Page 56 of Striking Heat

“What are you doing?” Mac asks when she joins me.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m lighting candles.”

“Yeah, but why?”

“Because I am trying to set the mood,” I tell her.

“You shouldn’t be doing that. We don’t need all the extra trouble.”

“Really, it’s no trouble at all. And why are you opposed to it?” My hand lingers over a candle. I haven’t lit this last one yet, which I placed on the window ledge.

“We don’t need all of this fancy stuff.” She shifts from one foot to another.

“Are you trying to keep this casual?” I ask her as I light the last candle. “Because I don’t think a little candlelight makes this any different than other hookups.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her and then stalk in her direction. “It’s okay, Mackenzie. It’s not like I’m over here proposing titles and a relationship status or something.”

“Yeah, I know. But still. Seems like a lot of trouble to go through for…”

“A booty call?” I finish for her.

She shrugs and flushes at me, calling it what it is.

“It’s okay. There’s no shame in calling it that or in saying it’s more.”

I see the fear in her eyes when I mention that it’s more.

“We don’t have to talk anymore,” I tell her, coming in front of her and running a hand down her cheek. She leans into my touch.

Grabbing her by the hand, I jerk her toward me. She lets out a yip, but it gets swallowed in my kiss. I back her up to the bed, and she goes easily. I step back and look at her sitting on the edge of the bed—eyes full of lust, lips parted and swollen.

“Strip for me,” I tell her. “Take your clothes off for me, baby. I wanna watch.”

She nods and does as she’s told. I smile at that. I like it.

Slowly, the sneakers come off, and then she pulls her T-shirt over her head to reveal a nude bra.

“One minute,” I tell her.

Leaning down, I take a nipple into my mouth and suck on it. She moans and stumbles a bit. I grip her hips to keep her still. My hand comes up and rubs at the bud of her nipple, and then I switch my mouth to the other one while my now free hand comes up and massages the slightly damp nipple. She’s a moaning ball of need as my mouth travels up and nips at her neck.

“Off with those leggings, baby girl.”

I love how wild her eyes are. She looks like a Palomino horse with her blonde hair and blue eyes. Ready to be ridden. I like it that she bends to my every will.

“Fuck, still no panties.”

She grins. “No, why would I do that? I figured you would like it better without.”

“I certainly would.” I strip out of my shorts and T-shirt. The only thing remaining is my boxer briefs. I leave them on as I pat the bed. “Lie down.”

Mac climbs onto the bed and I join her in the center. I run my hand up and down her stomach, dipping a little lower each time, just barely reaching her pussy but never actually touching it. She’s squirming as my lips come down over hers. Kissing her passionately, my tongue enters her mouth, and she welcomes it, massaging it with her own. I moan at the feeling of her bodycoming alive beside me. She reaches up and attempts to pull me on top of her, but I don’t budge.

Instead, I take a hand and dip into her folds, which are growing slicker by the minute. “Oh, fuck, baby. I love how responsive you are. You feel so fucking good,” I croon in her ear as I nip at her neck.

“Danny, please touch me.”

“I am.”

“Enter me.” Her hips rock up again and again.