Her cheeks burned at the praise. “See, there you go again, making me all nervous and jittery with your compliments.”
He frowned down at her, as if truly bewildered. “Why can’t you see the truth? The first time I saw your picture on Gracie’s computer I thought you were sexy as hell. Even then I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you. At the bar, you danced like a siren, so alluring and kissable. I was spinning out of control watching you move. Hell, it was all I could do to bide my time until I could be alone with you.” His penetrating gaze pinned her in place, as he asked, “In many ways you’re very innocent, aren’t you?”
She blinked, trying to digest everything he’d said. She chose to ignore the praise, because she couldn’t believe it. No one had ever said things like that to her before. “I have been with men, Dean.”
“Still, I have a feeling you’re too innocent for a guy like me.”
“A guy like you?”
“In the bedroom, I like variety,” he murmured. “Do you understand?”
She wondered at that. “No, I don’t. Not really.”
“You know, handcuffs, paddles, even some role-playing.” He winked. “That sort of thing.”
“Oh,” she said, as X-rated images zipped through her head at the speed of light.
He chuckled. “I take it you’ve never done any of that?”
She shook her head, feeling very much like a country bumpkin. “I did say I wasn’t the adventurous type, remember?”
“See?” He wagged his eyebrows. “Now I want to dirty you up a little.”
She laughed. “You’re the teacher and I’m the student, is that it?”
He tapped her nose. “You’d look hot in one of those little plaid skirts.”
“I can see I’m going to have to tread carefully around you,” she teased. “Otherwise you’ll corrupt me.”
“A little corruption can be fun,” he whispered, then he was
there again, taking his lips on a sensual journey over her mouth and cheeks. When he kissed his way down over her chin to her neck, Catherine groaned—and promptly surrendered.
Dean had had his fair share of women. Beautiful woman who’d left him gasping and willing to please and be pleased. But there was something about Catherine that set her apart. He couldn’t seem to resist her. The predator in him had recognized her vulnerability; it seemed to taunt him to swoop down and snatch her up.
The instant she had walked into Wade and Gracie’s home, Dean should’ve known his days were numbered. Her shiny red hair and lush curves had him impatient to find out for himself whether she was as soft to the touch as she appeared. Dean had always hated women who were too thin. He liked something to hold on to, something to play with, and Catherine had exactly what he craved.
“You do realize that now that I have you here, I won’t be letting you go anytime soon,” he whispered.
Her gaze narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“This won’t be a one-nighter.” Dean could see Catherine’s willful thoughts in the expressive features of her beautiful face. “I know we both thought so at first, but I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to let you simply walk away from me when morning arrives.”
“Dean, I—”
He swallowed her words with a quick, hard kiss. Dean didn’t want to listen to her protests. He wasn’t even sure why he’d brought it up. Besides, the time for words was over. Instead, he intended to hear her cries of pleasure soon. A hell of a lot of pleasure. He wanted Catherine to forget the fact that he didn’t trust her. That he may never be able to give her anything more than a few hot moments between the sheets.
Using one hand, Dean began to inch down the side zipper on her dress. He looked into her anxious eyes and growled, “I’m tempted to rip this flimsy thing right down the middle.”
Catherine stiffened. “Don’t even think it. Gracie bought if for me.”
He came down to within a breath of her lips. “As it happens, I like revealing you a little at a time.” Dean swept his tongue across Catherine’s soft lips. She parted them on a sigh, and he knew it was an invitation to taste her deeper. As he slipped his tongue inside, Dean tasted a hint of chocolate along with a generous amount of Catherine. Her arms came around his neck, pulling him closer. God, she was so damn sweet and tempting, and he wanted more of her.
He lifted an inch. “I want my tongue on other parts of your sexy body, sweetheart.”
She licked her lips a few times. “You do?” she finally asked.
He grinned at the breathless way she spoke. “I want to lick your pretty breasts. To taste and tease your nipples into stiff little peaks.”