“Not even close.” Her gaze dipped, a teasing spark lighting her eyes. “Lose the shoes, mister.”
He huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Bossy little thing, aren’t you?”
“Only when I’ve got leverage,” she shot back.
Her smile — slow, sure, utterly devastating — nearly undid him.
He loved her playful side, and toed off one shoe, then the other, each thud on the floor a soft punctuation in the hush of the room. “How’s that for fair?” he murmured.
“Hmm. We need to take care of the belt,” she said, her tone thoughtful but teasing. She put action to words, unfastening the buckle and letting the two ends hang loose.
He drew in a sharp breath when the back of her fingers brushed his skin as she slipped the button of his pants free. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, a small, nervous gesture at odds with the boldness of her gaze. Heat shimmered in the space between them, her attention caught on the last barrier that separated them.
“Shall I?” he offered.
“Nope.” Theppopped softly in the quiet, a sound that made his pulse kick.
With deliberate care, she took hold of the zipper tab, fingers trembling just enough to betray the composure she pretended to have. The sound of metal sliding open was soft, deliberate, drawn out one breath at a time.
Justin held perfectly still. The air seemed to turn the air thicker, heavier. She was careful, excruciatingly, deliberately taking her time, making him feel every second of it. The way her fingers moved told him she wasn’t shy anymore. She was choosing this, choosinghim, and that knowledge hit harder than anything else.
He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Careful,” he murmured, half teasing, half prayer.
She lifted her gaze, smiling. “I’ve decided careful is overrated,” she whispered.
Her fingers lingered where they were, caressing him, teasing the edge of his control. Neither of them moved, suspended in a quiet that felt alive — filled with the beat of their hearts and the faint music drifting up from the terrace below.
“You make it hard to breathe, you know that?” Her voice was soft, almost wondering.
“Ditto, baby. Ditto.” Then he moved, impatient now, and hooked his fingers on his waistband, tugging pants and boxers down in a quick move and stepped out of them.
Naked as the day he was born, he folded his arms across his chest, one brow arched in mock challenge. “Maybe you’d like to even the playing field?”
A light blush pinked her cheeks as she dragged her gaze upward to meet his. “Guess I can do that.”
She didn’t look away. Holding his eyes, she eased the scrap of silk down her hips. In a heartbeat the last barrier between them was gone, leaving nothing but warmth, labored breath, and the charged stillness between them.
“Damn, woman,” he murmured, awe edging his voice. “You steal my breath. Every time.”
Her lips curved, the blush deepening as her gaze held his. “Hope you’ve got some left for the next step.”
He laughed softly, the sound low and rough, full of affection.
The tension that had been all heat and hunger softened into something steadier — connection, trust, the quiet hum of two people completely in sync.
He tilted his head, a lazy grin curving his mouth. “Next step, huh? You planning this out, or just making it up as you go?”
She shrugged, a spark in her eyes. “A little of both.”
He chuckled, the sound rolling out of him low and genuine. “Works for me,” he said, giving her a gentle shove so she toppled back onto the mattress with a soft bounce. “As long as I’m part of the plan.”
He bent to scoop up his pants from the floor and tugged out the strip of condoms.
“Six?” Her brows arched. “Testing your stamina, are we?”
He paused, taking in the sight of her sprawled across the bed — naked, glorious, looking at him like he was the only man alive. Heat surged through him, sharp and undeniable. “Absolutely nothing wrong with my libido, woman,” he growled, voice thick with need.
She pushed up onto her elbows, lips pursed in thought, a small frown drawing between her brows. “From my side, there’s no need for condoms. I’m well past childbearing age.”
