“You’re about to be.”

I press my face into his neck, smiling like a loon, clinging to him as he walks to the house. He’s not even breathing hard. I’ve always said that strength is sexy, and I just wasn’t referring to physical strength. But holy shit, that’s sexy too.

Like, really sexy.

Rhys sets me on the countertop of the kitchen and stands between my legs, lifting my maxi skirt to my waist, his green eyes on fire as he stares down at me.

“We’re not going up to the bedroom?”

“We’ll get there.” His lips tip up in a half-smile as his hands roam from my sides to my thighs, and then his thumbs work up my inner thighs to my center and make my eyes cross. “You’re not wearing underwear.”

I shake my head and lift the hem of his T-shirt, needing to get my hands on his smooth skin. The muscles twitch at my touch, making me smile, but then he groans and leans into me as my hands travel over his torso, reveling in how hard he is.

God, he feels spectacular.

Suddenly, Rhys squats before me and pushes my thighs farther apart. I have to lean back on my hands to keep from falling. He glances up at me with mischief all over his handsome face before he leans in and that mouth of his goes to work.

God, how can he do this to me, every single time? He makes my body sing.

He’s just barely brushing his tongue back and forth over my lips, gently touching me, teasing me. I plunge one hand into his hair and urge him to lick harder, suck harder, but he reaches up and takes my hand away and sets it on the countertop.

So much for being helpful.

“Rhys.”

“Patience,” he murmurs against me, then licks up to my clit, making my hips jerk, but licks back down again.

“Killing me.”

I feel him grin against me. His hands travel down my calves to my feet, and he rubs them—rubs them!—as he continues to lick me. Jesus, it’s sensory overload. My breath is heaving. Sparks of electricity are shooting through every nerve in my body.

“I want you, Rhys.”

“Right here,” he says.

“In me.”

Suddenly, he stands and boosts me off the countertop. “Not yet.”

“That was just mean.”

He chuckles and leads me to the hallway. Finally! He’s taking me to the bedroom. Thank God, because I was about to beg.

And that just won’t do.

But suddenly, I’m caged against the wall, and he’s leaning into me. I can smell myself on his mouth so I stand on tip-toe and lick him, right across his lips.

My inner flirt is very pleased.

Rhys groans and leads me to the stairs, but I stop short. He glances down at me with a raised brow. “Problem?”

“No, I just can’t wait to do this.” I unfasten his jeans, pull his pants and shorts off, tossing them to the side. “Sit.”

“Sit? On the steps?”

I nod and kneel as he complies. His cock is already at full attention. Rhys watches with wide eyes as I take him in my hand firmly and brush my thumb over the tip before licking him from his scrotum, up the underside to the head and take him in my mouth, against my tongue.

“Fucking hell, Gabby.”

I can’t believe I’ve never done this to him before. He never gives me the chance. He just takes over, and that’s fine, but I love making him crazy too.

Rhys leans back on the steps and alternates between dropping his head back and staring down at me as I work him over. His breath is choppy. His fingers are in my hair, gathering it into a ponytail to hold it out of my way as I lick, suck, and just barely skim the edge of my teeth over him.

“Jesus Christ, you’re good at that.”

I smile up at him, damn proud of myself. I don’t have a lot of practice in this area, or any area when it comes to sex really, so the fact that he’s enjoying it is a huge boost to my sexual ego.

I’m massaging his balls, which tighten, and I can tell he’s about to come.

“Stop.”

I shake my head, wanting to make him explode, but he stands suddenly and pulls me to my feet, leading me up the stairs.

“Damn it, I wasn’t done!”

“Gabby, we’re just getting started.”

I’m pouty as he leads me to the bed, but when I see the heat in his gaze as he strips my clothes from my body, I lick my lips in anticipation of what’s going to happen next.

Because knowing Rhys as well as I do now, it’s going to be fantastic.

He scoops me up and lays me on the bed, but instead of covering me with his body, he begins to massage me.

I appreciate the gesture, but I’m on fire here!

“Rhys.”

“I love your skin.”

“Seriously, I need you inside me.” He glances up at me, but continues to massage my legs.

“You have the best legs I’ve ever seen.”

“They’re short.”

“They’re perfect.”

I snort, and he narrows his eyes on me. “Are you calling me a liar?”

“Nope.” I shake my head, resigned to the massage rather than mind-blowing sex.

“Spread your legs wider.”

Now we’re getting somewhere.

I comply, but he still doesn’t move up my body to push inside me. Instead, his hands massage higher on my thighs, then he shoves his hands under my ass and lifts me to his mouth, as if I’m simply a piece of fruit.

Holy hell.

I brace my feet on his shoulders as he lowers his face to me and takes his time licking me, lightly again. Frustratingly lightly.

What’s the female version of blue balls? ‘Cause that’s what I have right now.