He still looked upset as he stared down at her. He dropped a kiss on her nose before curling his arms tightly around her waist. “I want to take care of you, babe. It’s not a job for me—it’s a privilege. There’s never been a woman who I’ve wanted to keep close and protect like I do you, and I’m probably going a little overboard with it. I can’t seem to help myself, though.”

Gwen found herself relaxing into his embrace, enjoying the feel of his strength surrounding her. He made her feel delicate and petite, which was unusual for her. “It’s okay. I think we can both agree that there are things we could have handled differently.” Poking her finger playfully in his ribs, she added, “But if you ever spring a family dinner on me again without any warning, I won’t be responsible for my actions, capisce?”

He had the good grace to look shamefaced. “That was a dick move,” he agreed. “I already had plans with you that I was looking forward to when Meredith called me at the last minute. I hated to tell her no, but I wanted to spend the evening with you. Yet another thing I know that I could have handled better.” When his hand moved lower to caress the curve of her ass, she started to squirm against him. “I’d love to make my bad behavior up to you,” he breathed against her ear as he pulled her close enough to feel his hardening length.

She knew she should at least put up a token protest. Instead, she was all but panting against him while he ground lightly against her. Her voice was horribly wobbly and husky as she moaned, “Dominic . . .” She was ready for him to push her against the nearest wall and take her, but despite urging him in that direction, he resisted, trailing gentle kisses across her throat.

“I want you in a bed tonight, babe. We’re always so crazy for each other that it’s hard to make it that far. I want to touch and kiss every inch of your delectable body before I take you.”

“Oh yes, please,” Gwen shuddered before she could help herself. Just hearing Dominic say something like that in his rough, sexy voice was more of a turn-on than any of her sexual experiences with other men. When he looked at her, it was as if he couldn’t get close enough. She felt like the center of his universe when they were together, which should have been strange, considering they hadn’t actually been together for long. He was taking all of her walls and breaking right through them. To be the sole focus of a man like Dominic was heady and intoxicating. She was drunk off the feelings he ignited inside of her. “I want you—so much,” she admitted, helpless to deny him.

At her admission, his eyes locked on hers, showing her a tenderness that made her breath hitch in her throat. “I want you too, baby, more than you could possibly imagine. I have for so long.” Her mind registered surprise at his words, but she was powerless to focus on the significance of them. He reached for his pants and pulled a condom from the pocket before growling, “Your bedroom . . . now.” She turned on wobbly legs and led him down the hallway. She wanted to protest when he walked to the bedside and clicked on the lamp there, but managed to stay silent. She preferred to make love in the dark, but maybe change was good and necessary. He gently turned her to face the wall, while he eased the zipper of her dress down, kissing each new inch of skin that he exposed.

She was incredibly grateful for her last trip to Victoria’s Secret as he hissed his appreciation for her blue bra and matching thong. She wasn’t one to splurge on many things, but she never passed up a sale at her favorite lingerie store. She liked to think of it as wishful thinking. As in someday, someone might actually see some of it again. His almost reverent touching of her body gave her the confidence to undress him without trying to cover herself. When he kicked away his pants, she cupped his cock through his silk boxers. Stroking his hard length, she marveled, “Are you always this hard?”

His hand dropped to cover hers, showing her how he liked to be stroked. “If you’re within a mile of me, I’m hard.” Rubbing a finger against the wet silk covering her slit, he confessed, “I seem to be obsessed with your body, Red. I can’t think of anything but how it feels to be inside of you.”

She was reeling from his words when he pushed her underwear aside and slid a big digit into her wet heat. “Ohhh, yesss!” she cried, already close to coming. He used his thumb to rub her clit while he continued to glide one, then two fingers in and out of her.

“Ride my hand, baby,” he instructed as he steadied her with his other hand.

Gwen held nothing back as she rocked against him, taking everything he gave her and moaning for more. Her orgasm was an avalanche roaring closer, and she pursued it with everything she had. As she sought that one final movement that would push her over, Dominic curled his fingers, hitting her G-spot, and time stopped before the world shattered around her. She clasped her legs closed, trying to remove his hand from her sensitive tissues as she fought to recover. “Too much,” she gasped, as her core continued to flutter.

Dominic took mercy on her, releasing her sex, before nudging her a few steps backward until the bed met her legs. “I don’t think you can handle my mouth on you right now, no matter how much I want to taste you.”

Boldly, Gwen pushed his boxers down, sighing in pleasure when his heavy cock bobbed against his stomach. She rubbed her finger over the moisture gathering on the mushroom top. “Can I have this instead?” She licked her lips to emphasis her point, causing him to sway on his feet.

He gave a pained laugh. “I don’t think I can handle you tasting me, either, when I’m this close to the edge. I know I said we’d take things slow, but I’ve got to be inside of you now. I promise the next time will be more leisurely.” Gwen had the crazy urge to laugh, thinking about how strange it was to be discussing having more than one sexual encounter on a work night. My God, when had she gotten so old? The only thoughts a girl should have about having sex with a man like Dominic were yes or hell, yes!

He grabbed the condom he had thrown on her bed and quickly sheathed himself. When he settled her on her back and came up over her, Gwen was amazed to discover that there was nothing quite like the missionary position with him. Just being able to look into his eyes while he thrust inside of her was the most erotic feeling. He urged her to wrap her legs around his hips, pushing him impossibly deep. Even though he had claimed to be on the edge, he still took the time to build her toward her next orgasm. They licked and sipped at each other’s mouths while their desire raced higher. Sweat dotted Gwen’s brow as she felt the familiar tingle of her orgasm cresting. As if knowing she was close, Dominic’s control snapped. He used a hand under her hips to pull her closer and took her hard. “Ahhh, Dominic, ohhh!” Gwen cried as she convulsed around his shaft.

“That’s it, baby. Come all over me,” he grunted. He thrust a few more times before she felt him stiffen and release with her name on his lips. A little later Dominic left her to dispose of the condom before returning to curl his body around hers. As she fell asleep to the steady sound of his heartbeat against her ear, Gwen tried to tell herself that she couldn’t possibly be falling in love with a man that she barely knew.

It was just the sex—that had it be it. Really good, amazing sex was just that . . . it was not love—and it would never be.

Chapter Six

“Where are you going, babe?” Dominic groaned as Gwen shimmied out of his arms. The room was still dark, and it seemed way too early for her to be leaving for the office. A quick look at the bedside clock confirmed that it was only six in the morning. Thinking she must be going to the bathroom, he threw an arm over his pillow, wanting to catch a little more sleep. “Hurry back to bed,” he called over his shoulder as his eyes drifted shut. He was almost asleep when the sound of the shower running from the adjoining bathroom got his attention. After only a few minutes, Gwen was back in the bedroom dressing. He turned onto his back, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.