She laughed, noting the numerous throw pillows in soothing greens and earthy browns littering her mattress. “I like comfort.”

“Those are going to come in handy soon.” Intensity and male hunger beat from him in waves. Her nipples hardened and pushed for freedom. “I’m going to try very hard not to rip off your clothes like a savage tonight, but I’m already at the edge.”

She twisted under him, tugging at his tank. “I’ve been at the edge since you walked into the bar. Been dreaming of doing this.” She lifted herself halfway and bit into his upper arm. His muscles jumped under her teeth, and when she flicked out her tongue to lick the hurt, he muttered something dirty under his breath.

“Savage it is.”

He moved lightning quick. Her cropped T-shirt was over her head, and her black lace bra gone in seconds. With a low growl, he pushed her back on the bed, making quick work of her jeans and tiny black panties, until she lay naked, breathing hard, and totally turned on.

He smiled real slow. “Now I can take my time.”

Her eyes widened. “No way! We’ll slow down later. Get your ass out of those clothes and do me.”

“God, you’re hot. Gorgeous.” His gaze ate her up. “Perfect.”

He peeled off his shirt, and she relaxed, licking her lips, reaching up, and—

With expert skill, he flipped her over on her stomach, pressing his jean-clad legs to the backs of her thighs, holding her pinned to the mattress. “Now, be a good girl and shush up.”

She opened her mouth to yell his name, but her cry turned into a long moan at the feel of his hot, wet tongue licking down the length of her spine. His fingers tangled within hers, fisting tight as he worked his way down her back, nipping and tasting, his breath hotly caressing her goose-bump-peppered flesh. He stopped at the swell of her buttocks, tracing the vulnerable line between her cheeks, then slowly parted her legs.

“Oh, God.”

His wicked chuckle made her squirm against the bed, her wet pussy throbbing for contact. “You have the most beautiful ass I’ve ever seen.”

Her words were muffled as she tried not to scream into the covers. “No, you do.”

She sucked in her breath as he dipped his tongue in the center, nibbling over the full curves. “Stop arguing. You do. I can smell you. Musky and spicy, all for me.”

Removing his fingers from hers, he pushed the weight of her hair to the side, caressing her shoulders, her back, her hips. Long, smooth strokes that relaxed as much as they tightened the tension within her gut to a hard ball, ready to burst. He massaged her backside, then slipped between her legs to slowly tease her hard clit with light circles that drove her to insanity.

“You’re dripping.”

“You’re gonna pay,” she muttered, arching up for more contact.

“Oh, I love a bad girl. But if you’re still able to speak, I need to work harder.”

“Bastard.”

He plunged two fingers inside her.

She cried out as he stretched her, his thumb strumming her clit, and she gave up and begged right then, right there. Her entire body tightened in anticipation, but he was ruthless as he used his hand to pleasure her while he licked and kissed her buttocks, driving her to a place of physical madness . . .

“More. Come for me, Raven. Scream for me.”

He added another finger, curling toward the right, and dove deep. At the same time, his thumb flicked and rubbed her throbbing clit.

She came.

She screamed.

Shuddering as the tension shattered and broke her into a thousand pieces, she heard his curse and the sound of a belt buckle behind her. A wrapper tore. Then he was grabbing her legs, pushing her onto her knees and spreading her wide. Scooping up two pillows, he shoved them under her hips and then pushed inside her in one long, slow, full stroke.

“Dalton!”

His fingers twisted in her hair, guiding her head to the side so his mouth could take hers. Somehow, this time was different. Every inch of him covered her, pressing, demanding. There wasn’t a part of her body that wasn’t claimed by him: his tongue in her mouth; his cock buried deep in her pussy; thighs entwined with her legs. For a few seconds she struggled against the overwhelming male power of possession, trying to break free, but he gentled his kiss, murmuring her name over and over, completely still as her body adjusted to his.

The bond between them switched from the usual hum to a live, crackling explosion of heat. Her body shook as if in a fever, and something within uncurled and loosened, like a ray of light transforms from a speck of sparkle to a powerful beam.

She opened, blossomed, accepted. There was nothing left to do but make her own demands, so Raven pushed back, sending him as deep as he could go, and kissed him with a warrior fierceness.

He broke.

He claimed her, his hips jerking with each thrust, taking her back to the cliff, his fingers twisting her hard nipples, adding a touch of pain to push her closer to the edge. That magic spot deep within shimmered with each thrust, and then his hands traveled down her belly to rub her clit, and Raven was coming again.

With a roar, he joined her. Head thrown back, he let himself go, holding her close as he reached his release.

Raven collapsed.

He rose up behind her, disappearing into the bathroom, then rejoined her on the bed. Moving the pillows, he cuddled her close, stroking her dampened skin, kissing her neck. She melted into his delicious body warmth.

“Tell me something you’ve never told anyone else,” he said, his voice husky with male satisfaction.

She brought his hand to her lips and nipped at him playfully. “Chatty after sex, huh? What if I just want to roll over and sleep?”

“Indulge me first.”

“Secrets in the dark?”

“Maybe.”

Her heart pounded. This was the time to do it. She just needed to take a deep breath and say it. Instead, she bought time. “You first.”

“My brothers and I created a boy band when we were young. Cal played the drums and Tristan played the guitar. I was the singer.”

She relaxed again. This type of secret was easier to share. “Is this how your love for the Backstreet Boys and NSync sprouted?”

“Yes. We were going to be rich and famous. We tried to send in a video to MTV but never heard back.”

Giggles burst from her like tiny bubbles. The picture of three young boys trying to rock out and film themselves for an audience was priceless. “What type of songs did you sing?”