Turn Me On (Man of the Month 7)

"Well, I do."

"Anyone else?"

She shook her head.

"Then it's fine."

"It's random," she said. "You should pick numbers that you can remember."

"You mean something other than the day we met?"

She froze. She'd done that on a whim, not thinking for a moment that he'd realize what the numbers represented, too. Casually, she tossed a smile over her shoulder. "Is it? What a coincidence."

"Uh-huh." He reached for her hand, then tugged her to him, then picked her up and flung her over his shoulder while she squealed and pounded on his back.

"Put me down!"

"Not until you admit that date's important. One for the history books. A real red letter day."

"Dammit, Derek." She kicked, but he held on tight.

"Nope? Okay, guess I'll have to give myself the tour. I'm thinking I'll start in the bedroom."

"Put. Me. Down."

"Yes, Ma'am." He bent over and dumped her onto the bed. Before she had a chance to recover, he was on top of her, caging her in with his hands and his legs. "Admit it."

She shook her head, fighting laughter.

"I'll get the truth out of you one way or another."

"What ways?"

"I could tickle you."

She shook her head. "I'm a kicker. You might lose something important."

"Spank you?"

She met his eyes, saw heat reflected back. "I take the Fifth."

He held her gaze a bit longer, the moment heavy with possibility. Then a slow smile crossed his face. "I'm thinking maybe this."

Slowly, so that she had time to anticipate the kiss, he lowered himself to her.

They made love slowly, no wild rush of lust. No struggle to get free of clothes and shoes. This felt like a deeper passion. A burning need. A coming together.

It was real and tender and a little terrifying.

But Amanda wanted it. Had been longing for it all the time he was gone. To come together not out of wild lust, but out of the need to be together, as fully and completely as possible.

The realization that she'd been craving that scared her, and she didn't share it with him. But when he took her to the edge--when his body pushed hers over into the stars--she whispered one thing for him to keep with him.

"I missed you," she said, then let herself explode in his arms.

* * *

Amanda didn't remember falling asleep, but by the time she woke up, the sun was streaming in through the open curtains and Derek's alarm was blaring.