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“I want your shirt off first.” Exhilarating to issue commands to a lover.

Casildo wasn’t intimidated by her taking charge, hauling his shirt over his head to drop it beside the bed.

“You’re gorgeous.” She ran her hands over his chest. “Anyone would think you work out.”

“Good genes. You should see Hunt’s.”

She giggled. “So I’m guessing you’re an active cheer squad at those TV football nights.”

“Join me one night?”

“Don’t mind if I do. Someone had to keep Dad company.”

He pulled her close for a friendly cuddle. “You say the sexiest things.”

She placed her hand on his belt buckle. “Let’s do some sexy things.”

“Someone needs to lose her shirt first.” He undid a few buttons, but his fingers faltered. “Too slow. Raise your arms.” His voice ragged, he pulled her shirt up until her hands were imprisoned in the folds of fabric, and he was stretched forward, his bare chest brushing her bra-clad breasts. He easily held her in position with one hand. With his other, he pushed her bra up, bending to suckle.

“You taste like that first sip of hot chocolate, hot and sweet.” He sounded awed. “How do you do that?”

“Now, I can finally touch you.” She sighed, ignoring his question.

But having ditched her shirt, he slid down the bed, unclipped her bra and tossed it aside. When he palmed one breast, she cried out.

“You like that.” His gaze heated, and he repeated the action with her other breast, laving the nipple until both stood erect.

They’d leapfrogged what they’d allowed themselves in Anna’s apartment. Touching through clothes was the furthest they’d gone. Hot, heavy kisses, leaving them both aroused, but knowing more was within reach. Bea had been weak with wanting, while Casildo had urged caution.

“We’ve wasted so much time,” she murmured.

“Not anymore.”

“Roll over,” she instructed, moving with him until she straddled his upper thighs. “You have the sexiest body. Tonight, you’re all mine.”

“I have injuries from becoming Hunt’s blood brother.”

“Show me.”

He pointed to the thin scar that stretched under his ribcage.

“I’ll kiss it better.”

But she wanted to kiss the hurt he carried deep inside him better. For now, she started with an old scar from a game between friends, moved from there to his nipples, sucking and licking by turns, growing bolder hearing his groans of pleasure, seeing his clenched fists. Then she rested her cheek on his heart while tracing another heart on his chest.

“See, all better.”

With a roar, he flipped her over, crouching above her on all fours. “Decision time.”

“No one knows we’re here, Cas.”

“Maha,” he blurted. “I told her you were coming with me.”

“And I’m guessing Maha has kept your secrets for years, just like you’ve kept hers. This is for us. A moment in time.” One hand cupped his jaw as he poised above her.

“You’re sure?”

“You make me sure.” She loved the care he took, checking to see that this was her choice, unable to remember the last time her wishes had come first.