But maybe it wasn’t my hypersensitivity that was causing it.

Gavin smelled amazing—somehow clean and masculine and rugged all at once. I treated myself to sneaky glances out of the corner of my eye, taking in his sharp cheekbones and strong jaw. His muscular arms and broad chest stretching the confines of his t-shirt.

Hot firefighter, indeed. And the kitten only made it worse.

Dad’s subtle warning ran through my mind. A playboy firefighter with a charming smile. Gavin himself had admitted Dad was right about him. Obviously I didn’t know Gavin’s entire relationship history—nor did I want to—but I could fill in the pieces. He probably had a lot of flings, or at least avoided long-term attachments.

Which, right now, was kind of perfect.

I wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship. But I liked Gavin, and I was undeniably attracted to him. I’d slept with him a dozen times in my mind already, something my overactive imagination had never done before. I’d never fantasized about Cullen, or the few guys I’d dated before him.

No one had ever made me feel this way.

Would it be so bad if things got a little bit physical between us? Assuming Gavin was interested in getting physical with me.

He’d looked at me like he’d wanted to kiss me the other day in my bedroom. If my dad hadn’t come in, he might have done it. So it wasn’t too much of a leap to consider the possibility that Gavin Bailey was attracted to me too.

I took a deep breath and squirmed again. Movie, Skylar. Focus on the movie. Gavin was right, it was intense. I found myself captivated, almost holding my breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

“Boo!” Gavin said out of the blue, grabbing my thigh and giving me a startling shake.

Shrieking, I jumped in my seat, clutching my hands to my chest. “Oh my god, you scared me.”

He laughed. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Jerk,” I said, playfully shoving his arm.

He grabbed my wrist, twisted toward me, and wrapped his hand around the other one. Suddenly we were face to face, his nose almost brushing against mine, my arms immobilized in his grasp. My heart beat harder, my breath caught in my throat, and my eyes dipped to his mouth.

Kiss me, Gavin. I want you to. I want it so bad.

I didn’t know who closed the distance. Maybe we met in the middle. But in an instant, his mouth was on mine, his hands pinning my arms to the back of the couch. His lips were firm, insistent, and oh my god, so soft. I welcomed his kiss, parting my lips when I felt the slow sweep of his tongue.

His head tilted, his lips capturing more of mine, and the velvety softness of his tongue sent a shiver down my spine. Sparks exploded between my legs, the pressure growing more insistent by the second.

He stopped, suddenly pulling back, the abrupt separation sucking the breath from my lungs.

“Sorry,” he said breathlessly.

“Don’t be.” Feeling bold—which was so unlike me—I leaned closer. Pressed my lips to his neck. “It’s really okay.”

He groaned, the vibration pulsing through my lips. I kissed his throat, feeling the scratch of his light stubble.

“Sky, I don’t know if we should.” His voice was husky.

I kissed his neck again. “You don’t want to?”

Another groan. “No, I do. I just…”

I kept kissing him, reveling in this feeling of bravery. Maybe even recklessness. “You just what?”

“I don’t know if this is the right thing.”

“Why?”

Before he could answer, I pressed my lips to his. He still had my arms pinned to the couch and he wasn’t pulling away. He wanted me. He just wasn’t sure if he should.

He kissed me back, his lips pliant and warm. Our tongues brushed, sending a jolt of electricity pinging through me.

Gavin Bailey knew how to kiss. He didn’t just purse his lips and make contact. He caressed my mouth with his. Slid his lips along mine, tasting me with his tongue. Then pressed with more force, sucking my lower lip into his mouth. I felt the quick scrape of his teeth, making me shudder.

More. I wanted all this and more.

But he pulled away again.

“Gavin, this is really okay. I’m saying yes.”

“I know.” He let go of my wrists and my heart sank straight to the pit of my stomach. “I just don’t know if I should do this.”

“I don’t know if I should either. But I still want to.” Vaguely wondering who I was and what had happened to mousy, shy Skylar, I continued, moving closer so I could whisper in his ear. “I want this, Gavin. But if you can’t give it to me, I need you to take me home so I can take care of it myself.”

A low groan rumbled in his throat and he manhandled me onto my back. I found myself beneath him, the weight of his body pressing between my legs.

“Is this what you want?” he growled, grinding into me.

“Yes.”

He kissed me again, this time with ferocity, while he thrust his hips. His erection moved between my legs, giving me friction and pressure right where I needed it. I whimpered into his mouth, clutching his back.

“Right there?” he said near my ear, his hot breath tickling my neck. He thrust again. “You like that?”

I nodded, the sensations spiraling out of control.

“Is that what you need Sky?”

“Yes. Please.”

He kept thrusting, rubbing me in a steady rhythm. Even through my clothes, it felt amazing. Heat and pressure built so fast, I gasped with the intensity of it, my eyes fluttering, cheeks flushing hot.

I ran my hands along his hard planes of muscle as his back flexed. He thrust harder and I gripped the fabric of his t-shirt. I wanted more—wanted to feel him sink inside me, his thickness filling me. But he was relentless, dry humping me like a man on a mission.

“More?”

All I could do was whimper. I was too far gone to form real words. My clit throbbed with hot tension, desperate for release. I rolled my hips against him, seeking more. Always more. His cock was rock solid, digging into me, promising blissful climax.

Any second now.

Just a little more.

He ground against me harder and a groan escaped his throat. My eyes rolled back as my body exploded into sparks. Pulses of pleasure rippled through me in waves, each thrust of his hips drawing out my orgasm to its pinnacle. I moaned, my inhibitions nowhere in sight, my body coming apart beneath him.

His rhythm slowed as my climax waned. I held onto him, breathing hard, the world coming back into focus.

For a moment, we lay there, his chest pressing against mine with his heavy breaths, his mouth near my ear. Letting my hands slide off his back, I shifted my hips.

“Don’t. Move.” His voice was strained.

I froze, scarcely daring to breathe. Was he close too? Was he afraid he’d come in his pants?

Oh my god, that was hot.

After hesitating another moment, he lifted himself off me, as if to get up. I reached for his groin, ready to grab his cock—happy to reciprocate that fantastic orgasm in any number of different ways.

But he quickly grabbed my wrist. “Don’t.”

Wait, what?

He rolled to a sitting position on the other side of the couch, leaving me with soaked panties and feeling very confused. I got up and smoothed down my hair while he rested his elbows on his knees and ran his hands up and down his face.