Adam smiled. He walked over and erased the distance between them. "I see that." He brushed her bangs away from her face. "I'm still going to f.u.c.k you."

He better. "You might get sick."

His wide hands cupped her face. "Have I ever told you I like to live on the edge?"

Yes, as a matter of fact he'd established that right away. His thirst for natural rushes usually involved s...o...b..arding, surfing, plane gliding and, let's not forget, the need for speed.

"Once or twice."

"Besides." Strong arms circled her waist and held her against him. "I don't get sick...ever."

Somehow she believed that.

"But if I were to get sick, I can't think of a more beautiful woman to get sick with," he continued with that s.e.xy smile of his.

Adam had a way of making her feel as if she was the most beautiful woman in the world. One day she might start to believe him.

"You're worth me getting sick, Liliana. I need to lose myself inside you."

His hard-muscled body rubbed against hers. Desire flared and Lily convinced herself it was just physical. Never mind her head was spinning and she wanted him more than her next breath.

"Kiss me," she begged, her voice deep and husky.

Adam obeyed and their lips touched. A gentle touch filled with the promise of what she knew would follow.

"You're beautiful," he said low, lips inches away.

Her cheeks scorched, burning her skin. Her ex used to call her cute and pretty at times, but never beautiful. The past year, the word had become synonymous with her. Adam made her feel beautiful.

Too overwhelmed to use words, Lily circled her arms around his neck, drawing him back to the warmth of her lips.

In the year since they'd begun her desire for him had only intensified. Every time he touched her, she yearned for more. His tongue slipped inside her mouth to explore. The sound of his moan filled her head as he nipped her lower lip. She gladly went along for the ride.

"I want you naked," she said, fingers impatiently tugging on his T-shirt.

"Good, because I want to rip this dress off your body. We should burn it."

Her brows went up. She already knew the reason for his words. Adam took. Adam possessed. In some ways, she belonged to him. "You're not jealous because I wore it on a..."

His lips crushed hers. "Where's the f.u.c.king zipper?" he murmured.

She caught his hand and guided him to the side of the dress where the zipper was strategically hidden. With one quick motion, the dress fell off her body to the floor, leaving her standing in the middle of the kitchen in a pair of four-inch heels and a silk black bra with matching thong. Adam stepped back; his eyes swept over her body. The expression on his face shifted to one she recognized as hungry. Since shyness was not a trait she could ever claim, she allowed him to take in her nearly-naked body.

"Jesus, you wore that for your date," he said, his voice riled up, his displeasure obvious.

She took mental note of Adam's jealousy. She affected him. The realization caused one of those secret tingles only Adam had been able to garner. "No, I wore this," she emphasized, "because I love wearing s.e.xy underwear and you know that."

His expression softened a bit at the reminder. "I think I need to buy you some grandma underwear," he joked, although Lily could tell by the way his eyes were shadowed, he was giving the thought of her in some unappealing underwear serious consideration.

Lily batted her eyelashes. "But you like my panties."

"Yes, but only for me."

Possessive. She liked it. Far too much, even if it wasn't due to emotions, but more like a kid not wanting to share his favorite toy kind of way. "I'm not getting naked for anyone else, Adam. I was just mad."

He nodded, then ran his wide hands over her bare shoulders before lowering his lips to kiss her skin. "Next time just talk to me," he suggested. His lips touched her skin again, this time a little further down past her collarbone. "A text, a call," he continued, "You have the international plan on your phone now."

The international plan she'd upgraded to just for him. Lily raised her head to give him easier access to her neck. Like a vampire his teeth found the little pulse throbbing under her skin, dug into it and sucked. The touch of his lips against her skin ran through her like wildfire. "Feels good," she said on a moan.

"Now we have to donate that nice dress," he continued. "Such a shame." His tongue trailed sweet, torturous circles along her neck to the back of her ear.

Had she been clearheaded, she would have argued about getting rid of the dress. Instead, a mess of aroused confusion ran through her mind but never find her lips. She was too high on Adam to care. She nodded in agreement. Her eyes dazed, no longer from the antibiotics or the cold, but as a result of Adam's mouth on her.

She wasn't sure when he unsnapped her bra. Lily only realized she was standing topless when he lowered his head, ran his tongue over her nipple like a hungry predator, then sucked it into his mouth.

"Perfect," he whispered. Her firm breast fit perfectly in his hands, his mouth among others things. "Absolutely beautiful baby, I love your b.r.e.a.s.t.s." Adam knew she thought they were too small, but to him they were perfect, capped with smooth honey areolas that surrounded the round shape.

A man of his word, he teased her right breast with his tongue then gently pulled the tip between his teeth while his free hand cupped and stroked the other. He couldn't get enough of her, jet-lagged and all. He wanted Lily. Never mind if she hadn't come home, he'd still be sleeping on the couch. Adam promised his body he'd give it a rest starting tomorrow during his flight back to Martha's Vineyard; two days of doing barely nothing would be enough for his body to return to its normal biological rhythms after high-speed air travel through several time zones.. Right now, he needed to take Lily and do sweet, wonderful things to that body of hers.

He scooped her willowy body up in his arms and placed her barely-covered bottom on the granite counter. Adam smiled as her l.u.s.t-filled sugar brown eyes focused on him. She had that "come on Adam, right here" look on her face.

Oh, yes, sweetheart, right here in your kitchen because I don't have the patience to make it to your bedroom. They'd go at it again later...and if they were lucky, they'd be in bed.

Adam slipped between her legs. His fingers tingled as they skimmed over her soft, golden skin. She let out a throaty sound at his touch. Loving the familiar sensation that shot through him, he made himself at home. That was the problem lately. Every time they were together, he found himself thinking this was the only place he wanted to be. He attributed his thinking to the fact he had never spent a year sleeping with the same woman. He was just getting comfortable. A year, three months and two weeks, he mused, but who was counting?

"Cold?" he asked, knowing the coolness of the marble counter would chill her cute, tight bottom.

She smiled at him. "Warm me up."

Her voice shot straight to his groin, causing his pulse to kick up. He took a deep breath trying to keep some of his blood in his head. Slow. He had to slow things down. Adam ran his palms over her thighs. She shivered, gooseflesh rippling her soft skin.

"Take me now, Adam."

"Patience," he drawled, not wanting to rush. While the desire to connect was fierce, he felt no need to speed up the process. He did a quick calculation of the last time they were together. Two weeks too long. He needed to prolong the pleasure and satisfy both of them in slow, torturous detail. Lowering his head, his lips brushed against her shoulder, and caught a whiff of light, fruity floral with notes of blackberry. "No more dating other men." Just the thought of her out eating, drinking with another man drove him mad. He kissed the nape of her neck, her jaw, the corner of her mouth.

Her lips parted for him, inviting him in. As much as he wanted to, Adam paused and waited, his mouth inches away from hers. Had it been any other woman throwing s.h.i.t at him, he'd be p.i.s.sed and end whatever agreement they had. But with Lily, it was important she trust him, come to him for answers, and not look for reasons to run.

l.u.s.t-filled eyes locked on his, the pa.s.sion she never held back from him burning through them. Still, he waited. "Liliana, you need to trust me. I gave you my word."

"I trust you," she breathed.

His lips descended on hers, taking full possession. Her fingers were quick on his T-shirt. Adam drew back long enough for them to get the barrier over his head, dropped it mindlessly on the floor and went back to the frantic kissing. When her fingers fumbled over the buckle of his belt, Adam broke away for air once more.

"Your jeans are still on. They should be off," she huffed between hard, heavy breaths.

"In a little bit," he answered. He ran his thumb over the silk thong. "I don't like the fact you wore this tonight for another man." He didn't care he was showing jealousy or even downright claiming her as his.

In a way she was, wasn't she?

She opened her mouth to probably remind him once again she always wore pretty panties but he silenced her with a blistering kiss. "Tilt up a little," he instructed against her lips as his fingers caught the sides of the silky material. She did as he requested and slowly he dragged them down. "I love your body."

Chapter Three.

"s.e.x without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go, it's pretty d.a.m.n good."

Woody Allen Adam could look at Lily all day and never grow tired of it. Her eyebrows slanted sharply downward, creating a mischievous look that always lured him to her big, luminous brown eyes. There was something about her eyesa flicker of fire, an almost honey color, shimmering beneath their rich mahogany tones. They shined and danced like moonlit waves when riled up, but focused when she needed to be. Right now they burned with s.e.xual tension, screaming take me if you dare.

Typically he wasn't into women with short hair, but the no-fuss, ha.s.sle-free pixie cut suited the naked woman staring at him. He reached out and tucked a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear. Her full lips parted slightly at this touch.

Everything about her from day one had been uninhibited, candid with a no-holds-barred att.i.tude. From the moment he had asked why she still carried the engagement ring from her cheating fiance, she went toe to toe with him and never backed down, her pa.s.sion unbridled since the first time they slept together. At that time she had been emotionally bruised and he tried his best to put aside how much he wanted her, to do the right thing. Then she reached out and kissed him. He didn't stand a chance.

That night on the beach, with the moonlight flickering against the ocean, their bodies sought each other and she had given him her all. A year later, he still couldn't get enough. The realization left him befuddled and often scratching his head, searching for an explanation. Earlier he told her he'd walk away if she wanted.

He'd lied.

His chest had tightened over the possibility and that left him conflicted. They were purely physical, which suited him fine. Easy and carefree with lots of uninhibited s.e.x, that's how Adam liked a relationship. Their connection had been fierce, primal from the beginning, and their desire to ravage each other had only heightened over the course of the year. That explained his nervous reaction earlier. Had to. Only an idiot would walk away from mind-blowing s.e.x with a beautiful woman. Especially one he didn't have to use a condom with. First time ever in his life he'd done that. Since they had the "talk," which both stressed wasn't a commitment but out of respect.

After that less than a minute conversation, she had gotten on the pill. He loved the skin-on-skin connection.

Nope, one could search high and low and would never find his picture next to the word idiot.

Brushing his thoughts aside, Adam smoothed the bangs away from her eyes, leaving her features unprotected and bare. Lips parted, skin flushed, she continued to look straight at him, daring him to take possession of her.

Bordeaux fingernails ran over the Maori tattoo on his shoulder to his upper bicep, down to the crook of his arm. A lingering touch that left him breathless. His muscles tensed, and a soft laugh generated from her throat. Physically, she owned him.

"Be more specific," she urged.

"About?"

"My body. What do you love exactly?" she asked huskily.

He loved her confidence. It matched his arrogance and leveled them. His gaze dropped to her lips. He loved her mouth. The fullness of them, especially when they were wrapped around his...

"How about I show you?" He claimed her lips, his tongue made wet trails over her soft mouth until she allowed him entry. Adam groaned, letting himself get lost in her with wild, fast abandon. She clutched his neck and met him with equal fervor. Reckless and soft at the same time, sending fireworks through his mind and shivers down his spine.

"You drive me crazy, Liliana," he whispered against her lips. He stroked her cheek. "You are so f.u.c.king beautiful." He kissed her once more even hungrier this time, out of desperation to quench the longing blazing inside of him for all the things he l.u.s.ted after.

"Now, take me now." She pressed her chest against his.

A rush of heat shot through him. Adam groaned, he wanted more of her. His mouth moved to her throat, down to her collar. "Not yet." He slid a hand between her legs and groaned at the slick, wet heat between her thighs. Adam lowered his head to her sun-kissed legs and grazed his lips against one of her thighs, her waist, and her stomach. His fingers followed where his mouth had roamed many instances before and slipped between her thighs. "So wet and ready for me."

Done with the teasing, Lily squirmed a little closer. Slowly she ran her hands over his crotch. A rough sound escaped Adam's throat and every nerve ending in her body tingled with excitement. She wanted Adam. She needed him naked, couldn't wait to wrap her legs around his waist and let him fill her with his steely length. Greedy fingers trailed from his crotch and dipped inside the waist of his jeans. He chuckled and removed her hands, an indication he intended to take his time, to punish her for going on a date with what's-his-name.

"Adam," she cried out, wanting to feel him deep inside her.

He cupped her b.u.t.t and pulled her to the edge of the counter, then dropped to his knees. His mouth kissed one inner thigh and the other before finding her core. Her immediate reaction was to reach for his head and hold him hostage as her greedy body demanded. But a deeper part of her, the woman within, wanted every single inch of him deep inside.

"Adam, later," she murmured, knowing they would seek each other again during the night.

Her words once again fell on deaf ears. His tongue stroked and teased her. As the pleasure a.s.saulted her, Lily moaned from the delicious torture. Desperate to feel his heat, she lowered her gaze to the man who was making her feel so good and begged, "Now...please, inside me."

"Say my name again." His breath burned hot against her flesh as he inserted one finger slowly inside her, then another.

"Adam," she cried out, out of her mind and unable to take the teasing any longer. "II," she stammered. His mouth was hot and slick against her. Pushed to the edge, past all her limits she voiced words she never said to anyone, words she hadn't even acknowledged. "Need you now."

His tongue laved over her, pushing her over the tip. Weak from the explosion, her legs trembled. He placed steady hands on her thighs, as if he was trying to calm her. It didn't work. She wanted more. After a few pa.s.sing seconds, she caught her breath, through hooded lids she looked on as he came to his feet, stripped out of his jeans and boxer briefs and stood before her, absolutely gorgeous and rock-hard.

Large hands slid under her b.u.t.t to elevate her body and give him easier access. "Hold on to the edge of the counter. Wrap your legs around me," he commanded, voice rough with need.

Desperate to get him inside her, she'd do whatever he wanted to get there she followed his instruction to the T and drew him closer. He adjusted his frame between her legs, his free hand slid on her thigh, angling her hips properly to him.

"You're all mine, Lily," he growled in her ear. "Every inch of you belongs to me."

Then he was inside her, thrusting deep and hard, almost punishing. Her body pulsated with desire. She placed her hands against his flexed chest, bracing herself for the onslaught. She wanted more of his retribution. More of Adam. Her legs wrapped tighter around his waist and she rocked into him, matching his rhythm.

Skin against skin, lips seeking each other, they moved together. Oh, the ecstasy. As always, nothing could compare to their union. Chills shot up her spine, and she cried out his name. Her sounds of pleasure reverberated in the kitchen as she rode out the waves of pleasure.

"Merda," he swore in Italian before his head crashed on her shoulder.

She clung to him while their bodies spasmed in a savage fit until the final shudders faded. For a beat neither moved, their breathing equally ragged. He raised his head and brushed loose hair away from her face then placed one more kiss on her lips.

"Tired?" she asked with concern, not forgetting he was operating on little rest.

He smiled. "Jetlagged."

A few strings pulled in her heart. He flew from Morocco straight to her house because she hadn't answered his calls. He didn't utter the L word. It wasn't necessary. He cared and that was enough. She just had to remind herself to keep her feelings in check.

She slipped off the counter, lowering to her feet. "Let's go to bed."

With their fingers linked together, they walked down the hall to her bedroom leaving the clothes scattered on the floor of her kitchen along with all her reasons for breaking things off with Adam.

Chapter Four.