At her back, his fingers slid beneath the material of her blouse. “I don’t trust promises.”

She knew he had a good reason to feel that way and her heart squeezed. “Well, how’s this for one you can trust?” Unbelievably touched by this man and unbelievably turned-on, she wrapped him in her arms. He really was her man in black, still her superhero with the surprisingly soft center, her everything. She put her mouth to his ear and let out a slow breath, gratified to feel his arms tighten around her. “I promise to drive you wild tonight.”

Another harsh laugh. “That’s an easy one,” he said. “You’re doing it right now.”

“Really?”

“Why so surprised?” he asked, arching his hips into hers. “Can’t you tell?”

“Mmm-hmm.” She kicked the door closed behind them and pressed her breasts to his chest. Oh, yes, she could feel his body’s reaction and she arched into him even more, eliciting a low groan from deep in his throat. “How very interesting,” she whispered.

“What?”

“You like me. You really like me.”

Another groaning laugh. His fingers sank in her hair and he lightly tugged her head back, his eyes glittering into hers. “What are you trying to do, Tess?”

“If you don’t know, then we have a problem.”

“Tess.”

“Is it so wrong to give in to this heat between us tonight?” she wondered. “Is it?”

“Not if you mean it, that we’re only giving in for tonight.”

“I mean it,” she confirmed. She would have liked to negotiate for more, but Reilly was who he was, and she had no desire to change him; she just wanted him to let her in. For tonight. She’d deal with the rest later. Leaning in she rimmed his ear with her tongue, then bit gently on the lobe.

Again his arms tightened on her and he sucked in a harsh breath. His heart beat heavily against her breasts and beneath her hands, she felt his hard, hot muscles tensing. “Did you figure it out yet, Reilly?”

“You’re trying to seduce me.”

“Is it working?”

He looked into her eyes for a long, heated beat. “Oh, yeah. It’s working.”

“Good.” She had to remind herself that he wasn’t her warm, compassionate beta man. He was dark and edgy and dangerous, not to mention unpredictable and not a safe bet for a soul mate.

But he tasted good and she wanted him and for tonight, for right this minute, it would be enough. She’d make it so. “Kiss me, Reilly.”

“You took the thought right out of my head.” Then his mouth opened on hers and he slipped his tongue inside to languidly slide against hers. She didn’t fall to a boneless heap at his feet, but oh, she wanted to. Her fingers curled into his shirt and she held on for dear life as he delved deeper into her mouth.

It wasn’t enough and she tugged at his shirt, pulling it over his head when he lifted his arms. When it went sailing across the room, she busied herself kissing all the broad, sleek flesh she’d exposed.

He let out a shuddering breath and pulled her blouse free from her skirt so he could stroke her bare ribs. His thumbs swirled over her belly button, delving a little lower to toy with the waistband of her skirt, even dipping beneath it to skim over her new purple panties. “Bedroom,” he murmured thickly, and bent his knees a little to scoop her up in his arms.

“Wait.”

He went utterly still and stared down into her face. “Wait?”

His entire body was taut with careful restraint and she could have hugged him-except she already was. “It’s just that I was seducing you, and you’ve…sort of taken over. I want to do it, Reilly.”

“You…want to do it?”

“Yes. So could you set me down? Please?” she added when he hesitated.

He set her down. “I took over,” he repeated, sounding baffled.

“You do that a lot, actually.” She took a deep breath because he was once again without a shirt and looked really…yummy. Not only did he look yummy, he looked hot and bothered and frustrated. She loved that look on him.

“Tess,” he said, running a finger over her shoulder, then following that up with a kiss to the spot.

She wanted to melt again.

“You wanted to run the show here,” he said. “Are you going to do that soon? Like maybe now?” he added hopefully when she just stood there absorbing his touch.

“Yes,” she said, laughing, then swallowed her smile, straightened and got serious. “Pick me up.”

His lips twitched. “Like I already had?”

“Yes.”

Looking amused on top of hot and bothered now, he scooped her up against his chest and looked down at her, her big, alpha guy awaiting her instructions.

She flung her arms around his neck. “Couch,” she commanded, ignoring his soft laugh, which turned into a groan when she bit his throat.

“I’m going to bite you back,” he growled and tossed her on the couch.

She hadn’t bounced once when his mouth found hers, hot and hungry while he unbuttoned her blouse, unhooked her bra and spread them away from her all in one movement. Before she caught her breath, a big, warm palm slid up the inside of her bare leg to touch her through her panties.

His gaze met hers as she arched into his hand. Pushing her skirt up to her waist, he slipped off her panties, then settled himself between her thighs, leaning in to kiss her again.

A little undone, she slapped a hand to his bare chest.

He let out a breath. “Not again. Too fast?”

“No. Fast is fine. It’s just that you’re doing that take-over thing again.”

He let out a disbelieving laugh. “I’m at the good part and you want to discuss my take-over tendencies? Now?”

She smiled because he looked so…bewildered. “Yes.”

With a long-suffering sigh, he came up on his knees and lifted his hands in surrender. “Okay. Go ahead. You take over.”

“Lose the pants.”

“Gladly.” He wrenched himself away from her and got off the couch. The rasp of his zipper seemed extraordinarily loud. Looking down at her, he slowly stripped off his shoes, socks, pants and underwear and stepped free, holding something he’d taken from his pocket.

A condom.

And then just stood there, larger-than-life in her small living room, the contours of his hard body revealed by the lights she’d turned on earlier.

Definitely larger than life, all of him. She could have just looked at him forever, but he shifted restlessly and gave her a look that seared.

“You’re so beautiful, Reilly.”

He moved toward her with sexual intent blazing from his eyes, but when he reached the couch, he paused, fists clenched at his sides. “What now?”

He was trying to let her be in charge, trying, but not quite succeeding, and emotion swamped her. “Come here,” she whispered and when she opened her arms, he settled himself back between her legs. He felt so good, so warm and strong. She wanted him, all of him, and she dug her fingers into his tight bottom, trying to push him in.

He laughed softly. “Where’s the verbal instructions?”

“Hurry.”

“Now there’s a good one.” His hands tightened on her. She felt his mouth on her breasts, her belly, her thighs…and then in between. “Like this?” he murmured.

She let out a sort of strangled squeak that sounded horrifyingly needy. But she was horrifyingly needy. Her muscles were shaking, her everything was shaking and it wasn’t anything like the short, vaguely pleasurable experience she’d expected, but more-so much, much more.

“Tess?” He kissed the inside of her thigh before lifting his head. “What’s next?”

“Um…” She couldn’t remember what she’d planned.

With a knowing smile, he dipped his head and licked her like a lollipop. She arched right into his mouth.

“Oh, wait,” he said. “You didn’t say to do that.”

As if she was in charge at the moment. Ha! She’d never been in charge. But now he was looking at her, waiting, his eyes blazing. “More?” he asked politely.

“Yes.” Her fingers tightened fiercely in his hair. “In fact, if you stop, I might kill you.”

“Well, then.” And he bent his head again and sucked her exquisitely sensitive little center right into his mouth.

She exploded on impact, saw fireworks, heard the explosion, felt the tremors, everything. When she could breathe again, Reilly was still between her legs, ready to sink into her, but she managed to slap a hand to his hard chest. “Wait.”

His face was a mask of pleasured pain. “Again?” His voice sounded a bit strangled. He had a hand wrapped around his erection, holding himself poised at the juncture between her thighs and didn’t look predisposed to play anymore.

She sat up. Somehow she managed to reverse their positions, pushing him down on his back. Leaning over him, she decided he was the most beautiful creature she’d ever seen. And he was all hers.

At least for tonight.

She kissed his chest, his belly and then, just as he had, she lay between his legs. “Hold still,” she said. “I want to try…” And again, just as he had, she licked him.

At the guttural sound that escaped him, she looked up. “Problem?” she asked.

“Hell, yes.” His jaw was granite, as was the rest of him. “I haven’t…” He swore. “It’s…been a while.”

Her entire heart softened. “I know.”

“Do you? Because one more touch from you and it’s going to be over.”

“Then we’ll start again.”

He let out a laughing groan that broke off in another groan when she took him into her mouth and suddenly, he was no longer laughing. When she swirled her tongue over the tip of him, he swore, then reached up and grabbed her, flipping her onto her back. He put on the condom, took her hands in his, stretched them up over her head and insinuated himself between her legs.

“Reilly-”

He covered her mouth with his and plunged inside her. “Sorry,” he said, looking anything but, and pulled back only to thrust in again. And then again.