His big hand cups and lifts it to his mouth while he continues to toy with my sensitive nipple.

Finally, he pulls back. “Beautiful. Red and hard. I want to keep these pretty nipples in a permanent state of arousal, just like my dick is every time I get near you.”

My eyes flare. “You’ve wanted me?”

“Hell, yeah. I lie awake at night, thinking about you. Thinking about what it would be like with you. I wasn’t sure you felt the same, but the other day when I came out of the shower…” He grins, knowing he doesn’t have to finish that sentence. “Don’t blush. We’re adults.”

“You’re my boss.”

“I get that, and I don’t take this lightly. I know the ramifications if it doesn’t work out, but isn’t it worth a shot? Grace, you’re the first woman in years I’ve felt this way about. I may not show it on the outside, but deep inside, something flares to life every time I come home. You made this house a home again. I guess I didn’t realize how much was missing until it wasn’t anymore.” He searches my eyes. “Am I making sense?”

“I understand what you mean.”

He brushes a lock of hair from my forehead. “I worried about the club, but you seemed to fit right in, and everyone loved you. You know I’d never let anyone or anything hurt you, don’t you?”

I nod, suddenly too choked up for words.

“I want to make love to you, Grace, but I need to hear you say you want that, too.”

He’s leaving it in my hands, as he should, I suppose. And right now, he’s not the scary biker who first interviewed me or the grouchy man who hated everything I did. Right now, he’s someone who cares what I think and feel, and that’s everything to me. And yes, I want him. Desperately.

“I want that, Lucky.”

He readjusts my shirt, pushes off me, and takes my hand, pulling me to my feet, then leads me to his bedroom.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lucky—

Grace pauses at the foot of my bed and turns to face me. She stands there, seeming nervous.

I take a step, and she backs up, turning her head, unable to hold my gaze.

I grasp her chin and bring her face gently to mine. Her eyelids flutter down.

“Look at me, pretty girl.”

When she does, I stare into their depths.

“You know there’s nothing to be afraid of, right? I’d never hurt you. I do anything you don’t like, all you gotta do is tell me. You say stop, we stop. Okay?”

She nods, and a thought flickers in my mind.

“You have done this before, right?”

“I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you mean. But there’s only been one, and he wasn’t very…”

“Wasn’t very what?” I smile. “Good?”

“Gentle.”

My smile fades in an instant.

“I promise I will be.” I hesitate. “You want this, right?”

“Yes. I want this.”

That’s all I need to hear. Only way she’s going to trust me is to show her she can. I cup her face in my hands and settle my mouth over hers. It’s barely a second before her lips part for my tongue. Her head tilts, giving me more access, and I step closer, bringing my body flush against her soft curves.