He seemed fascinated. I stared back at him, unsure why he was looking at me like he was.

“What?” I whispered, self-conscious.

“You came,” he said, his voice awed.

I couldn’t help letting out a small laugh. “Yes, that’s generally what happens when you go down on a woman as fantastically as you just did, Sean.”

He huffed a gruff breath and grabbed my face, kissing me again. I tasted myself on his tongue. “I could get addicted that.”

“To what?”

“To giving you orgasms.”

I laughed. “Well, who am I to deny you?”

He smiled, wide and bright, and kissed me some more before murmuring against my mouth, “I want to fuck you now.”

I hummed my agreement, my body a pliant mass beneath him. His cock nudged at my opening and it felt amazing, but then I started, realizing he wasn’t wearing any protection.

“Sean, wait. We need to get a condom.”

“Christ,” he swore and held himself up. “Are they in your bag?”

I instantly deflated. “No. I didn’t bring any. I hadn’t planned for . . . this.”

He studied me, brows drawing together. “No, I don’t suppose you did.” A pause and then a spark lit behind his eyes. “Actually, I think I have one in the back pocket of my jeans.”

“Oh?” I said questioningly.

He grinned. “You can never be too prepared.”

“You were planning on getting laid during the hike, weren’t you?”

Pulling the small foil packet from his jeans, he returned to the bed. His grin didn’t falter. “Well, you are a picnic professional. Why not add another skill to your belt?”

“I don’t aspire to gain skills that could get me arrested,” I answered, flirtation in my voice.

“No, I imagine your thievery gets you into enough trouble as it is,” he shot back.

My smile fell, and a sharp stab of pain sliced through me. I wasn’t sure why, perhaps because we’d just been intimate, but the careless way he made fun of an addiction I truly struggled with had me feeling less than enthusiastic to continue.

I sat up on the bed, pulling the covers around myself to hide my nudity.

“That’s not a very kind thing to say,” I told him in a quiet voice.

His lips formed a frown, confusion diminishing gradually into understanding and concern as he threw down the condom and climbed back onto the bed.

“No, it wasn’t. I’m sorry,” he murmured in apology as he tried to pull the covers away.

I held them tighter and gave him my profile. “You know, maybe we should call it a night.”

“Lucy,” he reached for my hand and, after a bit, I allowed him to take it. He kissed me on the back of my knuckles. “Please look at me.”

I moved just my eyes to his, found him staring at me with a mixture of alarm and sincere regret.

“I am sorry. I think by now you know me well enough to realize I’m terrible at more than just foreplay.”

This earned him a reluctant and suspicious smile. “You’re just trying to get in my pants.”

“Technically, you’re not wearing any, but that’s not why I apologized.” His eyebrows knit in consternation above his cobalt eyes. “It was a completely insensitive thing to say. I am insensitive. But I’d like to be otherwise, with you, if you’ll give me the chance.”

I felt myself melting. He was either a world champion at faking sincerity, or his candor might be the sexiest thing about him, and consequently my ruin.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, and then again, “I’m sorry.”

He lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me once, twice. Before I knew it I forgot my worries as I lost myself in Sean Cassidy again. His hands lowered the covers and roamed my body, resolutely gentle, as though all his movements were mindful. He pulled my thighs around his waist as he picked up the condom and tore the foil with his teeth.

I watched with rapt interest as he rolled it down his shaft then peered at me in question. “How can I make this good for you, Lucy?”

Oh, wow, he really was beautiful. I found myself adrift in his gaze for a second before I came to my senses. “Just . . . don’t hold back.”

He seemed surprised by this and swallowed thickly. The muscles in his arms tensed as he positioned himself and I lost my breath when he pushed into me.

“Oh,” I cried out.

“Should I move?” Sean groaned and began to move before I could answer. His hips thrust back and forth, and he didn’t hold back, just like I’d asked. I felt so small, almost fragile, in comparison to his sheer size and virility.

“You feel incredible,” he said, looking into my eyes. I felt a connection to him, like we truly saw each other in that moment. But then, as though somebody had cut the electricity too soon, he came.

What the hell?

Don’t get me wrong, watching a man as attractive as Sean orgasm was an experience in itself. It was just that things had only gotten started and then they were over.

“Fucking hell,” he swore, burying his face in my neck and shifting to remove the condom, still breathing hard. “Fuck.”

I didn’t know what to say. I’d never had a man finish so quickly before.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice sleepy as he trapped me with his arms and snuggled against me.

I couldn’t speak. I was still too astonished. I mean, we’re talking less than a minute here. I brushed my teeth longer than he’d lasted. And I wasn’t sure whether I should be embarrassed or flattered.