“Cassie.” The sound of someone calling my name tickles my mind, drawing me from my dream and toward wakefulness.

Something brushes against my breast, kneading the soft, sensitive flesh. I arch my back, thrusting myself more deeply against the hand that curves around the sensitive flesh. A thumb sweeps back and forth across the peak, the delicious friction drawing a guttural moan from me.

“Like that, do you?” The familiar and welcome sound of Ronan’s voice drags me from the last tattered remainder of my dreams, tugging me from sleep and into full arousal.

“Mmm,” I purr and wind my arms around his neck, pulling his head down in a kiss that leaves both of us panting.

I open my eyes and find myself staring up at a stringy canopy. Behind the gently swaying fronds, stars surround a half moon. I take a deep breath that smells like lake and crushed grass.

Confused, I roll my head to one side and spot a mud splattered tire that’s attached to a dark blue Silverado pickup truck. The truck triggers a surge of memories.

I’m lying outside because I can’t keep my hands off Ronan.

As if reading my mind, Ronan’s massive, faintly callused hand cups the side of my face, turning it until our eyes meet.

“Don’t know what it is about you, but you’ve gotten under my skin.” Ronan’s breath fans across my cheek as his free hand roams my body, his fingers expertly finding a dozen different pleasure points and igniting them. “It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, who I’m with, I can’t get you out of my mind. You’ve turned me into a junkie and you’re my drug of choice.”

He punctuates his words with little kisses.

My heart slams against my ribs and sternum, the vibrations from each blow seeming to go all the way to my toes. The pounding is triggered as much by his words as his touch.

Until this moment, I didn’t realize that I’m not the only one who doesn’t understand what’s happening between us. Each time he spoke about wanting me, about wanting to get to know me, I automatically assumed that it was nothing more than some sort of long con. It didn’t occur to me that he could possibly be interested in me.

Until he mentioned addiction. That I understand. It’s what I’ve felt since I dragged him into my hotel room our first night together. The more I’m around him, the more I seem to crave him.

I thought it would go away, but I’m slowly beginning to realize just how wrong I am. The more time I spend with Ronan, the more desperately I need him.

Whatever this thing is between us, I’m beginning to understand that it goes much deeper and is far more magnetic than mere physical attraction.

I run my hands up and down his back, loving the way his muscles ripple and bunch beneath my touch as his own hands explore my body, until all rational thought flees. Until the only thing that matters is the hot surge of sensations swirling and racing through my blood.

Ronan’s eyes sparkle in the dim moonlight streaming through the weeping willow tree. They rake over me and the corners of his mouth lift as he takes in the tiny bits of grass clinging to the side of my breast.

“Fetching,” he mutters. “But I can think of something that will look even better.” In one economical move, he swipes his hand over my breast, sweeping the grass off my skin before giving my nipple a playful tweak.

I lick my lips as he rummages in his wallet and palms a small foil packet.

Uncontained fire burns in his eyes as he stares down at me. “Now, where were we?”

“I think I remember.” I reach up and curl my hands around his shoulders, pulling him forward and down on top of me.

Laughing, he kisses the side of my neck. “It’s starting to come back to me.”

His mouth teases the pulse hammering below my jaw, driving me wild, as his hands slide along my body, stroking and caressing, before slipping between my hot, aching pussy. His long, clever fingers pierce me. His thumb circles my clit.

My teeth find his shoulder and I bite down hard, muffling my scream as his expert touch triggers a frenzied orgasm.

“God,” I gasp, as the last wave of pleasure rolls through me.

“Not quite,” Ronan contradicts. His fingers, still buried deep within me, stroke my inner walls, causing my legs to shake and bright spots of color to dance before my eyes. “But the next best thing.”

“You. Are. A. Conceited ass,” I gasp.

“I prefer being called God,” Ronan says, his words making me laugh even as my body slides closer to climaxing.

Ronan shifts and takes the tip of my sensitive breast in his mouth. His teeth suck at the pebbled flesh as his stubble scrapes the skin and his fingers continue to torment my pussy. My inner walls clamp down on his fingers. Tension builds within me. His hand and mouth are amazing, but I want more.

“I can’t take much more,” I groan. My fingers tangle into his hair. “I need to feel you inside of me. Right now.”

Ronan uses his teeth to tear into the foil packet and unrolls the condom over himself, protecting both of us from far-reaching consequences neither of us is ready for. He moves between my raised thighs.

His thumb brushes back and forth across my clit, causing a fresh surge of moisture to my sex as the head of his cock probes my entrance, stretching the lips wide as he slowly drives into me.

My nails bite into his shoulders as I groan my pleasure. Nothing I’ve ever experienced matches the sheer pleasure of feeling Ronan within me.

Ronan kisses me hard, groaning into my mouth as his hips piston back and forth. I wind my legs around his waist, hooking my ankles together, holding him tightly to me.

His hand keeps working my clit, driving the little bundle of nerves insane with his touch.

Stars explode behind my eyelids.

“God, Ronan,” I scream his name. “Oh, God, yes.”

The first wave of my orgasm crashes into me. Hitting with so much power it takes my breath away. Before Ronan, I hadn’t realized how powerful a good orgasm can be.

Ronan’s grunts fill my ears. His hand moves from my clit to my thigh, shifting it a few inches higher, changing his angle. The new position causes him to brush against a new set of nerves, which triggers another rush of heart-pounding adrenaline surging through my blood.

“I can’t take much more,” I scream.

“It’s okay, baby,” Ronan whispers against my lips. “Just let go.”

That’s all I need to hear.

The hot pressure that’s been building in my lower belly since Ronan woke me explodes in a surge of liquid heat that spreads throughout my entire body. Screaming my release, I press my hips against his. My fingers grasp at his shoulder, holding on tight as wave after wave of pleasure rolls through me.

Ronan’s grunts grow louder as his thrusts grow shorter, stronger, and harder. The force of each thrust scoots my shoulders across the grass, but I’m so consumed with my climax, I barely notice.

His final thrust seems to go straight to my core. He roars his pleasure as his body jets his thick seed into the condom.

It takes us several minutes to regain our senses.

Ronan sits up and tugs our jumbled pile of clothing onto his bare lap. He sorts through it, handing mine to me and letting his fall into a pile beside him.

“That wasn’t what I had in mind when I woke you up,” he says. “My plan was to get you up, get you dressed, and get you home before your family sends out a search party.”

“Are you complaining?” I ignore my bra and tug my shirt over my head. I smooth the fabric over my stomach. “Because it seemed like you were having a good time.”

Ronan reaches out and gently strokes a finger along my cheek. I turn my head and kiss the long digit.

“Believe me, baby,” he says, his tone low. “I had the time of my life.”

“Does that mean you’re up for a repeat performance?” I manage to slide my underwear on without standing.

Ronan wads his briefs up in a tight ball and stuffs them into his jean’s pocket. His teeth flash in a wide smile. “Just name the time and place, darlin’.”

“Trust me, I will.” I tug my pants on and reach for my shoes as Ronan stands and shakes out his jeans in preparation for pulling them on. When something on his ass catches my eye. “Hang on a minute.”

Ronan stops moving and shoots me a curious look. “What?”

I make a circling motion with my index finger. “Turn around.”

Brow furrowed, Ronan obeys and turns his back toward me.

“Oh my God.” I stare at the large streak that spans both cheeks. It’s about four inches wide and even in the dim light it looks red and angry. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Huh?” Ronan looks awkwardly over his shoulder and chuckles. “You branded me, baby.”

“I did what?”

“Remember when you pushed me against your car so you could have your way with me?”

“I remember, but I don’t understand how that could have done …” My voice dies away as I think back. My Buick had been sitting in the parking lot, in direct Texas sunlight, for some time. The hood would have been hot enough to fry an egg. Ronan’s jeans and briefs wouldn’t have provided any protection.

“Oh, Ronan. I didn’t think. I’m so sorry.”

Still chuckling, Ronan shakes his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I had a great time.”

“But it must hurt.” Brow furrowed, I reach out and touch the burned skin. Ronan sucks in a breath and his muscles bunch beneath my fingertips but he doesn’t move away from me.

“Each little twinge reminds me of how badly you wanted me.” Ronan turns to face me. His hands grasp my hips, pulling me close to him. “And if I had a choice, I’d burn my ass all over again for you.”