He hissed out a curse. Holy crap, he wouldn’t last long at this rate. This woman was pure fire. “Sweetheart, you gotta slow down.”

“Can’t. Keep up, restaurant boy.”

His half laugh, half groan was swallowed by her mouth over his, so he kicked his pants free of his ankles and toppled her down on the bed.

Slipping the dress free, he tugged the slinky fabric down her hips and stared at her gorgeous, mostly naked body. A tiny pair of black lace panties barely covered her. He’d fantasized of taking her panties off with his teeth, and teasing her until she was helpless and begging.

Unfortunately, he had no time for that.

He took the sexy underwear off and gazed at her perfect, bare mound. Pushed her thighs slowly apart. Tossed his glasses onto the floor. Dipped his head.

And licked.

She cried out, her hands buried in his hair as he pleasured her with his teeth and tongue and lips, drunk on her taste. He nipped at her swollen clit, laving it with his tongue, and her voice got hoarser as she arched up hard in feminine demand.

He gave her everything she wanted and more until she fell apart under his tongue, his name a ringing scream in his ear.

Jameson didn’t stop licking her until the last of convulsions had passed. He rolled half to the side, shoving open the night stand drawer, grabbed a condom and sheathed himself.

Propped up between her wantonly spread legs, he gazed at her with a raw hunger that made him feel uncivilized. Cheeks flushed, lips parted, hair falling across her naked breasts, she was a vision. He could spend hours just looking at her, exploring every dip and curve of her body, but right now, he needed to be inside her more than his next breath.

Devon slid down, hooking her legs around his hips, guiding him toward her damp heat. He took her lips in a rough kiss, and when he broke away there was a lust in her eyes that took away the last of his control.

She whispered the words in his ear. “Fuck me, Jameson.”

With a hiss, he pushed inside, slow and steady, sinking deep.

His entire body shuddered with pleasure. Muscles locked, he began to move, slow at first, then faster as she grabbed his shoulders, nails biting into his skin, urging him on. He took her on a wild ride and she met him at every thrust, every cry, every stroke. Watching her face, she fell apart piece by piece, biting her lip as the orgasm took her. He slammed his hips forward one final time and let himself go.

He didn’t remember much after. It was as if the sex was too intense to make sense of what had happened between them. Jameson disposed of the condom and brought her water. Bear trotted into the room now that it was safe, and lay by the bed, happily snoring away a few moments later. Devon was sprawled out in the sheets, one long leg falling partway off the mattress, face smashed into the pillow. He climbed in beside her, caressing her perfect ass, smoothing up her back and pushing her hair aside.

Pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck, he pulled her into his body.

And slept.

Chapter Ten

That night changed everything.

Jameson was used to talking things out with his lovers and structuring rules. Defining expectations. Not because he was unromantic, but he found things worked smoother when all parties communicated. He liked to be clear about his limitations so he didn’t hurt anyone.

With Devon, they woke up in the morning and they were together.

He’d reached for her multiple times in the darkness, insatiable for more. A fierce connection thrummed between them on a scale he’d never experienced. There was no thought to anything but the knowledge he needed to be with her.

Jameson waited for her to ask about their relationship, or question what they were doing. After all, he only had a few weeks left here before Mac returned and then he’d go back to his real life.

Except Devon was slowly becoming his real life.

And she never asked. They fell into a routine over the next week naturally. They ate breakfast together, went to their jobs, and touched base during the day. Devon came to Vintage with Bear every evening after she closed the shop. They’d hang together for the final hour before close, then head back to either Mac’s house or her apartment for the evening. They’d stay up late talking and making love, until they fell into an exhausted sleep for a few hours.

She’d been right about the gossip. He couldn’t go anywhere without curious looks and low murmurs. Every table at Vintage poked and prodded him with questions about Devon. He smiled politely and repeated the same staged line over and over. Devonsaid they were doing the same in her flower shop and business had never been better.

He made some final changes at Vintage, serving dinner late for Christmas Eve and closing Christmas day. When she asked if there was any place he needed to be for the holidays, he told her no.

She’d just smiled and responded with the same.

They spent Christmas and New Year’s together, staying late at Vintage with Bear, nursing a glass of champagne under the mistletoe he never took down.