“You have to leave.” He released her wrists and rolled to the side.

“But you just said if I behaved, you’d let me stay.”

He shook his head. “It’s better for both of us if you leave now.”

She turned to her side, angled her elbow and rested her head on her hand. “Because you think I don’t want what you want?”

“You have no idea what I want.”

“Then why don’t you tell me?”

“I don’t want to talk.”

She lifted her hand and stroked it along his cheek. Zane closed his eyes, warring between pushing her away and pulling her onto his body. He did neither, her touch felling him like a bullet would a deer. He felt just as vulnerable in Portia’s hands.

“I want to touch you,” she whispered.

“You’re already touching me.” If she did anything more intimate to him, the last thread of his control would snap.

“I want to touch the rest of your body.”

Zane groaned. “Please don’t.” Please do.

“You might like it.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he muttered under his breath.

Shit, he’d never felt so weak in his entire life, not even when he was human, but as much as he knew he should stop her and make her leave, his body didn’t obey any signals from his brain and simply lay there, coiled tightly in anticipation of her caress.

When her hand slipped beneath the fabric and stroked along his chest, his pulse quickened and his breath stuttered. Her fingers were softer than he’d expected, and wherever they touched him, his skin burned like he was being lathered in hot tar. Pain and pleasure joined with every lingering stroke and every sensual caress.

“Didn’t you say you were a virgin?” he breathed, unable to comprehend how the touch of a woman as inexperienced as Portia could have such devastating effects on him.

“I’m following my instincts.”

And her instincts told her at this moment to loosen his belt and pull his robe aside.

He’d never been shy about his body, and he’d always been comfortable with nudity with women as well as around his friends and colleagues, but this time it was different. He felt bare before her, exposed and vulnerable in his desire for her. There was no way he could hide from her now, hide how much he wanted and needed her.

He watched as Portia’s mouth dropped open when her gaze lowered to his cock. His fully erect cock. He couldn’t remember ever having been this hard.

“You are …” She licked her lips. “… big.”

But despite the apprehension he sensed in her, her hand traveled farther south, traversing his stomach with seeming determination and a clear idea of where it was going. If he didn’t stop her soon, she would touch his hard shaft, and within seconds he’d spill in her hand, unable to hold back any longer.

“Portia, please …”

Her hand reached the nest of dark curls that surrounded his cock.

“… stop. Don’t …” Air rushed out of his lungs as her fingers reached the base of his erection and touched the sensitive flesh.

He jerked and gripped her hand in the next instance. “No.”

“Zane, I want to—”

The ringing of his cell phone saved him. Glad to have an excuse, he jumped from the bed, wrapping the robe tightly around him, and answered the phone.

“Yes?”

“Zane, sorry to wake you. It’s Oliver. I need your help.” Oliver sounded agitated, and Zane had a pretty good idea what had him in such a tizzy.

“What’s up?”

“Shit, man, I lost Portia. She tricked me and ran off. I don’t know what to do. Samson and Gabriel are so gonna fire me. You need to help me.”

“Calm down, Oliver. I’m already on it.” Was he ever! “Portia came to see me. She’s here.” But was she safe?

“Oh, thank God! I’ll come right over and get her. I’m so grateful.” Then suddenly Oliver’s tone changed as if he’d just caught on. “Hey, why would she go to your place?”

Ah, fuck, that kid was smarter than he’d given him credit for. “Listen, I won’t tell Samson about your fuck-up if you don’t tell him about this.”

“What’s she doing at your place?”

“What do you think she’s doing?” Seducing him, that’s what she was doing to him.

“You tell me.”

“You need to pick her up. Right now.” He ignored Portia’s protest behind him. “But be careful. Quinn is staying here. I don’t want him to hear you. Is that clear?”