“For what?” I ask, pulse racing as he tugs me toward the stairs.
“Part two of our date.” His thumb strokes my wrist in slow, lazy circles, sending shivers up my arm. “Tonight is all about pushing boundaries, remember?”
“Right.”
“Trust me,” he murmurs. He leans in close, breath hot against my ear. “By the time I’m done with you tonight, you won’t be thinking about anything except how good I made you feel.”
“Oh,” I whisper, heat flooding my face.
His eyes darken. “Unless you’re not up for it. Say the word and we can just watch a movie instead.”
I take a deep breath, remembering my promise to myself and to him. “No, I want this. I want... whatever you want.”
His smile is slow and dangerous. “That’s my girl.”
The possessive edge in his voice makes my heart stutter and my body hum with anticipation.
One thing I do know for sure—whatever happens tonight—nothing between us will ever be the same again.
“Wait for me on the bed,”Ryder instructs, voice low and commanding as he leads me into my bedroom. “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
My heart hammers against my ribs as I perch awkwardly on the edge of my mattress with the book we bought sitting untouched beside me.
Through the bathroom door, I hear the water start running, and my imagination immediately conjures images of Ryder naked in my shower, water cascading down his tattooed chest.
Squeezing my thighs together does nothing to ease the ache pulsing between them.
I glance around my room, suddenly self-conscious about the rumpled sheets and the stack of romance novels sitting on my nightstand. There’s even a half-empty wineglass from last night that I forgot to take downstairs.
God, he must think I’m a slob.
After what feels like an eternity, the water shuts off. I hold my breath, waiting, my fingers nervously toying with the hem of my skirt.
When the bathroom door finally opens, I nearly swallow my tongue.
Standing in the doorway with nothing but a white towel slung dangerously low on his hips, Ryder’s hair is slicked back and wet. Droplets of water still cling to his chest, tracing paths over his tattoos and between the ridges of muscle before disappearing beneath the towel. Steam billows around him like some kind of sensual special effect.
Jeez, Louise.
“See something you like?” he asks, voice husky as he watches my eyes devour every inch of him.
I can’t speak. Can barely even form a coherent thought. My eyes are fixed on a particular droplet making its leisurely way down his abs, following the dark trail of hair that disappears beneath the towel.
“I asked you a question, kitten.”
My eyes dart up to meet his and his lips quirk up in an infuriating smirk as he takes a step closer.
“I—” My voice cracks. I clear my throat and try again. “Yes.”
His eyes immediately go dark. “Good. Because you’re going to love what I have planned.”
The next thing I know, he’s standing directly in front of me, so close I can smell the clean scent of my soap on his skin.
“Are you nervous?” he asks, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
Not trusting my voice, I shake my head with the lie.
He moves over to my desk, pulls out the chair, and takes a seat. His legs are spread almost wide enough to see up the towel, stopping just short of heaven.
