“Oh?”

His gaze burned. “I still want to kiss you so badly I ache.”

Her pulse thudded like a drum in her ears, her every cell vibrating in response. “I want to kiss you, too.”

He groaned and stepped closer still, releasing her hands to cup her face as he bent so that his mouth captured hers. His soft lips were gentle at first, then more demanding, desire a steadily building tsunami inside her.

He bent his leg so that his knee pressed between her thighs and she unconsciously moved against him, needing the stimulating friction while he kissed her senseless and made her forget her first and last sexual encounter.

She jerked back, her breaths erratic and her face hot as she fought to gain some semblance of composure while her emotions reeled between fierce need and intense fear.

He looked down at her, his gaze searching hers. “What is it? What happened, shortcake?”

She crossed her arms, adopting a defensive position. “Why does something have to be wrong?” she gritted, hating him in that moment for making her want him, for making her forget that men only wanted one thing and one thing only.

“I know you well enough now to know when something is wrong.” His eyes narrowed. “If Tabari did something—“

“Stop!” She shook her head. “Just, stop, okay. Not everything has to be about him. And though I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me, I don’t want Tabari’s name brought up every time it looks like I’m having a meltdown.”

He blinked, his open expression becoming closed off. “Should I be concerned his name upsets you so much?”

“No! Like I said, I-I just want to move on from him. That. Is. All.”

He nodded, but looked anything but assured. “If you say so.” He stepped back. “I’m going for a shower. Join me if you wish.”

She gulped, so tempted. But she was clearly not ready for intimacy with another man. “Thank you, but no, thank you. I might make myself a nightcap.”

Something strong enough to burn away all her doubts and insecurities.

He nodded, then swung away and stalked toward the bathroom, leaving her to head to the bar to mix up bourbon on ice. She swallowed the liquid down in one gulp, its burn feeling good all the way down.

She was making another shot when the shower switched on, the distinct sound of water hitting tiles making her legs go weak right along with her willpower. She shook her head and gulped down the second shot.

She wouldnotbe tempted!

Except, shewasreally, really tempted. Perhaps it was the alcohol that made her lose all her logic, all her inhibitions, because suddenly shedidwant to join him in the shower. She wanted to lose herself in his arms and his magical kisses and once and for all leave behind Tabari and his repellant touch.

What if having sex with Kain is just as bad?

No. She wouldn’t believe that. She refused to believe it. His kisses alone burned through her like wildfire. The only thing stopping her from going all the way had been the fear and doubts created by Tabari and what he’d done to her.

She unpinned her hijab and placed it along with the sapphire carefully onto a small table near the bar. Her hands were shaky as she took off her abaya and tossed it aside, wearing only her royal blue panties and bra as she stepped into the bathroom.

Her mouth dried at the vision in front of her. Kain had his eyes closed, one hand on the tiled wall in front of him as water cascaded over his body, his long, lean back and strong buttocks. That his cock jutted out as long and hard as a steel pike made her both aroused and intimidated.

But fear was no longer a part of her emotions. Kain wasn’t Tabari, far from it. He was nothing like him. That she hadn’t already figured that out made her a little bit ashamed.

Kain had been nothing but good to her. More than good. He’d been her rock in a tempest.

As if sensing her in the bathroom, his head jackknifed and he looked at her with eyes that went wide at seeing her in nothing but her underwear.

“You were right,” she admitted with a lift of her chin. “I was letting my past dictate my future.” She unclipped her bra, her unfettered breasts swinging free. “But it’s not happening anymore,” she added, pulling down her panties and stepping out of them.

Chapter Eleven

Kain forgot how to breathe. How to function. No, that was a lie. His dick was functioning perfectly fine if the vein in his shaft that throbbed in-synch to the beat of his heart was any indication.

His fiancée was exquisite. From the perfect handful of her full, lush breasts, to the V of her pussy with its thin landing strip, to her slender waist and the flare of her hips…she was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman. That they were mentally attuned was just an added bonus, their connection second to none.