“You manhandled me,” she snapped out, outrage coloring her tone.

“I think you liked it. That’s why you didn’t fight me off at first.”

Her indrawn breath was indignant. “I did not!”

“Your eyebrow just twitched, Red.” With a grin, I spun on my back and swept her leg so she tumbled to the floor, landing on top of me.

“What are you—”

“Going after what I want.” Her gray eyes widened as I gripped the back of her head and pulled her down until her lips almost touched mine. “Kiss me. You know you want to.”

She opened her mouth to protest, just like I knew she would, and I seized the advantage, crushing my lips to hers and sweeping my tongue inside.

One thing was for sure, her reaction time for kissing me was a hell of a lot better than it was for fighting me off. Sweet, sweet heaven.

And when she moaned into my mouth, my instincts shot into overdrive. I palmed her ass and squeezed, pressing her into my throbbing dick. With only a couple of layers of fabric between us, there was no question of her knowing exactly how I felt about her right at that moment. Another shaky inhale, and her hips bucked against me.

Fuck.

Without thinking, I released her ass and rolled her under me, and she spread her legs so I could settle my hips between her thighs. Her full tits, which I already knew would be spectacular, pressed against my chest, the nipples hard through her sports bra.

Her hands speared into my hair and she tugged at my lip with her teeth, urging me on, thrusting up against me.

I’d never allowed myself to think about what it would be like to have Ari under me, and it was a damn good thing. I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself. Without thinking, I gripped the hem of her tank top, ready to yank it up and over her head, and I stilled.

Not like this. Not yet.

Ari noticed my hesitation when I released her shirt and scooted out from under me so fast, I was surprised she didn’t knee me in the junk.

“I don’t know what just happened, but I—” She turned away. “Oh my God. What did I do?”

I pushed off the floor with one hand, a hand that minutes ago had been wrapped around the curve of her ass. “I think it’s safe to say not all of your reaction time needs work.”

Ari’s face flamed. She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

I would have given everything I owned to be able to see inside her head at that moment. Her gaze flicked from point to point on my face and then around the room, never making eye contact.

No, Ari hadn’t completely gotten over whatever she’d felt for me once upon a time, and the bastard that I was wasn’t above taking advantage of it so I could taste heaven again.

If I didn’t try, I’d be adding missing out on this to my list of regrets.

Not happening.

Ari spun toward the door, grabbing a rolled towel off a stack on the table next to the mini-fridge. “I need a protein shake. My muscles . . . they’re clearly tired after my workout, which came after last night’s drinking but before the grappling and jujitsu. If I’d been properly rested and not dehydrated, I would’ve been quicker to react the first time.”

I could almost hear her brain clicking into analytical mode as she tried to process what had just happened. I’d thrown my little genius for a loop, and she escaped from the room without ever making eye contact, so I couldn’t even tell if her eyebrow twitched.

Alone in the empty gym, I walked toward the wall of windows, hoping the view of Lake Pontchartrain would make my dick stand down. My stomach rumbled a few minutes later, but I was hungry for more than just breakfast.

10

Ariel

I may never shower again.

That’s what the sixteen-year-old me would have said if she’d experienced the feel of Rhett Hennessy’s naked chest against her skin. Spontaneous human combustion was real, and I was pretty sure I just came close to experiencing it.

Good. Lord.

I didn’t know what just happened in that gym, but it wasn’t something I could have ever predicted. In fact, I would have estimated the probability at less than one percent.

I touched my mouth, amazed at how my lips still tingled from where his teeth had scraped along them. Did I leave a mark when I nipped him? Part of me hoped so, and the other part was so embarrassed, I wasn’t sure I could handle it. My ass burned where his hand had kneaded it, and let’s not even talk about the state of my panties or the rest of me.

With a calming breath, I made my way into the kitchen, hoping just a little that Rhett got lost trying to find it. I needed about a hundred yards of space between us right now if I were going to get my head straight again.

Do I really want to get my head on straight?

Yes. Yes, I did. This was counterproductive. I’d spent years getting over him, and while that had obviously only been semi-successful, I refused to spend any more time thinking about getting under him.

Sweet Lord, it had been better than I could have imagined. I’d wondered whether my mind had inflated the size of that bulge in his pants. Probably more than I should ever admit. The conclusion? My estimates had been way off. Because now that I’d had the real deal pressed against me, I knew certain things were bigger than they appeared.

Good thing I didn’t grind myself against him like a cat in heat, and maintained some of the dignity I’ve developed over the years. Even I could feel my eyebrow twitching at that lie.

Not thinking about this anymore. Also a lie.

I made it to the kitchen intending to make a protein shake, but one was already waiting on the counter and Carver was nowhere in sight. He’s efficient. I wondered what I was paying for his services, and decided a hefty tip was in order.

Turning toward the wall of windows that looked out over the pool, grotto, and lake, I chugged my shake and waited to hear footsteps signaling Rhett’s entrance to the kitchen. He would follow me, right?

Maybe not. Maybe his reaction to rubbing up against a sweaty woman’s body would be to go shower like a normal human being. Where maybe he’d jack off.

Oh my God, I am not picturing him stroking that big, hard, probably veiny and perfect penis in the shower until he comes all over the travertine wall and the spray washes it down.

My pulse skipped up about twenty beats per minute at the visual, and my nipples peaked against my top.