By the time we’re alone in the elevator, I’m not sure which of us is torturing the other.

He tugs at the towel wrapped around my chest. Watches as it hits the floor with a thud.

His eyes trace my body. He does it slowly, like I’m a work of art. Like it’s the first time. Like he’s memorizing every line.

But is that because he needs every ounce of me?

Or because he knows this might be the last time?

No. We have another day and a half until the dinner. There’s no way we’ll make it a day and a half without stripping to nothing.

But then maybe he—

My thoughts dissolve as he brings his lips to mine. His kiss is hard, hungry. Like he’s claiming me. Like he’s desperate for every drop of me.

I try to rise to my tiptoes, but I slip on the slick floor.

There.

My feet find the towel. Still, it’s too slippery. I can’t move. I can’t get closer. Or break our embrace.

I want both. And neither. I want to tell him I love him. And I want to run a million miles away from anything that might hurt.

How can I let myself fall harder?

How can I stop myself?

It’s Ryan.

He’s everything.

The elevator dings. He shifts his hips, releasing me. He bends to scoop my towel and drapes it over his arm.

He steps into the hallway. Turns to me with a smug smile as he unwraps his towel and drapes it over mine.

He’s just as beautiful with soft orange wall paper and fluorescent light surrounding him.

His wet hair sticks to his forehead.

A bead of water drips off his chin. It traces a line down his chest and stomach. Beneath his belly button. Past that soft tuft of hair. All the way to the waistband of his swimsuit.

I swallow hard.

He takes my hand. Leads me to our hotel room. It’s only a few dozen feet, but it feels like a million miles. I need him. I need the world disappearing again. I need to lose myself in my lust.

He stops at the door.

Oh. I have the key.

I slide it into the lock. Watch it flash green. Turn the handle.

I step inside.

He follows.

The door slams shut.

Sunlight streams through the sheer curtains.

We’re alone again. And I feel it. I feel that the world is ours.

I move into the room. Into the wide-open space between the couch and the balcony.

Ryan places his body behind mine, his chest against my back, his crotch against my ass.

His breath warms my ear. “You like being on display, baby?”

“Yes.”

His voice drops to something low and demanding. “Pull the curtains.”

My sex clenches. My feet sink into the carpet as I move to the sliding door. There. I grab the plastic rod and pull it all the way to the right.

The room gets brighter.

The light gets harsher.

It bounces off the glass with a glare.

It casts highlights over Ryan’s hair, shoulders, stomach.

Casts shadows behind him.

It means something, shadows being behind him, but I can’t connect the dots. Not with my brain screaming need Ryan now.

“Come here,” he demands.

It’s three steps to him.

His fingertips skim my hips. He traces a line over my hips, up my side and chest, along my shoulder, up my neck, along my chin.

He catches my lower lip with the pad of his thumb.

Slowly, he slides the digit into my mouth.

My eyelids press together as my lips close around him. I suck the taste of chlorine off his finger. Until it’s just Ryan’s skin.

But it’s not enough.

A thumb isn’t enough.

I need him in my mouth.

My eyelids blink open. Find his. He’s in that same trance of lust, but there’s something else in his expression. This sense of control. Like he knows exactly how to work me.

He’s like this with everything he does—an in-control perfectionist.

And, fuck, he really is good at this.

He drags the fleshy pad of his thumb across my lip. Over my chin. Down my neck and chest.

He takes his time tracing the outline of my triangle top.

His touch is light. His fingers slide along my slick skin with barely any friction.

I’m ready to beg him to touch me properly when he drags his fingertips down my stomach.

He traces the waist of my bikini bottom.

His fingers curl into the straps. They toy with the bow holding the right side together.

Then the left.

Then he’s brushing his fingers against my sex, pressing the wet Lycra against me.

I need it gone.

I need his hands on my skin.

I need him as desperate as I am.

Slowly, he drags his fingertips up my stomach. He traces a triangle to its tip, follows the halter strap.

He tugs the bow undone.

Peels my bikini top from my skin.

His pupils dilate as he brings his hands to my chest.

He toys with my nipples. It’s different than it was in the water. Less smooth. More intense.

He draws circles around my tender buds. It starts soft—I can barely feel it—then gets harder.

Desire pools between my legs. This feels so fucking good, but I need more.

I shimmy out of my bikini bottoms then kick them aside.

I move closer.

My hands skim his hips. I trace the waist of his speedo. Cup him over the swimsuit.

He’s hard. I need that. I need him out of his fucking mind.

His hands curl around my wrists. “Not yet.”

My sigh is a whine. Now. I need him now.

He releases my right wrist. Brings his hand to my breast. Toys with my nipple again and again.

My eyelids press together.

My sex clenches.

Every brush of his fingers winds me up. The tension in my sex builds. It gets higher, deeper, tighter.

My body buzzes with desire.

And all from his hands on my chest.

“Fuck.” I reach for him. Get his chest. Dig my fingers into his firm flesh. “Ryan.”

He moves to my other breast. Teases it just as mercilessly.

Finally, he releases his grip on my wrist.

Both hands go to my chest.

His rolls my nipples between his thumb and index finger. It sends a pang straight to my sex.

He does it harder.

Harder.

“Fuck.” It’s the only word I have. The only way to explain what he does to me.

He toys with me again and again.

Winds me up.

Gets me panting.

Fuck. I’m aching with desire.

“Open your eyes, baby,” he demands.

I do.

He wraps his fingers around my wrist and brings my hand to his cock. I cup him over his swimsuit. Rub the soft, wet fabric against his hard flesh.

His lips part with a groan.

His eyelids press together.

His brow furrows and softens.

Mmm. He looks so fucking good wracked with pleasure.

I need more. But I need to stay in this trance too.

To feel like I’m under his spell.

I rub him over his swimsuit. Watch pleasure spill over his expression.

His eyes blink open.

He stares back at me. Stares into me. Into some part no one else sees.

He brings his palm to my cheek. Runs his thumb along my lower lip.

He pulls his hand back. Rests his thumb on my chin. “On your knees, baby.”

Yes.

My body cries with relief.

I need his pleasure. More than I need mine. More than I need to come.

And I really fucking need to come.

I bring my hands to his hips. Use them for support to lower myself onto my knees.

He leans down to slide his thumb between my lips.

I stare into his eyes as I suck on the digit.

Fuck, he tastes so good. And I’m so close to being exactly where I need to be.

He pulls his thumb from my lips.

His hands go to his swimsuit.

He pushes it from his hips.

The scrap of black fabric falls to his ankles.

He steps out of it, one foot at a time, and kicks it aside.

And there’s Ryan. All of him, hard and ready for me.

Fuck, he’s big this close.

My tongue slides over my lips. I look up at him, begging him with my eyes.

He stares back at me. “Suck me off.”

Fuck. Yes.

My fingers dig into his hips as I lean forward. Brush my lips against his tip.

He shudders from the soft touch.

I do it again. Again. Again.

It feels so fucking good, making him shake. But it’s not enough.

I need more than a tease.

I need him groaning my name as he comes.

I wrap my fingers around his firm flesh. Hold him in place as I bring my lips to his cock.

My tongue slides around his tip. He tastes good. Like chlorine and like Ryan.

I do it again, softer.

Then harder.

His hand knots in my hair.

His groans spur me on.

I look up at him as I take him into my mouth.

Wet waves fall over his piercing blue eyes. But it’s not enough to hide the bliss in his expression.

Right now, he’s wrapped around my finger.

Right now, I’m the only thing he wants.

Feminine power courses through my veins. He’s at my mercy. I’m still at his mercy, but I don’t care.

It feels so fucking good.

I suck on his tip until I can only taste Ryan.

Then I take him deeper.

Deeper.

His palm presses against the back of my head. He pushes me farther. To the brink of what I can take.

I swallow to relax my throat.

Take him as deep as I can. Wrap my fingers around the base of his cock so I have all of him.

Slowly, I pull back.

Then I do it again.

Again.

Again.

My eyelids press together as he nudges me with his palm. I surrender to his guidance, taking him deeper then pulling back to suck on his tip, then doing it again.

His free hand goes to my breast. He toys with my nipple as I suck on him.

My sex clenches.

Desire courses through my body.

I feel so good I can barely move.

But I need this. Need him.

I move faster.

Suck harder.

Flick my tongue against his tip.

He lets out a low groan.

There. That’s it. I flick my tongue against him again. Softer. Longer. Harder. Shorter.

He tugs at my hair.

I pull back to groan. “Do that again.” I wrap my lips around him. Savor the taste of him.

He tugs at my hair as I flick my tongue against him.

I do it again. Again. Again.

“Fuck, Leigh.” His breath hitches.

His thighs shake.

He tugs harder.

He’s almost there.

I need him there.

I swirl my tongue around his tip. Watch his eyes fill with ecstasy.

His palm nudges against the back of my head.

He stares down at me, asking for permission.

I nod. Groan a yes into his flesh.

His other hand goes to my head.

He tugs at my hair as he holds me in place.

His hips shift as he thrusts into my mouth.

I relax my throat as he rocks into me again and again.

He goes faster. Harder. Deeper.

I swallow so I don’t gag.

I stare up at him.

Watch his eyelids press together, his brow soften, his teeth sink into his lip.

There.

“Fuck, Leigh.” He tugs at my hair, pulling me backward.

His cock pulses.

His spills over my chest as he comes.

His eyelids blink open.

He stares at me like I’m heaven sent.

Like I’m everything he wants.

The only thing he wants.