One movement of his hips and he slipped into her body as he exhaled. So good. Her body around his was so good. They’d taken the appropriate steps and he never wanted to f**k her with a condom again.

He braced his hands next to her on the desktop and she braced her feet on the chair arms as he began to f**k her in earnest. The sounds on the other side of the door floated away; the scent of his shop, so familiar after so long, floated away. All he heard was flesh slapping flesh, sighs and gasps, all he smelled was the sweetness of her shampoo and the tang of her arousal.

She arched her back, wanting more, wanting him deeper. She was having sex at his job. On his desk while anyone could hear.

“What’s that smile for?” He nipped her neck.

“What’s not to smile about? I’m here with you, you’re doing that thing you do when you hit that spot inside me and everything feels electric. Of course I’m smiling.”

“You deserve to come for that compliment.”

“I totally agree.”

He laughed. “Lean back a bit.”

She did and realized how clean the top of his desk was. “Did you clear off your desk or is it always this way?”

His fingertips squeezed her clit and her whole system came to attention.

“Busted. I cleared it off after I spoke to you. I’ve imagined this since the first time we were together. No, since before that. I’m going to like doing my books when I can have this memory in my head. We’ll probably need to do it a lot so I can keep the memory fresh. It’s for my business after all.”

Surprised laughter danced from her lips. “I’m so easy you knew you’d have me on my back with my legs open ten minutes after I walked through the door? Oh crap, that’s nice.” She moved to get more friction against his hand, his c**k filling her.

He loomed above her, impressively male. Big and ferocious as he took what he wanted and gave it to her too.

He knew just what she liked and orgasm was lightning-quick and hard as it flashed through her. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out.

“Should have made you wait, that felt so good around me.” He licked his fingers and she moaned quietly, licking her lips in anticipation before he swooped down to kiss her. Her taste lay on his mouth, mixed with his as he kissed her as hard as he f**ked her.

She drowned in him, but she no longer tried to swim against it. She let herself go, trusting him to keep her anchored.

“So good. So hot and wet and made for me,” he panted as his thrusts increased in speed and intensity.

She was helpless against it when he said stuff like that. It wasn’t something that could go in a greeting card, but it was so sexy and raw it always struck deep.

He groaned as his muscles froze under her hands. His c**k moved within her, filling her as he came.

And then his lips were on hers and it was . . . different than it had been. So intense and tender she felt it in her toes, and in her heart. She tumbled like a rock in a fast-moving river, disoriented, owned by the intensity of the current, of the moment when he rushed into her heart and soul.

18

Brody knew it had been different too. Since that day, he’d been unable to get it out of his head. Each time he saw her, he felt a deeper draw to her. It had gone from a few days a week to every day, even if it was just for five minutes. He needed her and he gave in to that need.

Right then, he watched her with the kids, setting up the balloons for the games they planned to play. Her face was lit with a big smile and he realized, not for the first time, that she was a whiz with kids.

Three of the group had birthdays in the same week, Arvin, Maggie and Adrian. They always celebrated in some way, but this year, since the weather had been so nice for late winter, they’d blocked off the street at both ends and set up barbecues, tables and games, and it had turned into a big neighborhood event.

“Your girlfriend is like model-perfect.” Raven approached and handed him a soda.

“Is that why you’re always needling her?” Adrian asked.

“I don’t needle her. I don’t anything her. I say hello, I try to talk to her, but she’s always offended.” She shrugged.

Adrian glared at Raven, who exhaled hard. “Just how you like it. You really need to buy a clue. It’s not always everyone else. It’s you. You cruise around through life, bulldozing over people and calling it being free-spirited. It’s not free-spirited, it’s f**king selfish bullshit, and apparently I’m the only one who will call you on it. But here I am, calling you on it because I like Elise a whole hell of a lot. She’s strong and kind, and no, she’s not as hard as you are, so you think it’s fun to play with her like a f**king cat plays with a mouse. She’s stronger than you think, but I don’t like you messing with her for sport. You had your chance with Brody. He’s with Elise now. Don’t f**k it up because you couldn’t appreciate what you had. You’re jealous. Happens to everyone. Get over it.”

Brody didn’t know what to say. This was the most Adrian had said about how he felt about Raven in several years, and Brody hadn’t realized it went that deep. While he’d noticed the tension between Raven and Elise, he hadn’t realized Raven had been f**king with her. More than her usual behavior, which admittedly Brody was used to, so he didn’t think much on it. Adrian wouldn’t have made the comment if it hadn’t been an issue. Damn it. He’d need to be extra watchful for it now.

“Is that what I’ve done?” Raven asked Brody.