He cupped her hip and forced her into a slower rhythm, even slower, so exquisitely slow. “Like that,” he praised.

“Yes, yes.” Every point of contact took her to a newer height of awareness. Her nails sank into his back, probably drew blood, but he must have liked it because a groan left him.

“What are you doing to me, angel?” He licked and nibbled his way to her neck, sucked, and it felt too good to worry about any lingering marks people would see.

“Jase.” There was his name again, escaping of its own accord. A plea or a demand, she wasn’t sure which. “Kiss me.”

Once again he obeyed, but once again it wasn’t where she’d meant. He drew his lips along the line of her jaw, nipped at her earlobe—the implants! She stiffened.

“No,” she said, gripping his chin to hold him back.

His gaze flashed fire at her. “Let me.”

“No,” she repeated.

He cupped her between the legs, the heel of his hand pressing where she ached the most. “Let me, and I’ll give you more of this.”

“No,” she said on a moan. Her legs parted wider, granting him better access, but he took his hand away. Oh! Dang him. If he wanted to kiss her ears, fine. He could kiss her ears. Just as long as he continued touching her.

She removed her hand from his chin, and he nuzzled all around the implant, not stopping until she relaxed into the mattress, actually...enjoying the attention. Who knew ears could be such an erogenous zone? As she arched into him, silently demanding the return of his hand, just as he’d promised, he switched tracks and licked his way to the cord of her neck, where he bit.

Raw sensation poured through her. He kneaded her breasts until every touch was like a jolt of electricity, and when she was writhing, incoherent, he slid his fingers down the center of her stomach, stopping to play at her navel, teasing her with what could be.

“Jase, please. It’s good. So good, but...but you promised.”

“I’ll keep my promise, angel.” He slid his fingers under her panties, where she was wet and needy.

“Yes!” She arched her back. “Kiss me.”

He returned his attention to her neck. Again, not what she’d meant or needed, but she figured out why he kept doing it. He thought to resign her to the same forgettable fate as the ones who’d come before her.

She framed his face, met his gaze. Those emerald eyes, so bright, simmering with passion. “Kiss me.”

He stared at her lips with a hunger only the most deprived ever experienced while his fingers continued to stroke between her legs—it was almost more than she could bear.

“Brook Lynn.” Never had her name sounded quite so tortured.

She traced her tongue along the seam of her mouth—then his. “I want to taste you while you play with me.”

He groaned, a sound of animal hunger. “I shouldn’t have kissed you before. It’s better if I don’t...”

“To remind your women that the sex means nothing to you. I know.”

His fingers stilled. “In a way, yes, but also—”

“I don’t need the reminder,” she rushed out. Let me pretend...continue to hope. She nipped his chin. “Please. Kiss me, and I’ll make you so glad you did.” As she spoke, she moved her hand between them, down the waist of his pants. Burrowed under his underwear and found his long, hard and extra-large length inside—he hadn’t just been bragging about his size. Hot beads of moisture seeped from the tip.

His shudder rattled the entire bed.

“Don’t kiss me,” she whispered, “and I’ll make you wish you had.” She took her hand away—and he cursed. Too bad for you, Jase. I’m learning from the best.

“Ultimatums, angel?”

“Consider it negative and positive reinforcement.” Or desperation. “Like you gave me.”

His narrowed gaze watched her as she placed her fingers at her lips, opened wide and sucked deep, tasting what he’d given her. A low moan reverberated from him. He yanked out her fingers and replaced them with his tongue. A hot, wet thrust she met with one of her own.

As fierce as the make-out session had been before...this was...was... Oh! Nothing compared. He devoured her mouth. She fed him passion. Breath intermingled. Bodies undulated. He wasted no more time, tunneling a finger deep inside her. She arched into the inward glide, needing to be filled. Have been empty for so long.

“So tight, angel,” he praised. He worked in a second finger.

She clung to his shoulders. As he scissored the digits, she felt stretched, the sensation a little uncomfortable, and yet it only made her desperate for more. “Jase,” she gasped.

He pressed in, pulled out then pressed in again, teasing her, forcing her hips to follow his motions, allowing him to go a little deeper with each plunge.

“Can you take another?”

For him? “Yes.”

He worked in a third finger. Her back bowed as her body accepted him. A sheen of perspiration formed over her skin, burning her from head to toe. The most delicious burn.

“So wet,” he practically purred. “So perfect.”

“Jase...it’s good. I’m so close.”

Out went his fingers, and she moaned in protest. He sat back on his heels, placing her legs outside his thighs, forcing her wide open for him. He stared at the soaked crotch of her panties before shaking his head, as if he’d made a life-altering decision.

“Hope these aren’t a favorite pair,” he said and, without waiting for her response, ripped her panties away, leaving her bare, utterly vulnerable.