What was even more surprising was the fact that I could carry on a conversation at all after she licked her lip to catch a bit of sauce. What had I been thinking? I wanted to ease her back into my house, into my realm, not spend the entire meal thinking about her lips.

A movie, I decided. We should watch a movie. That way, we could sit together on the couch; maybe I would slip an arm around her. She’d snuggle close . . .

I jumped up to clear the table after we finished eating.

“Let me help,” she said, getting up to join me.

“I can get it.”

“But I don’t mind.”

I put the dishes in the sink. “I wash and you dry?”

She nodded and picked up a towel.

As we worked, it struck me how well we fit together. Even doing mundane things such as the dishes. We were a team. We belonged together. Surely she knew.

But I couldn’t assume she knew anything. I had to tell her.

Yet I still argued with myself.

After the movie. If you tell her before, she might think you want sex.

No, after the movie, she’ll think you want sex. Tell her before.

After would be better.

After is just you procrastinating again.

My hand trembled as I gave her the last dish. She dried it quickly and put it in the cabinet, then returned to place the towel beside the sink.

Now, West.

I took a deep breath. “Abby—”

“Nathaniel—” she said at the same time.

Our gazes locked for a second and we both laughed.

“You first,” she said.

I took her hand. “I just wanted to say thank you for coming tonight. Apollo hasn’t been so calm in months.”

Damn it. That hadn’t come out right.

“Well, I’m glad for Apollo.” She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “But he’s not the only reason I came over tonight.”

I know. Thank you.

Stop thinking it. Say it.

I rubbed her knuckles, stroked the soft skin of her hand. “I know.”

A small smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “Trust me. I’m a pretty selfish creature.”

Selfish? Abby? How could she even think that?

I traced her jaw. “You’re not. You’re kind and loving and forgiving and—”

“Nathaniel.”

I needed to tell her. Had to tell her. Now.

I placed a finger on her lips. “Stop. Let me finish.”

She didn’t say anything else.

I stared into her deep, wide eyes and gently cupped her face. “You’ve brought my life so much joy; you’ve made me feel complete.” She needs the words. Give her the words. “I love you, Abby.”

She sucked in her breath.

“Nathaniel.” She leaned her cheek into my palm. “I love you, too.”

I felt certain my heart would explode. She loved me.

She loved me.

She.

Loved.

Me.

“Abby.” I sighed, pulling her into my arms and kissing her. It was the only way I knew to show my feelings. She parted her lips under mine.

Oh, God. Her taste.

She pulled me closer and ran her fingers through my hair as she kissed me harder and deeper.

Forget the movie—I wanted her.

Let her lead.

I broke the kiss, dragging my lips up to her ear. “Tell me to stop, Abby.” Please don’t tell me to stop. “Tell me to stop and I will.”

And I would. I didn’t want to, but I would. Anything beyond this point was up to her.

“Don’t,” she said.

Fuck. She wanted me to stop.

“Don’t stop,” she said.

Yes.

My fingers skimmed her arms. I needed to make certain she was sure. “I don’t want you to think I brought you here for this.” I tasted the skin of her ear, unable to hold myself back. “I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you.”

Because, as much as my c**k wanted to disagree, a movie and cuddles on the couch would be fine.

She pulled away from me and smiled.

“Follow me.” She held out her hand.

Huh? Follow her? I’d follow her anywhere.

She took me out of the kitchen, down the hall, and into the foyer. I still had no idea what she was doing.

She started up the stairs.

Holy f**king hell. She was taking me upstairs and down the hall into my bedroom. Which I still hadn’t moved back into.

I stood in shock as she led me to the foot of the bed and turned.

I cupped her cheek. “Abby. My beautiful, perfect Abby.” I dropped my head and kissed her again. When I felt her breathing change, I pulled back, then drew her close, kissed her neck, and murmured into her skin, “Let me love you.”

Tonight was all about her—making love to every single part of her.

I carried her to the bed, laying her on her back. “I’ll start with your mouth.”

In all our time together, starting from the first day she walked into my office, I had cheated us both by not kissing her. For the next several minutes, I did my best to make up for it—teasing her, teasing us both, with soft nibbles and gentle, sweet kisses.

Finally, though, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I framed her face and kissed her long and slow and deep and filled with all the passion I could.

She arched her back, brushing her chest against me, and I pulled back. “I could kiss your lips for hours and never tire of your taste”—I took in the sight of her lying in my bed—“but the rest of you is so damn delectable.”

I unbuttoned her shirt, taking my time, wanting her to know what I was doing. Still wanting to give her a chance to back out. She didn’t move from the bed, though. Her eyes watched me as I slipped the shirt from her body.

“I can feel your heart racing.” I ran my hand down her arm and captured her hand in my own. “Feel mine,” I said, placing her hand over my own flying heart.

She took her hand out of mine and dragged my shirt over my head. I heard her sigh as she ran her hands over my chest and down my arms. How good they felt on me.

Heaven.

But I wasn’t anywhere near finished. I trailed my lips downward—over her collarbone, across her shoulders.

“An often-neglected body part is right here”—I took her arm—“the crook of the elbow.” I kissed her there. “It would be an unpardonable sin to overlook this tasty delicacy.” She tasted so delicious when I licked her, I took a gentle nibble.

“Oh, God,” she moaned.

I lifted my head. “And I’ve only just started,” I said, because I had to taste the other parts of her—starting with her sweet br**sts. I worked my way over to them, kissing and tasting as I went. I did away with her bra quickly, eager for the feel of skin-to-skin contact.

I leaned over and felt her ni**les brush against my chest, barely able to contain the moan threatening to escape from me. I cupped one breast in my hand. “Your br**sts are perfect. Just the right size, and when I do this”—I took a nipple between two fingers and rolled gently—“your body shakes with anticipation.”

A shudder overtook her.

Perfect.

“Do you know how sweet your br**sts taste?” I asked, teasing myself as much as her, for I was anxious to get my mouth on her again.

“No.”

“A shame, really.” I sucked her into my mouth. Mmmmm. Her taste. So much better even than I remembered. I couldn’t help myself—I sucked her even deeper and bit her the way I knew she liked.

She rewarded me with a moan.

I released her from my mouth and blew on her other breast, watching as her nipple hardened. Her skin was so responsive. I took my time tasting the other breast, starting at its base and working up. I tested its weight in my hand. Perfect.

“And this one?” I asked. “Just as f**king sweet as the other.” I licked my lips and tasted it.

Her hands dug into my hair, holding me close as I continued my rediscovery of her body. She felt so right under me, so perfect in my arms. I took my time, wanting to drive her into a frenzy of pleasure. We had all night, and I planned to enjoy every second.

Her hands grew more urgent as they danced across my back, and she pulled me up toward her—kissing me soundly and deeply.

Fuck. I’d never get tired of this woman.

Her h*ps lifted, circling and searching for my own.

“Wait,” I said, breaking the kiss. A reminder to me, really. “I haven’t gotten to the best parts.”

But I gave her what she wanted, moving my hands lower to stroke the slope of her belly. I hooked my fingers into the waistband of her jeans and pushed them as low as I could.

“Another overlooked body part,” I said before licking her belly button.

She gasped and tightened her grip on my hair.

“Do you know how many nerve endings are found here?” I asked. I pulled back slightly and watched her skin respond as I blew on her, now wet from my tongue.

Beautiful.

I took the clasp of the jeans and undid them, drawing them slowly down her hips, trailing my thumbs lightly across her skin. I slid back as I undressed her, exposing the tiny bikini briefs she wore. My c**k throbbed, but I shoved my needs to the back of my mind and focused on her.

She had other plans. As soon as I threw her jeans from the bed, she pushed me onto my back. “My turn.”

She undressed me, taking my pants and boxers off at the same time, running her hands all over me.

Her hands felt so good.

“Abby,” I groaned when her hands stroked my cock.

“Roll over,” she said, and I turned onto my stomach.

She straddled me, sitting on my butt and running her hands over my shoulder blades, then down my spine. Her lips followed, ending right at the small of my back, and she then licked her way up again. I pushed my h*ps into the bed, desperate.

Fuck. I needed to get my focus back on her, so I turned over, grabbing her and rolling her underneath me.

“I forgot where I was,” I said, trailing my eyes down her body. “Now I have to start all over.”

Because starting over would give me time to calm back down, to bring her back to the edge and heighten her pleasure. I kissed her—parting her lips with my tongue, savoring her taste.

“We discussed your mouth,” I said, when we were both breathing heavily. “And your neck,” I said, working back over her delicate skin. “Your overlooked elbows and belly button—and I definitely remember these.” I kissed her br**sts, rolling first one nipple and then the other between my lips, tickling her with the tip of my tongue.

“Ah, yes,” I said, when her body trembled beneath me. “I remember now.” It was time to drive her completely mad, for she thought she knew where I’d go next. I slid down her body. “Right. About. Here,” I said, coming to rest between her legs, ignoring where she really needed me and taking her knee in my hand.

She lifted her head and stared at me.

“The knee is an erogenous zone for many people,” I explained.

Her head fell back to the bed.

I played with her knee—kissing and caressing it. I gently lifted her and tasted the skin behind her knee before switching to her other leg.

“Nathaniel. Higher.”

I know. I want it, too.

Instead, I slipped lower, coming to rest at her feet. I took one in my hand, examining the curve of her arch. Then I kissed the inside of her ankle, and ever so gently, placed a soft kiss on the bottom of each foot.

She was indeed a goddess.

Who needed to be teased more.

“Now,” I said, raising my head. “I feel like I forgot something. What was it?”

But I’d forgotten how sinfully she could tease me.

“You’re a smart man.” Her legs shifted, then parted and gave me a perfect view of her silk-clad sex. “I’m sure it’ll come to you.”

A growl ripped from my throat—if that’s the way she wanted it, I was more than ready. I crawled up to her and ripped away the silk that stood between my goal and me.