move to make him stop. “I confess, second dates aren’t my thing.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I’m shocked.”
“Mmm.” He kissed her again, and then nuzzled along the edge of her jaw. A rapid pulse beat in her neck, loud and satisfying. The heat and scent of her arousal oozed from every pore. It smelled like honey and chocolate, gently wafting from under the oils on her skin. “I’d like to surprise you some more. You are fucking delicious. Like a candy store. I want to lick every inch of you.”
She gasped, but then pushed closer to him. Did she even realize?
This Sherri was different than any female—woman or were —Ash had known. She wore expensive clothes and carried herself with the confidence of a lady who knew her mind, but responded to his touch like a purring sex kitten.
“We shouldn’t...” Even as she said the words, her fingers tightened around his arm.
Heat pooled in Ash’s gut as he pressed close. Dammit, things were always easier without clothing in the way. “Should I let you leave and get back to your life, Sherri?”
“No.” From the sounds of things Sherri was having as much trouble breathing normally as Ash. “But why would that guy tell me to come here? You two clearly aren’t best buddies.”
“Hmm-mm.” Ash worked his hand under Sherri’s shirt, spanning his fingers across the taut plane of her stomach. “No. Half brother. Hates me. I’m sure he saw you and I leave the bar together last night, and he knows I don’t see the same woman twice. Probably one of his many ways of trying to fuck me over. Maybe hoping you’d get clingy, or I’d get pissed. Who knows?” He popped the buttons on her blouse, one after the other, slowly and with purpose. Each inch of silky, exposed skin got him harder.
Sherri’s throaty laugh reached down to caress his balls. “Guess the joke’s on him.” Her shirt fell to the floor.
Ash went for the zipper on her pants. “You think so, eh?”
Sherri smiled and lifted her head from where it had fallen back against the door. “I told you I’m not in town long. Even if I was, I recently ended a terrible relationship. We both know what this is.” She stood before him wearing nothing but a lacy bra and underwear set, and one wicked smile. Smiles like that drove men to their knees.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Ash snarled his pleasure. “Or we will be, when you lose the underwear. And...” He pointed to her kicked-off shoes, a pair of black, suede high heels. “I’d love it if you put those back on.”
Sherri’s lips curled upward as she reached for the shoes.
***
S tanding in the middle of a small, cluttered office, wearing nothing but her shoes, Sherri felt... awkward... vulnerable... mind-blowingly decadent.
She gasped when Ash’s fingers brushed that sensitive spot along the side of her right breast, along her ribs. Her gaze flicked to the office door. “Lock that, would you?” She was pretty sure the thrill would be gone if one of his employees walked in on the two of them naked and indecently exposed.
Ash stretched one arm back toward the door. Had she still been wearing any underwear, that molten stare of his would have seared it right off.
One tiny click of a lock engaging and her chest tightened, her breath coming in careful sips. Crap, they hadn’t even gotten to the good stuff. She was thinking maybe he’d spoiled her for humans.
Shut up. That’s crazy.
Ash stood a hair out of reach, watching. It felt odd not to have anything to do with her hands so she stepped forward, anxious to explore all those ridges and planes. He surprised her by touching each of his palms to each of hers and threading their fingers together. One kiss, then another, to the tips of her fingers.
“I can smell Jojo. I don’t like that his scent is on you.”
“He wrote this address on a napkin. I crumpled it and threw it in the trash. I think we’ll all survive.”
“I do enjoy your spirit.” Ash grinned. “The