Lily was still trembling when William scooped her in his arms and carried her all the way to the king-size bed. He took his time taking off the clothes he’d left on earlier—his and hers alike—and she couldn’t resist raking her gaze down his body. He was all corded muscle, his abdomen firm, lightly covered with hair that made a tempting trail down to his cock, hanging heavy and already half erect once more.

Her heart raced.

They had actually had sex. William Charleston had actually been in her. All that bloody magnificence, thrusting inside.

God, it took all her will not to push him down and take him in her mouth right that instant.

But this evening wasn’t supposed to be all about sex. Even if her hormones disagreed.

She breathed easier once they nestled themselves beneath the warm duvet, William’s body aligned with hers. It should have been weird to lie in bed next to someone who was basically a stranger, but all Lily felt was a deep sense of rightness. As if this was how they were meant to be from the very start.

She laid her head in the nook between his neck and shoulder, drinking in the intoxicating, masculine scent. Was there anything about him that wasn’t perfect?

“I, ah, don’t want to be a mood killer or anything of the sort,” she said, wincing at how pathetic she sounded, “but please tell me when you want me to leave.”

“Leave?”

“Yes, well, I suppose you don’t want me loitering around till morning. You’re probably—”

“That’s rubbish,” he cut in and shifted just enough to look at her, exasperation clear on his handsome features. “You’re not leaving unless you want to. I have a spare, unused toothbrush in my travel kit, and if it’s clothes or anything like that you need, you’re more than welcome to mine.”

“You mean that?”

“Christ, pet, of course I do. I didn’t bring you over just to dip my cock in then send you on your way.”

He was so handsome and adorably perplexed she couldn’t resist stealing a taste of those full lips.

“Thank you.” She nestled herself back in what had officially become her favorite spot, and lightly nuzzled his neck.

“Thank me tomorrow when you won’t be able to walk. I have a feeling I’m going to be a selfish bastard when it comes to you.”

She chuckled and slid her leg against his. “I’d like that.”

She was still wet—or was wet again, she really couldn’t tell—and the breathless curse that left William’s lips as she rubbed against him was the single, bloody best thing she’d ever heard.

Yeah, she was definitely going to enjoy his selfish whims.

“If you’re not busy two nights from now,” William said, his lips brushing against her hair, “I was thinking we could go see the new Coriolanus. If that’s something you’d like to do. With me.”

Damn, not only was the man hot as fuck, he liked theater—and Shakespeare.

Lily didn’t even dare to think about the fact that he was asking her out on a second date. Her head and heart were already on the verge of imploding.

“I’d been wanting to catch that play since it came out.” She smiled and trailed a finger down his chest. “But the tickets are next to impossible to get. The story of my life, it seems.”

William laughed. “The creative director is an old friend of mine. I’m not above pulling a few strings to get us in.”

She shook her head and chuckled. “Incorrigible.”

“I’ve heard that one before,” William drawled. “But I have to admit, coming from your lips, it sounds like a title I’d gladly wear.”

His fingers traveled down her back, the almost innocent touch filling her with a new surge of hunger. Oh, she knew they were far from done. If his statement earlier hadn’t made it clear, there was the indismissable evidence of his hardness—as a quick, teasing caress confirmed. But this, just being curled next to him, felt good, too. More than good, actually.

For the first time in her life, Lily felt completely and utterly relaxed in another’s presence.

With a smile on her lips, she guided her hand from his hips to play with the silver spill of curls decorating his chest. There had to be some catch. Some hidden side to all of this. She just wasn’t this lucky.

William’s caresses stilled.

Shit, had she said that out loud?

He swallowed audibly, then asked, “You are on birth control, right?”

It took a moment for the words to register. Relief washed over her, coaxing a bubbling laugh from her lips that made William even more immobile. If that was even possible.

She looked up at his mortified face. “Yes, William, I’m on birth control. I would have stopped you otherwise.”

The tension fled from his shoulders, his expression losing the I-fucked-up edge that had dominated his features a second ago. “I’m clean, in case you were wondering.”

In all honesty, she’d completely forgotten about that aspect.

It seemed like William wasn’t the only one who didn’t have his wits about him when they were together.

“So am I,” she added, suddenly very grateful she had a checkup done before a blood-donor event a couple of months ago. While neither of her exes had been the types to catch anything nasty, it was still good to be certain when it came to these things.

Big words, when she had been more than willing to let William fuck her without a condom.

She winced, but quickly caught herself. There would come a time for internal scolding. Possibly when she wasn’t feeling the warmth of his body underneath her fingertips.

She flopped over on her stomach and peered up at him. Fucking hell, how a man could be this sensual was beyond her. Those strands of silver in his hair and beard glistened under the artificial light, a smug, satisfied curve playing upon his lips. Unable to help herself, she leaned over and kissed him.

“I like you, William Charleston.” She smiled. “I know it must sound insane, but I really, really do.”

He traced his finger along her brow, then down the side of her face all the way to her jaw until, finally, he lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers.

The kiss was tentative, gentle, yet the passion in it was anything but.

“And I you.”

Those three little words nearly unraveled her. It was then and there that Lily decided she most definitely was losing her mind.

And that she really didn’t give a fuck about it.