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That ends the conversation for a while.

His hands move over my back.

My waist.

My hips.

Every touch is slow enough that I could stop him.

I don’t.

When his fingers catch the hem of my dress, he pauses.

I nod.

His eyes lift to mine. “Use your words.”

“Yes.”

He kisses me again. My heart is pounding so hard I’m certain he can feel it. Maybe he can. His is too. That surprises me.

Ryder Hale always looks like he knows exactly what he’s doing.

Right now, he looks almost as affected as I feel.

I touch his face. “You’re thinking too much.”

“So are you.”

“Then distract me.”

His eyes darken. “Dangerous request, librarian.”

“Ryder.”

He kisses me harder.

I fall backward onto the mattress, taking him with me.

His mouth moves to my neck.

My fingers slide beneath his shirt.

I want this.

For the first time in my life, I’m not wondering whether I should want it.

I just do.

Ryder lifts his head. “Still with me?”

“Yes.”

“You say stop, I stop.”

“I know.”

“Anything you don’t want, you tell me.”