes at the onslaught of arousal coursing through her. More than anything, she wanted him to kiss her, but she refused to let him know that.
His lips brushed hers, and he whispered, "Open your eyes."
Need made the act almost impossible. She dragged her eyelids open in the end. "I don't know what you want from me."
"I want you to make no mistake in who you see kissing you." His breath tickled her face. "I want to be the only one you're thinking about when I finally taste you."
Oh. That was hot. No man had ever spoken so bluntly to her before.
"Understand?" he whispered.
That deep, gritty voice swayed her. She wanted to kiss him.
"Yes."
"Good answer," he murmured as he captured her lips.
For all his concern, he went from scary to tempting to oh-my-God deep and delicious in a snap. She held on to his shirt to keep from swaying. She met his tongue with her own. Dueling, stroking, sucking as excitement twirled low in her abdomen.
Serge slid his hands under her armpits and picked her up without breaking away from her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist, and continued to kiss him. No stranger danger. No fear. Just a sexy exchange that she hadn't had in...ever.
In the back of her mind, she was aware of him walking. She only had one worry. Now that he had started, she never wanted him to stop.
In the bedroom, she fell onto the bed, taking him with her. He landed on top of her, bracing on his elbows to cushion the landing. She slipped her hands free and fought with the buttons on his shirt.
"Forget about them," he said against her lips. "I'll take care of you."
"Wait." She gasped, letting her arms fall to the mattress. "What are we doing? What amIdoing?"
"Right now, my hands are on you." He plunged his hand between her skin and the front of her jeans. "In a second, I'm going to taste you."
His fingers dove between her legs, parted the folds of her pussy, and slid into her wetness. Her insides spiraled tighter.
"Oh, God." She exhaled. "M-maybe we should slow down."
She couldn't think, much less breathe.
He stilled. "Give me one good reason."
How about they barely knew each other? Or, she was only twenty-four years old and had never had a one-night stand. He was obviously a lot older than her and probably more experienced. This wasn't the kind of game she played. She had no idea of the rules.
Plus, he'd offered to buy her in the excuse of giving money to the shelter.
"I take it I can continue because you're not telling me no," he said.
