“Thanks for the ride!” I tossed over my shoulder as I shut the door and took off down the broken sidewalk on my heels. I made it through my gate and flipped open my clutch to find my key. Unlocking the portico, I hurried to the inside door and unlocked it. I waited for the beep of the alarm, but it was silent.

“No freaking way. He couldn’t have—”

“He couldn’t have what?” Rix said, leaning against the wall near my stairway.

“How did you?”

I studied him closer, looking for tears in his jacket or smudges on his crisp white shirt. The only stain I could see was a red lipstick smudge on his collar, peeking out from beneath his suit coat. Oops.

I crossed to him and reached for the button. Rix’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t protest as I unbuttoned his suit coat and slid it off his shoulders.

When I’d used him for a sound-dampening device, I’d wrecked his shirt. But maybe if it didn’t set, the drycleaner could still get it out.

My hands went to the top button, and Rix’s fingers covered mine. “Whoa, duchess. According to the rules, I won, and I’m calling the shots.”

“Shhh. I’m trying to save your shirt.”

He looked down at the collar, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’m pretty sure I know where that came from.”

“Which means it’s my responsibility to make sure the stain doesn’t set.” I moved his fingers aside and unbuttoned the placket, then peeled the shirt off his arms.

Rix said nothing, but I could feel his eyes on me as I paused, remembering to unbutton the cuffs before I tugged the shirt free.

“I’ll just be a few minutes,” I said, turning in the direction of the laundry room and my utility sink.

Rix’s big hand closed around my arm before I could take a second step. “Wait.”

I glanced over my shoulder, and the expression on his face wasn’t what I was expecting to see. It was intense, but unreadable. It wasn’t heat so much as . . . I couldn’t place it. Rix plucked the shirt from my hand and tossed it on a stair.

“What are you—”

He pulled me close until our bodies touched.

“No one has taken care of me for longer than I can remember. No one has wanted to. Thought to. And you do it instinctively. My wound last night,” he gestured to the small bandage that still covered his side, “and now my shirt. That means something to me, and it tells me a lot about you. Makes me want things I shouldn’t let myself want. A future I can’t stop myself from picturing you in. I like when you throw attitude my way, when you’re being stubborn, how you feel when my cock is deep inside you, and there’s nothing I want more than to stare into your eyes and blow both our minds. I don’t know how this is gonna work, but it’s gonna work. I’m not settling for less. Not with you. For once in my life, I’m gonna have it all.”

Rix slid both hands under my ass and picked me up, much like he had in the storeroom, and carried me up the stairs. I’d forgotten all about his wound then, but now that he’d reminded me, I was worried he’d hurt himself carting me around.

“You got shot, so you shouldn’t be carrying me,” I protested. “You probably hurt yourself earlier. I was such an idiot. We should look at it.”

Rix smiled down at me but didn’t stop climbing the stairs. “I didn’t. But I’m glad you care.”

“But—”

“Your turn to hush now. The only words I want from you are more, and yes, and right there.”

I squeezed the back of his neck, where my hands held tight. “You’re such a man.”

Pushing his hips against me so I could feel the solid length of his erection behind the zipper of his suit pants, he smirked. “Damn right, I am. And you love it.”

And I did. Love him, that is. The words were in my throat, but I couldn’t form them into syllables and vocalize them. They twisted inside me, wanting to break free, but this wasn’t the moment.

I knew the adage that if you loved someone, you shouldn’t wait to tell them because you might not have another chance, but something was holding me back. Did he feel the same way about me? I shoved the words down, rocking against him as he reached the top of the stairs.

“So does this mean you’re claiming your prize for being first? You’re not going to concede and let me take the reins tonight?”

Rix slowed as he approached my room, stopping completely at the foot of my bed. “You want the reins, duchess?”

I did. This I knew without hesitation. I’d taken the lead in the storeroom, and I wasn’t done. If I couldn’t tell him how I felt, then I could show him.

“Yes. I do.”

“Then my calling the shots means I’m handing the reins to you.” He lowered me to the bed and stepped back. “Where do you want me?”

“Right there.”

I rose to my feet and reached for the buttons of my blouse. One by one I unfastened them, my gaze on Rix and his on my hands. His absolute captivation with my movements rekindled the boldness I’d felt earlier tonight. I wanted to be on my knees before this man.

I laid my blouse on the bed. Stepping forward, wearing nothing but my skirt, heels and bra, I lowered myself to the floor, placing my hands on his thighs to steady myself.

“What are you doin’, duchess?”

I looked up to see the softest hint of a smile on his lips. I let my own curve up, channeling my inner temptress. Yes, I was on my knees, but he’d handed me the reins, and that meant I had the power.

“I think you know what I’m doing.” I reached for his belt and slid it from the buckle before going for the button and zipper and pulling his cock free.

In the storeroom, I’d wrapped my hand around him, but I hadn’t had a chance to get my lips around him. Ever since the day in my studio when we’d been interrupted, I’d been aching to do this. My fingers didn’t touch as I closed them around his thick shaft, but still I stroked up and down.

My tongue darted out to join the game, and Rix groaned before tangling his hands in my hair. But he didn’t try to guide my movements. Didn’t try to push himself deeper into my mouth when I just closed my lips around the head.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful. And not just because I love watching you take my cock.”

I moaned as I took him deeper, working him with my tongue and my mouth, loving the sound of his groans and murmured praise. They spurred me on and I grew bolder, wanting to make him lose control.