Deceived

I love my new cover for Deceived. It's been unavailable for a year but I re-released it today. If you've bought it before, it's the same book--just a different cover. Deceived is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

One More Week to Go

Does anyone want to read yet another I Want You Back excerpt? It occurred to me that I posted a different excerpt at All Romance Ebooks than I did here. It's short but hot. Picking excerpts from this book was very difficult because many would be spoilers and others were just too hot. The following excerpt is slightly longer than what's posted at All Romance.

“Ms. White,” the receptionist called. “You may go in now.”

Ashley nodded at the young lady and stood. “Thank you.” She picked up the bag of food she’d picked up from The Cheesecake Factory. You can do this, she thought to herself even as she had horrible flashbacks about the last time she’d entered this office. It was when she’d come to pick up the check for a million dollars. Denton had been at his most smug and condescending best. She’d had to swallow her ire and think of her parents to get through the distasteful meeting. Just the memory of her father, ashen and gray in his hospital bed had been enough to make her forge ahead.

Stephen had done much to change the décor, she was glad to note. The walls were painted white and decorated with framed maps. Only the large wood desk was the same. The gray carpet was new. As were the white sofas and chairs that sat in one corner of the room.

Stephen was on the phone and he nodded her towards the sofa. She placed the bag on the coffee table and removed the plates from the bag. Glancing around, she spotted his mini-fridge. She put their slices of cheesecake inside.

“That smells delicious,” he said, joining her on the couch a moment later. He wore a dark gray suit with a black shirt and a tie that swirled both colors together.

“Wish I could take the credit. I never thought I’d say it, but I miss cooking. Staying in a hotel has its downsides.” She handed him his silverware and kissed him full on the mouth. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. She licked her lips. “Mm, you taste good.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes before he said, “Ash, the other day at my house went too far and I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”

“And what impression would that be?” She twirled noodles around on her fork and ate them.

“That I’ve forgiven you and that we can resume our relationship where things ended before.”

“And I told you that I’d be willing to do anything to get you back. Have you given that any thought?”

“Too much,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly.

She squeezed his knee and trailed her hand up his thigh. Their eyes met as she closed her hand over his erection. She wasn’t playing fair and she had no intentions of doing so.

He groaned and slid out of reach. “What do you think you’re doing?”

She smiled. “Just what you’d do if you wanted me. I’m seducing you.”

His brows rose. “Is that so?”

She nodded. “Remember I didn’t want to date you because I didn’t think you were serious? You and Jeremy had quite the reputation.” She followed him down the sofa and before he could react, she swung one leg over his thighs so that she straddled him. “But you wore me down, showing up at the movie theater where I was working, calling me every night, sending me flowers.”

“Am I going to start receiving roses?”

“No.” She took his hands and put them over his head, crossing them at the wrists so that she could hold both with only one of hers. Her fingers were stretched to the max and he could easily break free if he tried. He looked surprised and aroused. His irises appeared completely black. She leaned forward so that her lips touched his. “Stephen, remember what it feels like to be inside me?”

“Shit,” he breathed out.

She traced his lips with the tip of her tongue. “Your mouth makes me so hot and wet. My panties are soaked.”

“This is inappropriate.”

“Why? I’m not fucking you.” She bucked against him and moaned. He was a solid bar beneath her. “Though I could be. You must be so uncomfortable. At least I’ve had a release while you’ve had none. Should I unzip you and relieve some of that pressure?”

“Ash, don’t.”

She undid his belt. “That has to feel better. Remember the first time you took me? How you fucked me all night? Oh, it was glorious. I want to feel you again, stretching my pussy, taking me hard and deep.” He bucked against her and she gasped. Nibbling his earlobe, she whispered his name. “Don’t you miss it? Don’t you want my pussy? Feel it.” She took one of his hands and worked it under her long flowing skirt. Further instructions weren’t needed. His fingers pushed aside her damp panties and buried themselves with hungry intent inside of her pussy lips. He circled her clit until she was pumping her hips against his hand. “Oh, Stephen, please.”

He penetrated her with first one and then two fingers, both of them groaning at the more intimate contact. Ashley kissed him, mostly to muffle her gasps as Stephen finger fucked her pussy without mercy. He was rougher than she ever recalled him being but her body couldn’t stop responding to him. Gripping his shoulders, she rode his fingers.

She hadn’t intended to take things this far but with him she should have predicted that the fire between them would blaze out of her control. Her belly tightened, signaling her impending orgasm.

Stephen withdrew his fingers. The abrupt change had her moaning in disappointment. “Stephen, why-”

“Not again. We shouldn’t be doing this. I’m having dinner with Aster tonight.”

“You belong to me.”

I Want You Back is available for pre-order at All Romance Ebooks and Amazon. It will be available for purchase at Barnes & Noble on December 15. Be sure to read all the way to the end for the first chapter of my next new publication Undeniable, due out in 2017. 

I started I Want You Back years ago. Somehow I never got around to finishing it or giving it a title until this year. I've been debating what to post as a second excerpt for a few days. It's been difficult to do as I don't want to post crucial plot information. My goal is usually to find something tantalizing without being too fiery. I finally decided on the following:

Stephen tilted his head to the side and studied the canvas before him. It didn’t make any difference. The geometric shapes still didn’t align with the artist given title of Day at the Beach. Sighing, he glanced at his watch and wondered how much longer they would have to stay for the sake of being polite. Aster had dragged him to this fundraiser and then promptly disappeared with one of the artists. He couldn’t even recall what charity this event was in support of.

In many ways, Aster reminded him of his mother. She had a college degree but no real ambition. She was content to fill her days with shopping, hobbies, clubs, and various charities. The business their fathers had built together held no interest for her. She was polite and always said and did the right things. Her clothing and her views were all conservative. If she ever disagreed with anyone about anything, she was too well mannered to voice an opposing opinion.

A hand skimmed his shoulder and the nape of his neck, sending a shiver racing down his spine. Ashley. Before he could stop himself, his eyes swept over her body, missing nothing. She wore a glittering bright red cocktail dress that stopped about five inches above her knees. A deep V displayed the plump cinnamon curves of her breasts. Dragging his gaze back up to her face before he could start drooling, he saw that she studied him with the same intensity, desire darkening her brown irises. She ran the tip of her tongue over ruby red lips so glossy that his cock jerked in his pants. She’d arranged her short hair into curls that fell over her brow.

His first instinct was to drag her off to a dark corner and discover if she wore a bra beneath that slip of a dress. Instead, he cleared his throat, made sure his jacket covered his hard on, and removed her hand from his shoulder. “Is this a coincidence as well, Ash?”

“Sort of.”

“What does that mean?”

“What do you want to hear?” she asked, her tone provocative.

He refused to rise to the bait. “I’m here with Aster.”

She nodded. “I expected as much.”

“Then you know nothing is happening between us tonight.”

Her lips curled up in a sexy grin that made him wish it could be otherwise. “Can’t I simply enjoy your company?”

He looked away from her. He’d always enjoyed being with her. It didn’t matter if they were so tied up in studying for exams that they couldn’t speak or if they were dancing on the beach during Spring Break, he’d just been happy to have her at his side. Until she wasn’t anymore. And he’d thought she never would be again. Losing her was like losing part of himself. God, how it had hurt.

“This painting reminds me of the summer we rented the beach house in Florida,” she said, bringing him back to the present. She’d shifted over to a more traditional landscape of white sands dotted with colorful umbrellas and bikini clad sunbathers.

He read the title out loud, “Saturdays.” He grunted. “I wonder if the titles are mixed up.” He gestured at the previous painting.

Ashley studied the red, blue, and white shapes. “Maybe not. I think it’s a kite.”

Stephen grunted. She was probably right. She’d always been more creative than him. He tended to view the world through a more constrictive lens. Ashley had a way of opening him up to his emotions in a way that he’d found addictive before. When she’d left, he’d closed the door to his feelings and built a brick wall in front of it. He’d been a playboy when they had met. But none of the women before her meant anything. They were conquests and thus, quickly forgotten.

He recalled the first time he’d caught a glimpse of Ashley. He’d been surrounded by friends and a few girls that hoped to be more. Ashley walked by, her eyes glued to a notebook, barely paying attention to where she was going. He’d stopped mid-sentence, captivated by her beauty. She’d never looked up. He’d made excuses to his friends and tried to follow her, but he’d lost sight of her in the crowd. When next he saw her, she was working in the local movie theater and he hadn’t let the chance to introduce himself escape him. Ashley had been less than welcoming, but his persistence wore her down. She’d been a sophomore and he’d been a junior. Almost from the beginning, he knew that she was the one. Other girls didn’t exist for him anymore. There was only Ashley.

Ashley grabbed his hand and led him to another painting. “Oh, look at this one. It reminds me of when you drove us through the Blue Ridge Mountains to watch the leaves change colors. It’s beautiful.”

Stephen tore his gaze from her face to glance at the painting. A tree-lined road twisted up the side of a mountain. Colorful leaves in shades of gold, red, and brown floated to the ground like large snowflakes.

“I miss going for rides with you,” she said wistfully.

He missed it, too. They used to just get in the car with no destination in mind and ride. He didn’t do that anymore. Taking a drive out alone wasn’t as appealing. Besides, he had work.

“Why are you doing this?” he finally asked. He knew what he should do. Don’t question this. Take his revenge and move on, but falling under her spell again was a dangerous possibility that he couldn’t ignore.

She looked up at him. Her honeyed skin glowed in this lighting. Her dark eyes were mesmerizing and full of love. It was all he could do not to cover her full lips with his own. “You know why,” she whispered. “You feel it, too.” She reached up and stroked his jaw. “I could never stop loving you.”

“I wish I could believe you,” he said before he could stop himself.

She smiled. “You can. I never stopped believing in what we have. You’re the only one for me.”

He leaned into her touch for a fraction of a second before strengthening his reserved and pulling away. “I should go.”

“In a minute. I want your opinion on this painting I saw in the other room.”

He knew it was just an excuse to keep him at her side. She trailed her fingers down his shoulder to the palm of his hand before curling her palm beneath his. She was at once submissive and seductive and he found he couldn’t find the resolve to say no. Stephen resigned himself to fact that he would be fucking Ashley sooner or later. He was powerless to resist. Only resignation had never felt quite like this.

I Want You Back Excerpt

For those of you who read The Girl Across the Hall, you've probably already seen this excerpt. (This excerpt has been abbreviated from what was published there.) But for those of you who skipped the excerpt at the end or  who haven't read The Girl Across the Hall, this will be new for you. And if you have read it before, don't worry, I will be posting another excerpt before the release date. Enjoy!

     There he was. Stephen Ashcroft. Seven years ago, his thick black hair had tumbled in wild disarray about his broad shoulders. Memories of burying her fingers in his inky curls as he drove his hard body into hers flitted through her mind. She would gather it at the nape of his neck to keep the sweat soaked strands out of his eyes and so that she could see his face as he made her his. Blinking away the heated vision, she focused once more on her target. His locks were shorn in a tapered cut that hugged his scalp and all but obliterated any hint of a curl. His dark brown eyes were trained on his companion, a slender brunette who smiled up at him, her adoration of him clear to anyone who looked upon the couple.
     Ashley White froze and her steps faltered, her resolve deserting her. She accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and changed course. Maybe confronting him here wasn’t the best idea. Ashcroft-Burke Shipping had made a large donation to the local hospital. Tonight was the official opening of the Denton Ashcroft Memorial Wing, named after Stephen’s late father. Good grief, she thought with a twist of her lips. They couldn’t have chosen a more undeserving bastard. But then, they weren’t naming the wing after him because of his worthiness as a human being. This was an accolade purchased by deep pockets. Denton hadn’t possessed a kind bone in his entire body, but he sure as hell had money, Ashley reflected as she meandered through the well-dressed crowd.
Soon the director of the hospital was calling for everyone’s attention. Ashley tuned him out, her eyes focused on Stephen. He lived in a beautiful home in Virginia Beach. She’d been by three times. Twice no one was at home. The last time she’d visited the door was answered by a butler that she didn’t recognize. She’d left without giving her name. Likewise, she had been unable to secure an appointment with him at his office. Stephen was a very busy man and his calendar was full for foreseeable future. When she’d swung by the Ashcroft-Burke Headquarters, he had been out of town for the day and his receptionist had let her know that he didn’t have any openings in his schedule for the next four months. Not that scheduling an appointment would have been possible for her.
Stephen stepped forward and began to speak briefly about his father’s illness and the fine treatment he received at this hospital. That he had loved and respected Denton was clear.
     If only Stephen knew the part that his father had played in their break up, Ashley thought. Though there was no love lost between her and Denton, she realized that this was not the night to present Stephen with her proposal. She sipped her champagne and maneuvered her way closer to the exit.
Placing her glass on a server’s tray, she turned to leave and almost bumped into a hard male chest.            “Excuse me.”
     “Ashley White, I thought my eyes were deceiving me,” he said, the tone mocking and cool.
     She swallowed a groan. Of all the people here, she would bump into Jeremy Weiss, Stephen’s best friend. The years had been good to him. His face was a bit fuller but he didn’t look like he’d aged much. As he pushed the thin frames of his glasses up the bridge of his nose, she thought he could have walked on any college campus and easily blended in with the student body. He had the boyish good looks that appealed to some. Ashley couldn’t recall if they’d ever been attractive to her. Since she’d known Jeremy, she’d grown to hate the look. He was a spoiled, lazy, snob. “Jeremy, it’s good to see you,” she blurted for lack of anything better to say.
     “As I recall, you’ve always detested me.”
     “Now that you mention it....” It was closer to the truth to say that he’d never liked her. Stephen had been the friend he’d gone out with to drink and to pick up chicks. When they began dating, Stephen had become hers exclusively. If they went to bars, she was tucked under his arm. If there was a party, she was his date. She made to move around Jeremy but he shifted to block her. There was polite applause as Stephen finished his speech.
     “Why are you here, Ashley? Stephen doesn’t need you fucking around with his head tonight.”
     “Who says I’m here for him?”
     His lips twisted and he tilted his blond head to the side. “When hasn’t it been about him? Take my advice. There are too many memories of his father floating around at the moment. Seeing you will only remind him about how spot on his father was in his evaluation of you.”
     She ground her teeth together. Denton hadn’t been the only one to think that a middle class African American girl wasn’t good enough for the Ashcroft heir. He’d always treated her like a temporary trick, never taking Stephen’s feelings for her seriously. With every word he spoke, Jeremy reminded her why she hated him. She’d tried to like him for Stephen’s sake, but it was a wasted effort when he wasn’t willing to extend her the same courtesy. “Thank you for stating the obvious. I was just leaving.”
     “Excellent.”
     “You haven’t aged or improved with time.”
     He laughed. “Neither have you.”
     Ashley gave him a parting glare and pivoted.
     “I don’t rate even a hello? You wound me.”
     She gasped as the rough, deep voice rolled over her. Stephen! Heart thumping, she turned around. Her head felt light, her stomach fluttered and her bones turned to jelly. My God, he’s sexier than I remember. Stephen couldn’t be called anything as boring as handsome. His was a man’s face. It was masculine and angular. His body was big and hard. The only soft thing about him was his lush mouth. Recalling the feel of them suckling her nipples, trailing over her belly, and feasting between her thighs had her pussy growing moist. His effect on her hormones was as devastating as ever. Eyes wide, lips trembling, she tried to smile. “Stephen, of course you do.”
     “You remember Aster?”
     Her gaze swung to the brunette. She nodded her head at the other woman. Of course she remembered her. In college, she’d always dyed her hair blond. Perhaps that was why she’d not recognized Aster Burke immediately. Aster was the other heir to the Ashcroft-Burke Shipping business and the woman Stephen’s parents had encouraged him to marry.
Aster stepped forward and tugged her into a warm hug. “It’s wonderful to see you again. You look magnificent. I like your hair that way.”
     Ashley fingered her short pixie. “Thank you.”
     Stephen’s dark eyes bored into her. His jaw was clenched. “I thought for sure I was mistaken when I saw you. How could you come to an event honoring my father?” His voice was hard and colder than she’d ever heard it. She hadn’t known how he would react to her sudden reappearance. Uncertainty had been eating away at her nerves. But now she had her answer. The man was furious with her.
     “Stephen, don’t.” Aster put a restraining hand on his arm.
     Stephen shook her off. He reached out and grabbed one of Ashley’s wrists. “Come with me.”
     “Shit, Stephen,” Jeremy hissed. “Don’t do this.”
     Ashley didn’t fight as he ignored his friends and pulled her out the exit. Even if she had, his grip was unbreakable. The night air was cool and her dress was sleeveless. She shivered but Stephen didn’t notice. He was too intent upon his goal.  “Where’s your car?”
     “There.” She pointed to the right where she’d parked beneath a light. “The black Prius.” She stumbled as her heel found a hole in the pavement. “Slow down. I can’t keep up.” They were of a comparable height but her pumps put her at a disadvantage. If he heard her, he pretended not to and they continued at the same pace until he drew to a halt in front of her car. Ashley bit her lip as she collided with his muscled back. Stephen wasted no time turning around. He manacled both her wrists in his large hands.
     “How could you, Ashley?”
     She was inches from his face. How often had she longed to be in his arms again? She’d ached for him every day since the moment she’d decided to leave him. He shook her when she didn’t answer and his eyes glittered with anger. “Stephen, I need to talk to you, but not tonight. I understand now isn’t the time.”
     “The inappropriateness of your appearance here tonight only just occurred to you? How could you be so selfish?”
     “I… needed to see you. I couldn’t get an appointment with you and you’re never home. Please, can we meet again?”
     He made a sound of disgust and released her hands. “We have nothing to discuss. Everything you had to say to me, you said it in your letter.”
     She could barely recall the excuses she’d given to break off their relationship in that final letter. It didn’t matter. It was all lies. She’d never stopped loving him. She wanted him back and she wasn’t leaving until he heard her out. “Please, Stephen, it’s important.”

Coming December 15

Seven years ago Ashley White made the difficult decision to give up the love of her life. She's never forgotten him. She’s returned and she's willing to do anything to win back the man she’s never stopped loving.

Stephen Ashcroft has never recovered from Ashley's betrayal. She has the audacity to ask for his forgiveness. He'll never trust her again, but for the sake of revenge, he’s willing to pretend that he can.

One More Week

The Girl Across the Hall releases next Friday. Time for another excerpt. Enjoy and have a good weekend.

     So certain was she that it was Felicia that Zoe didn’t even use the peephole before opening the door. “Good morn…” It wasn’t Felicia. It was The Pervert. Zoe gulped for air.
     For a pervert, he was damned gorgeous. The impossibly thick, dark chocolate waves of his hair shone in the dim overhead lighting provided in the hallway. His eyebrows were dark slashes over vivid aqua blue eyes framed with the sort of luscious lashes she only achieved when using that expensive special microfiber mascara Felicia insisted that she needed. Enough couldn’t be said about his eyes. They slanted at the corners, giving him a sleepy sensual appearance. His nose was straight and pretty but broad enough to look masculine. His lips were the full sort that made her question when white boys started being born with mouths like that. It was the kind of mouth that gave a woman ideas—ideas about what his lips would feel like pressed against her own or trailing over sensitive parts of her body. A plain gray t-shirt strained at the seams over his broad shoulders and chest. His jeans were faded and worn soft in all the right places.
     Zoe snatched her gaze away from the distractingly substantial bulge at his crotch and gripped the door in case she needed to slam it in his face. “Um…”
     “Morning, Zoe.” He grinned. “I was wondering if you had any of those dishwashing packets.”
     She closed her mouth. Okay. So not only were they on a first name basis in his world; they were also close enough to mooch off one another. “C-come in,” she invited reluctantly. She made a point of leaving the door open behind him.
     He stepped over the threshold and immediately shivered. “It’s like a meat locker in here.”
     Zoe wrapped her sweater closer around her body. She preferred shivering over sweating. “I hear it’s supposed to be almost ninety degrees outside today.” Shifting so that her back wasn’t to him, she searched the cabinet beneath her sink. She had two bags of dishwashing packs. The open container had only two of the squares left. She grabbed the almost empty bag and stood up.
     And then blinked in surprise. He’d moved while she wasn’t paying attention and was now so close she could smell his soap and aftershave. He smelled amazing. And she so didn’t. She hadn’t showered or brushed her teeth. Or done her hair! A self-conscious hand flew up to touch her hair. She hadn’t felt like doing anything more than putting her hair in a ponytail last night which meant her face was surrounded by flyaway frizzy curls.
     She pressed the bag of dishwasher packs to his chest. “You can have these.”
     He covered her hand and removed the proffered bag in a caressing manner, his palm warming her before he withdrew. “Thank you so much, Zoe. I forgot to buy more when I was out.”
     “No problem,” she said.
     “Let me pay you back. I’ll take you out for coffee.”
     She shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. And I don’t drink coffee.” She crossed to the door so that he would understand that this conversation was over and it was his cue to leave.
     “Zoe, please, let me pay you back. I really appreciate what you’re doing for me.”
     Frowning, she asked, “How do you know my name?”
     “I overheard your friend say it. My name is Noah, by the way.”
     He must mean Felicia. She was the only one who came over and Zoe was beginning to wish that she didn’t. “Nice to meet you, Noah,” she said automatically. Social graces weren’t her forte. In fact, if he didn’t leave soon, she would be out of things to say and then she’d start to sweat even though she had the thermostat set on seventy degrees.
     “We could go to lunch,” he suggested.
     Was he asking her out? She wasn’t good at reading people. She thought of the mistakes she’d made with Henry Thomas, one of the partners at the investment firm where she worked. Had that been her fault? She kept analyzing it afterward and she didn’t think so. His motives had seemed so clear. But she must have been mistaken. He wasn’t interested in her. And Noah wasn’t either. She’d seen the type of woman he dated and it definitely wasn’t her. He liked outgoing, confident women. Not women like herself who had to psych themselves up for any social interaction.
     When she didn’t reply, he continued, “What are you doing later?”
     Absolutely nothing. And she liked those plans. She intended to have a quiet day in, surfing the internet and maybe catch a movie marathon. “Um,” she faltered, trying to come up with a lie so that he’d leave her alone. She wasn’t interested in have a friendly lunch with a guy she was pretty sure was a pervert. She could give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he didn’t sleep with all the women she’d seen him with. But just because she was shy didn’t mean she was naïve or ignorant. So that meant he probably just wanted an introduction to Felicia. It was what most guys wanted.
     “I-I’ve got a thing…so-so, I can’t today. But thanks for the invite. You really, really don’t have to pay me back.”
     He frowned and tilted his head to the side like a confused puppy. “Okay. Maybe we can do it some other time.”
     Never, she thought. But she gave him a false smile. “Sure.” When he still didn’t seem to take the hint and get out, she said, “Well, I need to do a bit of cleaning up before…my thing.”
     “Yeah, sure.” He held up the dishwasher detergent. “Thanks again.”
     “Anytime,” she said, not meaning it for a second. Hopefully this would be the last time he invaded her personal space. If he wanted to hook up with Felicia, he’d do it without any assistance from her. Besides Felicia had a man. She and Henry were all but engaged.
     Zoe sighed in relief as she locked the door behind him. That would teach her to open the door without checking the peephole first. Then she grimaced. Now she’d have to go out so that he wouldn’t know she’d lied about having a “thing.” Well, she’d better get showered and changed for her pretend errand. This is what came of befriending neighbors, she thought grumpily.

An Excerpt!

The Girl Across the Hall is available for preorder at Amazon and All Romance Ebooks. It will also be available for purchase at Barnes & Noble on the date of release which is October 21. In light of that, I thought it might be fun to have an excerpt.

     “Snap to, Zoe,” Zoe hissed at herself. So what if the man looked like he was ripped off the cover of some fitness magazine. She’d known he was fit. But damn. Seeing it was different from merely suspecting what might be under his clothing. His tight abs alone had turned her into a drooling simpleton.
     She realized suddenly that she could never have sex with that man. She had an okay body, but she didn’t have a sculpted anything. Felicia was right. She was in way over her head. But Zoe had been goaded by Felicia’s command into doing the exact opposite of what she’d advised. If it hadn’t been for Felicia, Zoe would probably still be wavering over her answer. Nothing irritated Zoe more than being ordered around by someone who had no right to do so. It made her contrary and rebellious.
     What was she going to do? They had only just begun, but she couldn’t keep seeing him. That would be leading him on and that would be cruel.
     She’d have to break up with him. And right away. A pang like a knife being shoved between her ribs made her catch her breath. No matter how much it hurt, she would have to do it.
     She’d unloaded the food quickly and searched Noah’s cabinets for dishes. She was laying out the flatware when he came in running his fingers through his slicked back hair. He smiled at her and pulled her into his arms. “You made me so happy today, baby.”
     Though it killed her to do so, she slapped her hands against his chest and turned her face from his kiss. “I can’t do this.”
     His answering scowl was fierce. “What do you mean?” he asked roughly, his arms going rigid around her.
     Zoe winced at his tone. “Noah, I’m…Oh, hell, I saw you. You’re un-freaking-believable. There’s no way I can ever take my clothes off around you.”
     Noah burst out laughing. “You’re kidding me?”
     She glared at him. “No, I’m not.”
     He shook his head. “Zoe, do you know what I was doing before you got here?”
     “No.”
     He cupped her chin and tilted her face up to his. “I was taking a shower and jerking off because I knew I’d see you soon. I do it every night, too, thinking about just your smile or the kiss we shared. Just that little bit is enough to get me hard as fuck until I can’t stand it. So no matter what you look like under your clothing, I’m going to want you.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, you can forget about dumping me. Give your man a kiss.”
    She lifted herself onto the tips of her toes and pressed her lips to his. Noah groaned and his tongue came out to play. Heat curled low in her belly and down between her legs. She slid her fingers in his hair. It was still damp. He walked her backwards until he had her pressed against the counter. And if she’d doubted his desire for her before, he made sure she was aware of it now. He rolled his hips, branding her with the rigid outline of his erection.
     Zoe gasped and Noah deepened the kiss, his hand spreading across the back of her head as his mouth slanted over hers. Zoe sucked his tongue and rubbed herself against his cock, wanting to feel it again.
     Abruptly, Noah broke away from her, his breathing rough and choppy. He dropped his forehead onto hers. “Give me a second and we can eat.”
     “I want another kiss,” she whispered.
     Noah groaned. “If I give you another kiss, I’m going to fuck you on the counter, Zoe. And you’re not ready for that, are you?”