Tightening her grip, she rose up, giving a small inch of space between their bodies, and with a teasing glance down and back up, let him do the math.

“Are you telling me that behind door number two is a matching set?”

“You already saw the matching set.” She smiled and so did he. “And if you liked door number one, I promise you that door number two will blow your mind.”

Nate’s hands moved up her naked thighs, under her shorts and kept going, leaving a trail of tingles in their path. Never a man to be rushed, he took his sweet time, teasing and exploring higher until he met heated skin and someone groaned. She thought it was Nate. But it could have been her. Either way, she knew she had him.

“Being a scientist, I know you only take calculated risks, and you like to have all the facts before you to make a decision. You know, to be sure.” She gripped the hem of his t-shirt and pulled it up a few inches, exposing some really impressive abs. “Do you have enough facts now, Nathaniel? Because I’d really love to get naked and spend all night in your shag chair showing you what’s behind door number three.”

“As long as it’s not an alpaca with a coat.”

“It’s even better than a boobie prize,” she joked.

But he didn’t laugh, didn’t move, except for his eyes, which dropped and took in every inch of her not covered by clothing. Without a word, his hands tightened on her butt, cradling her against his erection and holding here there while he took her mouth.

This time the kisses weren’t sweet or gentle, which was fine because Frankie wasn’t feeling gentle or sweet. She was achy and wet from holding in every ounce of pent up tension that had grown since, well, probably since high school.

Then his mouth was on the move, nibbling her lips, down her throat, and everywhere he touched her skin tightened. “God, you taste good.”

“Keep going, it gets better.” She rested her hands on his thighs behind her, leaning back and bringing all their hot parts flush. It also gave him easier access to where else she wanted him to taste next.

A low, masculine chuckle came from his chest. He raised his head and, fucking men, the look in his eyes was hot enough to scorch. “Of that I have no doubt.”

She rocked against him as his mouth found her breast. He drew her in, his lips creating an exquisite suction as his tongue flattened against her hard nipple.

Frankie’s head fell back on a sigh, and she pressed harder into him, trying to ease the building ache but it only left her dizzy. So she ground again, harder, desperate for release. She felt him smile against her breast before moving on to the other one, but his hands stayed put on her ass.

Not that she didn’t like foreplay, she did, but she was wound so tight that she was going to die if she didn’t find some kind of release. And soon.

“Just tell me what you want, Frankie.” Nate said, kissing his way back up to her mouth.

“You inside of me,” she whispered. He raised a brow, so she added, “Okay?”

“Okay.” His hand slid down the curve of her bottom, around the front, his finger sliding deep inside of her. “Like this?”

No, she had something else in mind, but she was too busy crying out, too busy taking pleasure in the smooth, intoxicating rhythm he created, to do anything other than gasp.

“Does that feel good?”

And if her panting and whimpering wasn’t proof enough, the way she pressed down against his fingers, her hips jerking with need, answered the question. Because if he kept up that pace, put his mouth right—Frankie grabbed his head and lowered it to her breast—right there and then—

“Oh, God,” she groaned. “Do that again.”

And he did, his thumb rubbed back and forth along her and suddenly two fingers were inside of her. He circled slowly while his teeth gently sank into her hardened nipple. And Frankie was startled to realize that she was two circles and one bite away from an orgasm.

“Like that?”

Yes, exactly like that.

She bit her lip, trying to hold out, but the pressure built, fast and hard. It started in her toes and before she could stop it, heat rushed up, shattering every single thought in her mind until all she saw was a vast blankness and the best post-orgasm glow known to woman.

“You okay?” Nate whispered against her shoulder. His palm glided up and down her back, making opening her eyes impossible.

“I think so,” she said but couldn’t figure how her head managed to fall on his shoulder. He smelled good. She wanted to just lie there, in his arms and nuzzle against him.

“I can see that,” he chuckled and slid his hands under her butt. Frankie let out a sigh and cuddled closer into the yummy curve of his neck. Only instead of his pulling her to him, she felt gravity shift and heard his boots hit the deck.

“Where are we going?” She looked up to find them standing. Well, Nate was standing, she was still twisted around him like a pretzel. A very spent pretzel.

“Bed.”

“I don’t want to go to bed.” Frankie felt panic well up. The reality of what she’d agreed to crashed in on her. Sure, she wanted to have sex with Nate. She even wanted to play the forever game for tonight. But bed-sex? She didn’t know if she could come back from that. “Why can’t we stay right here?”

“Because I still haven’t gotten to door number three yet. And getting there out here would require some creative positioning. Positions that would no doubt lead to slivers in unwanted places since you’re practically sliding out of my arms.” He opened the front door and kicked it closed behind them.

“I’m not sliding out of your arms,” she argued, having a really hard time getting a grip on his neck. “And I have to brush Mittens or his hair will knot and tangle. He gets angry if I forget.”

“You promised me there was no alpaca behind that door. Now, lie back.” She did and realized that she was on a soft mattress. His soft mattress. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. Immaculately made bed. Matching sheets and pillowcases. God awful pink chair. Yup. Definitely his bed. Crap. “And if in five minutes you still want to go brush the alpaca, then we can revisit this argument.”

“Five minutes? Is that all you got?”

“After today, that’s a generous estimation. I’m two and O, sweet cheeks. Meaning after two attempts I still haven’t gotten my O. So yeah, five minutes if we’re lucky.”

“Fine,” she said, looking up into his amazing eyes. “Five minutes in that shag chair and I promise to up your average.”

CHAPTER 13

Nate rested his weight on his arms, the mattress sagging under him as he looked down at Frankie, watching every emotion she was feeling cross over her face. He wanted her for more than a single night. And he wanted to see all of her, not just what was under those shorts. Although he wanted that too. Bad. But one wrong move and he could mess this whole thing up, and that was not an option. Not when he was finally penetrating that wall she’d so skillfully built and maintained.

His goal was to get so deep under her skin and into her heart that she wouldn’t wake up tomorrow regretting tonight. But he could tell that, for whatever reason, once they’d entered the bedroom she’d freaked. To the point that she was actually considering bolting out of here in nothing but those soft, and minuscule, shorts she thought passed for pajamas. So he pushed off the bed, straightened, and in one move tossed her over his shoulder. With a smack on that incredible ass, he ignored her squeak and walked to the chair.

“What are you doing?” She smacked his butt so he smacked hers again then rubbed little circles on her thigh.

“Getting my shag on,” he said, setting her in the chair and smiling when her boobs bounced. Yeah, he could get used to Frankie. Topless. In his chair. Her hair a tangle of curls hanging loose around her shoulders.

She picked up a yellow legal pad that sat on the end table and grinned. “Color coded?” She flipped the page, then the next, her grin widening.

“I have a lot on my mind.”

“Do you have a list for me?” Did he ever. Only that one wasn’t written down. It was meticulous, had sub-columns, and was dirty as hell. In fact, the majority of every night in this house had been spent adding, restructuring, and ranking that particular list. And his face must have shown it because she asked, “What’s at the top?”

“Tonight?” He snagged the pad and tossed it on the bed. “You. Naked. Screaming out my name in that chair.”

“Take this off,” she ordered, tugging at his shirt. “And let’s see what we can do about checking that off your list.”

With a smile he pulled it over his head with one hand.

“But about upping that average, I think you have some catching up to do first.” Frankie levered herself up so she sat on the edge of the seat. She reached for the buttons of his jeans and, zipper down, slid the Levis and briefs off his hips and to the floor. Her long legs parted to make room for him as she pulled him toward her.

He managed to step out of his boots and pants while her palm wrapped around the length of him, her fingers cool and sure, gently stroking and caressing him from base to tip and back down. Watching her hands, he was fascinated how one minute they could looks so strong and the next elegant. When her mouth joined the party, fascination didn’t even begin to explain what he felt.

“Oh, God, Frankie.” His fingers ended up in her hair, fisting tighter with each lick. Her hands were magic, and her mouth. God, that mouth. If he wanted this to last longer than two seconds, he couldn’t even go there. She sucked him in hard and his hips bucked, driving him deeper.