“Look at me, Dez.” She did. “Don’t close your eyes. Don’t look away. You understand?”

She opened her mouth to reply.

“And I don’t need a thesis on this. Yes or no will do just fine.”

She glared at him. “Yes. I understand.”

“Good.” Mace twisted his hand, pushing two fingers inside her and brushing his thumb over her clit. Immediately Dez’s head fell back on a moan. Mace stopped. “See,” he pointed out softly. “Clearly you don’t understand.”

Dez took a deep breath and looked back at Mace. Christ, he’s serious.

She wanted to call him every name in the book—and she had a big book—but she wanted him to make her come in the worst way. So, for once, she bit her tongue. Besides, there was something about not having to worry about…well, about everything that really turned her on. She’d never given up control to anyone before. Mace would be her first. She had the feeling she wouldn’t be disappointed.

Mace stared at her for a moment. “Are we clear, Marine?”

Dez fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Yes. We’re clear.”

“Yes, we’re clear…what?”

“Mace Llewellyn—” He swirled his fingers inside her, causing Dez to gasp.

“I’m waiting.”

“Yes. We’re clear…” Dez gritted her teeth. “Commander.”

His grin almost blinded her. “I like hearing you say that. I wish I’d seen you when you were still active. Me being an officer and you…not…I could have had some real fun.”

He would so be paying for this.

Slowly, he began pumping his fingers in and out of her. Taking his time. Dez promised herself again she’d make him pay for this…later.

Her eyes locked with his and she clenched her muscles around his fingers. He grunted in satisfaction as the pad of his thumb massaged her clit. Dez forced herself to look Mace in the eyes. It wasn’t easy. All she wanted was to close her eyes and ride the sensations he inundated her with. Plus, those gold eyes burned into her, stripped away all her defenses. He took control, but in the process he made her feel strong, female, and sexy. No one had ever done that for her before. No one had ever bothered to try.

“Stay with me, Dez.” Good God, that voice of his would be the death of her. His voice stroked her like his fingers. Only it touched her in places his fingers couldn’t quite reach.

Dez’s muscles tensed and her orgasm rolled up on her in one crashing wave. Mace, though, still wouldn’t let her look away. She had a feeling his pleasure relied on her pleasure. His hard dick rubbed against her butt as his breath came in short, hard pants.

She dug her short nails deep into Mace’s shoulders. Her entire body unraveled. Falling apart under hisskillful hands. “Fuck, Mace. Fuck!”

His fingers picked up the pace, pumping in and out of her with one intent. “I wanna see you come, Dez. Now.”

She did. She broke into a million pieces all over the man’s hand. And not once did she look away from those beautiful gold eyes.

She is so beautiful. Sitting around watching Cops or coming all over him, the woman was freakin’ beautiful. He always loved getting a woman off, but something about Dez’s pleasure, her joy at simply having an orgasm, absolutely set his hair on fire.

The woman held complete control of his heart and didn’t even know it. He wasn’t sure she even cared. Dez collapsed against him, her lips against his collarbone. Her fingers still digging into his shoulders. She belonged here. On his lap, right on top of his cock. Skin against skin. Heart against heart.

He could do it. He could make her love him. Even if he had to put up with those goddamn dogs, he’d get her to love him.

Mace rubbed his chin against the top of her head. “So…did that take the edge off?”

She chuckled against his neck and goose bumps broke out across his skin. “You could say that.”

“Then can I get back to business?”

Dez sat up as he slowly removed his hand from what he now considered the most amazing hot spot on earth.

“Back to what business?”

He ran his still-wet hand over her bottom lip, leaned in, and licked it away.

Dez shuddered. “Oh. That.”

“Yeah. That. You’re not going to work today, right?”

Dez gazed at his mouth and shook her head.

“Good.” He pulled her toward him. “Then kiss me, Dez.”

Chapter Six

D ez woke up when her dogs licked her face. She pushed the two Rotties away and glanced around. Half on and half off the end of the bed, her body completely tangled up in the sheets.

“Sitz.” Her dogs sat. “Plotz.” Her dogs lay down. She trained them in German since they were German dogs. She glared at them. “Thanks for deserting me last night.” They at least had the decency to look ashamed.

Dez sat up. The room was a wreck and she guessed she was too. She listened but didn’t hear Mace anywhere. Maybe he left. Didn’t want to be around for the morning-after awkwardness. Not that she blamed him. She hadn’t been looking forward to that either.

Dez slowly stood up. She took a couple of steps to see if she could still walk. Surprisingly, she could. She thought for sure the man made her a cripple, her entire body sore as hell. Not that she actually minded.

She glanced at her nightstand clock. Already one o’clock. Well, if she were going over her parents’ house on Christmas she needed to get the rest of the gifts. And order that goddamn pie.