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I dragged him toward the door, fumbling with my keys the whole way. I was shaky and excited. Already, I wanted Alex again. He was nothing like what I expected in any way. I bit my lip as I tried to focus on getting us inside.

“Let me help,” he suggested gently as he took the keys and seamlessly managed to insert them in the lock. His arms were around me as he worked and his breath on my neck had me panting.

What the hell was going on with me? This had to be the alcohol. I was strong, confident, and most of all…detached. I didn’t get like this over guys. I’d never been all swoony, not even before I married Chad.

“Thank you,” I whispered, no longer trusting my voice. I expected it would be as quivery as my insides.

The door popped open, and I stumbled inside, my heel catching on the threshold. Alex steadied me with a hand around my waist. I was either going to fall madly in love with him or hate him. God, I hoped I hated him. My life would be simpler. I’d be free. I wouldn’t be constantly assaulted by so many feelings. Dammit.

He started to steer me toward the couch we’d made out on the previous day. I shook my head and laughed. “Call me superstitious, but we’re going to my bed.”

Alex grinned. “You never cease to surprise me, Charlie. That’s one of the many things I love about you.”

Holding his hand, I walked him down the hall to the master bedroom. “What else?” I asked. Though I tried to make my question sound casual, I really cared what he thought about me. That was not a good sign.

“I’m not going to bore you with the whole ‘damn you’re beautiful’ bit. There’s so much more to you than your looks.” He pulled me into his arms inside the doorway of the room and kissed me deeply, lovingly, making me go completely weak in the knees. “You’re an amazing businesswoman. You built this from nothing.” Alex shook his head, a look of wonder on his face. “I can barely do my own taxes, and you built a winery. Beauty and brains is a really intoxicating combination,” he murmured as he moved in to kiss his way down my neck.

Before I knew what was happening, Alex had managed to remove my shirt and was feeling his way around my back to unhook my bra. I wanted to freeze, to stop kissing him and focus on his touch, but I wanted to start removing his clothing too. While he worked, I managed to unbutton his shirt. As I slid it over his shoulders, I discovered he was surprisingly muscular. I inhaled sharply at the sight of his well-defined chest.

“Hey, photographers can be sexy too,” he teased as he lifted my chin and pressed his lips to mine again.

I laughed quietly when he finished kissing me. “Oh, we wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think you were sexy. I merely had no idea you’d look like this under your clothing.”

He waggled his brows. “Just wait until I remove the pants.”

With a giggle, I rushed to the bed, dropping my bra and the rest of my clothes at the foot of it, before hopping on top of the comforter. I was on my hands and knees, pulling back the bed coverings when he came up behind me and began to run his hands over the curves of my ass.

“My God, you’re beautiful from behind too. How is it possible you don’t have a bad side?” He sighed happily as he joined me on the bed. Seconds later, while I was still working on the blankets, he’d managed to slide inside me.

I gasped as he filled me in unexpected ways. Soon we’d found our rhythm and he was slamming into me, his balls slapping against me with every thrust. My hand found my clit and before long, we were both moaning as our bodies ached for release.

“At the risk of sounding cliché, come for me, gorgeous. Let me feel you tighten around me. Let me hear you say my name.” He raked his hands gently down my back until he reached my buttocks, then he grabbed my hips with both hands, his fingers biting into my skin.

He was close. I could tell. All the signs were there: the ragged breathing, the change of pace, the way he touched me with such feverish intensity. I couldn’t hold back even though I wanted this moment to last so much longer. “Oh, Alex,” I moaned as I shattered. Somehow, he knew. Somehow, he managed to keep pumping into me, letting me ride it out until I was a sweaty, panting heap on my bedding.

Alex had exploded in me for the second time tonight. I couldn’t remember the last time my body had been so happy. Then he disappeared, taking his warmth and his magical hands with him. I barely had the energy to raise my head and find him in the room. A dim light from the bathroom gave his location away. Soon, I heard the water running. Alex reappeared at my side. “Let’s shower. Then I’ll go if you want.”

I bit my lip and stared up at him. “And if I don’t want?” I asked quietly.

He grinned. “Simple. Then I’ll stay,” he responded with a shrug.

In the shower, he held me close. We washed each other and kissed like we were madly in love. Yet as exciting as every bit of this was, my body was betraying me.

“Caught you yawning,” Alex whispered in my ear. He turned off the water. “Come on, Charlie. Let’s go cuddle in bed.”

“Sex and snuggles?” My brows arched. “This is a real treat.” I meant it, even if it did sound sarcastic.

He laughed and dried me off before scooping me up in his arms again and carrying me back to bed. Alex drew back the covers, laid me in the center of the bed, and then climbed in behind me. “I’ll just hold you,” he murmured as he wrapped himself around me. “For now.”

I laughed as my eyes fluttered shut. I may have even fallen asleep. I don’t remember that part as much as his phone ringing.

“Not again,” he grumbled as he rolled from the bed and rushed to locate it. As he glanced at the screen, he sighed. Catching my eyes, he shook his head. “Charlie, I’m so sorry.”