“Mmhmm.”
He chuckles, the warm and rich sound sending shivers through me. Resting his arm along the back of the couch, his fingers playing with a strand of my hair. “Why do I feel like you’re going to be a bad influence?”
I shrug, wondering where this newfound confidence has come from. “Don’t get shy on me now, striker.”
“I’m not,” he says, shooting me a sexy smirk. “But maybe we should talk about what tonight is, so we’re both on the same page before we take things any further.”
My stomach swirls as I meet his masked gaze. “You said it’s a one-night thing, and I’m okay with that.”
I’m not ready to give anyone anything more.
The look he gives me is one of regret. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you, but my life is complicated, and?—”
I press my finger to his lips, silencing him.
“Are you single?”
He frowns behind his mask. “Yes, but?—”
“But we’re two consenting adults, agreeing to one night of fun.” I bite my lip and crook a finger athim.
He leans in to kiss me, but I hold up a hand and shake my head, causing him to pause.
“Too many clothes,” I say, and he tilts his head. “Lose the shirt.”
He fights his smirk as he reaches behind his neck with one hand and pulls it over his head.
My mouth goes dry as I take in his inked body. His muscles have muscles, and my eyes travel over the tree of life tattoo on his left pec, barely taking in the flock of birds over his right hip as they drift down his chiselled abs to the delicious V disappearing beneath his jeans. He has ink along his right arm as well, but I’m too mesmerised by the way his muscles ripple as he moves to even notice the details.
My lady parts tingle. How the heck am I supposed to keep my hands to myself? This man is built like a freaking god.
Hooking his arm around my legs, he shifts so he can lay me out on the couch before moving so he’s hovering over me. My pulse skyrockets as I gaze into his grey eyes behind his mask.
“You like what you see?” His voice is gravelly, and words escape me.
He dips down and kisses me, and once again, I’m struck by how right it feels to have his mouth pressed against mine. We move in perfect synchrony, exploring one another like horny teenagers making out in their parents’ living room, and even though it’s only the second time we’ve met, it feels like we’ve been doing this for years.
He holds his body weight off me with his forearms bracketing mine in a deliciousyet infuriating tease.
My hands move of their own accord, sliding over his warm skin, and his breathing hitches from my touch. He rests his forehead against mine before dropping to his left side and propping his head up with his hand, smiling that heart-stopping smile that has my insides turning to goo.
“You’re really testing my resolve,” he says, squeezing my hip.
“Right back at you.” I rest my hand on his chest, feeling his heart race. “This is so far out of my comfort zone, but something about you feels… right. I don’t know. It’s been a long time. I forgot what it can be like. What itshouldbe like.”
Pain flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone in an instant. He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “Why does it sound like someone’s hurt you, pixie?”
My chest tightens, but I refuse to think about what I’ve been through and ruin this moment. Ignoring his question, I turn on my side so we’re facing each other. “Tell me something no one knows about you.”
His lips quirk. “Isn’t the point of the masks that we remain anonymous?”
“It doesn’t have to be anything that will tell me who you are. Just something no one else knows.”
“How do you know I’m not an open book with everyone?” he teases.
“I’ll have to trust you.”
My words make him pause. “Youcantrust me, pixie. For tonight, you can ask me anything and I’ll tell you the truth.”
