Good Christ, this woman is everything I dreamed of. Her dark hair falls over her shoulder and begs me to run my fingers through the thick locks. I want to taste her lips and feel her softness under me. And God, she smells like honey and vanilla and I’m dying for a taste.

“How long are you in town?” she asks, her full lips tempting me to lean closer.

“How do you know I’m visiting?”

She grins. “Just a hunch.”

“Four more weeks.”

“What brings you here?”

“Work.”

“Are you married?”

I back away, brow furrowing in confusion. “Do I act like a married man? I’m not the kind of guy who’d cheat on his wife.”

“Sorry. I’m just covering my bases. I’ve been fooled once before.” Her expression turns serious and something in me aches for the hurt I see in her eyes.

I take her chin in between my thumb and forefinger, bringing her gaze back to mine. “I’d never do something like that. If I promise my heart to a woman, she’ll have it forever.”

She nods.

“Tell me your name, gorgeous. I need to know who’s about to ruin me for all other women.”

Her cheeks burn a bright red. “Tillie.”

“Tillie.” I try her name out on my tongue. It’s one I can honestly say I’ve never said before, but it’s one I know I’ll never forget. “This might sound daft, but I’d very much like to take you back to my room tonight.”

She bites that lower lip of hers and flicks a glance back to the table in the corner where two men are laughing and drinking. “One sec.”

Then she hops off her barstool and saunters over to them, her perfect arse swaying as she goes. She says something to the smaller guy and he glances around her to me. The guy holds up his phone and I swear he takes a photo of me. Offering him a cheers with my drink, I smile and he nods. Then, beautiful Tillie comes back to me.

“Okay. But if you try to kidnap me, Kit has a picture of you to give the police.”

I chuckle. “I’m not going to kidnap you.”

“That’s right, you’re not.” She gestures to her friend. “But he’s going to make sure…just in case.”

“If you’re not comfortable…”

“I’m comfortable. In fact, I’m probably too comfortable for this to be a smart decision, but you’re handsome and available and not permanent. You’re exactly what I need.”

Her hand slides up my chest and I stop thinking about everything other than her. “Then what are we waiting for?”

I reach up and thread my fingers through her hair, fighting a sigh at the softness. It’s exactly what I imagined. Dark silk spilling between my fingers. Then I kiss her right there in front of everyone. Her lips are full and perfect, and when she sighs against me and leans closer, I have to force myself to back away so I don’t let this go too far in public. She deserves more than that. Tillie deserves respect.

“Let’s go, Jude. Is your room far from here?”

I pull out my phone and call a car to pick us up. “Car will be here in five minutes.”

She takes my hand and drags me toward the door. “Good, that’s five minutes I can be kissing you.”

I love how assertive she is, how much she wants me, because I want her too. But I’m not a prick who’ll use her for sex and drop her after. Even if we only have one night together, she’ll leave knowing she was important to me.

As soon as we’re out the door, I’ve got her face in my hands and I’m pressing her against the brick facade of the bar. My lips are hard on hers, tasting her sweet mouth. My tongue begs entrance and she opens for me, our bodies writhing against each other as our kiss deepens.

“God, you taste so good. I could live on this,” I murmur against her.

“I could let you.”

Her hands slide under my leather jacket and the drag of her nails along my back sends shiver down my spine. She moans and writhes, her hips brushing my hard cock through my trousers. God, I need to get back home with her.

“Fuck, I want you.” My voice is rough and I wish nothing more than for the damn car to get here so I can lay her out on my bed.

My phone rings from my jacket pocket, but I ignore it. Nothing is going to take me from her lips now. Whoever it is, they can leave a message. But the sound of an automatic window rolling down, followed by a sharp cough, pulls me away.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see a guy looking at us from his car. “Jude?” he asks.

Bugger. “That’s me. Sorry, mate.”

I back up, threading my fingers with Tillie’s and tugging her along with me. Opening the door, I let her inside first and follow after. I’m painfully hard and wish with everything in me the drive wasn’t the half hour I know it will be.

Tillie giggles and squeezes my hand.

He turns up the music and pulls into traffic, while I run my fingers up the inside of Tillie’s thigh.

“I don’t understand how you’re single, but I’m so fucking thankful.” She sighs and wiggles her hips. “Your lips taste like heaven,” I murmur before closing the distance between our mouths.

She spreads her thighs and I slide my hand farther up her skirt. The inky black sky protects us from being seen, but the passing glow of the streetlights reminds me we’re not alone and I can’t take this any farther.

I deepen our kiss and have to force myself to keep from touching between her legs. I can wait. She takes my hand and moves her hips as she tries to get me to do exactly what I want.

“No, no. Wait until we get home. I promise your patience will be rewarded.”

She whimpers, but lets go of my hand.

“Good girl.”

I tease her with slow kisses for nearly the entire ride, and by the time we pull up in front of the house I’ve rented for my time here, she’s a ball of need, trembling and desperate. I remove my hand from her skirt and open the door, bringing her with me as quickly as possible.

“I thought you said you had a room.”

I glance at the house and grin. “I do. Three actually. I’m renting this house.”

She swallows and frowns. “I didn’t realize it was close to the campus.”

I laugh. “You have a problem with college kids?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Good. Besides, there are no kids here. Now, let’s get inside so I can show you how you should be worshipped.”