And she'd lose her nerve.

If standing here almost naked in a short pink camisole top and lacy underwear wasn't vulnerable feeling enough, she'd just exposed herself emotionally.

Jeremy turned away from her and headed for the sliding gla.s.s door.

Her heart squeezed with disappointment.

But the door whipped to the left, closing. The lock clicked shut.

Then he returned to her. And stood very still, inches away, but so close he should be able to hear her heart pounding with hope.

"Jeremy, I-"

His hands cupped her face, silencing her next words when warm lips descended on hers. What an amazing mouth.

She was going to fold faster than a poker player with a bad hand if this was the prelude to what was to come. CeCe clutched Jeremy's waist then slid her hands up the warm skin covering taut muscles across his back. She'd almost fainted at the sight of all that sculpted body on display when he rushed in wearing only jeans.

Capable hands moved down her shoulders and behind her back, pressing her closer. His tongue brushed past her lips, sparring sweetly with hers.

She shivered at his touch, his strength and gentleness.

He was being d.a.m.n careful with her. Did that mean he wouldn't go any further? She had one night if he was leaving Tuesday and wanted all of him tonight.

Then she prayed he wouldn't forget her while he was gone.

She hoped she wasn't making a wrong move, but she shifted her hands between them and climbed her fingers up his chest where his muscles quivered from her touch. That encouraged her. She grasped his shoulders and pulled herself up against him until she felt the solid ridge in his jeans.

He was definitely up for more than kissing.

She made one sensual rub, then another.

A growl vibrated from Jeremy. Heady excitement rushed through her at the prospect he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She smiled and ground her hips in what she hoped he'd think was a seductive way.

Jeremy reached down and scooped her up until her legs hooked around his waist, then his kiss deepened, demanding all her attention. He was so beautiful. Muscles rippled beneath her fingers with every move. He held her bottom with one hand and her head with another, his mouth refusing to give an inch, overwhelming her with his kisses.

She tightened her legs, sliding intimately against him.

Jeremy lifted his mouth from hers. "You better have a condom somewhere in this house or we're walking to mine just like this."

"B... B..." She couldn't think.

"Bedroom?"

"Yes."

He swung her around, moving with the stealth of a large jungle cat in the dark. His mouth found hers again, turning her insides crazy hot. When he entered the bedroom she blushed at the candles burning. Would he think it was silly or too romantic?

He slowly lowered her to the bed and brushed his knuckles across her cheek. "You're even more gorgeous in candlelight."

She sighed or maybe the room did.

"I want to see all of you," she whispered, tentatively.

Jeremy stood up, reached behind him, and laid a Walther P99 on the nightstand. She shivered at the smooth way he handled the weapon. Total confidence.

"I'll put this out of sight if it bothers you," he said, pointing at the gun.

She shook her head. "I grew up with guns in the house." In fact, Jeremy would be surprised to know how quickly she could break down and rea.s.semble the one on the nightstand.

But right now she was more interested in the barrel inside his pants. "The only thing bothering me is you so far away."

He smiled and unzipped his jeans. Candlelight glowed across his golden skin, highlighting muscles carved to perfection. Not an overdone bodybuilder, but a modern-day Adonis with a powerful build softened only by honey-blond hair brushing his forehead.

When he peeled out of the jeans she lost her breath.

He'd dressed commando. Impressive.

Jeremy dropped down over the top of her, supporting his weight with his forearms.

She inched back at the untamed look in his eyes.

"Should have run when you could have," he teased. He moved farther on the bed, still towering over her, but paused as if checking to see if she'd changed her mind.

CeCe shook her head slowly and smiled. "I'm all yours for the taking."

A feral gaze lashed through those simmering green eyes.

He slipped an arm under her back and lifted her up, moving her higher on the pillow, then pushed her hands above her head to grasp the vertical bars in the bra.s.s headboard. "Don't let go."

Don't let go? She didn't dare ask why for fear of him stopping. She didn't dare ask why for fear of him stopping.

He ran his hand down her throat, over her shoulders, across the silky top barely covering her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in this position. His fingers lingered, slipping beneath the material to trace a path around one nipple.

She tensed, waiting, but he didn't touch the sensitive bud.

His finger drew circles slowly down to her navel, then paused. He lifted the edge of her camisole and shifted the thin material back and forth across her taut nipples. A fiery sizzle shot straight through her, erupting in a frenzy of wet heat that pooled between her legs.

She clenched, needing him to touch her everywhere.

The silk drifted back in place when he released it.

Her heart raced, antic.i.p.ation taking her breath.

His fingers lightly raked the exposed skin around her navel then across the front of her lace underwear. His lips followed behind his fingers, kissing and nipping her skin.

He touched the inside of her thigh and slipped a finger under the edge of her panties.

She tensed, waiting for him to touch her most intimate spot. When he pulled the lace aside, he lowered his head and kissed her then ran his tongue across the fragile skin.

She gripped the bars and arched, crying out at the wave of pleasure that seared through her. He stopped before the sensation crested and kissed his way back to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

"I want to touch you," she panted.

"Not yet, sweetheart." His lips grazed her abdomen, kissing lightly and murmured, "I love the feel of your skin. So soft."

He lifted her silky top, slowly, letting the material feather the tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s again, then slid it over her head. Tears stung her eyes at the exquisite pain.

Then his mouth covered one breast.

She'd expected relief, not blissful torture with a razor edge. His tongue toyed with one nipple, slowly driving her mad. A hand covered the other breast, then his thumb sc.r.a.ped gently across the beaded tip.

She arched, shaking with need for more, but he kept her dangling on that painful edge.

Jeremy moved slowly up to her mouth and the kiss was fierce this time, consuming and possessive. His thick erection rubbed against her stomach. She lifted up, pressing against him until he hissed and lifted away. She opened her eyes to see the muscles in his neck corded, tense from the strain of holding back, taking this slow.

She'd waited years for this chance and didn't want slow and easy. She scrambled to think of some way to shake him up so he'd stop being so careful. "I'm... wet for you."

His whole body shuddered. "You're killing me," he muttered. He lowered his head and suckled her breast, then moved his fingers inside her panties until he pushed one inside her. She inhaled a sharp breath and moaned on the release.

He drew the wet finger out and caressed her folds, teasing the one spot where her body begged for relief. He'd barely touched her when she exploded into a thousand sparks, her mind and body screaming with release.

And he wouldn't let her stop until she collapsed.

"Good G.o.d, woman."

"What?" she panted.

"I almost came just watching you."

She basked in the thrill of his words since that's all her boneless body had the energy to do.

He stretched out beside her and ran his fingers over her face. She kissed his palm. He turned her toward him and kissed her, his lips sweet now, gentle.

There he went being careful with her again.

"That's not it, is it?" she asked.

His hand stilled.

She reached down and grasped the smooth skin stretched tight over his p.e.n.i.s. He growled and clenched at the touch. Slowly, she stroked her hand down, then upward to the damp tip.

Jeremy let out a harsh sound. "Where's that condom?"

She sat up and shoved him back on the bed playfully. Her heart thumped in a wild rhythm. To cover her nervousness, she just smiled and hoped she could do this correctly. Reaching over, she opened the nightstand drawer with shaking hands and dug around until her fingers touched foil. She moved back to Jeremy and straddled him.

Then fought with the foil packet.

She was going to embarra.s.s herself if she couldn't at least open the d.a.m.n condom. Large hands covered hers. She met Jeremy's gaze, terrified she'd see him laughing. He didn't say a word or smile, just opened the package, tossed it aside, and handed her the condom.

The last time she did this with a boy-and he was was a boy-who wasn't quite so well endowed. a boy-who wasn't quite so well endowed.

CeCe drew a breath, then took her time sheathing Jeremy, careful not to move too fast and scratch him with her nails. He was so silent and rigid by the time she finished, CeCe looked up to see if he was okay.

A line of perspiration beaded his forehead.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"No." His voice sounded raw. "I don't think putting on a condom has ever felt so erotic."

That had to be the nicest thing a man had ever said to her. She smiled with a sa.s.sy toss of her head.

Jeremy hid his surprise over her flash of boldness. She'd shocked the h.e.l.l out of him when he stepped into her kitchen and found her waiting for him like a birthday gift wrapped in silk. CeCe Caprice had another side of her he'd never have expected. He'd guessed she hadn't done this much and watching her fumble with the condom removed any doubt. He would bet she hadn't been intimate with a man more than once or twice.

What she lacked in experience she made up for with unbridled enthusiasm. But what had triggered this for tonight?

Why had she blown him off and now...

She lifted herself up over his c.o.c.k.

He lost all concern about why and grasped her hips, easing her down and sliding himself inside her. He gritted his teeth at the ragged pleasure of being surrounded by her tight heat.

Her eyes widened with a range of emotions, from surprise to shock to pleasure, with each inch he lowered her down his shaft until she dropped her head back, tightened, and moaned.

If she kept that up, he'd be looking like the one with little experience. He'd never met a woman who exploded so quickly. Just a touch.

She leaned forward again, her hands on his chest and a wicked gleam in her eyes. Without a word, she lifted up then down. He gripped her hips and met her stroke for stroke, every muscle in his body holding back, fighting to make this last.

CeCe quickened the pace and gripped his chest. He moved a hand until he could tease her with a finger. She arched sharply, tensed, and came again.

The woman was incredible.

He stroked deep inside her, coming right behind her. The force of his o.r.g.a.s.m lashed through him sharp as heat lightning. His body clenched with a last powerful thrust. Rough breaths shuddered from him. The blinding surge of energy slowly abated.

That had been pretty freaking amazing. Not what he'd imagined at all and he had a healthy imagination.

She fell forward in a heap on his chest. Chuckling, he wrapped her in his arms, unable to do more until he got his breath back. CeCe was one incredible woman.

She'd been nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs when he'd walked into her kitchen, trying to seduce him when it was obvious she had little experience at inviting men into her bedroom. Maybe something important had come up with her brother that she'd felt took priority over a casual dinner.

Jeremy could understand that, even though he had no family. Never had. But why had she called him over here late tonight? Because he said he was leaving in two days? They still could have gone to dinner tomorrow. Unless she had plans.

In spite of this late-night gift, CeCe was no quick roll in the sheets.

She was a nice girl and sweet... and hot as h.e.l.l.

Why question his good fortune?

Because he couldn't suppress a chiding voice that said this was all he'd ever be to any woman.