She looked surprised by the question. Shaking her head, she murmured, “No, I’m fine.” Then she blurted out something that had his jaw dropping open. “Did you know that your nickname at the office is DeStudo?” As if thinking better of her revelation after the fact, she slapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, my God, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just when I get nervous, I lose the filter between my mouth and my brain and things pop out without me thinking them through. Please ignore that.”

After his initial surprise, Mark couldn’t control the grin that spread across his face. “‘DeStudo’? Did you come up with that name, Angel?” he asked, prowling closer to her.

“What? No! I don’t know who did,” she stammered.

“So you don’t think I’m attractive?” he asked, watching her gulp at his question. Teasing her was fast becoming one of his favorite pastimes.

A few seconds later, the joke was on him, though, as she admitted in a rush, “I think you’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen. I’ve never lusted after anyone before, but I can’t stop thinking about trying out all of my secret fantasies with you.”

“Ah hell,” he groaned as he stopped just inches away from her. He raised a hand, stroking a finger down her soft cheek before cupping her face. “I’ll tell you again, baby, that you had your chance to let me run the other way. But since you didn’t, you’re mine.”

“Yes, please,” she replied sweetly as she stood up on her toes to press her mouth against his. That was it; he was gone. There was no Declan to discover them together and interfere this time.

Mark forced himself to remain still as she licked at his lips until he parted them and let her inside. When her questing tongue met his, he lost it. Without breaking contact, he leaned down and picked her up in his arms before striding down the hallway.

When they reached his room, he walked forward to the end of his bed before easing her gently down onto the soft surface. He positioned himself on top of her, carefully bracing his weight on his forearms. For now, he simply wanted to devour her mouth. With Angel, he felt like he could happily kiss her for hours. When she wrapped a leg around his and ground her hips against him, the kiss became pure carnal activity.

“I want our clothes off,” she moaned in his ear.

Ah fuck! Me too, baby. He reluctantly pulled back, getting to his feet and tugging her up with him. He walked quickly to one of the bedside lamps and clicked it on before returning to her. He lowered the zipper on her dress and he pulled it from her shoulders. The material slid past her hips and into a pool at her feet. “Sweet Christ,” he said feeling dizzy. “You’re beautiful, Angel—simply stunning.” And she was. Standing before him in a lacy black bra and tiny matching panties, she would fuel any man’s fantasies. Flawless skin, legs that seemed to go on for miles, a flat stomach, and breasts that were more than a handful.

“Can I?” she asked, pointing to his shirt. He’d imagined her being shy in the bedroom, so he was blown away that she was asking to undress him.

“Hell yes, baby; I’m all yours.” He’d worn a suit tonight but skipped the tie and left a couple of buttons undone on his dress shirt. Her fingers went straight to the next ones in line and began slipping them through the holes until she reached his slacks. He remained quiet, wanting to see what she’d do next—and she didn’t disappoint. With barely a pause, she unbuckled his belt and released the hook closure on his pants. He fought to keep a straight face as she chewed her lower lip while she concentrated on her task. Too fucking adorable. He had to give her credit because within moments—with no help from him—she had his dress shirt on the floor and was tugging his undershirt over his head.

Then her hands went to his zipper, and his legs went weak. His cock was already peeping from the top of his boxers. Her fingertips were all over it, and he had a horrifying moment of fear that he would blow his load before he was fully undressed. That was only acceptable if your pants were around your ankles while you were buried deep inside a woman. Having it happen from some very light contact was strictly a high school mistake. One he’d never made, even back then. So—he grabbed her hands and held them in one of his while he finished the job for her. His cock sprang free. “Oh, my goodness,” she said, looking astonished, before licking her lips. And there it went—the last of his self-control. He had to have her—now. There’d be time to take it slow later.

Dropping her wrists, he walked to the bedside table, pulled out a strip of condoms, and tossed them on the bed. He returned to her and settled his hands on her hips. “I can’t hold off long, Angel. I’ll make sure you’re there with me first, though, even if it kills me, baby. Okay?” She nodded her agreement and used one hand to open the front clasp of her bra. Her breasts tumbled free as she stepped back from his hold and positioned herself half-sitting, half-lying on his bed. How could anyone have ever let this woman go? he wondered as he climbed into bed beside her. He made quick work of removing her panties before sliding his hands up her inner thighs until he reached her core. His fingers found her slick folds, and he whispered in wonder, “You’re ready for me, aren’t you, baby? You’re so hot and wet.” His thumb slid easily around her clit while he eased his index finger inside of her.

“Hurry, Mark—hurry,” she cried out as her body quivered with need. He could tell she was already close to coming, just from the small amount of stimulation that he’d given her. He wanted to taste her—to see her come apart again and again—but right now, they both needed a release. Instead, he pulled back, rolled on a condom, and positioned his hands under her knees. Pulling her closer to him, he lined up his cock and thrust inside. When she screamed loud enough to wake his neighbors, he immediately stilled, gritting his teeth. “Why are you stopping?” she snapped. Her hips pushed back impatiently, taking him deeper. “Go—please,” she pleaded.