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“I will become significantly less okay if you keep wearing this.” She reached up and loosened the top button on his shirt. This time, he let her. “And you did say I could remove your shirt after you had my dress off.”

Mac’s laughter ended in a low growl. “There’s my girl.”

Something about my girl went through her like warm whiskey. She shoved his shirt open. And stared.

She’d seen Mac in tight T-shirts. She’d seen him sweaty and dirty after working at Arden’s. She’d seen him in a tailored suit as he was on his way to a high-class protection detail. And she’d spent an embarrassing amount of time studying his shoulders from across Watchdog’s reception desk.

None of that had prepared her for this.

“Oh, come on.”

Mac glanced down at himself. “What?”

“That’s just…excessive. An eight-pack? Really?”

He laughed, and Jodie ran her hands over his chest. His breath changed, becoming ragged.

Interesting. She did it again.

Mac caught her wrists gently. “Nope.”

“What do you mean, nope?”

“I told you. Tonight, you let me.”

Jodie lifted one eyebrow. “You’re getting bossy.”

“Do you want me to stop?” The question came without teasing, but he didn’t let go of her wrists.

Jodie looked at him. “No.”

Mac’s expression softened. “Then come here.”

He released her wrists and kissed her, slowly and deliberately. Then Mac guided her backward until the backs of her knees touched the mattress and she sat down. Jodie reached for him. Mac caught her hand and kissed her palm again. Apparently that was going to be a thing and she had absolutely no problem with it.

Mac stepped out of his shoes, knelt between her legs and commanded, “Lie back.”

Her pulse jumped. She almost made a joke.

Instead, Jodie did what he asked. And discovered, with startling speed, that she liked it. She didn’t have to think about whether he was comfortable or what came next or whether she should be doing something differently. Mac paid attention to every breath, every shift of her body, every involuntary sound she made. He learned her. And when she tried to anticipate him and his needs, he changed course.

But for now, he was intent on pleasing her.

Jodie felt Mac’s fingers glide teasingly over her silk panties and she tried not to arch her back. God, it felt so damn good.

“More.”

“Oh, you’ll have it.” Mac breathed the words over her lower belly. He slid a hand down her stomach. His fingers traced the waistband of her panties, then eased them down her legs. He parted her thighs farther. Mac dipped his head, his tongue parting her folds with reverence. She gasped, her back arching off the mattress this time as her hand tangled in his hair.

“Mac—”

He licked her again, slower this time. He didn’t stop, didn’t let up, as the intensity built inside her. She gripped the comforter until she came apart against his lips as his tongue stroked her through her orgasm.

As she lay panting, Mac kissed his way up to her mouth. For several long minutes, there was no teasing, no clever line waiting in the wings. Only Mac’s mouth on hers, his weight held carefully above her, her hands moving over his back.

Eventually Mac lifted his head. “One practical question.”

Jodie blinked up at him. “Now?”