She did, rising up on her toes to fit her body closer to his. He palmed her butt, loving the feel of her curves. His hands might be cold, but the rest of him was hot as Molly moaned against his mouth, sliding her hand around the nape of his neck to hold on to him.

He wanted to lie next to her, to feel her all over, and not with all these damn layers of clothes in the way. He grabbed hold of her thighs and hoisted her, carried her down the hall and into his bedroom and deposited her on the side of his bed. He pulled away from her only long enough to close the shutters, then he came back.

She was sliding out of her shoes, pulling off her socks, and she stood to unbutton her jeans.

“That would be a lot more fun if I was the one doing it.”

Her hand stilled. “Okay.”

Molly’s breath caught and held as Carter took her zipper between his fingers, his knuckles brushing the bare skin of her stomach as he drew it down. She tried to remember if she was wearing decent underwear today, but her mind had gone suddenly blank because she was staring up at his beautiful face and all she could think about was how could he have possibly gotten more good-looking over the past twelve years?

From far away, he was gorgeous. Up close, devastatingly handsome, and as he tugged at her jeans and started to draw them down her legs, she remembered how they used to fumble at this, so in a rush to get at each other that there had never been any finesse.

Now, though, he took his time, gently giving her shoulder a push to sit on the edge of the bed so he could pull off her jeans. He smoothed his palms up her ankles and calves, then spread her thighs, using his fingers to tease her through the silk of her panties. Just a whispered breath of a touch, but enough to make her arch, to want, to need what he offered.

She could barely breathe. Having him touch her so intimately after so long felt so familiar, and yet as if he’d never touched her before.

“You’re so beautiful, Molly. Your skin is so soft, I’m almost afraid to touch you.”

She took in a deep breath. “I’m not fragile, Carter. And I definitely want your hands on me.”

His lips curved, and he swept one finger over her hip bone, before reaching for the hem of her shirt to lift it over her head, leaving her wearing just her bra and panties.

Oh, right. She’d worn the matching red ones today. Good call, since they were kind of hot.

Carter stood and looked down at her, raking his fingers through his hair. “Yeah, definitely beautiful. I mean, you always were. But now. Wow.”

Now it was her turn to smile, warmed by his obvious appreciation of her. “Thank you. Now how about we get your clothes off?”

“Good idea.” He started to reach for his shirt, but she got up on her knees and laid her palm on his chest.

She leveled a smile at him. “This would be a lot more fun if you let me do that.”

His gaze went dark. “Okay.”

She unbuttoned his shirt, pulled it off and tossed it to the side, sucking in a breath as she admired his washboard abs and broad shoulders. He’d always been well built, but nothing like this. He’d broadened—she’d discovered that when she leaned against him. He’d filled out in all the right places. Not too muscular, just . . . perfect.

She swept her hands over his exposed skin, taking her time to map her way across his chest, letting her fingers slide down his stomach, feeling every inch of muscle.

She stopped at his jeans, lifted her gaze to his, keeping her focus there as she undid the button, then drew the zipper down, her hand brushing against his sizeable erection. He was breathing hard, but kept his eyes on hers and didn’t say a word.

He was communicating plenty with his eyes and with his erection.

She crouched down and pulled his jeans from his hips, letting them drop to the floor. He kicked them aside and she looked up at him, offering a smile.

“Wow, Carter.”

He grinned, then pulled her up to sit beside him. He drew the straps of her bra down, bending to kiss her as he undid the clasp. All play was over as her bra disappeared and suddenly his hand was there to cup her breast, his fingers toying with her nipple.

She gasped, arching into his hand, wanting more. And she got more, as he swept her onto her back, then bent and put his mouth on her, sucking her nipple in. He flicked his tongue over her until she was squirming under him, tangling her fingers in his hair to hold him there so the maddeningly delicious sensations wouldn’t stop.

He teased her, tormented her with his mouth, and at the same time moved his hand down her rib cage and over her belly, sliding his fingers into her panties to cup her sex.

This was so much more intense than when they were younger. All she could remember from then was fast, furious passion, a frenzied need to be with each other. A manic coupling, then calm after. Back then, besides the desperate need to get in each other’s pants, there’d also been a fear of getting caught, so they’d always been in a hurry.

Now, they had all the time in the world to get to know each other’s bodies again. She intended to savor every moment.

Instinctively, she lifted into his touch, craving the need he elicited from her. She was primed and ready like a rocket for launch, and the barest touch could send her right off. It had been so long, and this was Carter, who even after all these years knew her body better than any man ever had.

Surprisingly, he remembered how she liked to be touched, softly at first, and then a little harder as she got closer. How could he recall that after twelve years? As she shuddered and tightened he slid a finger inside her, and she exploded, crying out with an orgasm that left her shaken.