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“I actually believe that,” Joy said, her lips against his. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want it or that the timing isn’t right.”

“It’s not right because I didn’t bring protection,” Kian groaned, rubbing his thumbs along her cheeks.

“Again, I’m a modern woman, and I have that covered. I also don’t have any STDs.”

His laughter was soft as he pressed his lips to hers. “Trust me, babe. I don’t either. I haven’t been with anyone in almost a year. Now I know why.” He pulled her closer, his gaze locked on hers. “Everyone I dated was nice in their own way, but they weren’t you. That’s why, no matter who I was with, my heart kept telling me it was all wrong. It only took one night with you to realize it. I don’t want to mess this up.”

“The only way to mess it up is to do something that requires a third-act breakup that can’t be fixed in four sentences,” Joy teased, but she couldn’t help noticing the pinch at the corners of his eyes, despite his laughter. She had to be imagining it, right?

“The very last thing I want is one of those,” he whispered, leaning in and capturing her lips as he caressed her bare belly near her ribs. He lingered for a heartbeat, his fingertips as light as the warm water lapping at her skin. She threaded her fingers through his damp hair, smiling despite the nervous flutter in her chest.

"You keep kissing me like that," she whispered, "and I'm going to forget everything but the need to feel you inside me."

When he lifted his gaze to meet hers, Joy saw the honesty in his chocolate-brown eyes. She lifted his glasses from his face and laid them on the edge of the tub without breaking eye contact.

“The glasses are sexy, but do you know what’s sexier?” Joy asked. He shook his head. “The look in your eyes right now. I’ve never seen such deep desire in anyone’s eyes before.”

Undone by her words, Kian dove in for another kiss, the heat building slowly, as if he wanted her to feel tenderness rather than urgency. It was easy to forget the world beyond the cottage and all the reasons this was a bad idea. No. This wasn’t a bad idea. This was trust, and it was time to take off the training wheels and trust her heart as much as she trusted him.

The water rippled gently as they drew closer, savoring the quiet comfort of finally being together. Whatever came next was theirs alone, and his whispered promises eased the fear in her heart.

“Can I be your boyfriend?” he whispered against her neck as he kissed his way down her chest.

“Boyfriend?”

Glancing up, he gazed into her eyes. “You know, the only guy who gets to take you out, not to mention the only one who gets to ravish this sexy body.”

“Are you ready for that kind of commitment?” Her moan was the answer as he kissed her, his tongue so insistent that she couldn’t get on top of her desire before he pulled away. He left her wanting on purpose; she could tell by his naughty smile.

“I think I can handle it if you can.” Kian ran a hand across her belly. “My God, you’re incredible,” he sighed, moving his hand up her thigh toward the seam of her panties. “I’m about to show you how incredible you are.”

Before she could speak, he unhooked her bra, letting her breasts spill free. “You take my breath away.” Then he dropped his head and ran his tongue along the ridge of each breast. She arched into him as he flicked his tongue over her nipple.

“God, Kian,” she moaned. “Keep touching me like that and I’ll be the one unable to breathe.”

Releasing her nipple, he smiled. “Better take a deep one then, because I’m just getting started.” Grasping her hips, he massaged them as he made love to her breasts. “Your hips are incredible all the time, but I like them best when they’re bare and in my hands.”

Joy sighed, spreading her legs a little wider. “I think I can get behind making love in a hot tub.”

His desire-laced laugh as he freed her from the fabric scraps left her wetter than anyone ever had. “I couldn’t agree more, but your body is blowing my mind, so I have no idea how long this is going to last. I might need a mulligan later on.”

“Keep touching me the way you are, and you can have as many mulligans as you want,” she moaned as his fingers curled into the hair at her apex.

Kian ducked beneath the water, his hands still gripping her hips as he kissed his way up her thighs. When he surfaced for air, Joy had her head thrown back against the tub, her breasts floating on the water. “Tempting,” he said, licking his lips as he gazed at her beautiful breasts. “Too tempting.”

“Kian, please,” Joy cried, losing her battle with the emotions flowing through her. Every time he touched her, she spiraled off into a new universe of pleasure.

“Please? What do you want, Joy?” he asked, his words tight and his voice thick with desire.

“I want you to touch me,” she whisper-begged without guilt. There was a man who wanted to ravage her. How dare she deprive him of that?

His mischievous smile reappeared as he submerged himself in the water. Almost immediately, his fingers traced her before his tongue gently teased her swollen bud, longing with desire. Her hips jolted, her mind consumed only by need and craving for this man. As she cried out, she pressed her hips against his tongue and plunged into ecstasy, trembling from the aftershocks of her first orgasm with a man in years.

Kian popped up from the water, still wearing that smile, though it softened as he held her while she came down from her high. “That was just round one,” he promised, stroking his finger along her jawline.

“Round two better be you inside me,” she moaned, grasping the waistband of his boxers and pulling them down. When they got caught on his hardness, she simply took him in her hand while he kicked off the garment.

“Holy hell, Joy,” he moaned as she slid her hand up and down, the water providing friction. “You have to stop, or I really will need a mulligan.”