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CHAPTER ELEVEN

Beatriz moved beneathCas in sinuous waves, luminous in her pleasure. And she was here with him, a man who’d be living in relative poverty while he launched his business.

She made him feel invincible and cherished.

When has a woman ever made me feel cherished?

“Then let’s get rid of a few more clothes.” Cas wanted to tease her and ravish her simultaneously. She was joy and passion, brains and compassion.

“You’re lovely. I should have told you that before.” He’d flipped the moment to seriousness, and she withdrew slightly.

What had she said? “A fling.” The word made no sense in this moment.

He crab-walked backward until he was near her ankles. “I want to do you slowly.”

“One of us might go mad if I have to wait much longer.”

He laughed. “These are more tights than jeans. I’ll have to pull them off. Lift your hips”

She lifted, thrusting her pelvis toward him.

“Playing with fire, Beatriz.” He got his hands in the back waistband and tugged the jean-like tights down, bringing her knickers with them. Bending forward, he rested his cheek against her mons. “I like the way you smell.” He nosed against her. “You smell a bit like gingerbread—all aroused and mine.”

“I thought touch was your preferred sense.” Her hands tangled in his hair, her voice croaky.

“With you, I want to touch, taste, listen”—he loved her little pants of pleasure—“watch”—to see her eyes go soft with passion—"and act. Starting now.” He stared at her nakedness. “You’re stunning. Don’t shake your head. Believe me.”

With his heart racing, his blood heating to boiling, and a roaring in his ears, Cas released her ankles, tugged the trousers over her feet and tossed them aside, before shucking his own. His erection bounced free.

“Someone’s pleased to see me.”

Grasping one foot, he flexed her leg until her thighs fell open. He tempted her with small nibbles, light kisses up the inside of her leg, absorbing her moans, watching her writhe on the bed.

“You’re touching yourself.”

“I can’t reach you,” she whimpered.

“Are you wet, Beatriz?”

She slid a finger inside herself then pressed it to his lips. He inhaled her scent, then opened his mouth and sucked.

“Would you like me to bring you off? Take the edge off, so we can take our time,” he whispered against her ear.

“I want us together the first time,” she breathed.