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Dax gets a mischievous look on his face. “Is this where you tell me the rules about not kissing you and not touching you? Those rules didn’t work out so well for you last time, and quite honestly, I plan to do plenty of kissing and touching tonight. Starting with right here.”

His fingertip rubs my lower lip.

Then he takes my hand and starts leading me toward the bedroom. The lightheaded feeling comes back. I don’t know if it’s nervousness, excitement, or too much wine, but I feel a tingling sensation from just the little contact of our hands together.

Still, I have to set things straight before I agree to anything.

“Tonight is it for us, Dax. After tonight, no more kissing or touching or anything. We need to make a clean break.”

“I do not agree to those terms,” he says lazily, looking back at me over his shoulder.

“I don’t care if you agree. That’s how it’s going to be.”

Be firm, I tell myself. Don’t let him distract you from saying what needs to be said. Don’t let him touch you until he agrees to your terms.

Except now we’re next to his bed, and his lips are on my neck, and he’s kissing me in that spot that makes me all tingly inside.

My wine glass is no longer in my hand, and I have no idea where it went. The light buzzing in my head is making it hard to concentrate. And now his hands are at the hem of my shirt. I feel him pulling the shirt up, and then it’s somehow gone. Before I can form a thought, my bra is gone, too.

I grab for his shirt, intending to stall him long enough so that we can talk. But instead of stopping him, I pull him closer. His head dips down, and he’s kissing me. The taste of sweet wine explodes in my mouth as his tongue plunges inside. Everything is happening so fast. I’m supposed to be telling him something important, but I don’t remember anything.

And I no longer care.

Tomorrow will wait. Tonight is for me and Dax.

His warm breath is a soft breeze on my ear. He pulls my earlobe into his mouth and sucks. His teeth scrape along the sensitive lobe, and I have to hold onto Dax’s shoulders for support.

His hands are at the waistband of my shorts, and he makes quick work of freeing me of the confines of the material. I feel my shorts slipping down my legs.

The darkness of his bedroom has robbed me of sight, but I sense his eyes on me. Suddenly, his arm is behind my legs, and I’m being lifted up into his chest. He gently lays me on the bed.

I can’t see anything, but I feel him move away from me.

Seconds later, a muted light from the hallway bathes the room in a soft glow. It’s just enough light to see what’s going on.

Dax pads back over to the bed and stops.

His eyes worship me from head to toe. “You’re a fucking goddess.”

I squirm under his scrutiny. He’s removed only his shirt, and I’m wearing nothing but panties. “Why are you still wearing clothes? This doesn’t seem fair.”

My lips form into an exaggerated pout.

“My house, my rules,” he says. “Now go ahead and take those panties off so I can see the rest of you.”

The heated look in his eyes and the commanding tone of his voice light a fire that has me instantly hot. I don’t even think of telling him no. I want to do what he’s telling me. No, not want. I’m dying to do what he’s telling me.

I slide my panties down my legs, his eyes following every minuscule move I make.

He reaches for the button on his pants, and my hungry gaze takes it all in as he unbuttons his pants and drops them to the floor. His boxers are next.

My teeth take hold of my bottom lip as I take in the gorgeous sight of a naked Dax. The soft glow of the room casts shadows on his perfectly sculpted body, and I want so badly to reach out and run my hands down his hard chest. Instinctively, I know he wants me to remain where I am, so I lie where his gaze has me locked into place.

The mattress dips when he places his knee next to me. Then, his lips are on mine, soft and gentle, yet I feel the power radiating from him.

I reach up to run my hands on his chest, but he nips me on my lower lip. “No touching,” he says with a touch of playfulness.

“But I want to touch you,” I whisper.