Page 127 of To Catch A Rogue

"Make love to you."

And then she realized his erection was sliding wetly between her thighs, brushing up against her with a little flicker of sharp sensation.

She’d been a little nervous about taking this next step, for every girl said it hurt a little. But Lark clumsily reached for him, her fingers sliding around that brutish weapon. Charlie groaned.

"Hell. Oh, God." He clamped his hand around hers, forcing her fingers to squeeze harder.

He drew back, resting his forehead against her shoulder.

"What’s wrong?" she teased. "Do you like that, Charlie?"

"I’m begging myself for restraint."

"Whyever would you want to do that?"

He took her hand and moved it away from his cock. "Because, as much as I would like to sincerely take you up on this offer… we’re not going to do this for the first time in the pool."

"We’re not?"

Charlie wrapped her legs around his narrow hips, and rose, water sluicing down between them. "No," he said, striding for the stairs. "We’re not. I want a bed. I’m not rushing a damned thing. Not tonight."

* * *

Charlie grabbedLark by the hand and led her upstairs. Clad in towels and leaving damp footprints on the timber floors, they managed to avoid anyone else until they reached his room.

He didn’t let go of her hand until they were inside and the door closed.

"About what happened before—"

Lark whirled on him and shoved him back against the door. The breath slammed out of him, but he trapped his protest behind his lips as she let go of the towel. It slid down her body, and suddenly she was naked.

Whatever nervousness she’d held in the pool was long gone.

Those hazel eyes gleamed, and suddenly his breath was trapped in his throat again.

"What happened," she breathed, tugging the towel from around his hips, "was just the beginning."

She went to her knees in front of him, all sinuous curves, glittering eyes and lean muscle.

A mysterious smile lit over her mouth. "I feel like I owe you one. And you know I hate being in debt."

Charlie's mouth went dry as her fingers stroked up his thighs, disturbing the hairs there. "Trust me, it was my pleasure."

"Well, now it's about to be your pleasure again."

His erection jutted boldly in front of her. Lark's gaze dipped, and he had the sudden feeling he couldn't breathe. That he'd never be able to breathe again. Her hand found him and she wrapped curious fingers around his staff, sliding her fist up and down once.

Fuck. He slid a hand through her damp hair, fisting a handful of it as her breath whispered over him.

"Lark."

A plea.

"You weren't the only one paying attention when you stole Miss Jasmine's garter," she whispered, and before he could reply, the hot caress of her mouth swallowed the tip of him.

Charlie's head arched back, and he thrust into her cheek as Lark’s mouth worked him wetly. Her tongue circled the head, darting into the arrow-shaped groove just beneath the tip, and he swallowed.

Mother of… Mercy.