“Night,” I say to Valerie and the others as they all head down the hall to their respective rooms. I follow Brax inside our bedroom, close the door behind me and press my back to it, all the while trying to keep my eyes off his rock-hard body as he confidently saunters to the bed like he owns the place.

Put a shirt on already.

He reaches into his duffle bag and pulls out a dry shirt. I stare at his beautiful hard body, mesmerized as he shrugs into the soft cotton, then, lacking any sort of modesty, reaches for the band on his board shorts.

“What are you doing?” I ask quickly, my voice practically bordering on hysteria.

He pauses, and casts a quick glance my way. “Changing. What does it look like?”

What the hell? I spin around and face the door to give him a measure of privacy. Truthfully, he seems pissed off about something, but I have no idea why or what happened to put him in a shitty mood.

“Couldn’t you have at least waited until I wasn’t looking?” I shoot back.

“Hey, I’m your boyfriend.” He scoffs, an annoyed little sound, and this time I’m certain he’s upset about something. “At some point we should see each other naked, don’t you think?” he says.

“No, I don’t.”

The rustle of his clothes reaches my ears as he dresses, and I try not to visualize him naked, those big hands of his on my body as we roll around on the bed.

What the hell, Eliza?

“I’m decent,” he says, and I turn back around to find him digging in his bag again. His jaw is clenched tight, the muscles rippling as he tosses half the contents on the bed in search of God knows what.

“Is everything okay? Did I do something to piss you off?”

He takes a huge breath, lets it out slowly, then pinches the bridge of his nose and his taut body relaxes slightly. “No, it’s not you.”

“Then who. Did my boss say something to upset you?”

Deep line cut into his forehead as he frowns. “No…I’m just…I’m just tired is all.”

He digs back in his bag again, and I take that moment to look him over, let my gaze rake over his shirt and jeans. “Is that what you’re wearing to bed?”

“Yeah. Why?”

I fold my arms, the air conditioning chilling my body despite the bathing suit cover-up I’m wearing. “Jeans don’t seem like they’d be very comfortable to sleep in.”

He arches a brow, the corners of his mouth turning up in that familiar cocky grin, and while I always hated him teasing me, I prefer this mood to his last. “I can take them off if you want.”

“Very funny.”

“I was being totally serious,” he says, the teasing edge gone from his voice. He gives a shoulder roll. “I just thought you’d be more comfortable being in this bedroom with me if I were fully dressed.”

My insides soften. Sometimes he can be so damn sweet and thoughtful it makes me forget why I don’t like him. Wait, this is Brax, the guy who tortured me relentlessly and deserves to be paid back.

“You’re right. Good call,” I say.

He turns his back to me, showcasing a tight ass in a pair of low riding jeans. Jesus. I link my fingers together as they itch to sculpt his perfect body. Lord, when I came out of the bathroom earlier tonight, and saw him sitting on the bed in nothing but his board shorts, I nearly swallowed my tongue. When we were teens, I’d seen him shirtless of course. But holy hell, over the years his muscles had lengthened and thickened, filled out in all the right places.

He pulls a toothbrush and tube of paste from his bag, finally finding what he was looking for, then stuffs all the clothes back inside. He turns my way and sets his bag on the nearby chair. I let my gaze drop, sliding from a well-defined six pack to take in the very impressive bulge behind his zipper.

Cripes, stop looking at his crotch already.

“Everything okay, Eliza?” he asks, and my gaze jerks back up to his. Dammit, I hope he doesn’t think I was checking him out and get the wrong idea…or the right idea.

Good God.

“Ah…just tired, too. But I’m going to jump in the shower, rinse the chlorine off,” I say quickly, a desperate ploy to get away from him.

“Okay.”

I hurry to the bathroom, turn on the spray and lean against the edge of the sink.

What are you doing, Eliza?

I should not be checking out my brother’s best friend when he’s here to help me get another guy—no matter how hot he is. I take two deep breaths to pull myself together, then climb into the hot spray. As I grab the soap and lather, I force my thoughts to Jason. I pinch my eyes shut and berate myself for the stupid, insipid way I acted in front of him when he joined us in the pool and focused those blue eyes of his on solely me, like he was finally seeing a different side to the girl he’d always overlooked.

I never thought my plan would have worked so fast. It’s great that it did, but who would have thought that when I finally got his attention I’d come across as a babbling idiot, laughing at every little thing he said. I don’t have a lot of experience with guys, but I have had couple of dates in the past. I should know how to make conversation for God’s sake, and not act like a silly schoolgirl with a crush on the quarterback.

Dammit, I need to come across as more put together, more seasoned with the opposite sex. Speaking of sex. Other than that one messy time back in my freshman year, I’m pretty inexperienced in that area, too.

I groan out loud as the water spills over my nipples. That horrible night back in my first year of college was one I’m not in a hurry to repeat. Just then, another thought hits like a punch to the gut. What if I ended up in bed with Jason? Would I come across as suave and experienced, or will I turn into that same inexperienced girl who has no idea what she’s really doing. I seriously don’t want to make a fool of myself.

Maybe I should take Valerie’s advice, and get a little hands on experience with Brax.

As that last thought bounces around in my head, I finish washing, quickly shampoo and rinse my hair, then turn off the spray. I slide the glass door open and listen for signs of Braxton in the other room. I grab a big fluffy towel from the shelf and wrap it around me. Shoot, in my hurry to get away from Brax, I forgot to bring my pajamas. I walk to the door, and steam escapes to the bedroom as I inch it open to find Brax standing in front of the TV with a remote control in his hand. Since he went all alpha on me and demanded he carry my bag, he’d already seen the contents—including my lacy nightie—so I’d rather him root through it and bring me my pajamas then walk out there in a towel and give him the wrong idea…or the right idea.

Oh, God.

“Brax,” I say over the hum of the soccer game on TV.

He lowers the volume. “Yeah?”

“Can you bring me my pajamas?” I point to my overnight bag. “I forgot to bring them in with me.”

“Yeah, sure.”

I stand there as the hiss of the zipper fills the silence. A second later, he pushes my clothes into my hand. “Thanks,” I say and shut the door, locking it behind me. But the second I do, I realize he’d given me my sexy black lace nightie. Son. Of. A Bitch.

Wait!

Why would he do that?

Oh, because this is Brax being Brax. He’s messing with me. Playing with me. Being that jerk from my childhood. Heck, maybe I should put it on, seduce him like Valerie suggested and then kick him to the floor once I’ve gotten his attention. But what if he doesn’t take the bait?

What if he does?

I hold the sexy lace in my hand for a moment longer as my brain runs on hyperdrive. He gave this to me on purpose, but I bet in a million years he doesn’t expect me to put it on and prance around out there in front of him. All the more reason for me to do it.

Have some fun with him. Pay him back. Kick him to the floor.

Better yet, get a little experience.

I gulp. Could I really do that? Would I be a fool not to try?

I suck in air, and before I can overthink things and stop myself, I life my arms and let the little lace number slide down my body. I hang my towel up, and open the door to the bedroom.

Here goes nothing.

I casually step into the room like I walk around in black lace all the time. “Bathroom’s yours,” I say and pull my brush from my bag. I step up to the dresser, curve my back a little and start brushing out my hair. I catch Brax’s reflection in the mirror behind me. He’s standing still, and I’m pretty damn sure he’s not breathing. I hide my smile, and arch my back a little more.

“…bending you to his will. Or over the kitchen counter.”

Heat climbs up my body, turning my cheeks a deeper shade of pink as a strange, almost tortured growl catches in Brax’s throat. My God, I’m getting to him! I’m actually getting to the guy who rejected me, hurt me deeply, when we were teens. I turn, blink innocently at him.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Ah...yes, no…I mean…I…fuck.” Her grabs a fistful of hair and tugs.

I point my comb toward the bathroom. “It’s free.”

“Yeah, right,” he says and take three large steps. He closes the door behind himself, a little harder than necessary, and the sound of running water reaches my ears. A giggle catches in my throat, and I put my hand over my mouth to stop it. I really shouldn’t be doing this, walking around half naked, but holy hell, I actually got a rise out of Brax. Me. Eliza Banks, the girl he tortured relentlessly when we were kids. A little thrill zings through me to know I can do this to my childhood nemesis.

So what are you going to do about it?

I gulp air, because when it comes right down to it I’m not so sure I have the nerve to seduce him—or the know-how. He comes from the bathroom, and his head is lowered as he throws his stuff back into his bag. I dash into the bathroom, brush my teeth and finish getting ready for bed. When I come out, he’s tossing a pillow onto the hard wood floor.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“I’ll take the floor,” he says, looking everywhere and anywhere but at me.

“Brax, I can’t let you do that.” I put my hand on my hip and it lifts my nightie higher on my thighs. Brax’s gaze lifts along with it, slides over my half naked body. My pulse leaps as he explores me with heated eyes. “I’m the one who dragged you in to this, and I’m not about to put you out more by forcing you to sleep on a hard floor. You’ll never get any sleep down there, and you said you were tired.” I grab my pillow and toss it beside his. “I’ll take the floor.”

“I’m not going to allow you to sleep on the floor, Lizard,” he says, his voice a low rough caress, like silk sliding over my nipples. They pucker beneath the lace, and I’m sure one popped free. I don’t dare look and draw attention to my arousal.

Or should I?

“Stop calling me that,” I say, and grab the blanket draped over the bottom of the bed. I bend forward, lay it out on the floor, and once again a tortured growl fills the air. That’s when it suddenly occurs to me that I just presented him with unobstructed view of my bare ass.

“Eliza,” Brax says, his voice deeper than it was moments ago.

“Yeah.”

“What are you doing?”

I stand and face him, and breath leaves my lungs when I see the heat in his eyes. It licks me from head to toe, and burns through my blood. That’s when I realize he wants me as much as I want him. All I have to do is get my nerve up and seduce him.

But what if he laughs again?

What if he doesn’t?

I touch my damp hair, curl it around my finger. “I’m getting ready for bed, what does it look like I’m doing?”

He exhales and spears agitated fingers through is hair. “You’re not sleeping on the floor.”

“You’re not either.”

“Then what are we going to do about this?”

“We could have a staring contest like we did when we were kids,” I suggest.

“You always won those.”

“I’m winning this, too,” I say.

“Why don’t we just share the bed,” he suggests. “We’re adults, after all.”

“Fine, we’ll share the bed then.”

He scrubs his hands over his chin, and I like the scratching sound it makes as he rubs the fine bristles. “We’ll put pillows between us,” he suggests.

“Better yet, I can take the top, you can take the bottom.” Shit what did I just say? “I mean we can sleep head to foot.”

“You want us to sleep in a sixty-nine position?” he asks his voice so low and strained, I can barely hear him.

Sixty-nine. Bodies aligned. Go for it, Eliza.

My knees give a little as I pick our pillow up and toss them onto the bed. I turn the light out with jittery fingers, and slide under the sheets. I swear to God my entire body is vibrating, shaking the bed beneath me. Brax’s clothes rustle as he crawls in beside me, his head at the foot of the bed, our parts aligned.

I shift restlessly, well aware that I’m in bed, in the sixty-nine position, with the hottest guy I ever set eyes on. My heart is racing, my body urging me to say something…do something.

As I lay there, working on my approach, silence ensues for a long time, then Brax breaks it.

“Eliza?”

“Yeah?”

“What were you and Valerie talking about in the pool?”

Oh, shit.

“Nothing,” I say quickly, too quickly.

The sheets move as he sits up and his knee touches my hip. My nipples harden even more and I squeeze my thighs together to ease the hollow ache in between.

“It must have been something. I heard Valerie say something like…use him. Was she talking about me?” Even in a room lit only by the moon I can feel his stare burn into me.

This is your chance, Eliza. Don’t blow it. Or rather, blow it. Oh, God.

I give a nervous laugh. “Oh, she was just…well…she thought since you were pretending to be my boyfriend, I could use you to get a little experience.”

“Experience?”

“It’s…nothing.”

“Experience in bed, you mean?” he asks, holding no punches.

I sit up, settle myself against the headboard and pull my blankets to my chest. “Yes,” I say honestly.

“You haven’t been with many guys, Liza?”

Liza.

Not Eliza, and not Lizard. Just Liza.

He’s never called me that before, and I have to say I like it, especially when it’s coming out all sexy and hoarse like that.

“Ah, that’s none of your business.”

A beat and then, “It’s kind of my business, don’t you think?” His voice is low, challenging.

“How so?”

“I’m here pretending to be your boyfriend. There are things I should know about you.”

“You know enough about me.”

“I don’t know what you taste like,” he says, his breathing changing, becoming faster.

“You kissed me earlier,” I shoot back.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. That’s not where I want my mouth.”

OMFG, is he suggesting what I think he’s suggesting?

“Brax?” I whisper.

“Yeah,” he says. The mattress dips as he shifts position until he’s between my legs. His fingers curl around my ankles, and in one quick tug, I’m flat on my back. Air leaves my lungs in a whoosh and my entire body goes up in a burst of flames as I take in six feet of hard man hovering over me.

“What…what are you doing?” I ask.

“Maybe Valerie is on to something.”

“We don’t even like each other.” What the hell am I saying. I want this! But I’m so goddamn nervous.

“That didn’t stop you from asking me to pretend to be your boyfriend.” He touches my thighs, his big hands widening them, his fingers scorching my skin. Holy cripes, is this really happening?

Oh God, I hope so.

“I’ve not been with many men,” I say quickly.

He grips my thighs harder. “How many?” he asks, a strange kind of possession in his touch.

“One back in my freshman year and it was…awful. I never want to go through that again.”

He leans forward, presses his lips to my stomach, kisses me though the lace. His hot breath is like fire on my flesh. “It won’t be like that with me, Liza. I promise you that.”

A man with confidence. Hallelujah.

“But what if I…disappoint you?”

“Not a fucking chance of that happening,” he assures me. “As soon as my cock gets inside you, I’m going to come. Guaran—fucking—teed.”

“Brax, I…I don’t think…I’m not sure I can…”

“You’re not sure you can come.”

Jesus, this man can read me like a book. “Yeah. I didn’t last time.”

“That’s because you weren’t with me,” he says softly, the warmth in his eyes messing me with my insides in strange ways. “I’m going to take real good care of you. You’re going to come, babe. You’re going to come for me so hard, you’ll be feeling the aftereffects come morning.”

As his words settle into my brain, I take in his body, the hardness of his cock behind his zipper, the almost desperate need on his face, and my nerves begin to settle. His thumb sweeps over my inner thigh, and my body comes alive beneath his gentle caresses, and the needy juncture between my legs clenches, begging me to spread even wider and invite Brax in.

Do it already!

He lifts his head and I can see the outline of his handsome face. “The way I see it is,” he says, his warm, minty breath washing over my face. “I’d be giving you the experience you want, and our intimate familiarity come morning will go a long way in fooling everyone this weekend, don’t you think?”

“Two birds,” I say under my breath. “That’s what Valerie was saying.”

“I like the way she thinks.” The corner of his mouth twitches. “It’s kind of a win/win for you, don’t you think?”

“And for you?”

He touches the lace near my breasts, runs it through is fingers. “Full disclose here, Liza. The second I saw you in this sexy little number, I was a goner. My cock was so hard, I nearly jerked off in the bathroom. It’s still fucking hard, and I want you in the worst way.” He lays over me, and through his jeans, his cock centers on my sex.

“Oh,” I say and writhe, shocked at the long length of him, how good he feels pressed up against me.

He growls. “Yeah, oh.” He brushes his tongue along the edge of the lace, licking the swell of my breast. “I honestly never thought you’d come out with it on.”

“Then why did you give it to me?”

“I wanted to see you in it. You’re fucking gorgeous, Liza.” He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “You know that, right?”

He thinks I’m gorgeous.

His hand leaves my mouth, slides down my body, skimming the outer edge of my breast. I quiver, and a little moan of want catches in my throat.

“I want you, Liza, but I told you before I’d never do anything you didn’t want me to do, or anything that hurt you. This is your choice right now. Say the word and I’ll stop. But you’d better say it soon, because I’m fucking losing it here.”

I wiggle a little more, grind against his hard cock. “What word is it that I should say?”

He goes still, perfect still, like I’d just slapped him across the face. “The word is stop.”

I wrap my legs around his body, and tug him to me. “Then I’ll be sure not to say it,” I whisper, my bold candor shocking me.

I A little gasp sounds in my throat as he captures my hands, and pins them above my head. I can’t breathe, but I don’t care. I love the weight of him pressing me into the mattress like this.

“I need to know you’re sure, Liza. I know what I want, but I need to know what you want.”

My heart wobbles, loving that he’s checking in on me like this. “I want you to fuck me, Brax.”

His nostrils flare, and he wets his bottom lip. “One thing,” he says his voice so deep and serious, it makes me a bit on easy.

“What?”

“When my mouth is on you and my cock is inside your sweet pussy, you think of me, and not him.”

“Yes, Brax. I’ll think of you.”

Like I could possibly think of another when this man is on top of me.

“Good. Eyes open, on me the whole time.” He holds my hands with one of his, and runs his thumb over my bottom lip. “This mouth,” he says. “I’ll do my best not to ruin it with my cock.”

Holy Jesus.

“That’s what I want, Liza. I want my cock in here.” He shifts on my body, puts his hand between my legs. He lightly touches my swollen clit, and our groans mingle. “And I definitely want it in here. I’ll try not to be rough with you. I want to do right by you, but I’m going to fuck you so good, baby, you’re going to still feel me when this weekend is over.”

“Oh, God yes.”

“Good, then we’re on the same page. Now tell me what you want?” He goes back on his knees, settles between my spread legs and looks over my trembling body, his gaze lingering on my heaving breasts, my nipples poking from the lace to be precise. Intense eyes move back to mine. “All you have to do is tell me, and I’ll give it to you.”

His words wrap around me, ease my nerves enough for me to confess all my secret desires. “I want to see,” I say boldly, my gaze dropping to the bulge in his pants.

He angles his head, lust-imbued eyes moving over my face, gauging me. “You want to see my cock, Liza. Is that what you’re asking?”

“Yes,” I say, feeling bolder than I ever had before.

He climbs from my body and I whimper, missing his warmth, his weight. But that whimper turns into a moan of want when he removes his shirt, then pulls his jeans and boxers off and kicks them out of the away. Moonlight slants in and lights up his gorgeous body. I go still, and admire the beautiful display of long lean muscles, his magnificent cock. He takes his girth into his hands and strokes.

I swallow, and reach for him. I can’t even count how many years I’ve fantasized about touching this man.

“You want to touch my cock?”

“Yes,” I manage to get out.

“You want it in that pretty mouth of yours?”

I whimper my reply as I shift and sit on the edge of the bed. He stands back and continues to stroke himself from base to tip, and I swear to god, I’m about to orgasm just watching him.

“Please…”

“You begging for my cock, Liza?”

I nod, and whimper some more. He finally steps up to the bed, and drops his hands to his sides, giving me full access to his gorgeous cock. I take him into my hands, feel the smoothness of his skin. Pre-cum drips from his crown, and I run my thumb over it, massaging it in. His tortured groans encourage me, and I lean down, run my tongue over his slit.

“Fuck,” he growls, and grabs a fistful of my hair. He holds my head as I rock into him, take him deep, until he hits the back of my throat. I choke a bit, a little inexperienced in this area, too. I cup his balls, rub gently as I suck his cock until little hollows form in my cheeks. His groans grow louder, and a thrill races through me. I guess I must be doing something right.

“How could you ever think you’d disappoint me? Jesus, girl, do you have any idea how fucking good you are with that sweet mouth.” I work my mouth over him harder, and his veins fill with blood. “That is so fucking good.” His grip on my hair tightens, and he tries to ease me off him, but I’m not nearly done tasting him. I never thought I’d love pleasuring a man like this. Then again, this isn’t just any man. It’s Brax.

Careful, girl. Don’t go getting the wrong idea here. This is just about sex.

“Liza, stop,” he growls. I glance up at him, and swirl my tongue around his crown, not wanting to miss a drop of his tangy pre-cum. “Jesus fucking Christ, that is hot. But babe, as much as I want your mouth wrapped around me, and as much as I love watching my cock slide between your pretty lips, it’s my turn.”

“I’m not done,” I say, and lick him again.

He cups my chin, and lifts my face until our eyes meet. “Yeah, you are,” he says, the intensity back in his gaze and doing the craziest things to my insides. “I’m taking care of you first, and that’s not up for debate.” My heart wobbles, impressed by his chivalry, and I swallow against the sudden tightness in my throat. “Now get in the middle of the bed, and widen your legs for me. I want to taste you.”

As the alpha in him emerges, takes charge between the sheets, I suck in a shallow breath and obey his commands. I go on my hands and knees, giving him a view of my ass as I crawl to the center of the bed. As I turn over, and position myself, I wonder who the hell I am, and what happened to the self-conscious girl who arrived at this seaside mansion a few hours ago. I don’t know where she is, or how Brax was able to so easily coax me out of my shell, but a few minutes in his arms, I’ve turned into a needy girl with little inhibitions. Perhaps it’s the ravenous way he looks at me, the dirty way he talks to me. Who knew I’d love a dirty talking, take charge, yet chivalrous man in the bedroom so much.

“Is this what you want?” I say, and lay my hand on my stomach. I splay my fingers, and his gaze tracks my movements carefully as I slide my hand lower, let it fall between my open legs. When my hand stills, his gaze slides back up my body.

“Touch yourself for me,” he says, and my body buzzes. “Open that sweet pussy and rub your clit for me.” I gulp, never having done that in front of a guy—heck, I barely touch myself in my own bed—but I’m so far gone, I’m pretty sure he could ask me to do anything, and I would.

I touch my wet lips, and inch them open, then slide my finger over my aching clit. “Oh, yesss…” I hiss and my eyes meet Brax’s.

“You have the prettiest pussy, Liza.” He wets his bottom lip, like he’s preparing his mouth, and my whole body quivers. “That one time, back in freshman year…” he begins. “At least tell me the oral sex was good for you.”

“We didn’t…”

“Oh, fuck.” He tugs his hair. “Didn’t he know you deserve to be worshipped?” The muscles in his jaw clench. “I’d like to punch that douchebag for not doing right by you. Then again, I’m kind of glad he never had his mouth on you.” He reaches out, takes my hand from my pussy and puts it on my stomach.

The bed dips as he climbs on, and positions himself between my spread legs. My body quakes in anticipation, and I close my eyes against the flood of heat.

Oh God, I need his mouth on me. Yesterday.

“Eyes to me,” Braxton commands.

My eyes slide open and when I catch the battle behind his, the tightness in his neck, I wonder what we’re getting ourselves in to.

“I’m with you,” I say, and touch his arm, revel in the way his muscles tense beneath my fingers. He leans over me, tugs my nightie down, and pulls one hard nipple into his mouth, and I grab a fistful of his hair and hold on. His tongue slides, swirls, his teeth nip and tease. My hand goes to my other breast to play with my nipple and touching myself seems to bring out the beast in him. He growls, and sucks harder, drawing my nipple deeper into his mouth, the pull so strong I feel it between my legs. I move under him, lift my hips, buck against him, letting him know in no uncertain terms how desperate I am to feel him inside me.

His mouth leaves my breast and the cool air conditioning in the room rasps over them, the hot cold combination arousing me even more. Brax drops to his stomach, and pushes his hands under my ass. Strong fingers sink into my flesh as he lifts my sex to his mouth, like he’s about to feed himself something he’d been denied for years.

“Brax,” I murmur, as he buries his face between my legs. That first sweet touch of his tongue pulls a moan from the depths of my throat and I claw at the sheets beneath me. Hot and hungry, his deft tongue sears my sensitive clit as he tastes me. “So good,” I whimper, and move shamelessly against his mouth. All thoughts shut down until the only thing driving me is the pleasure between my legs.

He licks from bottom to top, a slow glide that takes me higher and higher. My breathing changes, becomes faster and I go up on my elbows to watch him. He lifts his mouth, his lips wet and swollen from his kisses. Our eyes meet, hold, and something passes between us, something profound, hungry—something I just might not be able to come back from—then he’s once again feasting on me.

His mouth moves, demanding, claiming, eating at me like a man starved. My body quakes, burns from the inside out, the flames reaching new heights as I stand at the cliff, arms spread wide, the world soaring around me. Dizzy, the room spins, but I don’t dare take my eyes from him. I cup my breasts, play with my kiss-swollen nipples.

My mouth opens, but no sounds forms when he dips a finger into me, filling me with his thickness. I rock into him, bang my clit against his devouring mouth. From inside, he runs the tip of his finger over the sensitive bundle of nerves, and the dual assault of mouth and finger pushes me over the edge until nothing exists but sweet sensations.

“Brax,” I cry out, as my sex clenches around his thick finger.

“Yeah, come for me,” he says, the vibrations of his voice rocketing through me and bringing on stronger pulses that make the room close in on me. “Come all over my face.” He closes his eyes like he’s in total agony, and stays between my legs, lapping at me, forcing the last ripple of pleasure from my body, leaving me sated, exhausted, so goddamn full—body and heart—I’m almost giddy. When the tremors finally subside, I want to move, take hold of his cock and put it inside of me, but my muscles are weak, my brain barely able to hold a thought. With shaky fingers, I reach for him, but he’s already on the move, sliding back up my body and closing his mouth over mine.

He kisses me, hard, deep, and when I catch my second breath I cling to him, his mouth like sparks to kindle, my hands move to his back, nails scraping, delirious for so much more from this man. I whimper when he leaves my body, but a second later he’s back between my legs, sliding a condom over his beautiful cock.

“Yesss,” I say and reach for him. He falls over me, and I touch his taut muscles, feel his restraint. He lightly rubs his tip over my opening, slow, steady sweeps to prepare me. He’s taking his time, going slow, trying to make this good for me, even though, from the look on his face, it’s killing him. An invisible band tightens around my heart as he grimaces. This man might have teased me relentlessly when we were young, but the truth is, he’s one of the best guys I know, and when push comes to shove, he’d do anything for me. Heck, he gave up his whole weekend to pretend with me. Only problem is, what we’re doing doesn’t feel like we’re pretending at all. It feels real.

Easy, Eliza.

“Take me, Brax,” I plead, a deep, husky command that brings more heat to his eyes. Perspiration dots his forehead as he positions his crown at my opening, and his breathing is so labored, I wonder if anyone else in the house can hear it. I spread wide for him and he slowly slides into my inviting body, giving me one glorious inch at a time. I move, writhe, cry at the urgent need to have him all the way inside me—now—fucking me, losing all control. Surrendering to the raging hunger bubbling below the surface, one he’s taking great care to control.

I squirm, take pleasure in his length, his girth, every hot hard ridge sliding into me, pushing against my sex walls in breathtaking ways. Never have I felt so gloriously full, so desired before. His mouth is back on mine, kissing with a frenzy that doesn’t match the pace of his probing cock. I whimper, buck, and when he finally seats himself high inside me, it heightens the fever in me, consuming me from the inside out.

He pulls out, a hot slow friction, that blurs my vision. “Harder,” I cry out as he holds back, takes his time with me, easing me into intimacy with some chivalrous need to do right by me—the inexperienced girl who always gets overlooked. I totally appreciate it, but I want him unleashed, I want him wild and uncontrolled.

I want Brax to break under my touch, the same way I’m breaking under his.

I put my legs around his back, and he buries his mouth in the hollow of my neck. I lock my ankles, draw him impossibly deeper, until pleasure bleeds to pain and back again. But I don’t care. If I only have one night with him, I want it all, everything, every single inch of him inside me, breaking me, ruining me. I want Brax to ravage me, not treat me like a doll who can be broken. We rock together, and he lets out a slow, unsteady breath. It falls over my flesh, and burns through me until I’m a quivering mess. His cock grows thicker inside me, blood rushing through his swollen veins.

“I feel you. I feel all of you.”

“Liza,” he murmurs. “You’ve got me right there, baby.”

My heart soars, but I don’t want to think too much about how happy I am to know that I can take this man to the point of no return.

“Come inside me, Brax,” I say, wishing there were no condom separating our flesh. I want his cum in me, I want to feel it drip out of me, a sweet reminder of this night.

“Jesus, I can’t hold on, you feel so good,” he says, and lifts his head.

“I don’t want you to hold on.”

His throat sounds as he swallows, a barrage of emotion, everything from uncertainty to pleasure, all over his face. “Eliza…” I lift my hips as he comes down on me. His eyes focus on mine, and his face contorts slightly, every muscle strung tight. He pushes my damp hair from my face. “How could you ever think you’d disappoint me?” He pulls out, glides back in again, then grinds his pubis against my clit.

“Brax,” I cry out, as my sex flutters. He pumps again, applying more pressure, and my breath stalls as a second orgasm blindsides me, a hot, fiery blaze of need that crashes over me steals the air from the room. Drowning, I grip his shoulders to hang on, claw at his skin in my struggle to keep my head above the surface. My body twitches, spasms, sucks his cock in deeper, and all I can do is go with it, ride the waves, let it take me to a place I’ve never quite been before.

“Holy fuck,” he growls, as I grip his cock hard, heat flooding from my body and dripping down his balls, covering my thighs in a glorious mess of release. He stills high inside me, and throws his head back as he releases. Each glorious pulse pushes on my sex walls, and I squeeze around him, milk every last drop until he’s panting for his next breath. I hold him to me, and he collapses, driving me deeper into the mattress.

I press my lips to his damp flesh, kiss his muscular shoulder, reveling in the quivering of his muscles. We continue to gasp for air in a room deprived of oxygen. Soon enough, our breathing evens out, and he goes up on his elbows, a small curve of his lips when our eyes meet.

He shakes his head, his eyes holding a measure of disbelief. “That was…”

“Awful,” I tease, a reminder of our kiss, which was anything but. My lips still burn from earlier. Laughing, he slowly pulls out of me, and turns. He makes quick work of the condom, dropping it into some tissues to dispose of later, then falls in beside me.

He puts his arm over his forehead, the epitome of male perfection. “If I say it was awful, does that mean we get to do it again, until we perfect it?”

I laugh with him. “I’m not sure it could get any more perfect, Brax. Well, maybe that’s not true. I think it could be better without a condom.” I shrug, making light of it when it feels very heavy. “You know, for the experience,” I say although I’m not sure that’s entirely true. I’m not sure why it’s so important either, but I need to feel Brax inside me, no barriers, no veils. Just him and me, skin on skin, wide open and holding nothing back.

A moment of heavy silence, and then, “I always use a condom.”

My stomach cramps. Dammit, I’ve asked for too much, more than he’s willing to give. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. This is just sex, Eliza. Don’t forget that. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“No, Eliza. What I mean is I’ve never had sex without a condom. I’m clean.”

“I am, too.”

“What about birth control?”

“I’m on the pill.” I crinkle my nose. “Terrible menstrual cramps.”

He places a soothing hand over my stomach and rubs gently. “I know.”

I angle my head. “You do?”

His grin is back in place when he says, “I was at your place, a lot, remember, Lizard?”

I whack his stomach and he lets out a loud oomph. “How could I possibly forget?”

“If sex without a condom is what you want, sex without a condom is what you get. Now come here.”

He rolls toward me, and I catch a show of something in his eyes, something warm and soft and…satisfied as he settles me next to him. “No one has ever…” His words fall off.

“What?”

His fingers lightly brush my hair and I wonder if he even knows he’s doing that. “I’m sorry, it’s crude of me to bring up past relations.”

“It’s okay, Brax. I’ve known you for a long time now. I know your reputation.”

“I just…no one has ever come like that for me before, and…I think I’m trying to say I love how responsive you are. I love that I could do this for you.”

“I love that you could do that to me too,” I say in return, and his laugh fills me with joy. I sigh from the pleasure, a soft escape of air that washes over Brax’s flesh. He grabs the blankets, drags them up and cradles me in his arms. Sleep pulls at me as I sink into his warmth, never wanting this moment—this night—to end. Being here with Brax like this, well, truthfully it’s something I’ve fantasized about since I was a schoolgirl. I never knew sex could be so good. Then again, maybe it’s only like that when it’s with someone you love.

Oh. My. God.

No.