His belly clenched and his erection twitched as he remembered following that inviting path up her leg to her most secret place.

She was fully dressed but delectably rumpled and more tantalising than any woman had a right to be.

So what’s changed?

She turned you on, just giving a press conference. When you saw her in the flesh the first time half your attention was on her body rather than business.

Yet Adam found Gisèle’s intellect and character arousing too.

He strode to the bedroom, pausing only to fumble a switch to turn on bedside lights. She felt right in his arms. The only improvement would be if she were naked.

Soon.

Adam set her on her feet beside the bed, taking his time lowering her, teeth gritted against the torture-pleasure of her body sliding against him.

She stood shorter without her shoes, making him more conscious of his size. He felt a flicker of concern that he might hurt her when they came together. Then he met her misty gaze and sense reasserted itself. He’d never hurt a woman yet and Gisèle was as eager as he.

‘Clothes.’ He was surprised to find his throat constricting. Finally he ground out, ‘Time to get naked.’

‘You first.’

He’d imagined them undressing each other, but this was better. If Gisèle undressed him he wouldn’t last.

Adam shucked off his shoes and socks, kicking them aside. The carpet was thick under his soles as he worked his way down the dress shirt, flicking it open.

Gisèle watched every movement, lips parted. Her intense scrutiny felt like a touch, the trailing of fingers over his bare chest.

‘Help me with the cufflinks,’ he ordered.

She stepped close, hands deft and head bent, her rich, spice-and-blossom perfume filling his senses. When she was done he peeled off the shirt and tossed it away, watching her eyes widen as she took in his upper body. It made him glad he kept himself fit.

It took seconds to remove the rest of his clothes.

Usually by this point his partner was half naked too. Adam couldn’t recall stripping for a woman and was surprised to find he liked it. Not the strip so much as Gisèle’s fascinated reaction. As if she’d never seen a naked man up close. Her avid hunger, mixed with awe, was everything he could want.

But he didn’t want her awed if it stopped her touching.

Adam took her hand and planted it on his chest. Her fingers splayed as she moved closer.

Better, much better. ‘Your turn.’

Holding his gaze, Gisèle reached behind her dress, the other arm crossed over her bodice. The sound of the zip lowering was loud in the silence.

The dress loosened around her waist.

Then with a flicker in her eyes of something he couldn’t interpret, she dropped her arm and the bodice fell.

The rush of blood in his ears deafened him. Pain lanced his chest as he stopped breathing.

He’d known she was beautiful, but the jiggle of lush, rose-tipped breasts as she pushed the red dress over her hips... She undid him.

Narrow waist. A sweet curve of hips. Taut thighs.

As she stepped free of the dress, there was only a narrow thong of red lace between them.

Adam couldn’t wait longer. He grabbed his wallet, salvaged some condoms and slapped them on the bedside table. When he turned she was already on the bed, eyes huge, breasts swaying with each shortened breath.

She looked utterly desirable, if a little nervous. He understood that. This moment felt bigger than any previous sexual encounter. More intense. Just...more.