Looking up into my eyes, he touched my cheek. “I’m sorry. I got carried away.”

“I’m not sorry.” There was no way I was going to let him get away now. I laced my fingers in his hair and pulled his head back to mine. I craved his kiss like a dying woman in the desert.

His hands weren’t as gentle this time, touching and exploring my body as I did his. I had made up my mind and I knew what I wanted. I wanted David. With shaky hands I reached for his belt but he stopped me.

“Is there somewhere else we can go?”

Sucking in air I realized that we were still in the kitchen. While it was unlikely anyone would be coming up here anytime soon, it wasn’t a risk I was willing to take.

“Yes.” Taking his hand I started to pull him along, but he stopped me with a kiss. His tongue hungrily explored my mouth. We stumbled through the kitchen like that, locked in each other’s arms as we looked for the door. My back pressed against the cool wood and I moaned when he used one leg to push mine apart and planted himself against my hot center.

His lips left mine and he nipped at my earlobe while I tried to peek out into the hallway. Once I knew the coast was clear I opened the door and pulled him with me to my room. When we were inside I closed the door and tried to calm my racing heart. Xavier, my dog, lifted his head from where he was lying and then went right back to sleep. I had never brought a man into my rooms before. At least not a man that I intended on seducing. Apparently my dog didn’t care half as much as I did.

David didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. He moved behind me, his hands running over my waist while his lips brushed along my bare shoulders. I leaned into him, enjoying the feel of his manhood pressed against me through the thin material of my dress. When his hands moved up to cup my br**sts I moaned.

“I want to see you.” I whispered the words, needing to see the desire in his eyes to give me the bravery to go forward.

Gently he turned me around so that I was facing him and I stared into his heat-filled eyes. His hands slid up my bare arms, over my shoulders, and along my neck to cup my face. Tilting my chin upward he studied my face with hooded eyes.

“You always get what you want, don’t you, Princess?” His deep voice rumbled underneath my hand on his chest.

God, I hoped so. Because right this moment there was nothing I wanted more than David’s skin pressed against mine.

“Undress me.” The words came out husky and I prayed he’d do it. I was scared that if I did it myself he would see my shaky fingers.

His dark eyes flashed and he reached behind me to slowly pull the zipper down. Carefully he slid the material off, exposing me in my underwear and shoes. I felt even more na**d knowing that he was seeing me in my strapless bra and garter belt.

David let his gaze rake over me and I could feel it like a hot touch. With sharp movements he pulled his jacket off and threw it over a chair before undoing his tie. I watched with short breaths as he knelt in front of me, his messy hair obscuring his face as he pulled one shoe off and then the other. I reached down and unhooked the garters so that he would be able to remove the stockings, but he didn’t roll them down as I expected. Instead, he nuzzled between my legs and my knees went weak. My head fell back against the door and I thought I’d faint.

His hands cupped my cheeks, while his mouth pressed hot kisses through the material of my panties. When he finally stood up, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to my bed. After lying me down on the soft duvet, he undid his pants, letting them fall to the floor, followed by his shirt.

I had been right when I thought that he would be a delicious visual treat naked. The man was an Adonis, with the kind of muscles a man got from hard labor, not lifting weights in front of a mirror. When he crawled onto the bed, covering my body with his, I froze for half a second before sinking into his kiss. When he shifted so that his leg was between mine, my heart stilled.

I was really doing this, finally getting rid of the virgin baggage. And with a hottie who made me laugh. So why did I suddenly feel worried I was making a wrong decision? Was I rethinking this?

With deft hands he undid my bra and his warm mouth found one peak. My doubts dissolved in a rush of pleasure and I closed my eyes to enjoy the sensation. No one had ever touched me the way David was touching me. I let my hands run over his shoulders and down his back. When he leaned up to capture my mouth once more I let my fingers slide over his abdomen and down to his hardened shaft. He sucked in a breath and murmured in my ear something I didn’t quite understand.

His hand followed the same path mine had and his fingers stroked gently along the growing wet spot between my legs. When he moved the fabric out of the way and touched the delicate skin my breathing accelerated. I focused on his kiss as he teased me open and gently slipped one finger inside.

I couldn’t stop the sharp intake of breath or the way my body froze in shock. It wasn’t that I hadn’t done the same thing myself before, but it was entirely different to have it done by someone else. I tensed, unsure if I liked the sensation or not. It was different and slightly uncomfortable.

“Cathy?” David pulled back and looked at me, worry creasing his brow.

“Yes?” I took a deep breath and tried to not look relieved when he pulled his hand away.

“Are you . . . is this your first time?” His voice sounded odd, surprise laced with frustration.

My heart stopped in my chest as I looked at his face. What had I done wrong that he had figured it out?

SEVEN

I DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING at first. I didn’t know how to respond. Was it really a bad thing that I was a virgin? That I hadn’t taken that step yet?