And she realized how much tighter she was going to be when he finally penetrated her.

Another moan escaped as she felt his fingers tweak her clit.

“God damn it, Tyler. Stop teasing. Now.”

He didn’t say anything, but she heard him suck in a sharp breath. Then he pulled away for several seconds, the crackle of plastic letting her know he wasn’t so far gone he wasn’t thinking clearly.

Arching her back even more with one hand flat between her shoulder blades, Tyler pressed the tip of his cock to her exposed entrance and began to push inside.

Tight. Hot.

She wanted to spread her legs but Tyler would not budge. And his every move was a deliberate tease.

He made slow, shallow thrusts, tormenting her with the pace. She stayed still under his hands, absorbing each sensation as it washed over her.

The fullness of him inside her. The friction of his cock against her delicate internal tissue. The heat of his skin against hers.

As he set a deliberately slow rhythm, she felt herself drift into a state of sheer sensation. Another orgasm gathered but flirted just on the edges of her consciousness. Each harsh breath he took made her respond with one of her own until they were breathing in sync.

Her hips began to move in a slow grind, causing him to groan and his rhythm to increase. Her heart pounded as the hand on her back slid down to her shoulder.

His thrusts became more forceful, his grip tighter. Curving around her, he covered her back with his chest. Surrounded her.

The sensation became almost overwhelming. She could barely catch her breath. Her body tightened, not in fear, but in anticipation.

An anticipation that detonated in an explosive orgasm, rippling through her body with a force that left her boneless, nearly insensate with pleasure.

And with a rising sense of fear that she’d liked this way too much.

Five

When his cock finally stopped pulsing, Tyler collapsed over Kate with a rough sigh before quickly shifting to the side so he didn’t crush her.

He’d couldn’t remember coming that hard or feeling this . . . sense of satiation in years. Definitely not since Mia and possibly not even with Mia. He’d always been so careful with her, knowing he couldn’t lose control and risk frightening her.

He didn’t think Kate frightened easily.

She lay facing away from him, her hair a dark swath across her back. He wanted to wrap his hand around it and keep her anchored to him but figured that might be a little too much for her.

Instead, he laid his head on one bent arm and wrapped the other around her waist. She started slightly when his skin made contact with hers but wriggled back against him in the next second.

She fit perfectly. Her head under his chin, her ass snuggled against his thighs and his cock pressed against the small of her back. Rolling away for a second, he took care of the condom before rolling back to draw her close again.

She let him wrap himself around her for several minutes while her breathing settled, but he realized she was growing stiffer in his arms with each passing second.

When she finally shifted away from him, he thought she was going to get up. Now that the heat of the moment had passed, was she having second thoughts?

Instead, she rolled over until she lay facing him.

Her gaze held his steadily, but she definitely had something on her mind and it wasn’t another round of sex.

“Are you okay?”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back.

Damn it, he didn’t want to treat her like a child but she definitely had something going on.

She didn’t seem to take offense as she nodded slowly. “I’m fine. It’s just . . . been a while since . . .”

He heard what she didn’t say. It’d been a while she’d been with anyone but her fiancé. And he got that. Of course she was going to have nerves.

And now came that awkward moment as they were both naked and had no idea what to say or do or—

“Thank you.”

Okay, maybe Kate was going to be better at this than he was. “For what?”

“For helping me realize I made the right decision.”

It wasn’t what he’d been expecting and his expression must have shown his surprise because she grimaced and her eyes closed.

“Sorry, that didn’t come out the way I intended.”

Putting one hand on her cheek and rubbing his thumb against her flushed skin, he waited until her eyes opened. “You can say anything you want to me, Kate. You’re not going to upset me or make me angry.”

Her raised eyebrows told him she didn’t really believe him. But she didn’t contradict him, either.

Instead, she shivered a little, and he was about to reach for her to draw her closer when she sat up. “I think I’d like to get dressed.”

Disappointment bit at him, but he nodded and immediately rose to find her clothing, forcing himself not to question her.

He couldn’t help but realize she was uncomfortable. And thinking way too hard. Her gaze darted all around the room, everywhere except at him.

Damn it, he’d fucked up. What the hell had he said? What had he done to make her uncomfortable?

Picking up his pants, he shoved his legs into them then picked up her dress and handed it to her. He tried not to stare at her as she dressed though his eyes kept going back to her.

She slid the dress on, hesitating only a second before she presented him with her back. “Could you . . . ?”

He’d much rather be stroking that bare skin than covering it but he pulled up the zipper before sliding his shirt over his shoulders.

“Kate, are you sure you’re okay?”

She turned to face him then, nodding. “Yes. Everything’s fine. It’s just . . . I’m tired. It’s been a long day. I’ve been up since five and I think I’m starting to wind down. Tonight was . . . amazing. Thank you.”

Then she smiled, trying to reassure him but only managing to worry him even more.

Feeling awkward with his shoes in his hands, he nodded then led her to the door. Silence fell heavily around them as he led her down the hall to one of the two guest rooms on this floor. He’d hoped she wouldn’t be using it but . . .

Pulling out his wallet, he withdrew a keycard, opened the door, then held it open for her. “I had your bag delivered earlier. If you need anything”—give me a call—“just let the desk know. They’ll get you whatever you need.”

She nodded, looking around the room before meeting his gaze. Damn, she did look exhausted. How had he missed that before?

Because he’d been too damn hot for her, that’s why.

Feeling like a total heel, he leaned forward to stroke a kiss along her soft cheek. His hand clenched into a fist at his side, wanting to grip her hair and pull her close. Tumble her back into bed and wrap himself around her for the night.

Not going to happen.

When he drew back, he was really afraid he saw tears in her eyes, but the smile she gave him this time seemed more genuine.

“I’m sorry, Tyler. I’m just so ti—”

“Hey, no need for apologies. Get some sleep. When you wake up, dial star-forty-five. It’ll connect you to my apartment. We can get some breakfast, if you’d like.”

“That would be nice.” She stopped, and he thought she might say something else but then she just shook her head and he figured retreat was his best option right now.

“Good night, Kate.”

“Good night, Tyler.”

Her words were barely audible as she stepped back into the room and closed the door.

He stood there for several seconds, staring at the door like some lovesick fool, before he forced himself to head to his apartment.

Once there, he headed straight for the fridge and a bottle of beer, though he knew he didn’t have enough alcohol to put him to sleep tonight.

He settled himself on the couch with the remote and prepared for a restless night.

* * *

Kate sat on the edge of the sleek gray couch in the living area.

The room had a definite modern vibe, with interesting patterns and color combinations. And at any other time she’d be checking out the design styles.

Tonight, she barely registered the visuals.

She’d freaked. Why the hell had she freaked?

She’d just had the best sex of her life. She could be sprawled all over Tyler in his bed and wake up at any moment to have more great sex.

What the hell was wrong with her?

Maybe it’d been too soon after the breakup. Maybe she hadn’t been ready.

Which was a total joke.

She’d been more than ready, had been lusting after the man since she’d met him New Year’s Eve.

Hell, she’d broken off her engagement because she couldn’t get him out of her head.

And now? Now that she’d had him, was that it?

She so wanted to talk to Annabelle, but Annabelle was probably in bed with Jared and wouldn’t be answering her phone anytime soon.

Those two were so in love, it made her ache to be in their proximity. And it had shown her what she’d be missing if she’d settled for Arnie.

Dropping her head in her palms, she groaned, wondering when the hell she’d gotten so far off track with her life.

She’d had such amazing plans. Finish college. Move to New York or Philadelphia or Chicago, maybe even LA. Snag an apprenticeship with one of the costume companies working for the stage. Work her way up to designer.

Have a career. Build a life away from small-town Pennsylvania.

Then her mom had died and she’d been frozen with grief.