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Haley waved away the excuse he was about to give. “It’s okay, Desmond. I almost forgot it myself until you pressured me into buying more clothes. Nadia, bless her soul, took the time to send it to me when I called. I knew I needed one nice dress.”

“And you chose that one instead of the ones I bought you.”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you’re wearing it tonight? To prove that you have better taste than me? If so, you win, hands down. You really look lovely tonight, Haley. The night of Dante’s en—”

She was already rising from the table, holding out her hand toward him. “It doesn’t matter, Desmond. Dance with me tonight … please?”

Refusing her wasn’t an option when she was staring down at him so appealingly. Rising, he took her hand and led her into the dimly lighted main room, the soft sounds of the music following them inside.

Desmond pulled her close but did keep a small space separating them. Then he grit his teeth in agony to control the desire raging through his body when she closed the distance between them until she was flush against him.

“Haley …” he groaned as they slowly danced in a circle.

Laying her head on his shoulder, she gazed up at him. “Yes, Desmond?”

Licking his bottom lip, he forgot what he had been about to say.

Lifting her head, she caught his tongue before he darted it back in his mouth. Sliding her tongue against his, she wound her arms around his neck as she started kissing him.

Desmond stopped dancing when his cock made the movement unbearable. He felt as if he was kissing fire. Every blood vessel within his already aroused body was scorched then melted in a vat of desire.

She eased her fingertips under his T-shirt to rub the back of his neck as they kissed. He was nearly fifty years old and had been touched hundreds of times in more intimate areas, yet her sensuous touch had shudders racking his body.

“We need to stop,” he groaned, desperately searching for some restraint to cool the fire he didn’t know how much longer he could hold back on.

“Why?” she whispered against his lips. “We’re two consenting adults. I don’t expect a commitment from you, children, or faithfulness once we leave this room. I just want tonight, just tonight.”

Desmond felt her rise to her tiptoes to press her breasts against his chest.

“What about tomorrow night?” Running his hand through her hair, he tilted her head backward.

“We’re only negotiating for tonight.” A smile played across her lips. “But tomorrow is another day. We can certainly reopen negotiations then.”

Lifting Haley into his arms, he carried her into the bedroom closest to them, which was the one he had his things in. Leaving the light off, he laid her down on the bed before he turned the bedside lamp on, casting a soft light around the room.

Their eyes met as he pulled the T-shirt off then unzipped the shorts he was wearing.

Her eyes dropped to the length of his cock stretching toward his bellybutton. “How on earth were you able to dance with that?”

“It wasn’t easy.” Toeing off his shoes, he lay down on the bed next to her.

Rolling onto her side, she placed a hand to his chest as she started kissing him again. His fingers went behind her neck to unbutton the halter dress. Haley pulled away from him to stand up and raised her hands to release the tie. The dress fell to her feet.

“God. I would have never been able to eat dinner if I knew what you were wearing underneath.”

There was nothing self-conscious about Haley as she removed her matching bra and thong before getting back on the bed.

The conscience at the back of his mind tried to stop him from reaching out to the woman who put herself within his reach. He was going to hate himself in the morning. He didn’t have to hear what the voice was trying to tell him; the thought was already there. It still didn’t stop him from rolling Haley under him to kiss her. The same fire ignited, as if it was starved for oxygen, as she trailed her lips from his, sliding them along his jaw line before raising herself over him.

Desmond tried to catch her mouth again, but she placed her fingertips over his lips, preventing him from succeeding.

“Just one night. One night where everything goes out the door, and it’s just us in here. Just us finding pleasure. Anything goes, with no recriminations afterward … just mind-numbing pleasure. That’s all I want from you, Desmond. You might have had hundreds of nights like that, but I never have. Can you give me you tonight?”

“You’re not asking for much.” Placing his hands on her hips, he rolled her over until she was beneath him. “You want pleasure, Haley? I’m going to give you pleasure until you beg me to stop, and when I do, you’re going to make me beg you to fuck you again. When I’m done, you won’t even be able to spell your name. Is that the pleasure you want? If not, I’m going to give you one chance to run.”