Harmony’s lips parted, her breathing growing heavier as her pulse continued to speed. With my free hand I threaded my fingers through her hair and tilted her head even farther up. “For years I’ve stayed away from you, knowing that this, that we, could never be all that I wanted. I tried to ignore you. I tried to avoid you. I tried to deny what I felt about you. None of it worked.
“I’m done ignoring, avoiding, and denying. I want you, I need you, Harmony. I want tonight. Just one night. Give me one night.” I’d never done it before, but if I had to I would beg. I would do whatever it took. When she didn’t answer I flexed my fingers at the nape of her neck and rested my forehead against hers as I breathed, “Please.”
She pulled back slightly and looked up at me with her brow knitted. “Oh…were you waiting for a…I thought you were just…”
“I need to hear you say yes,” I spoke through a clenched jaw.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. All the yeses.”
Before she finished her enthusiastic agreement, I let go of her wrist and scooped her up and off her feet. She let out a little squeal as her legs and arms wrapped around me just like they had on the side of the road when she’d rear-ended me. This time I didn’t hold back and dug my fingers into her hips, pulling her closer to me. The commotion got Romeo barking and I looked down.
“Okay. Get it,” I instructed.
Without a moment’s hesitation Romeo had his face in the bag and pulled out a jumbo-sized dog bone. One that the clerk at the pet store said would keep him entertained for hours. He immediately dropped it to the ground and started going to town.
“You got him a dog bone?” Harmony asked as if it was the most romantic gesture she’d ever witnessed.
“It’s extra-large. It should keep him busy for a while.”
“You are the sweetest—”
Dipping her hips slightly, I pressed my rock hard length between her legs and she inhaled sharply.
“I’m not that sweet,” I gritted out. “Especially in the bedroom.”
“Thank god.” Harmony licked her lips and the moan it inspired had her eyes sparking with arousal.
Not wasting any time, I gripped her tighter and stalked back to the bedroom. On the short trip, Harmony leaned forward and started kissing, licking, and sucking my neck. The sensation of her sweet mouth and tongue on my skin sent a shot of pleasure, so sharp it almost buckled my knees, straight to my dick. My shaft was already painfully hard and ready to pop. Her vampire move combined with her soft, full breasts brushing up and down my chest with every step I took was about to push me up and over the edge.
I needed to get control of this situation. If not, one look, one touch, one kiss and this would be over before it started. Somehow I managed to get down the hall and into her room. When I did, I kicked the door shut with my foot and set her in front of the bed, her body sliding against mine, her curves teasing me, testing my willpower.
Three LED candles sat on Harmony’s dresser and lit the entire space with an ethereal, seductive glow. My chest rose and fell in heavy breaths as I took one step back. She stared up at me, her breathing as choppy as mine. Her plump lips were damp, beckoning me like a lighthouse in a storm. I knew if I kissed her now, I’d lose myself in her. And that couldn’t happen.
“Take off your clothes.”
Her brows lifted and her mouth curved in a grin. “Bossy, huh?”
“You have no idea.”
“I think I’m going to like finding out.” Her smile grew, but she remained fully clothed.
“Princess, take off your clothes.”
I saw something flash in her eyes; I wasn’t sure if it was a challenge or her just being stubborn. Either way, I needed to see if she wanted the same thing I did, because if she did, we played by my rules. Normally, I wouldn’t be so determined to maintain control, but this wasn’t just any encounter with any woman. This was Harmony. I needed to get her out of my system while at the same time being careful not to let my guard down.
This wasn’t forever. This was one night. I needed to be able to walk away in the morning without feeling like my heart had been put through the shredder.
“I want you naked. In that bed. The same way you were when you snuck into my house five years ago. Now.” My harsh tone left no room for argument.
Thankfully, she didn’t seem to have any objection. The pink tint on her cheeks deepened as she lifted her shirt up and over her head. Her hands shook slightly as she did, and I didn’t know if it was from nerves or arousal, or maybe even a combination of both. My eyes hungrily roamed over the curves of her full breasts. Her nipples pebbled under my visual scrutiny. I loved how responsive she was without me even touching her.
My eyes tracked her movement as she hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her shorts and pushed them down her legs. When she stepped out of both her shorts and panties, she stood back up, gloriously naked. I drank her in, taking my time to visually explore her body, unlike the first time I’d seen her naked, or that night I’d spent taking care of her and seen much more than I’d bargained for. Both of those times, I’d gotten a glimpse, but this was the real deal. The entire picture. And she was perfect.