He pressed his fingers against her soft, warm lips to stop what was bound to be the beginnings of an argument. "I'm not taking no for an answer, either."

He watched her give in, an acquiescence that was slow in coming, but it was a victory for him, nonetheless.

Grabbing his wrist, she pulled his hand away and gave an exaggerated huff. "And you think I'm stubborn."

"Stubborn and talented and sexy." Aiming to distract her, he caught her sash and tugged her closer, and the strip of silk gave way in his hand. Her robe parted down the middle, revealing a line of smooth, soft skin from her chest down to her lovely thighs.

Unable to resist temptation, he brushed his knuckles across the hard nipples straining against the fabric, heard a soft purr escape the back of her throat, and a thick knot of lust tightened his groin.

"I'm thinking maybe I need to give you a deposit of some sort for the design," he murmured huskily. "You know, a show of good faith."

She quickly caught on to the suggestive innuendo in his words and played along, sliding her hands around his waist and down to the back pockets of his jeans, where she began to feel him up. "You've got that kind of cash on you?"

He grinned down at her. "No, something better, and far more pleasurable. Check my front pocket."

With playful amusement dancing in her eyes, she patted him down in front, but not where he needed her touch the most.

"A little more to the left," he directed, and the stroke of her fingers along his thickening cock made him groan. "Ahhh, right there."

She cupped his erection and squeezed him tight. "Oh, yes," she breathed seductively. "You do have quite a big, impressive wad right here."

A gust of strangled laughter escaped him. "That was a good one." So good, he couldn't think of a comeback.

He didn't need one because it was apparent they were done teasing. The need and hunger in Mia's silvery gaze glowed hot and bright and urgent as she pushed him back a few steps. The back of his legs hit the bed, and he fell onto the mattress, right where she apparently wanted him. Leaning over his prone form, she unfastened his jeans and stripped them off, then shrugged out of her robe and climbed on top of him until her slender, naked body was straddling his hips.

Without any preliminaries or foreplay, she took him deep inside her in slow, tantalizing increments, surrounding him inch by inch until he was completely enveloped in her tight, wet heat. Once he was buried to the hilt, she arched into him, let her head drop back, and moaned as she rode him like a woman who enjoyed having the upper hand for a change, and control over his pleasure.

The thought made him smile as he reached up and caressed her breasts and gently pinched her nipples, then skimmed his fingers along her flat belly. "I always knew you'd have a thing for being on top."

Her lashed drifted open languidly, and she sucked in a quick breath when his thumb delved between her soft, female flesh and found her swollen clit, slippery wet from her own anticipation and desire.

She splayed her hands on his taut stomach and rocked her hips hard against his, taking him deeper still. "I think I just have a thing for you," she admitted huskily.

Cameron liked the sound of that. He liked the sweet, tender look in her eyes even more as she gave herself over to him physically without inhibitions or the slightest reserve. He finessed her with liquid strokes and the silken glide of his fingers, but she was the one who set the pace and seduced him with her soft, erotic sighs and clench and release of her body. She was the one who drove him wild with the overwhelming need to be a part of her, in every way.

And ultimately, she was the one who pushed him over the razor-sharp edge of release and sent him spiraling into an earth-shattering climax that began with him and ended with her.

Chapter Nine

MIA glanced down at the current stained-glass design she was working on and smiled to herself, feeling a rush of excitement and satisfaction with the way the image was coming together. After her conversation with Cameron the day before about her artwork, and his positive response to the pieces she'd shown him, she was more inspired than ever. She just wasn't sure how Cameron would feel knowing her latest design immortalized the two of them in a very provocative embrace.

She bit her bottom lip and thought about everything she'd shared with Cameron-not only her artwork, which was personal enough, but even the insecurities and doubts she had about making a living at what she loved to do. Not to mention her family dashing her hopes of integrating her stained-glass designs into the business.

She'd never shared that part of herself with another man before and never meant to enlighten Cameron, either. But he'd seen the sketches, and once he'd started prompting her with questions, it had all spilled out so easily. She had to admit it felt so good to get everything out in the open and to let another person see her more erotic pieces. Cameron's enthusiasm had fed her own, and although she didn't believe putting her regular designs in a consignment shop was going to make her enough money to support herself, it would at least provide her an outlet for all the panels and pieces she'd already created. As for the more intimate stuff, well, those designs were most likely going to be a part of her own private collection.

Including the one of her and Cameron. Just looking at the two images lustfully intertwined made her breasts grow heavy and achy and a familiar tug of desire to curl low. Spending two nights in a row with Cameron had been nothing short of sensory overload, and while she should have been physically satisfied, it seemed she was completely and utterly insatiable when it came to him. Not to mention orgasmic. All because she'd opened up to Cameron, trusted him with her body and more.

By the time they'd finally roused themselves out of her bed yesterday, it had been late Saturday afternoon. With Gina gone for the weekend, they'd ordered in pizza for two and indulged in the meal while discussing the vandalism to her car and the fact that Cameron didn't want her going anywhere alone or without him knowing where until the culprit was caught. Such a strict order would normally go against her independent nature, but knowing he was only concerned for her safety and well-being made the request much easier to accept.

After dinner Mia went to take a shower, and it wasn't long before Cameron joined her. He'd washed her hair for her and scrubbed her back, and she was happy to return the favor. Playful touches and caresses across wet, sleek, soapy skin turned into more sensual strokes and breathy moans of pleasure. They'd barely gotten themselves dried off before they were tumbling back into bed and enjoying another night of fulfilling carnal hungers and sinful, wicked fantasies.

But this morning her idyllic weekend had come to a disappointing end when a call had come through on Cameron's cell phone from a client that had demanded his immediate attention. He'd given her a kiss and a promise to call her later and then he was gone.

In the wake of his departure, and with Gina still not home from Ray's, Mia had been struck with a sense of loneliness, which she'd tried to shake off by reminding herself that she was used to being alone and usually preferred the solitude. But the quiet felt so oppressive, and she'd picked up the phone to give Carrie a call to see how she was doing. Her friend hadn't been home, so she'd left a message that maybe they could get together for lunch or go shopping one day soon. Then, determined to keep herself busy for the rest of the afternoon, she'd returned to her bedroom and immersed herself in her latest stained-glass design.

Now, her stomach growled hungrily, reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything since earlier that morning when she'd had a bowl of cereal. A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand told her it was five-thirty and she needed food.

Heading into the kitchen, she decided on a quick and simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk to wash it down. She'd just finished her meal when she heard the front door open and quietly close.

"Gina?" Mia called out as she tossed her paper plate in the trash and set her empty glass in the sink.

When she didn't receive an answer, a sense of unease prickled along Mia's spine. She always kept the apartment door locked when she was home alone, and the disturbing thought flitted through her mind that maybe Gina had given Ray a key-or he'd copied one for himself without Gina's knowledge. Mia certainly wouldn't put something so calculating past the distrustful man.

With her heart hammering in her chest, she cautiously walked into the adjoining living room, but no one was mere. She moved down the hall to Gina's closed bedroom door and knocked lightly.

Again, nothing.

Her hand dropped to the door knob, and she slowly turned it to the right, finding it unlocked. Silently, she pushed the door open, looked inside, and was incredibly relieved to find Gina standing across the room, putting something away in her dresser drawer.

"Gina?" Mia said softly, not wanting to frighten her friend who obviously hadn't heard her enter the room.

Gina gasped and spun halfway around, her eyes wide and startled. She didn't move or speak, just stared at Mia.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Mia smiled but couldn't ignore the instinctive feeling that something was very wrong with Gina. Her eyes were puffy, as though she'd been crying, and her entire body seemed stiff and tense. "Hey, is everything okay?"

Gina nodded jerkily. "I'm fine."