“No more,” I promise her. I start by gently kissing under one of her eyes, and then the other, and down her cheeks, soaking up the salty tears on my lips.

Her hands are strong as she reaches up to grip the sides of my face. “You run to me,” she demands. And then she kisses me hard.

Her forwardness ignites me. I back her into the washer and dryer. My knee parts her legs until it’s between her thighs. She is what I need. I know without a doubt I will never again run to another. “To you,” I say against her mouth. “I swear it.”

Our kiss turns frenzied and I fear I’ll never be able to get enough. I fear my need will always overtake me. It’s hard to control myself when she’s wild like this, but if I focus on Anna and her pleasure, instead of my own, perhaps that will sate me.

I think about the striptease she did at Blake’s and my mind goes berserk. Those thighs. If I can get her naked but keep my own clothes on . . . just for a moment.

My lips pull from hers and move to her ear. I’m strangely nervous. I don’t want to scare her away. I grip her tightly.

“Let me see you again,” I whisper.

“What?” she whispers back.

I don’t ease up on my tight hold of her, and I nibble the freckle atop her lip. I know I’m being too vague, but I’m afraid she’ll balk if I grunt, “Naked. Now,” as I really want to. So I choose my words carefully, knowing I’ll need to take this slowly, layer by layer.

“Let me undress you. Not all the way . . . just as you were today at Blake’s. Please. Let me see you again.”

Our cheeks are together, and after a moment I feel her nod. I don’t hesitate. I pull the tank top over her head, and my pulse races at the sight of her pink bra and all that gorgeous, creamy skin.

She reaches for my shirt, and I almost stop her, but the thought of my skin against hers changes my mind. I let her take my shirt off, but that’s it. When the cloth is over my head I smash myself against her, taking her mouth with mine and reveling in the feel of our chests, arms, and stomachs flush together. She is so soft, and when our skin touches, the temperature goes up.

I stop only to look at her, to make sure she’s ready for the next layer to come off. She says nothing, only breathes rapidly as I feel around the edges of her shorts and slowly remove them.

There are hips, thighs, and legs in my sight now, and I am dying to be naked with her. I close my eyes, and my head drops back. Keep your shorts on, Rowe. I’m going to focus on Anna. Her pleasure will be my pleasure.

“Let me kiss you,” I beg.

“Okay,” she whispers.

“No.” I look at her, needing to be clear. “I need to kiss your body.”

Her mouth opens but it takes a second for the word “Okay” to slip out again. I think she knows exactly what I mean, and if she doesn’t, she’s about to find out. I need to kiss her absolutely everywhere.

“Don’t let any more clothing come off,” I warn.

“Okay.” She’s breathy, and I have to make sure she understands—if we end up naked, I don’t think I’ll be strong enough to stop again.

“Promise me, Anna.”

“I promise.”

Now that I know she’ll be the strong one, I allow myself to let go. Her body is all mine, and I’m going to savor every single taste. She wriggles under my mouth as I slowly move along her shoulder and down over her collarbone. My hands encircle her waist and back, fingers splayed to hold her close. I examine her skin as I kiss it, finding each freckle along the way and making it mine. Her natural scent intoxicates me.

I make it to her breasts and run my thumbs under the edge of her bra, dipping my tongue as far under the material as I dare. When I reach back to undo the clasp she presses her back against the wall to smash my hand away, and I grin to myself. I will get to those later. . . .

Down I go over her ribcage until I’m on my knees, staring at a blue heart charm dangling from her belly button. Holy . . . A sizzle of heat bolts to my core.

“You are killing me.” I lick around her belly button and she shivers, moaning. Her hands grip my shoulders and then sink into my hair as my mouth moves farther south to the edge of her low knickers. I start at one hip and kiss along the edge to the other. The sound of her rapid breathing urges me on. I open my mouth and lightly sink my teeth into the skin at her hip, making her gasp, then my tongue circles over the spot. I know I’m a fiend, but I want to mark her all over.

I’m ready to go further, but Anna’s legs are pressed together. When I move a hand down the back of one of her legs to bend her knee, she lets me. I gently pry her leg open enough to expose her inner thigh. Her hands are tight in my hair now, and I love knowing I’m making her crazy.

This is the one thing I can give her. The one thing I’m good at. I’ve never been more eager to make someone experience such bliss.

I kiss the inside of her thigh, running my tongue over the silky skin there. Anna lets out a gorgeous moan and she quivers, sliding down the wall. I move my hands back up to her waist to catch her. My mouth comes down inside her thigh, even closer, and Anna exhales a strangled breath.

“Kai! I . . . I . . . you have to stop.”

Bugger. I need to reassure her. I want to keep my face right where it is and show her just how okay this is, but I know better. I force myself to stand and look at her. To remind her it’s just me, and I won’t do anything she doesn’t want.

Anna’s chest is rising and falling quickly. Her cheeks are pink. Her pheromones are flooding the air and making my head spin like an aphrodisiac. I lean against her, dipping enough to align our hips and drive them together. Her head falls back as she feels me against her, and I know I can bring her pleasure just as easily this way as the other. But I want to be touching her with my hands if not my mouth.