She swallows and briefly frowns again. “I guess I’m just not used to it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I spend most of my time alone, Leo. Unless I’m around my family, which isn’t often, I’m not touched much.” She shrugs and looks down. “I’m just not a touchy-feely person.”

“Okay.” God, she breaks my heart and makes me want to scoop her up and keep her in my arms all the time.

That wouldn’t go over well with this independent, stubborn woman.

“I bet you’re touched all the time.” She smirks.

“Why?” I ask. We’re still face-to-face, inches apart. I don’t want to move.

“Fans. Groupies. People who want a piece of you.”

“The fans are great, and yes, can be a bit gropy.” I smirk. “I haven’t paid attention to the groupies in a long time.”

Her wide eyes find mine again. Does she think I fuck every woman who comes on to me?

Okay, I used to, but I was a kid.

“Really?”

I run my fingers down her cheek again and smile down at her. “I let the roadies have them.”

“Perk of the job,” she returns with a chuckle.

“They don’t complain.” I agree. “You smell good,” I whisper. Her sweet, light scent is all around me. She smells like vanilla with a hint of lemons.

Sunshine.

Her breath catches and her eyes fall to my lips and I know I’m a goner.

“I’m going to kiss you, Samantha,” I whisper.

~Samantha~

“Thank God,” I whisper, watching his lips, that piercing. He’s been touching me all week, a brush here, a hug there, but he hasn’t kissed me since that moment on my parents’ porch.

I never knew I could crave a kiss so much.

He smirks, his eyes happy and hot, runs those calloused fingertips down both of my cheeks and tilts my head back.

I brace my hands on the tub at his hips as he leans down and lightly, softly brushes his lips over mine. He nibbles the corner of my mouth, and then moves in, grips my ponytail in one fist to keep my head tilted back, his other hand wraps around my neck and cheek and he kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before.

Like he just can’t get close enough to me.

The feeling is entirely mutual.

I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on, moving from a squat to my knees, and lean into him. I swear someone turned the heat up in my apartment. I’m hot and bothered, literally.

He moves his hand from my hair, down my back, and cups my ass in his hand.

He backs away, breathing hard, eyes shining with lust. “Are you seeing anyone?”

I shake my head no and lean in to kiss him again, but he pulls back, his face still so serious.

“Fucking anyone?”

“Brandon moved.”

“Who’s Brandon?”

“Former fuck-buddy.” Why are we talking?

“How long?” He asks, eyes narrowed, watching me.

“A few months.” I take his face in my hands and frown up at him. “What’s this about?”

“I don’t want to move in on another guys territory, and I don’t share.”

Wow.

“I’m single.” I frown again. “But we aren’t…”

“Oh, I think we are,” he interrupts, his gaze challenging me. He grips my ass harder and stands, easily pulling me to my feet. “I can’t let go of you,” he whispers.

“You have to let go of me,” I whisper back and try to pull away but he scowls and tightens his arms. “Let go,” I repeat, stronger.

He sighs and lets go and steps back. His face is grim. His tall, lean body is in his usual black t-shirt and running shorts but the shorts are tented just a bit. I bite my lip and then offer him a small smile before pulling my tank and bra over my head and toss them to the tile floor.

I hear his breath catch, but stay on task, peeling my yoga pants and panties off and onto the floor with my shirt.

He’s frozen in place, his stormy eyes wide and his mouth agape, taking me in. His hands are fisting in and out, like he wants to touch me but is trying to hold himself back.

“Your belly is pierced,” he whispers almost to himself and I chuckle.

“Yeah.” I look down at the diamond hanging from my navel and grin. “It was my one rebellion when I was in high school. Aerosmith’s Cryin’ had just come out, and most girls just had to have their navels pierced.”

“It’s fucking hot.”

“Get naked.” I step toward him, but he puts his hand up, his eyes pinned to my own.

“Are you sure?”

“Leo, I don’t invite many men to my home. I certainly don’t invite many men to get naked. I think I mean it.”

He searches my face for a moment longer and then instead of taking off his clothes as directed, he rushes to me, picks me up and sits me on my sink and kisses me silly.

This man can seriously fucking kiss.

I catch his piercing in my teeth and pull gently, making him laugh.

“You like it rough, sunshine?” he asks me.

“Yeah, actually, I do.”

“Good, you’ll get it. You’ll get it soft too.” He traces my ear with his tongue, sending shivers down my spine.

“Rough works for me.”

He bites my ear, hard, making me yelp, then soothes it with his tongue.

“I’ll take you hard, and soft, and every way in between.” He grips my face in his hands and looks down at me, his nose touching mine. “I’m going to fuck the shit out of you.”

Oh God, yes!

“And I’m going to make love to you until you’re shaking and don’t remember who you are.”

His big hands glide up my arms and then cup my breasts gently, his thumbs tweak my nipples, making them pucker even more than they were, and I didn’t think that was possible.

He’s found a direct line to my pussy, and I squirm.

I push my hands under his shirt and find warm skin and smooth muscle.

“Want to see you,” I murmur and nibble his bottom lip, next to his piercing.

He steps back and reaches an arm over his head, grips his shirt at the shoulder blade and pulls it over his head in that sexy way men do. He shucks off his running shorts, toes off his shoes, and there he is.

Buck ass naked.

He steps back between my knees, resting his hard erection against me and kisses me some more. I don’t think I’ve been kissed this much in my whole life.

I like it.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmurs. I look up to find him staring at my back in the mirror and smile.