As Max watched her dress glide to the floor, he imprinted the memory of her in his brain. Hell, he knew full well, it was seared there for eternity. He would never forget the vision of her perched on the edge of his desk wearing nothing but heels and a do-me smile.
Control was shaky at best. But as he’d learned from her bold approach, her drive matched his. They could do slow later. And later again.
Keeping his eyes on hers, he made fast work of his polo shirt, before kicking off his shoes and slacks. He tugged free his wallet at the last second and placed it beside her on the shiny metal desk, flipping it open and spilling out a couple of condoms.
Damn, he should have put more than two in there. But then there were more in his condo.
He silenced her with his mouth, or maybe it was his hand sliding up a silken thigh, between her legs and finding her damp and ready for him.
Her hand slid down to clasp around him. A shudder rocked through him.
He tucked his arm behind her and swept the desk clear before lowering her back. Her hair spread in a stunning red fan along the stainless steel surface. He knew he would have a damn near-impossible job concentrating on work the next time he sat in that chair.
Natalie lifted a shapely leg and traced a toe down the center of his chest. Manicured red toenails grazed his pecs. His abs. His heart hammered in his ears. She was...incredible.
He tucked his arms under her knees and parted her legs, spreading her, all the while watching her eyes for any hint of protest.
She inched her heels behind him, pushing against his butt and urging him nearer, nearer still until he slid...home inside her.
His eyes closed at the warm clamp of her, and then he angled forward over her, holding his full weight with his elbows.
She clasped hands with him, linking fingers, squeezing.
And then he couldn’t think beyond moving inside her, holding her hands and restraining his release for as long as possible. Praying she would find completion soon because he wasn’t going there without her and the need to finish roared through him like engines at full throttle.
He dipped his head to nip along her shoulder. A groan whispered from her kiss-swollen mouth, filling the space between them with her breath, faster, fuller, a flush along her pale skin broadcasting how close she was to unraveling, until...yes. Her arms flung wide to grip the edges of the desk. She arched up, her body tensed, moans of pleasure unrestricted. Yes, she had found completion.
A good thing, since his orgasm was tougher and tougher to withhold.
Finally, he allowed himself to plunge deep and hard, his hoarse growl of completion echoing through the empty office. His domain. His world.
And his woman.
He couldn’t ignore the primal declaration echoing through his mind, his body, his soul. And in spite of all the reasons he was wrong for her, he began to think the time had come to figure out how to make their worlds merge.
* * *
The air didn’t chill Natalie as she sat on Max’s balcony while he leaned against the rail, thumbing through work text messages. Despite the colder Seattle weather, she felt comfortable, seemingly heated from within. The passionate night had left her ablaze.
Though Max’s portable heater certainly helped reinforce those thoughts.
The Seattle skyline was flecked and twinkled not with stars, but soft lights of buildings, a living constellation. The sounds of traffic echoed from far below, a distant beat that felt dreamlike. This whole night felt l
ike the unreality of the border between sleep and consciousness, that temporality of potential and magic.
She sat on a plush lounge chair close to the orange glow of the heater, belly full from a five-star-worthy dinner.
That Max had cooked himself.
He was every bit the chef he’d claimed, his rib eye as fine as anything from a Texas steak house, and the kale salad and Asiago macaroni had both been delectable. And the chef had been every bit as enticing as the food. She’d enjoyed watching him deftly move around the kitchen in simple gym shorts and a T-shirt with a hand towel draped around his neck as he prepared their meal.
Most of all, she enjoyed the new ease that had developed between them. He was still his charming self, but in a more relaxed way with less of an aggressive push.
Although she couldn’t deny that the speed of their developing relationship left her head spinning.
A slight wind rustled her loose hair. Strands stuck to her cheek. She pushed them aside and picked up her dessert bowl. The gray dish felt heavy and cold in her hand, a chill finally permeating the heat inside her. She scooted closer to the heater. Wearing Max’s shirt might not have been the warmest choice, but she’d indulged, enjoying the sense of being closer to him. Savoring the scent of him clinging to the fabric.
Hunger for him stirred in her anew, and she spooned in the vanilla bean ice cream smothered in berries, feeding at least one appetite. She couldn’t help being touched at how he remembered her love of ice cream. The fact that they were learning each other’s preferences spoke of a growing intimacy beyond sex.