Once back home, Zephyr held her tight. “I know you think you need to get out, but this is your home for as long as you need it.”

She nodded. “I know.”

His gaze searched hers as if looking for what was wrong. But she averted her gaze.

When he brushed his lips over hers, she relaxed. This she could do. Malia loved kissing him. Every stroke of his tongue was like a delicious brand. Like he was staking his claim.

Zephyr slid his hands down her arms, and she did her best to keep them in place. As his skilled fingers traced a delicate path from her biceps to her face, over her throat and her collarbone, she anticipated his touch, bowing her back, inviting him closer.

When he barely skimmed over her breasts, she moaned. "Zephyr."

"Yes, Malia," he mumbled as he kissed one of her ribs. "Is there something you need?"

"Please ... stop teasing."

He chuckled low then lifted the hem of her T-shirt. "Only because you asked so nicely. And because I'm a little obsessed with your breasts." He had her top and her bra off in seconds, tossing them into a corner. When his attention returned to her, he stared in awe.

Gently, Zephyr slid his hands up her torso until he cupped her breasts. His low, satisfied moan let her know he wasn't as in control as he seemed. He wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. Her core pulled tight when he teased one of her nipples with his lips, lightly dusting over the peak, never applying more pressure. Another tease designed to make her insane. While his mouth toyed with one nipple, his deft thumb rolled over the other in gentle circles.

Desperate for more—more pressure, more of his mouth, more of his fingers—Malia slid her hands into his hair, gently tugging him closer. Silently begging him to love her.

She could feel the shift in him immediately as his shoulders bunched. He made a muffled moan against the pebbled peak of her nipple before he took her into his mouth and sucked gently.

His big body pinned down her hips, and all she could do to seek relief from the pulling need was raise her hips slightly in an attempt to get closer, rubbing her heated core against him.

His fingers plucked and rolled her nipple, building the tension coiling inside of her. When he switched his focus to her other nipple, he slid his hand down her torso, shifting his weight to give himself more room.

His fingers fumbled with the zipper as his impatience grew. Finally, he tore his lips off her breast and shoved away from her. When she mewled a protest, a harsh grin flashed over his beautiful face.

"Oh, I'm coming right back. I just need to touch you, and you're wearing far too many clothes right now."

"So are you."

"I like how the lady thinks."

He reached his arms up and over his back, yanked his shirt over his head, and carelessly tossed it aside. Malia’s mouth watered. He really was beautiful to look at.

He went for the button on his jeans next, and she waited with bated breath. Time slowed as she held her breath for the reveal, waited to see—but he felt like teasing her and only removed his jeans and not his boxer briefs.

"Now, it's your turn."

Her turn? Yes please. She fumbled for the button of her skinny pants, and he tsked.

"What I meant was I was going to undress you. If you don’t mind, I've sort of been looking forward to this part."

When he talked to her like that, voice low and deep and raspy, gaze hooded, and tongue peeking out to moisten his lips, it made it very difficult to think or move. His gaze stayed trained on hers as he unlooped her pants then lowered the zipper. But his interest shifted when he started to pull them down.

Zephyr licked, then sucked in his bottom lip as he peeled the fabric away, exposing her red thong. "Have I mentioned I love you in red?"

What was taking him so long? "Duly noted," she muttered as she reached for him.

"Oh, no, it's still your turn. I'm not finished undressing you yet."

Frustrated, Malia tossed her head back onto the pillow. "Do you plan on using your eyes to finish?"

His grin flashed quickly, but the usual carefree glint was gone. Now he looked like a predator with his prey caught in a trap of his making. "You're lucky I'm so desperate to have you, but one of these days, I plan on taking my time, as long as it takes to drive you crazy."

"I'm already crazy," she said as she clutched the pillow behind her head.

"No, not nearly enough." With aching slowness, he hooked his fingers into the elastic of the thong and slid it down her legs. His breathing grew harsher, and he sucked on that bottom lip again. When his gaze slid over her again, then locked with hers, he whispered, “You are so fucking beautiful."

In that moment, she believed him. The way he looked at her, it felt like he was worshiping her body.

With his boxer briefs still on, he slid back to his previous position nestled between her legs. "Now, where did I leave off again?" He nuzzled one breast, then the next. "See, I told you I'd be back."

He tucked her more closely against him, and her hot center aligned with the cotton-clad, straining length of him. Even through the fabric she could feel the heat of his intensity. How much he wanted her.

When his hand dipped between her thighs, she parted them to ease his way. When the tip of his finger met her slick folds, he moaned. Malia held her breath, the tension coiling tighter and tighter inside her.

Skilled fingers stroked her slippery folds, making her crazy. After teasing her some, Zephyr slid a finger inside her slick channel just as he nipped the skin above her breast. "Malia, you are so perfect. Hot. And tight. So damned tight."

She moaned as he fingered her. Plucking the strings that led directly to nirvana, he teased her with the slow retreat, only to enter again and again. He added another digit, and Malia rolled her hips into his penetrating hand.

Stroking her G-spot, Zephyr slid his lips over her collarbone and along her jawline. When he reached her lips again, he grunted in satisfaction as her hips bucked. And then he sucked on her tongue in time with sliding into her slick center. His heavy erection pressed into her thigh, and she moaned.

With a groan, he pulled back from their kiss, and she mewled as she tried to follow his lips. His gaze scorched her.

"Jesus, what are you doing to me?"

Malia gasped for air. Her brain scrambled for purchase, but her body took over by arching her hips into his hand again.

Zephyr muttered a curse and squeezed his eyes shut. As his fingers stroked her to the edge of orgasm, her name fell off his lips again and again. Malia held tight on to his shoulders. She rotated her hips around and around until he swore again and rubbed his thumb directly over her clit.

Her orgasm ripped through her, laying destruction to every nerve and cell. Unable to think, she threw her head back, giving herself over fully to the sensation.

"Jesus, you're so hot."

Malia couldn't even lift her head, let alone move her lips to whisper his name.

Slowly, he withdrew his fingers from her. "You don't think we're done, do you? I have so many more tricks up my sleeve."

She reached for him with a limp arm, her temperature slowly rising again as he nuzzled her neck. Zephyr rolled off of her for a split second and snagged a condom from his bedside table. Fascinated by every movement of rippling muscle, Malia watched as he shucked his boxers and sheathed himself. When he rolled back, he parted her thighs with his leg before settling into the juncture between her thighs. Malia gripped his shoulders, scoring his flesh with her nails as the tip of his cock nudged her cleft.

Inch by inch, he slid into her. He squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his forehead to hers. "So fucking tight." He retreated an inch, then slid back in. Retreat, slide, retreat, slide. Finally he surged forward, seating himself inside her. Malia met him halfway by raising her hips.

For a long moment, he held his breath, gritting his teeth against the need. Slowly, he started to move, canting his hips until Malia bowed her back. He stroked deep and strong, making her shudder, then retreated until he was almost all the way out. Sweat slicked her body as he made love to her. His intense gaze never wavered, burning into her soul.

His whispered caresses made her just as hot as his hands. "You are so hot ... Stay here all day ... Never want to stop ... "

But soon, even words were impossible, and the tingling started in her toes. As she curled them, the sensation rocketed through her calves, then thighs, and up her back until she couldn’t take it anymore. Malia broke apart and held on to him for dear life as convulsions of ecstasy wracked her body.

It was like that was the permission he was waiting for and he slid kisses along her jaw line, eventually nuzzling her neck. Picking up the pace, he tucked her tight against him, taking her body like she was meant for him and they were meant for this. With a shiver, he collapsed.