“Tell me one thing. If it wasn’t for all of this, would we be together? I mean, would you give us a chance?”

He would have given anything to be able to lie to her. To tell her what she needed to hear to let him go. But he knew then that he was just as selfish as he’d always been because he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t say the words that would allow her to walk away.

“Nothing would be able to keep me away.”

As soon as their lips met, he knew it was over. She clung to him so sweetly, pressing soft kisses over his face, his lips, his throat. Anything she could reach. Eli gave up and kissed her back, the cold reserve he kept in place melting beneath the warmth of her embrace.

He vowed then and there that he’d never hurt her or give her any reason to change her mind. His mind flashed to all the stuff in his closet before he could shut the thought down. Kay would freak out if she knew about the things he liked to do. He could find other ways to get the control he needed. He’d have to.

Having her in his bed would be enough. It filled him with a possessive satisfaction, the thought of her in his bed, wearing his clothes with his scent all over her skin. There were other ways he could get inside her mind, possess her thoughts, and control her body. She liked the way he touched her, he could tell. Over time, he could introduce her to new things, slowly push her boundaries. As long as she never knew how deep his desires ran, how all-consuming his need to control and possess her was, then she’d stay with him.

She’d never have to know just how twisted he really was.

KAY COULDN’T TELL what changed, but something did. Suddenly, Eli wasn’t just in front of her but he was there with her, looking into her eyes like he wanted to climb inside her skin. He turned and nuzzled his face into her palm and she knew. After tonight, there was no going back.

He was going to make love to her and she’d be forever changed by it.

“I will never hurt you,” Eli whispered, his voice carrying the weight of a sacred vow.

“I know that. I’ve always known that.”

Kay shivered as he buried his face in her neck. She felt like every touch, every whisper, held secret meaning, and she could barely contain herself. It had been almost two years since she had gotten pregnant with Hope, and that had been the end of any semblance of romance she had shared with Tim. She had a feeling that her lackluster experiences with her ex would pale in comparison to the erotic promises she saw reflected in Eli’s eyes.

Her breath caught as he dropped a wet kiss on the curve of her collarbone. The hair on her arms stood up as he trailed his fingers gently over her skin. She inhaled and let her breath out in a quick gush as his arms encircled her. His warmth seemed to pervade every inch of her until her skin was on fire.

He stood in a swift motion, scooping her up in his arms. She gripped his neck, expecting him to carry her back to his room. Finally, he would let down the walls he’d erected between them and allow her into his private space. But he didn’t carry her to his room. Instead, he dipped his knee next to the fireplace, laying her gently on the rug. The heat of the flames fanned over her skin, ratcheting the burn in her blood even higher.

He eased down on the floor next to her, cradling her head in his hand. She relaxed into his hold, allowing him to pull her closer and fit her body to his. He didn’t speak, instead using those quiet moments to look at her. It should have been uncomfortable, lying in his arms while he drank in every inch of her skin with his eyes. But every sweep of his gaze, every glance contained such reverence. Such heat. As if what he beheld was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

No woman could feel anything but perfect when a man looked at her like that.

“You take my breath away,” he whispered. He lifted his hand, slowly, like he was afraid to spook her. He popped the first button on her shirt, his eyes fixed on the line of skin revealed. Finally, the two sides of her blouse fell apart and he was practically nose deep in her cleavage.

Kay tried to close her arms over her chest, self-conscious now. Gravity wasn’t her friend.

“Oh no. You can’t hide these from me.” Eli slid an arm under her shoulders and held her still. Then he grabbed one of her bra straps with his teeth and slid it down.

“Wait. What about you?” If she was going to get naked, she wasn’t doing it on her own. Plus, she wasn’t going to deny that looking at Eli naked would definitely distract her from her own insecurities. She couldn’t think much at all when looking at him.

“You want me to take my clothes off?”

“Yes, please.”

Eli grinned and yanked his shirt over his head with one hand. “Whatever the lady wants.”

She looked down at his jeans and quirked an eyebrow. He threw his head back and laughed, the full, rich sound turning her on even more. He stood and pushed his jeans down. The front of his boxers stood away from his body. Kay gulped.

“I think I’ll leave those on for a while yet.”

“Okay,” she squeaked.

Eli knelt beside her. “Your turn.”

She lifted her hips obediently and allowed him to slide her jeans off and over her ankles. He looked up at her, his features pinched with strain, and then back at the lacy panties he’d just revealed. Kay thrilled at the possessive look in his eyes. He wanted her.

Their lips met and before long she forgot about being self-conscious or who was wearing what. His fingers trailed over her skin, slow circles that were driving her insane. Every touch was so careful, so tender, that Kay finally just grabbed him and pulled him on top of her. His lower body pressed onto hers until the fullness between his legs settled into her thighs. His groan came out as a harsh sound in the quiet room, and she glanced up at him uncertainly.