“Sounds unhealthy.”

He laughed without humor. “Maybe. But I want to get one thing straight. Sending you those roses had nothing to do with trying to get you in my bed. That was about admiring the woman you are and wanting to give you a little bit of pleasure. Because when you smile, you pretty much wreck me.”

Oh, God. No. He couldn’t say such things to her. Things that ripped into her heart and made her want him so badly she shook with pure need. His nostrils flared as if catching her scent. He growled low in his throat and stepped closer. “I promised myself I wouldn’t touch you again unless you asked me.”

She locked her thighs together, praying she looked like she was in control. “Good plan.”

“But I want to touch you. Real bad.” He took another step. His body heat licked at her, teasing. His masculine scent danced in her nostrils. “I keep imagining you naked. I’m obsessed with knowing how you taste. I fantasize about stripping off your clothes, parting your thighs, and licking you till you come. I can almost hear the sound of your screams and feel the bite of your nails.”

A rush of wetness dampened her panties. Her heart slammed against her ribs. “D-doesn’t sound very friendly.”

His eyes glittered with a fierce hunger. “No, it doesn’t. But I made you a damn promise, and even though we’re not working together anymore, I don’t want to push when I’m not wanted. Am I?”

Her voice pitched to a high half shriek. “Are you what?”

“Wanted.”

The silence roared with unspoken possibilities and dark cravings. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a yo-yo, back and forth, giving him enough mixed signals to confuse both of them. The truth of their shared past haunted her, but her body didn’t care, slamming through the obstacle in a mad dash for another touch, another taste.

“I want you.” The stark words fell between them. “But it doesn’t matter. It won’t work. We want different things.”

“We want each other. We want to figure out what this thing is between us that’s haunting me day and night. You’re in every breath I take, Raven. It’s driving me mad.”

“I’m trying to be smart,” she said desperately. “I don’t need this complication now. You’re not good for me.”

“Do you seriously think you’ll be able to give your heart to some perfect husband figure when your body is weeping for mine? Is that fair to anybody?”

Did he move closer, or was it her imagination? The perfect curves of his lips were inches away. She ached to slide her hands inside his crisp white shirt and stroke the sleek muscles beneath. Grab on to his rock-hard shoulders. Press her mouth to his and give her own demands.

“Let’s slake the thirst we have for each other. Give each other pleasure. Maybe it’ll take away this driving need I have for you and convince us both we’re bad together.”

She gave a shaky laugh. “Oh, God, that’s such a line. Do you know how many movies and books use that excuse? It usually gets worse. More intense.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” His breath caressed her cheek. His hands hovered by her hips. If she leaned forward, just a bit, they’d be pressed together and it would all be over. “We can find out. But you have to make the move. Say no and I’ll walk.” In that moment, his eyes blazed with raw intensity. “I don’t want to hurt you, Raven.”

She didn’t respond.

The image of red roses floated through her mind. Of restoring her restaurant to something beautiful. Of that one perfect, glorious, soul-stirring kiss in the moonlight.

And in that moment, Raven surrendered to the one thing she wanted most in the world. Just for tonight.

She reached out and pulled him into her arms.

This time, there was no buildup or teasing seduction. Her lips opened under his hungry growl, and he pulled her in tight, twisting his fingers in her hair as he devoured her mouth. She arched up for more, and he picked her up without breaking the kiss, setting her back down on top of the bar. Dragging her thighs apart, he stepped between her legs.

Drunk on his taste, she tore at the buttons of his shirt, sliding the fabric off his shoulders. She only got halfway before he pressed her back on the bar, yanking her tank up to cover her breast with his large hand. He flicked the hard tip of her nipple through the lace, ripping his mouth from her lips to press tiny bites down the length of her neck, licking the hurt away with his tongue. His hips slowly rocked back and forth, pressing his erection against the notch of her thighs. Shivers raced down her spine, and her toes curled in her sandals. She tried to finish the job of removing his shirt, but he pressed her down with his weight, forcing her to take the pleasure.

Oh, God, so much pleasure.

“Take the damn shirt off.” Her nails dug into his shoulders. She tried to twist, but his mouth had found her breast, and oh, yes, his teeth tugged at her hard nipple, dragging the scratchy lace back and forth against her swollen bud as if he were conducting a scientific experiment in arousal rather than taking her hard like she wanted.

His low laugh shot warm breath over her other nipple, which now demanded the same attention. “First you.”

“No way, Slick. This an equal opportunity encounter. Strip.”

“You’re so damn bossy.” In one swift motion, he unclasped her bra and snapped open the button on her jeans. She sucked in a breath as his mouth dipped once again to suck on her nipple. The delicious, wicked heat of his mouth and sharp bite of his teeth ripped out a moan, and she frantically wriggled to get closer. He tugged the snug denim over her hips and bared her black bikini underwear. The material was already soaked with her arousal, and Raven panted, trying to tug at his belt buckle.

“Play fair or I’m gonna get mad,” Raven warned.

His mouth moved down her tummy, licking a line of fire to the elastic waistband. He pressed his palm against the damp material, and her hips bucked up, begging for more. He spread her legs wider until she was completely open. “Yeah? Tell you what. You be a good girl and come first, and then you can touch me all you want.”

“You bastard! You’re not running the show here—oh, God!” His fingers hooked under the material and dove deep, moving in and out of her pussy while his thumb lightly played with her clit, rotating in the faintest brushes. She practically clawed at him to get closer.

He overwhelmed her, dominated her, claimed her. While he played his wicked games with her pussy, his tongue thrust into her mouth, fucking her with a fierce possession, pressing his thumb to her throbbing clit a bit harder with each rotation. She writhed and moaned and scratched with savage need until he finally gave her what she craved.

His fingers plunged deep, his thumb flicked her clit, and he bit down on her lower lip.

She came hard, giving in to the brutal waves that wracked her body. His name rose from her lips in a scream, and he helped her ride out the orgasm with his talented mouth and fingers until she lay splayed beneath him, sated.

Slowly, he raised his head and gave her a wolfish grin.

“Now it’s your turn.”

Chapter sixteen

Dalton took one look at the woman half-naked on the bar, satisfied by his own hand, and wanted to throw back his head and roar.

Primitive waves of possession and victory beat within him. Something inside told him he’d be happy making Raven come for an endless period of time. Not hours. Days, weeks, months. He was already addicted to the way she surrendered so completely to her pleasure. Her skin smelled of sandalwood and sex. She tasted like forbidden apples and dark Hershey’s chocolate and the smooth, honeyed bourbon Cal liked to drink. Her small breasts were perfectly formed to fit in his hand, and her raspberry nipples were extra sensitive to his touch. He wanted to steep himself in the study of her body, explore the slopes and planes of her curves, her sweet, tight pussy, her muscled arms and legs.

He knew in that moment Raven had been right.

She wouldn’t be wrung out of his system tonight. A taste of her had only teased the beast inside, who was now already demanding more of her.

“You cheated.”

The sexy pout made his dick hurt. He’d never been this ready to come in his jeans before. He was almost afraid to have her touch him. “Couldn’t play fair this time, darlin’. You’re too fucking beautiful.” He brought his fingers up to his nose and breathed in her scent. His knees almost buckled with lust. “How can I make it up to you? Another orgasm?”