He finished with the buttons and pushed the dress off her shoulders. She straightened her arms and let it fall to the floor, leaving her wearing bikini panties and a bra.

Sam’s gaze swept over her, and he sucked in a breath. “Stunning,” he said.

“My turn.” She tugged on his polo shirt. “Take this off.”

He grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

He went one better. After tugging off his shirt, he unfastened his belt, then his jeans and pushed them to the floor.

She took in the well-toned muscles, the blond hair dusting his chest, the narrow waist, and his erection straining against his briefs. Big feet was right, she thought, mesmerized by the length and thickness of him.

Then she couldn’t think, because he was touching her. He explored her shoulders, her rib cage, then her back, where he easily unfastened her bra. When the bit of lace had fallen away, he cupped her breasts in his hands and kissed her.

The combination was electric. Warm fingers teased her breasts, while his mouth worked its magic on hers. She moaned, she squirmed, she nearly came in her panties.

She touched him back, wanting to get closer. She ached to wrap her legs around him and have him plunge inside of her. She wanted to beg, to scream, to demand. When he began moving them toward the bed, she nearly moaned in relief.

Once they arrived, Sam pulled open a nightstand drawer and set a condom on the surface. The sight of something that practical should have brought Francesca to her senses, but she was too far gone. She glanced at it, had a moment of gratitude, then slipped off her panties and climbed on the bed.

He was right there with her. They surged together, naked, hungry, needing. Even as he bent down to kiss and lick her sensitive breasts, he slipped a hand between her legs.

At the first brush of his fingers, she pulsed against him. She felt ravenous and wanted to swallow him whole. Need made her pulse her hips impatiently.

“More,” she whispered, clinging to him. “Touch me-ah.”

He’d found the spot. That single place of pleasure. He pressed his fingers against it, rubbing firmly, gently, perfectly. She dropped her head to the pillow and sucked in a breath.

It was too good. It had been too long, and damn if Sam hadn’t figured out exactly what made her shake.

He circled that tight spot, shifted until he could caress her with his thumb, then slipped a finger inside.

It was too much. Her body contracted, convulsed, and she was gone. Just like that. Her orgasm swept through her, making her shudder and pant and moan. She lost herself in the pleasure.

So much better than she remembered, she thought hazily as wave after wave of warm, liquid release filled her. Way too good for mortal man.

When the contractions slowed, she opened one eye, then the other. Sam looked both pleased and stunned. She couldn’t help grinning.

“It’s been a long time,” she admitted.

He continued to gently stroke her. “And here I thought you were going to tell me that I’m really good.”

“That, too.”

She studied his eyes, his mouth, the way the blond hair fell over his forehead. She might have had her appetizer, but she was still hungry for the main course.

She reached between them and took his impressive arousal in her hand. With one slow stroke she had him groaning.

“I thought maybe we’d take this guy for a test-drive,” she said. “What do you think?”

“You’re my kind of woman.”

He grabbed the condom and quickly put it on.

Francesca felt her body stretching as he filled her. It took every ounce of self-control not to lose herself in the first thrust. When he was in all the way, he shifted so he was staring down at her. His eyes dilated.

“Don’t hold back on my account,” he said, his voice low and husky. “You’re so damn wet and hot, I’m about to lose it.”

She placed her hands on his back and stroked him. “How do you feel about screaming? I never have before, but I have a feeling I might have to this time.”

“I consider it the highest praise possible.”

“Oh, good.”

With that, he began to move. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the pleasure of him filling her over and over again. Within a few strokes, tension built to unbearable and she couldn’t hold on any longer.

“Oh, Sam,” she breathed, then lost herself in the pleasure. She surged against him, dropped her hands to his rear and pulling him in deeper and deeper.

Thick, powerful contractions rippled through her. She gasped, she writhed, she surrendered. She might have even screamed.

And still her orgasm went on. It crested at the moment he shuddered and stilled. His body tensed, then he collapsed against her.

Francesca lay there, under his body, and slowly opened her eyes. She felt good. Better than good. She felt capable of performing miracles. The lovemaking had been great. Amazing. Sinus-clearing. She wanted to do it again. She wanted-

Reality chose that moment to crash her party. One second she was basking in afterglow so bright she could tan by it, and the next she was hardly able to breathe. Panic swept through her, making her squirm slightly.

Sam raised himself on his arms and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to squash you.”

“It wasn’t that,” she said, trying not to push him away and bolt for freedom. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to school her expression as well as she would like.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She swallowed, then knew she had to come clean. “Everything. I just…” She sucked in a breath. “There’s absolutely no way I want to get married.”

5

Sam’s dick chose that moment to shrink to the size of a peanut. Sam pushed up into a kneeling position, pulled out of her, and slid to the edge of the bed. When he’d tossed the condom, he turned back to Francesca.

She lay on her back, her mouth swollen, her skin flushed. She was gorgeous. Sexy as hell. And quite possibly crazy. Damn.

He knew better than to make love this soon. He’d given that up nearly a decade before. He preferred to get to know a woman before getting into her pants, and with good reason.

Francesca bit her lower lip. “That came out wrong. I mean I know you didn’t propose or anything.”

“Okay.” That was a step in the right direction.

He stood and grabbed her panties, bra, and dress, then tossed them to her. He collected his jeans and pulled them on, not looking at her until she slipped into her dress and started on the buttons.

When she’d secured the front of her dress, she sank back on the mattress. “This was really great,” she told him, motioning vaguely to the bed, then to him. “I haven’t been with anyone in a while and…” She stopped and sighed. “So my sisters made me promise…” She stopped again.

He was still wary enough not to approach the bed. “You said you didn’t want to get married.”

She brightened. “That’s right. I don’t.” She smiled. “What I mean by that is I’m not looking to get involved.” She shook her head. “I’m not really into the whole romance-marriage thing. I was married once, and I didn’t like it. After Todd died, I tried dating some, but guys always want to take things to the next level. Does that sound too horrible?”

“No.” Some of his wariness eased. “You think because I slept with you I’ll want to marry you?”

She covered her face with her hands. “That sounds so horrible.” She dropped her hands to her sides and looked at him. “It’s just that I gave up on the whole male-female thing because it was such a pain. I’m guilted enough by my family. They want my sisters and me to settle down and have dozens of babies. I live with the guilt because I can’t seem to let it go, but it’s not enough to make me do what they want. I have my school and a great career just a couple of years away. Until recently, that’s been enough. It’s just I sort of miss, well, um…” She cleared her throat and shifted on the bed.

He got it immediately. “Sex,” he said with a grin.

“That would be it, yes.”

His wariness faded completely, and he mentally apologized for thinking she was crazy.

“You don’t want to get involved with me,” he said.

“You’re very nice,” she told him. “A really great guy.”

He chuckled and moved closer to the bed. “Be honest.”

“Okay, I don’t want hearts, flowers, or forever.”

“Uh-huh.” He sat next to her and took her hand. “But you wouldn’t mind a little slap and tickle.”

Her eyes widened. “I don’t think I’d like any slapping.”

“Spanking?”

“Only if I get to do it to you.”

He grinned. “No way. I’m the dominant male around here.”

She angled toward him. “I’m sorry I blurted out the marriage thing. The sex was so good and then I panicked.”

“Me, too. I thought you’d gone postal.”

She chuckled. “No. I was overwhelmed by my physical response is all.”

He touched her face. Beautiful, responsive, and not interested in forever. And honest. The one quality he valued above all others.

“I’m into serial monogamy myself,” he said as he cupped her cheek. “No plans to get married.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I didn’t like my experience, either.”

She drew in a breath. “Okay. At the risk of moving too fast, would you be open to a monogamous sexual relationship with no emotional ties?”

He didn’t have to think twice. Not when the woman in question was as appealing as this one. “Absolutely.”

Francesca thought her experience with Sam had peaked with her orgasms, but maybe she’d been a little hasty in her judgment. Was it possible to have everything she wanted and nothing she didn’t?

“We’ll see each other when we want,” he said. “Good conversation, lots of laughs, and plenty of time in bed. When one or both of us want to end it, we will. No expectations. No hard feelings. Deal?”