A kiss that quickly escalated out of control.
He'd hoped staying away from Ruby would cool his hunger. It had only served to fuel it.
Blinded by lust, he backed her up against the work bench, one hand cradling her head for better access to her mouth, the other splayed in the small of her back, dragging her closer. Pressing her into the evidence of how much he'd missed her.
Damn, he'd never been this crazy turned on. He craved sex like the next guy but this out of control, mindless need to be inside her? Totally blew his mind.
“Fuck, I want you," he murmured, ravaging her mouth repeatedly until she clung to him, her moans firing him as much as her desperate hands all over him.
"Right back at you," she said, sliding his jacket off and flinging it away. The sooner her clothes followed suit, the better.
"Want to take this upstairs?" She nipped the sensitive skin beneath his jaw line and he bit back an expletive.
"I'm not waiting that long."
He slid his hands beneath the T-shirt dress she wore and ripped off her panties to prove it.
She gaped for a stunned second before a debauched grin tilted the corners of her lush mouth. "Me too.”
His rash impulse set fire to their rampant need and they tore at each other's clothing, not caring about ripped cotton or popped buttons or anything but getting naked.
"What is it about you that makes me so crazy?" She cupped his cheek, her other hand skimming his waist, his abs, moving lower, and he stilled it before he lost it completely.
"My unabashed charm." His lips skimmed the sweet-salty skin above her collarbone in the barest of kisses.
"My debonair wit." His lips trailed between her breasts and she arched into him.
"My irresistible talent for…" His lips dipped towards her navel, his tongue snaking around it, before her hands tangled in his hair and she tugged gently.
"This time, we're together the whole way.'
As much as he yearned to pleasure her in the way he knew she loved, he couldn't resist her sultry plea. He stood, mesmerised by her swollen lips, her glowing cheeks, her passion-hazed stare.
This magnificent woman wanted him in a way that made him feel victorious in a way nailing the biggest business deal didn't.
"Together sounds good." He touched her lower lip with his fingertip, tracing the soft contour. "But we still do this my way."
Her tongue darted out to lick his finger, starting at the tip and working its way to his knuckle, which she laved with relish.
He swore, and her knowing smile served to ratchet up the heat.
He had to be inside her.
Now.
He snagged a swathe of black velvet off a shelf and rolled it out on the floor. She raised an eyebrow and he murmured, "Go with me on this," as he lowered her onto it.
She lay in the middle of the velvet, her skin glimmering with the faintest sheen of perspiration, more beautiful than any gem set against an ebony backdrop.
As he knelt beside her, the twinkle of gold caught his eye over her left shoulder and he grinned as an idea popped into his head.
"What's that wicked smile about?"
His lips nibbled her ear as he whispered, "You'll see."
He snagged a velvet pouch from the clearly labelled stock and took his sweet time opening it.
She watched with wide eyes as he tipped a dazzling display of amethysts, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds into his palm, weighing them carefully before sprinkling them across her belly.
