Page 58 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

“I love this yoga outfit,” he murmured as his mouth left hers to nip at her earlobe then drop hot kisses along the curve of her neck. “It’s the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.” He drew back, breathing heavily as he slid his hands slowly, teasingly, down her waist. “But it’s gotta go.”

He hooked his thumbs beneath the waistband of her yoga pants, taking her thong with it, and in one smooth, steady motion tugged them to her ankles. Heat pulsed between her legs, and with it came a rush of longing she hadn’t known existed.

I want him. I want to be with him more than anything.

When she stepped out of the garments, he tossed them aside. A soft snort reminded her that Tiger was still in the room, watching them curiously, tilting his head first to the left, then the right before lowering slowly to the floor and resting his muzzle between his front paws.

“Voruit.” Eric pointed to the open door.

With obvious reluctance, Tiger rose and stalked from the room.

“Poor baby,” Tess managed between heavy breaths.

“Poor baby?” Eric arched a brow. “No cop makes love to a woman with his partner watching.” One corner of his mouth lifted then he tugged her top up, forcing her to raise her arms. He let the yoga bra fall to the floor then stood completely, utterly still. His chest rose and fell, his nostrils flaring as he stared long and hard at her breasts. He wasn’t even touching her, yet when he ran his tongue over his lips, her nipples tightened and puckered as surely as if he’d laved them with his wicked, wicked tongue.

She shivered at his unabashed perusal. The intensity of his gaze was both sexy and awkward. She was completely naked, while he was totally clothed, from his black cargo pants and shirt to the holstered gun, belt badge, and—oh, yeah—handcuffs.

Unable to bear his scrutiny a moment longer, she moved to cover her breasts. His hands shot out, gripping her wrists gently and pulling her hands away.

“Don’t. I want to look at you. You’re so, so beautiful.” Releasing her wrists, he laced their fingers together, holding her arms out from her sides, making her feel even more uncomfortable. “You’re everything I dreamed you would be, and more.”

Somehow, his words penetrated her thickening haze of lust and passion. “You dreamed of me?” He had to be joking. A man like him could have any woman he wanted. Why her?

“Honey, I’ve dreamt about you at least once a week since the moment I first saw you.”

“You’re kidding.” He had to be. Right?

“No, I’m not.” The look on his face turned serious.

“That was a year ago,” she countered. In that time, there had to have been a long line of gorgeous women—tall, runway-model women—in and out of his bed. She had to believe that. Needed to believe that, because she couldn’t allow herself to think that she was special to him in any way. This was just sex, that’s all it was. Keep telling yourself that. Otherwise she doubted she could find the strength to walk away.

“Nine months, actually,” he said with conviction. “And I haven’t been with another woman since.”

Uh-oh. “At the risk of being redundant, you’re kidding.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “A man never kids about his celibacy.”

She gulped. This is not good, not good at all. When a man says things like that, a woman can’t help but start to—

Fall for him. Which she already suspected was happening.

How could she not? Because, God help her, she’d dreamt of him, too. So many times she’d lost count.

He gave her a sheepish grin. “The first time I saw you, I practically choked on my tongue.” His blue eyes darkened. “Right now, I can think of more constructive things to do with my tongue.”

Oh, yeah. So can I.

He released her hands to cup her breasts, leaning down to lave one nipple with his tongue, swirling it around and around until it puckered and hardened into a tight little peak, while tugging the other between his thumb and forefinger.

His mouth was hot and hungry as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, sending jolts of pleasure shooting…everywhere.

Her head fell back, and she pressed her lips together to keep from screaming out: yesss. His tongue and lips were everything she imagined, and so much more.

The powerful life force in his touch made every energy-imbuing crystal she owned seem like a piece of worthless rock.

She sifted her fingers through his hair, and when he scraped his teeth gently over her distended nipple, she moaned from the heart-stopping pleasure and clutched his head tighter to her breast. The need to have his mouth lower, between her legs, doing the same incredible things built and built, and she undulated her hips against him.

An appreciative rumble sounded deep in his chest as he kissed the valley between her breasts then knelt on the floor. He cupped her buttocks, massaging them while his mouth trailed lower still. His hands—so close to her most private, sensitive parts—were incredibly sexy and delicious.