“SLOW DOWN,” I REMIND MYSELF. Glancing in the rearview mirror, I see her puttering behind me as slow as molasses. I can’t help but laugh at her little law abiding self.

My fingers tap against the steering wheel as I hum a along with the radio. I have a rule about bringing girls to my house. I simply don’t do it. I go to theirs or get a hotel room because you never know what’s going to go down after it goes down. But the thought of having Dani in my house seems right.

I’m scared as fuck. I’ve had relationships before. Serious ones, even. I’m good at them, if I do say so myself. My mom and sisters taught me a thing or two about girls. Even with my past girlfriends, I’ve never felt like this. Before, they did their thing and I did mine. I’d send flowers when I needed to or make sure they had a cute dress to wear to an event, but that was it. There was no desire to actually get to know them. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure there was much about them to know.

Dani is not that way. She makes it easier to be with her than to be without her. She’s not needy and I love that. She asks about things, but not like she’s digging for information. It’s like she actually gives a fuck.

We’ve talked late into the night every night this week and when we hang up, I want to call her right back. I tell her stories about my brothers and sisters and growing up in Savannah. She tells me stories about volunteering at a children’s hospital in college and how she hopes to do something bigger with her life than just a nine-to-five.

I love that. I respect that. I admire that. I admire her.

I might be screwed.

HE’S WAITING ON ME IN the driveway, leaning against the side of his charcoal grey SUV, his keys twirling in the air. “You are the slowest driver ever,” he laughs as I climb out of my car.

“I had to exceed the speed limit by fifteen miles per hour to almost keep up with you.” I smack him when I reach him. “What’s the hurry, Landry?”

His arms fall around me, his hands locking at the small of my back. He pulls me to him. “You are the hurry,” he whispers. “Next time we ride together.”

We exchange a look and I read exactly what he’s saying: that he doesn’t want to rush this, even though he does. I’m feeling the same way. The ride over gave me a second to regain some control and I want to keep that. At least for a bit.

He laces his fingers through mine and leads me to the front door. A key switches in the lock and we step inside.

“Bachelor pad much?” I comment, taking in the interior. It’s stark white walls and light gold carpeting mixed in with dark hardwood and bright white tile. It’s expensive with all the trendy, newer hallmarks yet lacks a feel of being lived in. Even the pictures dotting the walls look like they were hung up there solely to break the vacant feeling.

He shrugs. “I don’t live here much. I’m on the road half the year and the other half, I’m usually out with friends or visiting my family.” He shrugs again.

“There are no personal touches at all,” I note. “This doesn’t feel like you, Landry.”

He cocks his head to the side. “What feels like me?”

“Well,” I gulp, looking around again. “Something more masculine. Warmer colors, maybe. I expected art, for some reason.”

He grins. “I agree.” He turns away and heads into the kitchen. “Want a drink?”

“Uh, sure.” I follow him into a room at the back of the house. Viking range, stainless steel refrigerator, marble countertops—it’s a kitchen to die for. But I’m pretty sure it’s never actually been used.

After offering me from a basic selection of drinks, he hands me a glass. We both take sips, feeling each other out. Finally, I break the ice.

“What do you do when you’re home? I’ve heard a lot of athletes play video games or work out for hours on end. What’s your jam?”

“I lift some. Run some. Play a little video games, but I’m pretty much over that. Some guys do it all the time though. I don’t know how they do.”

“I’ve never gotten into that whole thing,” I say. “I’ve heard yoga is really good for athletes. It stretches you all out in different ways.”

He makes a face. “I’ll be your yoga instructor. Stretch you out in all kinds of ways.”

I swipe at him playfully, making him laugh.

“No to yoga,” he says. “It’s a girlie thing. Unless you’re doing it and then I’ll stand right behind you.”

“Oh, that’s what I want you to see! My ass in downward facing dog.”

His eyes darken. “I’d love to see you from every angle.”

My mouth goes dry from his gaze. This is the moment I’ve waited on for days now, the situation I’ve fantasized about. With a slightly shaking hand, I reach for his belt and being undoing it.

His eyes hood, making me squirm. I yelp as his hands find my waist and I’m hoisted in a circle and sat on top of the cool marble. His hands are on either side of me, caging me in.

“What are you waiting on?” I pant, cupping his face in my hands. His cheeks are rough, the stubble biting into my skin. He watches me, his gaze penetrating mine.

“It’s different this time, don’t you think?”

“How?”

“I know what you’re going to feel like, what you sound like, what you taste like.”

“How do you know that?” I pant.

“You don’t think I tasted you off my fingers before?”

“Oh, God,” I moan.

“But tonight, I get to experience you. Feel you. Taste you first hand. Feel you squirt in my mouth—”

“Stop,” I say like I’ve run a mile.

“Spread your legs, beautiful.”

With no hesitation, I part my legs as his hands cup my ass and he slides me to the end of the marble. He wastes no time sliding his tongue into my mouth, caressing mine. I forget about my parted legs until his knuckles brush against the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. I shudder.

His left hand is on the back of my head, keeping my head from pulling away from him. I can barely compute anything; too many fireworks are exploding in too many regions.

My thumbs brush his cheeks before I find the silky strands of his hair. Lacing my fingers through them, I tug slightly. It elicits a moan from his throat and that does it for me. I’m so wet I can feel it coating my legs. He does too because his eyes flash open for one brief moment, a look of pure lust written all over them. And when he realizes I’m not wearing any panties, I feel him melt against me.

He slips one finger, quickly followed by a second, into me. I suck in a breath, only to have it stolen by Lincoln’s kisses. He works his fingers in and out as he shifts his weight from one foot to the other.

Just as he’s finding a steady pace, he stops. Before I can object, I’m lifted by the waist. My legs instinctively wrap around him, his hands beneath the globes of my ass. The skin almost stings as his fingers kiss into my flesh.

I have no idea where we’re going, and I can’t even see from the merciless assault of his lips. We bump into walls, into corners, as he makes our way down a dark hallway.

Turning one corner a little too sharply, a picture falls from the wall and crashes on the floor. Gasping for air, I’m laid on a king sized bed with silky silver-grey sheets. Sitting up, I try to work my zipper down in the back in a rush when I hear his voice low and gravelly.

“Let me,” he says.

I still. He peers down at me, a small smile on his lips. One knee is on the mattress, then the other. He is behind me in a flash. With a gentle hand, he brushes my hair to one shoulder and tugs on the zipper at my neck.

I shiver, more from his touch than the air hitting my exposed skin. Looking straight ahead, I feel the zipper slowly roll towards the small of my back. It finally hits the end. His hands, so rough and hardened, push the fabric at the shoulders so it falls to my waist. I feel his lips press a kiss at the base of my neck.

Glancing at him over the corner of my shoulder, I watch him unbutton his shirt. As each inch of skin is displayed, I feel my heartbeat pick up until the shirt is tossed on the floor, and I’m on the brink of a heart attack.

He steps off the bed and removes his shoes and pants. I shimmy out of my dress and toss it to the floor, freezing when I catch him staring at me.

“What?” I ask, feeling, for the first time, self-conscious.

“Damn, baby.”

“What?” I ask again, feeling my nipples harden under his observation.

“You just make me want to stand here and stare at you, you’re so goddamn beautiful.”

“Stop, Landry,” I blush. “Not that I’m opposed to appreciating the view because your body is seriously . . . You’re incredible.”

“I know.”

I burst out laughing, crooking my finger. “But now’s not the time for that. I need fucked.”

Using those stellar baseball reflexes, I’m on my back and he’s hovering over me before I see it coming.

“It’s about time,” I say breathlessly, slipping my hand between us and grabbing his cock. “Just like I thought.”

“What’s that?”

“Size thirteen.”

“What?”

“Never mind,” I giggle. “I want to feel you inside me.”

“You,” he says, his mouth up against my ear, “are going to be the death of me.”

“Don’t die until after you fuck me, please.”

He takes a nibble at the shell of my ear, making me shriek and writhe beneath him. He uses my movement against me, or for me, depending, and I feel his girth at my opening.

I still and hold my breath. His arms, those sinewy, muscled arms, cage me in on either side of my head. A sinful smirk plays on his lips as he swirls his hips and drags his cock through my wetness. I move, attempting to get some friction against my needy clit. I dig my nails into his ass to convince him to go.

“Do I need to use a condom?” he asks.

“I’m clean and on the pill,” I say.

“I get checked every six months. I’m clean.”

“Then get on with it, Landry, I—” My sentence is halted by a yelp as he pushes into me with one long, hard, owning push. “Ah!” I squeal, panting.

“You like that?”

“God, yes,” I breathe, my eyes rolling to the back of my head. He’s watching me and I’d like to be able to hold my ground and gaze, but I can’t. It’s impossible. He knows this. He likes this, the cocky bastard.

“You are so fucking sexy,” he almost growls as he strokes his cock in and out of my pussy. “Damn it, Dani. You feel better than I even imagined.”

“Do I?” I ask, reaching my hands behind me and gripping the pillows. “Do I turn you on, Landry?”

“You know you do. You feel how hard my cock is.”

“For me.”

“For you.”

“Ah!” I moan as his strokes become harder. “Yes! This!”

My entire body is on fire, my breasts bouncing with each thrust. He drives into me, hitting that spot in the back of my vagina that is a trigger to an orgasm. “I’m going to come.”

“Come all over my cock,” he growls.

“Fuck!” I scream as my vision is dotted with an array of colors. The build-up starts at my pussy and rolls, like lava, through my body. In a matter of seconds, I feel the energy pulsing through my toes and the top of my head. “Lincoln!”

He doesn’t slow down, just massages that spot with his swollen head. When my eyes can open again, I see his skin is broken out in a glisten of sweat.

Pulling his cock out so just the tip sits in my opening, he grins. “Up.” He rocks back on his heels.

Confused and still out of breath, I try to sit up. He bends down, touching his lips to mine, before wrapping an arm around my waist and twisting me on my hands and knees. A quick slap collides with my bare ass.

“Hold on, baby,” he says.

Before I can hold on or get my wits about me, he’s once again at my opening and thrusting in.

“Shit,” I mutter, clenching my teeth. One hand grips the bend of my waist, the other sitting on the end of my spine. His thumb plays against my ass, applying concerted pressure over the opening in the back. “I can’t,” I groan, knowing good and well that I can. And I want to.

He chuckles behind me. “We’ll save that for another day.”

“One day at a—” I start but am stopped by another smack to my rear. “Landry!”

He laughs again, both hands now digging into my sides, as he builds me up with quick, powerful strokes.

“You feel so good,” he growls, finding that spot once again. “I can’t hold back for long.”

I wait a few thrusts, making sure the rush of the climax is coming.

Once the sparks start shooting through my veins, I yell, “I’m coming!”

He grunts behind me, going harder than ever before. Hearing him come apart only adds to the intensity of my own fall. My arms can’t hold up, turning to jelly, and I make it just until his last hiss of breath before I collapse onto my belly.

In an instant, he’s curled up behind me, dragging me into him.

I’m going to have to get up and clean myself in a second. But for now, I’ll stay right here, tucked safely in the arms of this delicious man.