Black

“Great choice.” I kiss a path along her shoulder. A shiver runs through her, and I smile against her skin. “Favorite sport.”

“Baseball.”

“Mine too. Favorite team?”

“C-Cardinals.” I nip at her soft skin, and Shae sucks in a breath. “What was that for?”

“I’m a Cubs fan.”

“That’s okay; I forgive you.”

I nip her again, run my tongue along the side of her neck, and blow lightly. Goosebumps race across the creamy skin.

“You’re so responsive, Shae. I can’t wait to see what else I can get your body to do.”

She takes a shuddery breath, and I can tell by the flutter of her pulse against my lips that my words excite her.

“What did Erin mean when she said you hadn’t been with a man in quite some time?” She doesn’t immediately respond, so I turn her in my arms.

Her cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink as she looks at the floor. “You caught that, huh?”

“It’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about.”

She looks up. “Really? Why?”

Fuck if I know. Maybe because I like you and the thought of other men touching you makes me want to strangle someone. But telling her that now probably isn’t the smartest idea, so I just shrug.

“Don’t know. Just curious is all.” Shae still doesn’t answer, and I can feel the air around us growing thick. “How many men have you been with?”

Her eyes grow as wide as saucers. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

“It’s not. But I want it to be.”

Glancing down, she fiddles with the hem of her blouse. “Not many.”

“How many is not many?”

She tries to look away, but I don’t let her, so she opts to fold her arms over her chest. A universal defense mechanism. She thinks she’s shielding herself, but all she’s doing is fluffing her tits, putting all of that smooth, silky skin on full display. “I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

“I never questioned whether you’re a virgin.”

“Good, because I’m not,” she says firmly, and then her voice trails off. “I’m just not that experienced.”

“How inexperienced?”

Finally frustrated, she throws her arms out to the side. “Why does it matter?”

Running my hand up the back of her head, I thread my fingers through the silky strands of her hair. Something I’ve wanted to do since the moment I laid eyes on her. Gripping it tight, I tug and her head dips back. She looks up at me, her eyes smoldering, and I wonder what else she’d let me do.

“Because I want to fuck you, and I’m not a gentle man, Shae.”

Sucking her bottom lip between her teeth, she bites gently as I wait for her to respond. Something…anything would be good. Then she looks at my mouth, and what happens next isn’t at all what I’m expecting.

“We should probably kiss first.” She smiles coyly, and I do the only thing I can do.

I kiss her.

Her pupils are dilated, her gaze unfocused. When I slant my mouth over hers, she sighs, her lips parting. When her tongue reaches for mine, a low growl rumbles through my chest.