Burned Deep (Burned 1)

He gave me his sexy smirk. “You’re definitely something else. I can’t believe how quickly you made me come. Christ.”

He kissed me in his electrifying way, keeping the juices flowing, keeping me boneless and excited. It was all I could do not to claw at him, to beg him to fuck me again.

Eventually, Dane straightened and hauled me up. I was ridiculously limp, needing to plant my palms alongside my hips to steady myself for a few seconds. He eyed me curiously and grinned.

“Don’t look so pleased with yourself,” I teased. “You could pretend you put a little effort into leaving me dazed and spineless.”

Thoroughly ravaged was probably the more appropriate term. My mussed hair fell over my bare shoulders. My skirt was still bunched around my waist. I had no idea what my makeup looked like. No doubt I wore a very satisfied smile on my face.

He reached for my hem. “Lift up.”

I did as instructed and he moved my skirt into place. Then he discarded the condom and cleaned up at the sink. I was still nowhere near in touch with myself as I finally slipped to the floor and padded my way into the bathroom. I took a quick shower, did a light blow-dry of my hair, and pulled on my Edmonton Oilers T-shirt. Then I dragged on a pair of red lace panties.

Dane stood in my living room when I returned, his hip propped against the back of the sofa. He’d put his shirt on. He’d left it unbuttoned, the tails out. I wasn’t quite sure what the next move was supposed to be—or who was supposed to make it.

I wrung my hands, unnerved. “That was…” I didn’t have words for what that was. Even a cool shower couldn’t alleviate the fiery sensations that still flickered within me.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” His look was a grave one.

“Of course not. I’ll be sore in the morning, but in a really good way.” I already felt it coming on. The throbbing within me didn’t abate and my inner thighs burned. My stomach ached, too, as though I’d just done a million crunches. It all felt exhilarating. Like a nonstop reminder of how much we’d wanted each other. A constant memory that he’d been so very deep inside me. That he’d fucked me hard—as I’d wanted him to do.

Yet he didn’t seem pleased with my answer. “You’re incredibly tight. Small. And—”

“Dane.” I crossed to where he stood and gazed up at him. “Try to understand. This is the first time I’ve actually had earth-shattering sex. I mean, I always thought that term was such bullshit, such an exaggeration. Now, I get it. And the fact that I can still feel everything you did to me…” I might have worn a silly expression. “Like, my body is just—”

My fists balled at my sides. I couldn’t explain how unbelievable it felt to have every inch of me singed by his touch, his thrusts, his kisses.

“Trust me when I say, you gave me exactly what I needed.” I stretched on tiptoe and pressed my lips to his.

He quickly took over the kiss—apparently I was too tentative. And Dane knew exactly how to turn something sweet and spicy into something scorching hot. I loved it.

When he eventually pulled away, he whispered, “Touch me, Ari.” His breath blew against a few strands of hair on my temple. “Anywhere. Everywhere. However you want.”

My fingertips grazed the corrugrated grooves of his stomach, up to his stonewall of a chest.

“I’ve never actually seen anyone this cut in person,” I told him. “How do you find time for the gym?”

“I started working out with a trainer when I was a kid. I’ve always kept with it.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I simply said. There really wasn’t a better description.

Slipping out of his shirt, he laid it across the back of the sofa. Then he gathered me in a tight embrace and delivered yet another passionate kiss. Leaving me breathless.

His hands slid under my shirt and caressed my sides, before one slid to my butt. He palmed my ass cheek and gave it a titillating squeeze.

“It’s too bad I only had the one condom.”

I frowned. “That is too bad. I don’t have any, either.”

“I should have considered that before I sent the driver back to the hotel. He could have made a drugstore run for us.”

I started. First at the thought of the chauffeur picking up condoms and bringing them back here. And second … “You’re staying?”

His eyes bore into me. “I told you very specifically this wouldn’t be a fast fuck in a hotel room before you bolt for the door. I believe those were my exact words.”

“Actually, I think I’m mostly surprised you’d want to sleep over, knowing we won’t be having sex again.”

“This isn’t just about sex, Ari.”