Somewhere between his minty breath on my skin and those calloused hands riding up my thighs, I think I’ve lost all sense.

I have a two-hundred-and-twenty-five-pound quarterback parked like a Hummer between my legs, touching me like I’m the most magnificent thing he’s ever felt.

He’s been thinking about kissing me. Girls have been throwing themselves at him all summer, and he’s been thinking about me.

I ignore the little voice that desperately wants to compare him to Jacob because for once in my life, I’m not going to overthink this. I don’t care about the rumors swirling around Daren’s personal life because I don’t plan to be in it long enough to find out whether or not they’re true.

This is about having a good time, plain and simple. And the man plastered to my body is all the encouragement I need to shut off my brain.

Besides, if my ex can bang cage girls two at a time, I can cut loose too. Just once.

Daren growls against my mouth, and my heart races.

See, Jacob. I can make someone come undone.

Thoughts of my ex fade as Daren fills my vision. His six-three frame is dizzying this close. I’m overwhelmed by his size, by the power in all of these taut muscles beneath my fingers. Daren is a damn diesel engine.

His lips make a slow sweep of mine. I let him take his time even though I want to crawl up his enormous body.

Is he trying to drive me crazy with these relatively chaste kisses? How can this be chaste, Maddie? You’re basically straddling the man in an upright position.

Taking a deep breath does nothing to clear my head. Daren smells crisp and clean, his woodsy cologne making me want to lick him all over. Hmm. Food for thought.

His hands grip my waist, his fingers tightening, and as he nibbles on my lower lip, something in me snaps.

I tangle my fingers into his dark hair and yank him closer. He groans when my tongue slides into his mouth, and he scoots me right to the edge of the pool table so that our hips align. God, yes.

I grip his shirt, and a little whimper escapes my lips when his fingers squeeze my ass. This, this kiss detonated whatever’s been building between us, and the only signal going off in my head right now is the one screaming to get under his hard body.

His kisses grow hungrier as his hand rubs up and down my side. Just close enough for his thumb to graze the swell of my breast.

Grab me. Squeeze me.

These wanton wishes go unheard while my need grows. Holy crap. I’m making out with Daren in the middle of his party.

I squeeze my eyes tighter, hoping to God people stay in the living room. Because I do not want to stop.

The hem of my dress is bunched against the top of my thighs, and when his fingers traverse the hooks on my garter, he pulls back and looks down.

“Fuck me, that’s hot, Maddie.”

It’s my turn to laugh, even though I’m out of breath. “What did you think I wore underneath all of those suits?”

When Jacob and I broke up, I stocked up on slinky lingerie as a treat to myself. I figured if I wanted to get over him, I had to feel good, and garters and lacy underwear have a way of lifting a girl’s spirits.

Daren’s eyes lift to mine, the hunger in his look making me shiver. “I’ll never be able to watch you on TV again without thinking about what you have underneath those snug skirts. C’mere, you little wildcat.”

I laugh at the nickname. That’s a first. No one in the history of my life has ever considered me wild. Focused, yes. Determined, definitely. But never wild.

We’re about to lip-lock again when laughter in the other room breaks the spell. For both of us, apparently, because Daren frowns.

“Let’s take this party somewhere else,” he grumbles, scooping me up into his arms. I muffle my squeal. Next thing I know, he’s whisking me into a dark room across the hall.

He kicks the door shut behind him before I find myself pressed up against it. I’m teetering on my heels, but Daren’s keeping me upright.

His mouth descends for one panty-flooding kiss before he stops. Why… why is he stopping?

There’s that frown again. “Babe, how much have you had to drink tonight?”

My back straightens. “I’m not drunk, if that’s what you’re asking.” Of course that’s what he’s asking, dummy. Maybe if you weren’t drunk, you could answer the question.

Daren swallows. “I just want to be sure…”

“That you’re not forcing me to do something I don’t want to do? Trust me, I’m willing and able.” Wow, Maddie. Eager much?

He chuckles. “Mm. How willing, gorgeous?” he asks, placing small kisses against my neck.

I don’t know what comes over me. Maybe I’m a little insulted he’s not so carried away with lust that he has the time to talk, or maybe I’m so carried away with lust I can’t control myself. But I grab his hand that’s snaked into my hair and lift one finger to my mouth where I kiss the tip. I tilt my head down so I can peer up at him in what I hope is a sexy come-hither look.

“Willing enough.” My tongue slides out in a slow swipe of his skin, and his eyes widen as my lips close around him.

His other finger joins the first in my mouth, and he watches like a man possessed.

“Fuck.”

I let his fingers linger on my mouth. “That’s what I’m aiming for.” I laugh and tug him closer so I can do my best to make him come apart.

Because right now, I need to know I can.