She gazes out at the tiny lights that make up the LA skyline, watching with rapt attention. Her lips pull a little at the edges as if she wants to smile but can’t bring herself to do it. Normally I enjoy watching the city lights, too. Lines of red and white paint the landscape with bumper to bumper traffic. There’s beauty in the orchestrated chaos at this distance, but tonight my eyes can’t be pulled from the woman before me. For once there’s no one around to judge how I drink her in.

I’m pissed as hell about the shiner she’s sporting, her cheek still red and angry from where he hurt her. Fucking Coy. I’m not a fighter. I’m not sure I could even take him. But seeing Jess like this ignites an anger inside that will surely explode when I see his fucking face. But as livid as I am, I made a promise to Jess. Tonight isn’t about me. It’s about helping her forget. If I do my job right, hopefully she’ll forget him for good.

Her soft voice cuts through our silence. “Do you ever feel like no one would notice if you just disappeared? That maybe it’d be better if you did?” With her gaze transfixed at the skyline, my gut instantly clenches with caution. I want her—no, I need her to look at me. Her eyes always give her away, their depths knowing much more than they should.

“Jess.”

She doesn’t waver from staring out into the night.

“Never mind, that was stupid.” She takes another sip of Jameson and her shoulders shake with laughter. “Of course, you never feel that way. Thousands of people take notice when you have a cold.”

“Jess.”

“Just forget I said that, okay?” Her words are light but her tone is pleading.

I wait, because I need her to see me just as I am when I speak my next words. I need the gravity of them to hit her straight in the heart. Her chin finally turns and as soon as her gaze lifts to mine I empty the truth in my answer. “I would. I would care if you weren’t here anymore. I would care a lot.” I hold her gaze as long as I can. Until the pain in my heart burns, because as much as I want her, she’s not mine. When I finally look away, my eyes find the lights in the distance, a surprising calm, and before I can help it, more truth slips through my mouth. “Probably more than I should.”

“Sean.” Her voice is lit with that familiar kindness I’ve grown to love, but there’s something else there I haven’t heard. Or maybe it’s just my own wishful hopes, but I swear I can feel her desire in the way she said my name.

My eyes leave the skyline to meet hers, and in them there’s no innocence. She’s all woman, and I’d love to see her drop her guard even more. “Tell me you care, too.”

“You know I do,” she says in a rush, and her lashes flutter shut.

My chin dips and I lean close, so close that her breath fans against my cheek. My lips find the shell of her ear. “I won’t . . .” As much as I know I could coax her into this, I have to hear her consent. I don’t know where she stands with Coy. Right now, I can’t even find it in me to care. With Jess I toss all my rules out the window. When it comes to her I’ll do anything, as long as it’s what she wants. “We can stop, if you want.”

She tilts her head and my cheek brushes hers. “I don’t want that.” Her lips graze my earlobe and skirt along my jawline. “I want you.” Her lips finally meet mine. Moving tenderly at first, then kissing with purpose as I open my mouth. Our lips move together in a dance more fluid than the Jameson. She’s sweeter than in my dreams. Fuck. She is my dream come to life.

My hands find their way onto her body. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, it’s as if I can’t decide where to go first. Hips, waist, back, arms, breasts, hair—my fingers brush against the softness of her skin.

She scoots down the lounge chair and I support her back until she’s fully reclined against the cushion. My body settles between her thighs and I’m careful not to crush her with my weight. Her hands run up and down my chest, stroking both my skin and ego as she holds me close.

My lips leave her mouth to explore what else she likes. Kissing along her cheek, I brush my tongue along her earlobe. She exhales a soft moan, digs her fingers into my scalp and pulls my lips back to hers. Fuck. I could kiss her forever. No shit. If this is as far as things go, I’ll be a happy man. Slowing my movements, I try to bring our kiss back to something more PG rated. I don’t want her to assume I’m only into her if it includes sex.

“More.” Her hands run down my back and dip inside the waistband of my shorts. “I want you, Sean.”

Screw being happy. She’s about to blow my mind and rock my world. Who am I to not give Jess what she wants?

It’s not easy leaving her lips, but my destination has me rock hard and on a mission—that being to make her come first, and several times more before the night is over. I hitch up her shirt, and she shivers in response. “This okay?”

She nods, watching me as I raise it high enough that my lips move across her belly, and ultimately find their way between her breasts. Every touch is purposeful and unhurried. It’s not only about the buildup, but also my desire to make this last as long as possible. There’s an unexplainable need to burn this moment into my memory, and the fact she doesn’t rush me makes me wonder whether she feels the same.

“This needs to come off.” I tug at the shirt and bra I have bunched up over her ample breasts and take one nipple into my mouth to suck, then flick with my thumb until it’s a hard point before moving to the next.

“I don’t know,” she whispers before letting loose a moan. “This seems to be working just fine.”

I stop the assault on her breasts, a grin pulling at my lips. “I am a resourceful man.”

“Yeah?” She quirks her brow. “Prove it.”

“Fuck.” The word rushes from my mouth and causes her to giggle. I love this side to her. Carefree. Full of delight. Sure, it’s probably aided by the liquor, but still, it’s a side I’ve never seen.

Before she can laugh again I slide down her body, my face between her legs, and hook my fingers into her shorts and panties to tug them down her legs. As each inch of skin is exposed, I wish we were doing this inside where I’d have more than the stars above to illuminate her perfect body.

“You’re beautiful.” I glance up and hold her stare as I drop a kiss to her center. Her most intimate parts are already slick with arousal. She pants and I can feel another shiver work over her body as her skin prickles with gooseflesh.

She groans as I lick and suck her clit, but when she squeezes her eyes shut and pushes her thighs together, I stop until I gain her attention.

“Sean?”

“Watch me, okay? I want you to watch.”

“Fuck . . .” This time she drags out the word, and from those lips that never curse—at least not until tonight. The sound invokes a visceral reaction, and it’s all I can do to not shuck my pants and push inside her. But I don’t. No, much the way she draws the word out, I want to do the same with her pleasure until she’s riding the high.

This time when I go down on Jess, I part her legs and hold her open with one arm. With my free hand I run a finger between her slick folds, working inside before I add another. I match the strokes of my hand to the movements of my tongue. Her moans of need fill my ears and demand more.

With each passing second her body becomes more rigid and her pants echo in the night. She reaches for me, holding my head at her center as if I would even attempt to pull away. She chants my name, a whisper on her lips, and fuck if that’s not enough for the beast inside to roar with delight.

I own her pleasure. It becomes my obsession, if only for this moment in time. My own release isn’t even at the forefront of my mind. Everything I do—every kiss, stroke, and lick is for her orgasm. Her body arches, but I hold her hips down and coax her even more until she’s flying, falling apart at my mouth.

I’ve imagined this very experience so many times, but nothing compares to the real life version of watching Jess come. Her release is a taste I’ll never have enough of. As with anything she does, I’m utterly and pathetically addicted.

“Sean?” she says, and it’s a question. As if she doesn’t understand how much power she holds. How much I’ve always wanted to share this with her.

I crawl over her body, her skin warm against mine, and kiss her lips. I kiss her as if she’s mine always. I kiss her with all the hopes and fears I have for when this night ends. I kiss her as if she’s the most precious woman to ever share my world, because she is.

A breeze comes and she shivers again, despite how my body covers most of hers. I pull away to watch her reaction at my next words. “Was that okay?” It’s a serious question. I want to make sure it was good for her in every way.

She snaps her eyelids shut and I swear if we had more light I’d find a blush on her cheeks. “I think you know it was more than okay.” She opens her eyes and this time her lips twist into a sly smile as her hand reaches between our bodies to palm my erection.

“If you want to stop . . .” I have to exhale slowly to gain control of my thoughts. Her hand on my cock, even over the material of my shorts, is enough to make me want to come. “Or kiss. I’m good with that. I’m good with anything you want to share with me.” The words tumble out in a rush and she stills her hand.

“Oh, okay.” Even though she’s still beneath me, she tries to slide away, jerking her shirt and bra back over her breasts. “If you don’t want to . . .” She turns her chin so I can’t meet her gaze.

“Hey, I want you. Fucking hell, do I want you.” I groan and drop my forehead so it touches hers. “Don’t pull away. I just want to make sure you want more, too. If you’re not ready, I can wait. I will wait.”

“I don’t want to wait.” Her tone is determined. Resolute. She brushes her hand along my jaw until her fingers slide into my hair. A simple gesture but one full of such tenderness and sincerity I’ll surely do whatever this woman wants for all of time.

“Then let’s go inside.” My lips can’t help but find hers again. “I want you in my bed. I want to see you, Jess. All of you, when you come.” We also need protection and I don’t want to leave her naked and outside while I run upstairs to get a condom.

“A little sure of yourself, aren’t you?” Her lips part in a smile full of challenge.

A chuckle escapes my mouth and I push off the lounge chair so I can stand. “How’s that?” I ask and retrieve her shorts and panties.

“I came once. That’s enough. Now it’s your turn.” She grins but I don’t like the sound of her words. As if she truly believes this is how making love works.

“Once for you is not nearly enough.” I reach out my hand until hers is in it, and tug her to her feet. In my arms, I kiss her again. “You can keep track if you’d like, but I won’t.” My words leave her without a response so I take that as a sign she understands. My pleasure isn’t only about getting off. It’s about watching her unfold at my touch. It’s about the vulnerability we share together and her being comfortable enough to let go and trust that I’ve got her.