Thad kissed her shoulder, and Karly yanked at the top button of his jeans.

She wanted him naked, fast.

He skimmed out of his pants. She threw off her shirt. The bra came next, then socks. She molded her body to his, trying to cling to his skin like plastic wrap. Tight. Perfectly sealed.

Making him lose control.

Making her mind stop thinking about all the reasons she shouldn’t be doing this.

When he slid her cotton hipsters to the floor, pure joy surged through her limbs, and fought back the plague of doubt.

He made the years of resentment and loneliness melt away, and she tried desperately not to worry if the feeling would last, or if she’d regret being with him in the morning.

His muscles bunched when he picked her up to place her in the middle of the bed, and then crawled onto the bed slowly.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, his voice rough. His need clear.

She closed her eyes, beating back her indecision. “I’m sure,” she said, with confidence she didn’t quite feel.

Her heart began to churn with raw emotion while he kissed her belly. His glorious, warm, muscular mass made her female parts eager for more. He nuzzled her throat, working his way across to her mouth, then back down to her breasts.

“You are so beautiful.”

Joy crowded out any other feeling. “So are you.” She ran her hand down his side, sliding over the ridges of his scars.

She arched to meet him. He cupped her bottom to pull her core against the most mouthwatering erection, then he kissed her.

“I need you, Karly.” She couldn’t mistake the urgency in his voice.

“I need you, too,” she echoed, this time believing the words. “Make love to me.”

Twining her arms around his neck, she made her point by pressing her mouth against his, pressing hard, with a little bit of sloppy.

“I’m taking my time. The first time was a little rushed.”

She bit his cheek. “No you’re not. I want you now. Right now.” Before I change my mind. She kissed him hard, wild, releasing the sexiest, most erotic sounds from him she’d ever heard. Her breath came in short bursts.

“Karly,” he whispered and buried his fingers in her hair. “I want you. I want this.”

Thad ignored her commands. Apparently more interested in ticking items off his own agenda, he slipped his fingers between her thighs. Her core burned, and she wiggled and pressed harder against his fingers. He licked and kissed. Every tiny caress magnified the sensations cascading throughout her entire core. He was hot. She wanted more.

“Thad…please.”

He shifted, pinning her to the bed, and rolled on a condom.

“Hurry!”

She shivered, needing his warmth to wrap her in ecstasy. He pressed his mouth to her throat while one of his hands caressed her nipple. She cupped his face until their eyes met. “Now, Lopez.”

There was no air between them as he slid a thigh between hers.

“Now?” He murmured the words before kissing her hard, demanding her attention. And as soon as she returned his kiss, he pushed into her. Mutual gasps of pleasure punctuated their joining. She was ready, but he eased her back down, only to build her up again.

What was it about this man, who could make her want things she’d never believed possible? She closed her eyes to savor every sensation, but then she wanted to watch him. Connect. See the moonlight dance across his skin. Let his body tell her things he never could say aloud.

He pushed in, deeper. Every thrust coming harder, faster. “Thad. I know you don’t like people telling you what to do,” she gasped for air. “But if you don’t hurry up…”

“You’ll what?” His breath was hot and warmed her neck.

She wanted more. “You’ll regret it,” she declared, with clear intent.

“Yes, ma’am. I aim to please.” His eyes turned dark, and he thrust hard. “Is this what you want?” He pulled out almost all the way and thrust again.

“Heck, yeah.”

The ride was exquisite. She went up and up and up. A dozen more thrusts, and she exploded like pop on a hot day, thoroughly, completely—a sugary sweet mess.

He arched back, his need taking over. A minute later he jerked his release on a groan, then he went limp and collapsed.

Her chest heaved while she struggled to catch her breath. He slid his hand under the nape of her neck and gently lifted her mouth to his.

She expected him to roll off and braced for his absence, but he remained. A soft rumble started in his belly, then turned into a full-fledged laugh, and she shoved his shoulder.

“What’s so funny?” She turned his head to better see his expression.

He held his weight on his elbows before he tucked and rolled to the side, resting a leg over her hip, keeping their bodies connected. Her forehead rested on his chest. Her breath brushed his skin, followed by goose bumps. He buried his face in her hair.

“That was…that was awesome.”

Awesome didn’t describe the feeling, but there wasn’t another word that was better. She nudged him with her elbow. “Can we do that again?” she murmured. “Only, this time we do it at my pace.”

“Are you trying to kill me?” His teeth sank lightly into her shoulder.

Shifting upward, she kissed his ear, then the little spot under his jaw. He hissed his excitement.

“Two can play that game.” He returned the gesture by pushing away, flicking his tongue across her nipple, then blowing.

“You’ve learned a thing or two.”

“Hold on, let me get rid of this.” He pulled a tissue from the box on the dresser and disposed of condom number one. “Give me a minute, and I’ll show you a few more tricks.”

“No.” She giggled at his reaction and pushed him onto his back, riding him to the top.

He tried to touch her, but she forced his hands above his head. She kissed and nibbled him again even harder than the last time. “My turn.”

She took her time licking, teasing, her moves bolder and bolder, until he had time to recover. When he stiffened again, satisfaction zipped up and out, stimulating every cell. She reached for another condom and rolled the rubber sheath in place.

She shifted, putting her hands on his chest and slowly lowering onto him. When she rose onto her knees, he thrust his hips up just as she pressed her weight back down. His hands circled her waist while her core tightened, and she rose again. She threw her head back, relishing the dreamy, giddy experience of making love with the man she loved. When she lifted, he gave her a hard thrust, forcing her to gasp his name. Her thighs tightened against his sides. He held on while she rode him hard, their breaths panting in sync, making everything else in his world disappear.

She wanted to mark him.

No matter what happened between them, she wanted him to remember this night—this one night, never to be repeated—because the shields she’d put in place to protect him, to protect his heart, were weakening. She needed to be strong enough to walk away.

She threw her head back and screamed into the night, as he pooled his energy to give her what she wanted and thrust into her core, once, twice, before her inner muscles began to spasm and she collapsed onto his chest.

She lay still, listening to his breathing and the beat of his heart slowly dial back to a normal rhythm. His hands slowly moved up and down her back.

She savored the smell of his sex musk. Gently, he rolled her to his side, efficiently disposing the condom, then framing her body with his arms, chest, and legs. He hauled the blanket up from the foot of the bed, tucking her in while her heartbeat slowed.

When his breathing evened, and his body grew heavy, she kissed his chest and whispered, “I love you, Thad.”

The idea wrapped around her like a summer’s breeze. She loved him. She always would, but it didn’t mean they could ever be together, in the real sense. He’d hate her when he discovered what happened.

She just wanted a bit more time before she had to let him go.