Of all the times to decide to act like a goddamned gentleman.

Ty ripped off his shirt, breaking several buttons in his haste. He wanted Julie to know that he could behave appropriately, that he respected her, that he wasn't going to ravage her without wooing her first. Not that pizza and ice cream were the most romantic things in the world, but they were a hell of a lot better than a boring dinner with the world's most boring guy.

Jeez, what on earth had she seen in that jerk?

It was obvious from looking at the guy that he was wealthy and successful and came from the right side of the tracks. But apart from that, he didn't have anything going for him. Julie could do much better. Didn't she know that?

He turned on ESPN and hit the floor to do some sit-ups.

He hoped Julie was happy with the sacrifice he made in the name of honor tonight. Because he wasn't sure he had it in him to be a gentleman again.

She rolled over on her stomach, then her left side, then her right. She counted to a hundred, thencounted back to one, but nothing helped. She couldn't sleep—not with Ty so near. For hours she'd staredat the wall, wished she had X-ray vision, wished she could see what he was wearing, if he was naked.Was he touching himself, was he pretending her lips were on him, her hands?

Again she heard a voice inside her say, Enough! But this time, it wasn't telling her to stop falling forthe one man she'd sworn never to have feelings for again. No, this time it said, Go get what you want, what you need. Go on. Go now.

She ripped off her sleep shirt and dug in her lingerie drawer for something lacy. Then she walked outinto the hall, to Ty's closed door.

Don't think, the voice urged, just open it.

Slowly, she turned the knob and crept into his room. Moonlight streamed in the bay window,illuminating his perfect form reclined on the bed.

"What took you so long?"

His question was softly sensuous and she instinctively moved toward him.

"I wanted to make you wait," she said, not recognizing her own voice.

"I'm not a patient man," he said, and she smiled.

"Too bad. Tonight we're playing by my rules."

He was lying on his back, his hands propping up his head. "Next time we'll play by mine."She pulled the sash from her robe and moved slowly to the bed. His magnificent chest was bare andshe couldn't resist toying with him, dragging the edge of the pink sash across his tanned expanse of skin.He growled deep from his chest and reached for her.

She took a step back. "Somehow I didn't think I could trust you to behave yourself. Keep your armsabove your head."

His brown eyes followed her as she moved up to the head of the bed. Her open robe revealed ashort, tight, and translucent slip.

He hadn't obeyed her command yet, so she threatened, "I can either use this on your eyes or yourwrists. Your choice."

A wicked, aroused smile curved his lips. "What if I choose one now, one later?"

"My rules, Ty. Make your choice." She never knew how much she liked being in charge, liked playingthe bad girl.

Being with a bad boy like Ty had roused her inner seductress.

"Wrists," he said. "But first, this." He reached up and pulled her slip off over her head, leaving hernaked but not the least bit chilled. Everywhere he looked, every place his fingers drifted, was burning up.Knowing it would drive him crazy, she leaned over him as she tied his arms to the bedpost with thesash. Her br**sts swayed over his mouth and she was sorely tempted to drop her ni**les into his waitingmouth. But she wanted to tease him, to tantalize him, wanted him to burst with desire for her before shegave in.

His wrists secure, she pulled down the sheets that covered him.

He was blessedly naked. And so incredibly beautiful.

His c**k rose up, huge and thick. "I take it you found what you were looking for?"His words were taunting and yet seductive.

"I can't stop reliving what you did to me yesterday with your hands, your mouth. I can't stop thinkingabout what it would have been like if the tables had been turned."He swallowed hard. "Turn them."

She climbed up on the bed and straddled his thighs. "I can't help but wonder if you taste as good asyou look."

His voice was strangled. "There's only one way to find out."She smiled. "Who says jocks aren't smart?"

Slowly leaning down, letting her hair brush against his abdominal muscles so that they jumped andtightened, she pressed her lips to the tip of his cock. A drop of liquid surfaced and she licked it off in onesmooth stroke. Until this moment, Julie had never been a big fan of blow jobs.Funny how one man could change her opinion about absolutely everything.She ran her tongue lightly down the long, thick shaft. How had they managed to fit together whenshe was an eighteen-year-old virgin?

She couldn't wait to find out again.

Without warning, she took him deep into her mouth.

His hips bucked up off the bed and he groaned her name. She loved watching him lose control,loved knowing that she was the woman making it happen.

"Untie me," he growled.

She shook her head. "Not until I'm done with you."

As much as she loved tasting him, giving him pleasure with her tongue and lips, she wanted to feelhim deep within her more. Right now.

She moved up his body, put her hands on his chest, and pushed down onto his cock, letting his firstthick inch spread her wide open. She'd relived their lovemaking so many times over the past ten years,yet nothing could have possibly lived up to the incredible reality.

"More, Julie. Take more," he urged and she gave in, taking him in another inch. Before she couldstop herself, before she could remember to slow down to torture him with longing, she slid all the waydown, pressed her pelvic bone against his.

And that was when Julie realized she'd been lying to herself: Having any control over her body whereTy was concerned was impossible. All she wanted was him inside her just like this, hard and pulsing. Shecouldn't get enough of him, never wanted this bliss to end.

"Untie me," he said again, somewhere between an order and a plea. But before she got the chance,his arm muscles rippled and the fabric ripped in two. Then his hands were on her, and they wereeverywhere—her br**sts, her clitoris, her bottom...an orgasm began to ripple across her br**sts, over herstomach, deep in her core.

Julie panted, her hand between her legs, Ty's name on her lips as she came. The sheets were twisted around her, and it took her several moments to realize that she wasn't in her guest bedroom. She was in her own bedroom.

And Ty was still on the other side of the wall.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Julie woke up curled tightly around her extra pillow. Her eyes felt gritty and puffy; the light seemed harsher than usual.