Clem crept into the bathroom, knowing full well she was overreacting. The shower had only been on for a few minutes, but she wanted to make sure Jake hadn’t passed out or worse after getting hit by a red creamer flying at thirty miles an hour. The near drowning that followed hadn’t exactly been fun to witness either. Jake swore he was fine, in spite of the ugly bruise marring his otherwise perfect shoulder, but she wanted to see for herself.

And maybe she just wanted to see him.

Over the last few days he’d torn down her inhibitions, and she’d reacted like a caged tiger finally set free. It was like her libido didn’t understand the laws of physics. No matter how many times they tried to quench the heat between them, her desire for him just burned hotter.

Even the sight of him in the small shower stall with shampoo running down his broad, muscular back spiked her arousal. He was fine, which meant she should probably just creep back out as quietly as she came in. Probably.

She would—just as soon as she managed to tear her eyes away from what could only be described as an ass so perfect, it would make sculptors weep.

“You can stop hiding behind the towels, Clem. I know you’re in here.” Jake turned around and ran his hand through his wet hair.

“I’m just making sure they’re fresh.”

“Look fresh to me.” He turned off the tap and swung the glass door open. From the look in his eye to the hard length of his erection, there was no equivocation in his intention.

She blindly pulled a towel off the rack and thrust it toward him. He took the towel from her outstretched arms, stepping so close he locked her body in against the wall.

“You’re all wet,” she said throatily.

“I’m betting you are, too.”

She felt like one of those dishes at a Greek restaurant that gets set on fire. Utterly combustible. A slow grin spread across his lips, ratcheting her curiosity.

Who was this woman who shamelessly ogled a man while he showered? She didn’t recognize this side of herself, but she’d been having a hell of a time uncovering it. Who knew she could become aroused simply by watching a man run white terrycloth over his chest?

Not just any man. This man.

Jake was the one who’d set her free.

With careful deliberation, he folded the towel and placed it back on the rack, never once taking his eyes off her. He didn’t move or reach for her—just stood still and let her take her fill of his gorgeous body.

Lean muscles covered in droplets of water, a week’s worth of scruff on his jaw, and sex in his eyes.

The purple bruise on his shoulder looked angry and painful, but it was also a reminder of how much he’d done for her this week. He didn’t flinch when she traced the mottled edges, nor when she replaced her fingertip with her mouth. He cupped the back of her head as she worked her way to his neck, running her tongue along his skin.

“I’m sorry about this afternoon,” she mumbled into this throat.

“I got hit by a potato, not a bullet. My pride was the only real victim.”

“Your shoulder says otherwise.”

“I told you I’m fine. You don’t have to feel guilty.”

“I don’t—” She sucked in a breath. “Okay, you’re right. I feel a little guilty.”

“See? It feels good to be honest with yourself.” He reached his hands under her shirt, stroking the undersides of her breasts.

She tilted her head back with a soft moan. “Feels even better when you do that.”

“Then confess all your worries and fears, Clem. I’ll make them all go away. I’ll make you feel so good.”

Her breath hitched. It was just dirty talk, but it felt like more than just fleeting words designed to seduce. It felt real. Only, she couldn’t tell him the one thing she wanted say—that she was afraid about this coming to an end. About never feeling this kind of passion or excitement with anyone else. There was no going back from that kind of confession. “There’s one more scene in Forbidden Sins I could use a little inspiration for.”

He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Not tonight.”

“No?”

He shook his head. “No games. Just you and me.”

He led her to the bedroom and stripped off her clothes with the kind of teasing slowness that made her skin break out in goose bumps. He walked her to the edge of the bed and nudged her down until she was resting on her back, then went to his knees. He cupped her left heel and raised her foot.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking my time.” He kissed her ankle, gliding his lips up the side of her calf. A shiver rolled through her spine when he reached her knee, zeroing in on the spot that was simultaneously ticklish and erotic.

She dug her fingers into the bedspread as he worked his way up her thigh, nudging her legs farther apart to make room for his broad shoulders. But he didn’t give her the relief she craved, instead pulling back just before he reached the top of her leg to start all over again on the other side.

Her rapid, uncontrolled intakes of breath made it hard to lie still as he worshipped her limbs. His hands ran up and down her legs with just enough pressure to sting her skin—a sharp contrast to the softness of his mouth. It was the sweetest kind of torture she’d ever experienced.

“I can’t get enough of you.” He set his hands on her hips and slid his tongue through her folds. The damp strands of his hair seemed to sizzle against her skin. Her back arched from the delicious rush of pleasure, but he held her down with his strong hands, licking her with agonizing deliberation. Tasting her. Tormenting her.

She came so quickly, there was no warning. Just an explosion of relief.

When the world stopped spinning around her, she reached for him. He caught her hands with his, interlacing their fingers and locking her arms at her sides. “Not done yet.”

He nuzzled her hipbone, resuming his trail of kisses and exploring her body like a treasure map. He kissed each rib bone before reaching the tender, erogenous underside of her breast. He swung her arms above her head like unfurling angel wings, keeping her fingers entwined with his, and teased her skin with his warm breath. He tightened his lock on her hands and sucked her nipple, making her cry out.

She loved the way he could make her scream just by playing with her breasts, but he didn’t linger there. He moved on to her neck, her ear, her cheek, leaving no inch of skin untouched. When he finally brushed his lips against hers, the sensuality nearly destroyed her. His tongue delved into her mouth, caressing hers like this was their own secret language. She’d never been kissed this way before. Never been so thoroughly torn apart by a man’s touch, and he hadn’t even penetrated her yet.

She poured all her need and desire into the kiss, lifting her pelvis to meet his steel-hard erection. He groaned against her mouth, but didn’t break the kiss. She circled her hips, tormenting him the only way she could from beneath the cage of his body.

He released her mouth and hands, breathing heavy. “You’re playing dirty.”

“Learned from the best.”

The slow, sexy smile that spread across his face would have burned her panties off if she weren’t already naked. “Funny thing is you’re making me question everything I thought I knew.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You undo me, Clem.”

She let her next question die on her lips when he reached for a condom from the nightstand. She wanted to live this moment as viscerally as possible, not analyze it to death.

He rolled the condom down his length and slid inside her, capturing her lips in the same instant. It was just sex, but it felt like more. Like they were connecting on some primal level. Every thrust brought them together in a way she couldn’t explain, but could feel deep in the marrow of her bones. He was ruining her. Destroying her. And even knowing this would only lead to heartbreak and pain, she would choose him all over again.

She clung to him as the pressure built deep inside her, wrapping her legs around his waist like she could keep him there forever. He kissed her and filled her until she lost herself in him. He’d brought her to the edge so many times this week that her anticipation heightened her senses until every little touch felt electrically charged.

He brushed her hair off her face and pressed his lips to her ear. “Come for me, baby. Don’t hold back.”

Her orgasm ripped through her, obeying his command. Only the press of his lips against hers anchored her against the euphoric weightlessness. He shuddered, tightening his grip in her hair before collapsing on top of her.

After a few minutes, he rolled off her, but kept his legs entwined with hers. “What are you thinking?”

She forced herself to smile. Over the past week, she’d felt so much bolder than she ever had before. She’d asked for what she wanted. Demanded it, even. And it worked. Her family was listening to her for the first time in her life and she had the man of her dreams in her bed. But she couldn’t bring herself to say the one thing to Jake that she really wanted to. He’d told her this was all there was, and she wasn’t going to ruin everything by crying over something she couldn’t have. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”