“Clearly we’ve got some things to discuss,” he said.
“You think?”
“It’s settled then.” A hint of his rakish smile broke through. “You’ll stay the weekend.”
“I’ll…what?”
Disarmed. That’s how Charley felt. Despite her racing heart and the mistrust swirling between them, Dorian’s smile drained the fear and tension from her body, replacing it with that mind-erasing desire he was so damn good at igniting.
“Something tells me this isn’t about what we need to discuss.” She pressed her hand against his firm chest. “You’ve got ulterior motives, Mr. Redthorne.”
Dorian leaned in close, dragging his lips down the long column of her neck, pressing a hot kiss into the hollow of her throat. “And you’ve been dodging me, Ms. D’Amico.”
Damn. Her list of regrets was growing exponentially by the minute, but telling Dorian her last name was no longer one of them. She’dneverget sick of hearing it on his lips.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she breathed.
“It would be futile, I assure you.” Dorian fisted her dress, slowly lifting it to reveal her bare legs. The cool basement air teased her skin, casting her flesh in goosebumps even as Dorian’s touch flooded her core with molten heat. “I can beverypersuasive.”
Charley sighed, eyelids fluttering closed as Dorian slipped his fingers inside her underwear for the second time that night. He was totally distracting her, leading her dangerously away from her purpose, but all she could do was follow him right off the path, straight into oblivion.
She craved his touch. Needed it.
“Always ready for more,” he whispered, nipping at her earlobe. “I love that about you.”
Before she could respond, Dorian claimed her mouth in a violent kiss. He slid his other hand behind her head, bringing her closer, teasing and biting until she was certain he’d draw blood…
The sudden pinch of sharp, eager teeth on her fleshy lip made her gasp, but she didn’t pull back, not even as the warm, salty blood leaked into her mouth. Dorian moaned into the kiss, his fingers thrusting deeper between her thighs as he sucked and licked and devoured andclaimed.
Tingling heat gathered in her core, but suddenly, Charley couldn’t breathe. He was destroying her with his kiss, marking her flesh, and she couldn’t fucking breathe.
She tried to speak but managed only a muffled plea.
Dorian ignored her.
Panic flooded her limbs, and she shoved against his chest, desperate for air. But they were too close, her resistance easily mistaken for play, and Dorian persisted, his grip tightening in her hair as he plundered her with his tongue and fingers.
Stars danced before her eyes, her legs weakening, the slide of his fingers relentless as he licked and sucked and stole the very last breath from her lungs.
The edges of her vision turned gray.
She couldn’t hold herself up. Couldn’t scream. Couldn’t even see.
She collapsed in his arms, and Dorian crushed her against his chest, moaning into her mouth as he thumbed her clit and fucked her with those mad, unabating fingers.
What is happening to me? I can’t… This is… I’m going to… holy shit…
The orgasm tore through her in a blinding rush, her body clenching around his fingers, heat spreading down her thighs and up through her chest, the intense pleasure mixing with the fear of certain death—a cocktail that sent a surge of raw adrenaline shooting through her veins.
With her last bit of strength, Charley shoved hard against his chest, finally breaking the kiss.
She gasped and sucked in air, her heart ready to explode.
Dorian pulled his hands away and stumbled backward, staring at her like he had no idea what the fuck had just happened. He glared at her mouth, his own streaked with her blood, his gaze drunk and delirious.
He was so far gone she wasn’t sure he even recognized her.
Crazed laughter bubbled up through her lips, and Charley pressed a hand to her chest, panting.
