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His eyes slowly pulled away from hers, moving over her face to her throat as he eased away from her to stand upright. His gaze slid over her necklaces and down across her cleavage, traveling south over the dress she wore.

“You didn’t succeed.” His voice was husky and dark. It made her want to squirm. “Not even close.”

Her arms rose to wrap around herself as insecurity swamped her, but he didn’t let her put up her shield. He grabbed her biceps and stepped into her, bringing their bodies flush. She sucked in a sharp breath.

“You misunderstand.” His slow words and low tone had her heart hammering in her chest, ready to take flight. “Pretty isn’t the word I would use to describe you in this little dress.” He slid his hands down to cup her elbows, stepping back to add a few inches of space between them.

She knew her gulp was audible. “Then what?” She hated how her voice sounded meek. Hated how she sounded fragile.

“Tempting.”

The one word made every nerve ending in her body fire at once. She rubbed her thighs together as subtly as possible. She could feel her pulse in places she shouldn’t. Not in response to him.

Her body tensed when his forehead dropped to her shoulder. His breath tickled on her chest, coming heavier than before. She bit the inside of her lip hard in an effort not to make a sound, drawing blood.

“You look beautiful,” he said through gritted teeth. “Never change out of fear. I promised I would protect you, and I meant it. Don’t change who you are. Don’t let him break you.”

His words penetrated the haze of desire hanging over her mind. Words he forced out, with how strained and raspy they came.

Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes.

Her lips parted, and his eyes latched onto them instead, making her breath hitch.

“Too tempting,” he mumbled, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, thumb sliding back and forth over her skin as she leaned into the touch.

Lowering his head, his lips brushed over hers. A gentle graze, giving her the opportunity to stop him if she wanted, but quickly morphing into something deeper.

His tongue trailed over her bottom lip, and she whimpered, which gave him the access to slide inside and meet her tongue in a slow caress.

A deep rumble sounded in his chest as his arms moved to band around her, pulling her close to his body as the kiss went from slow and languid to consuming fire in an instant.

One of his hands moved up to cradle the back of her head, while the other slid down her back over her dress and around her hip, gripping so tightly she suspected there would be a lingering bruise. She wasn’t opposed.

He jerked her lower half forward against his, and she wasn’t sure if what she felt against her belly was arousal through his jeans or not. It sure felt like it. Hard, thick, long. Yeah, he wanted her, and she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Her hands found themselves tangled in his damp hair, tugging on the length as she struggled for gulps of air between kisses.

If only she were a little taller.

If only he would pick her up.

No, not for you, she chastised herself.

The last time she wanted a man was in high school, and that had been a boy. A fumbling, unsure boy who was overeager and lacked finesse.

Nothing compared to the dominant man pressed against her, claiming her mouth like he owned it.

When a growl vibrated against her lips, she gasped. The sound felt hotwired straight to her clit, and she squeezed her thighs against the sensation. She’d never heard a man sound like that.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he cursed against her lips. “I can’t.” He tore his mouth away from her and fled to the bathroom with a look of horror on his face. A stain of red painted his lower lip.

She brought her hand up to her mouth and touched it. Her fingers came away glistening with blood. She bit the inside of her lip harder than she realized earlier.

Her body sagged against the counter as she panted heavily, trying to sort through the mental gymnastics that was what happened between them.

She felt sexual frustration around him but had no idea it could be going both ways.

What she didn’t understand was why he ran away like his ass was on fire.