His chest was rising and falling like he couldn’t get enough air. His eyes were so sharp I could feel them cutting into my skin. His face had a hot flush to it and his mouth was parted just enough that I could see the straight line of his teeth sinking into the inside of his lip.

This wasn’t fun for him like it had been for me. This was torture.

I let my eyes drift closed and whispered, “I’m soooo close. It never happens this fast for me.” My voice was breathy and I barely recognized my own words. I wasn’t a woman who ever sounded that aroused, but because of Cy I was.

I slid my thumb around my clit and gasped as the contact set off an entire fireworks display of sensation under my skin.

“Holy fuck.” The words sounded like they were ripped out of the man watching me. I heard twin thuds as the boots he was holding hit the floor. As soon as I managed to get my heavy lids open all I saw was man.

I yelped as his hand once again circled around my neck as he pushed me back into the wall. The trickle of water coming from the shower could barely get between us; that’s how close he was to me. He didn’t seem to mind that he was getting just as wet as I was.

His mouth hit mine with punishing force. Biting and bruising. His fingers tightened around my throat but his thumb skated up and down the long line of my neck chasing the chills he caused. His knee pushed mine farther apart and his free hand covered mine. I couldn’t breathe. I could think. I couldn’t even move.

All I could do was feel.

And what I felt was enough to flip my entire existence upside down.

He pressed my fingers harder onto my clit and used his to start an intoxicating circular motion. Once I was so wound up and shaking from head to toe, he pulled his lips from mine and moved them to my cheek. It was the sweetest kiss I’d ever received and it almost made me fall over when it was combined with the sudden invasion of his fingers inside my fluttering opening.

My back bowed. My eyes rolled back in my head. My lungs stopped working and I was pretty sure my knees turned to water. The only thing keeping me upright was his hold on my throat and the way he had me pinned with his unwavering stare.

It didn’t take much. He pumped his rough fingers into the slippery desire that was waiting for him and hooked one like he knew exactly how to get to spot the would set me off. Pleasure rushed out of me, surprising in its intensity. I’d never had an orgasm that left me feeling like I couldn’t function anymore. Never felt satisfaction so potent and strong.

I put my hands on Cy’s wet shoulders and blinked up at him like I was an owl. I felt like he turned me inside out and I wasn’t sure if I should thank him or swear at him. I didn’t get the chance to do either because as soon as he saw I wasn’t going to wilt into a useless pile of woman at his feet he released me like my skin was made of burning ember.

“Like I said, I’m not strong enough to stay away.” His words were clipped and almost angry. None of the passionate heat and approval that had been shining out of them when he had his hands on me could be found, just frustration and simmering fury.

He turned away, running a hand over his wet shirt and the damp fly of his jeans. I wasn’t sure if that was from me or the crappy shower but I honestly kind of wanted it to be from me. The door closed with a little click behind him and I turned back to the shower.

I should be hurt at his rude dismissal, but I wasn’t. I didn’t have to guess what he meant by his parting words because he meant exactly what he said. It was the wrong place and the wrong time, and we were most definitely the wrong two people, but he wanted me and he couldn’t stay away. Cyrus Warner had just as many control issues as I did, which was why we both liked to test the other’s limits and neither one of us liked to fail.

If this was what failing felt like, I couldn’t wait to do it again. When I thought I was making good decisions, I ended up with a busted heart and shattered self-esteem. Bad decisions already had proven to be way more fun.

One thing was for sure, he had already made good on his word to make this a vacation I would never forget.

Not So Fancy Meeting You Here

“How long were you married?” I asked the question to Cy’s back after a couple hours of pervading silence.

I wasn’t sure why I thought the fact that we had seen each other in all our glory, and shared kisses that were defining and delicious, meant that he would put Mr. Personality to rest and be a little bit more approachable. He had started out the morning ride as grumpy and withdrawn as he always was. I wasn’t sure how I ended up in line behind him for the ride today but since I was so close, I could feel his silence like a cloak settled around my shoulders. I had no clue what he was ruminating on, but whatever it was didn’t seem to be very pleasant. In hindsight, my question probably wasn’t the best opportunity to turn that dark disposition in a different direction.

His head whipped around so he could look at me and I winced at the scowl stamped across his rough features. “Why do you want to know?”

I wanted to know because he’d had his tongue in my mouth and his hands all over my body. I wanted to know because he always spoke the truth but his eyes kept secrets. I wanted to know because I wanted to know him the way he seemed to already know me.

I frowned back at him. “I have a hard time picturing anyone wanting to let you go, even though you have being grumpy down to an art from.” I was surprised by my own honesty—and he seemed to be, as well. His features lightened a fraction and some of the storm that was always raging in his eyes cleared right before it darkened to the point they were almost black. He was no longer thunderous, he’d passed that and moved onto something darker and infinitely scarier. I didn’t think he would answer, and when he did I wasn’t prepared for his honesty to gut me, or for the way it made my heart ache for him. His story made my own seem silly and insignificant by comparison and I suddenly I knew the bruises on my heart were nothing compared to the scars sashed on his.