“We aren’t done yet, angel.” He kissed her on her right breast and gently helped her turn over.

She flushed at the thought of what the view from behind must be like. But somehow with Eli, even when she was bashful, she never felt like she needed to hide. Maybe it was the way he looked at her or the fact that he’d made a point to tell her that he loved her body just the way it was. Either way, she’d never felt so powerful in her life, knowing that her curves were exactly the kind he preferred.

“I love the way we fit,” Eli whispered. He leaned over her, his chest warming the skin of her back. She purred when he nipped the lobe of her ear just as he slid inside from behind. “Tell me how it feels.”

Kay grabbed at the carpet, her fingers searching for something to hold on to as he used her hips to leverage her back and forth. “Full. Thick. Good.” Her words sounded almost slurred. She was drunk on pleasure.

“Do you want me to tell you what I’m feeling?” Eli asked. When she nodded, he continued. “I feel soft skin. Lush curves.” His hand slipped under her, pulling her upright until she rested against his shoulder, his hand resting lightly at the base of her throat.

“And all of it’s mine. All mine,” he rasped in her ear. His tempo increased until he suddenly stilled, his hands tightening slightly around her waist and her neck.

As his breath came hard and fast in her ear, Kay tumbled over the edge again, feeling every tremor centered in the fingers resting on her collarbone. It was frightening, this hold he had on her. It made her feel like he could make her do anything. Even control her breathing. He’d warned her that he liked things a little rough. That he took what he wanted. Pushed hard and demanded much. She’d thought she was ready. But it couldn’t prepare her for the reality of being held by him.

It couldn’t prepare her for the dark desire unfurling from a place she didn’t recognize. A place that reveled in this frightening loss of control, in the rush of pleasure from being taken by him.

From being his completely.

WAKING WITH AN armful of softness was a new experience. Eli gathered Kay closer, burying his face in her neck. It had been a long time since he’d considered himself green, but the previous night had made him feel like a teenager copping his first feel. After telling her his story, he’d expected sympathy, even a little understanding. What he’d received was complete acceptance. She’d seen him, the good, the bad, and the worse and loved him anyway. Then to have her give herself so completely… His mind was blown. She’d melted beneath his touch and, in doing so, melted his heart.

Afterward, she’d slumped in his arms, boneless and replete. Her complete trust in him to take care of her had been just as fulfilling as the sex. He’d carried her to her bed and then cleaned her up with a warm washcloth. Those intimate moments had humbled him. He’d never particularly liked sharing his bed, but last night, the thought of leaving her alone hadn’t even entered his mind. It was only right that he keep her near while he slept and warm her with his body heat. It was only right to wake up and have her face be the first thing he saw.

Reluctantly, he climbed from the bed, tucking the covers around her so she wouldn’t feel a draft. He’d asked Tank and Matt to both come over so they could compare findings. Matt had been assigned to look over the financial records of Kay’s family and friends. Tank had been busy keeping track of her ex-boyfriend and monitoring the security system at her still-empty apartment in case anyone tried to get in. As he showered, Eli thought of what Tank had mentioned the prior day. If Timothy Banner was planning on cleaning house before he ran for office, why hadn’t he contacted Kay? Wouldn’t it be easier to sweet-talk her into signing an NDA? Or try paying her off before resorting to violence?

The thought bothered him as he went about his morning routine—shaving, dressing, and preparing a quick breakfast of whole-wheat toast and two hard-boiled eggs. He passed the coffeepot and stopped. Although he didn’t drink coffee most of the time, he knew Kay lived and breathed for it in the mornings. Before he could overthink it, he measured out coffee, filled the unit with water, and set it to brew. He was still standing there brooding when Kay found him ten minutes later.

“Good morning.” Kay entered the kitchen hesitantly. When their eyes met, she bit her lip and her hand fluttered to her throat. Eli’s eyes narrowed on the action. She was thinking about last night, remembering the things he’d done. The things they’d done to each other. Just thinking about it made him hot again.

“Good morning. Do you want coffee?”

“Oh yes, please.” She let out a grateful sigh when he pointed to the full carafe he’d brewed for her. She stood on tiptoe to grab a coffee mug, and the hem of her T-shirt rose up, giving him a peek at her panties. When she turned around and saw where his eyes were, she immediately tugged her shirt down lower.

“Hey, you can’t blame a guy for appreciating the view.”

She came over and stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on his cheek. “After how well you appreciated things last night, I’m not blaming you for anything from now on.”

Eli reached out to grab her when the doorbell rang. “Damn it, the guys are here. I called a status meeting for this morning. I’m going to cancel it.”

Kay kissed him on the nose. “You can’t cancel it.”

He pulled her closer and then ran his hands over her curvy bottom. “Yes, I can. I definitely can.”