He let his tongue slide over her sex. Sweet, slick flesh. Hot. He used the fingers of his right hand to open her to him. To press lightly into her even as his tongue slid over her clit.

She wasn’t trying to pull away anymore. Kayla was pushing against him and her body was eager for more. Fair enough, he was more than eager, too.

He devoured her. Gage’s mouth took and tasted even as his fingers thrust. She moaned and shivered and her body tightened beneath him.

He wanted her to come against his mouth. Then she’d be ready for him. He didn’t want to hurt her the first time, so he had to make sure she was ready for him.

And her taste . . . sweet and rich. Better than chocolate. And chocolate had always been his vice.

One of them, anyway. He had quite a few.

He pulled his fingers back and thrust his tongue into her. His thumb pushed down on the center of her need and she came, jerking beneath him.

Gage pulled back, savored her taste on his tongue, and knew that he now had a new vice. Her. The lady was at the top of his list.

He’d have more of her. All of her. Now. He reached over and yanked out one of the condoms that waited inside the nightstand. Part of the romance package. The hotel knew how to please its guests. He was about to be pretty fucking pleased.

Because he was finally having her.

He donned the condom, and two seconds later, his cock pushed against the entrance to her body. Her eyes were on him. He couldn’t go easy anymore. He’d used the last of his control. But she was ready now. She had to be—

Kayla arched against him, and Gage thrust balls-deep into her core. A ragged groan ripped from him because she felt so good. Tight. Wet. Hot.

He pulled back, but her sex clamped around him, gripping like a fist along the length of his cock.

So good.

Her eyes were open and on him. “Give me more,” she whispered.

And he did. Gage drove into her, deep and hard, and the bed squeaked beneath them. Rose petals were going everywhere, and he didn’t give a damn. All that mattered was taking her. Claiming her.

In and out. He thrust again and again. Her legs wrapped round him, holding him tightly. Her nipples stabbed up into the air, and he just had to taste one again. He leaned forward and took one pebbled nipple into his mouth.

Her fingers sank into his hair. “Gage!” Her sex tightened even more around him as her body stiffened. Her second climax was close. Hell, yes.

His head lifted because he wanted to watch her come. One thrust. Another. Then her lips parted as she called out his name. Pleasure flooded over her features. Her eyes lit with golden fire. Her cheeks flushed an even darker pink.

And she came around his cock.

Gage exploded inside of her, letting his own release pump through him. The pleasure damn near ripped him apart, pulsing in his blood and giving him a heady rush that had Gage clenching his teeth and holding her even tighter.

This, this was beyond just sex. Beyond the fleeting pleasure he’d known with other women. This was fucking fantastic.

Gage leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

Kayla jumped, as if she was startled by that gentle touch, and her eyes widened as she looked at him. “That was . . .” She licked her lips. “It—”

“It was the start,” he told her, smiling, and getting hard within her again. Need another condom. Good thing that box in the drawer was full. “And, sweetheart, the pleasure is only gonna get better.” He’d guarantee it.

He’d finally gotten Kayla exactly where he wanted her—and Gage wasn’t going to let her go.

So he put his mouth back on her. This time, he skimmed his lips over the raised scars that slid over her shoulder, and he knew that the night was going to be incredible.

The faint light of dawn slipped through the curtains when Kayla eased from the bed. Gage still lay tangled amid the covers, and his dark lashes cast shadows on his cheeks. Unable to help herself, she paused and just stared down at him for a moment.

He looked so . . . peaceful. The lines were smoothed from his face. The wild power of his eyes was shielded by his lowered lids.

Just a man. That was what he looked like then. With his tanned flesh appearing even darker against the crisp, white sheets, with a rose petal in his hair—he just looked like a man.

Not a monster.

She turned away and crept toward the bathroom.

He was a man, and she was supposed to just be a woman.

If only. Life sure had a way of sucking.

Kayla shut the door behind herself. After taking a deep breath, she glanced up and stared at the reflection in the mirror. Her lips were swollen. Her eyes glittering. Her hair was an insane tangle around her face. She didn’t know how many times she’d climaxed, but she did know that Gage was the best lover she’d ever had.

Yep, he was at the top of her big list of four men. She figured he’d be staying there a while.

She straightened her shoulders. There were some faint red marks on her neck. Marks Gage had left. She’d left her own share of marks, too. They’d been wild. Fierce.

Happy.

Just like a real honeymooning couple.

She glanced away from the mirror, almost hating the sight of her own reflection. Why couldn’t it have all been true?

Because her life wasn’t a fairy tale. She wasn’t some princess who got to live happily freaking after in a castle.

I’ve always been more the wicked queen type.

And Gage wasn’t Prince Charming, no matter how tempting he appeared to be.

Kayla reached for the handbag she’d put in the bathroom hours before. The bag, her clothes, and her weapons. It was almost six a.m. Just minutes away. That meant her call would be coming in three, two, one—