He cupped her jaw. 'I do.' he admitted.
She licked her lips. 'Then what's wrong?'
'Just because I want something doesn't mean it's right.' He smiled wryly. 'Usually, it's just the opposite.'
She cradled his face between her hands. 'Not this time.' She bent and touched her mouth to his.
He kissed her back. Lightly at first, his lips soft and curious. But when she touched her tongue against his lower lip, he curled his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her close to him, until her breasts flattened against the hard wall of his chest.
He dropped his hands to her hips and pulled her into his lap, parting her thighs until she straddled him. Heart racing, she slid closer, until the hard ridge of his erection pressed into her softness. A low whimper rose and died in her throat as his hips shifted upward in response.
'Are you sure about this?' he murmured against her throat.
'Yes.' she whispered.
He slid the hem of her robe upwards, baring her skin to his touch. His thumbs stroked her inner thighs, sending white-hot need racing up her nerve endings. His hands moved slowly up her legs, until his fingers brushed the silk of her panties.
She bit her lip as his face grew still and focused, his gaze following the movement of his hands against her flesh. His intensity was both exciting and unnerving, and she trembled wildly when one thumb found her center and began to stroke her through the fabric.
He lifted his gaze to hers, 'Do you like that?'
She couldn't find her voice, but her wobbly nod made him smile. He started to withdraw his hand but she caught it in hers, holding him in place.
With his free hand, he tipped her chin, forcing her to look at him. 'This isn't a race, baby. Slow down.'
She let go of his hand, her heart galloping in her chest.
His eyes narrowed. 'You've done this before, right?'
'Yes.' she said quickly, then added, 'once.'
'Prom night?'
She chuckled, 'College boyfriend.'
'Just once, huh?' He didn't shift his gaze from hers, but he ran his hands soothingly over her shoulders and down her arms, his fingers leaving a trail of fire that branded her through her silk robe. 'Either it was so memorable you didn't want to risk being disappointed with the next time, or…' He dropped his hand to the knotted belt of the robe.
'Definitely the latter.' she admitted, her gaze following the sinuous movements of his fingers as they untied the sash.
Maddox murmured in a tone of amused contempt. He tugged at the belt and pulled it loose. The edges of her robe fell open, baring her flat stomach and the hollow between her breasts.
'Yes.' She took a swift breath through her nose as he lifted one hand to the lapel of her robe and pulled it aside, uncovering her right breast. He grazed his knuckles over her nipple, sending a sharp ache shooting through her.
He looked up at her quick intake of breath. 'Can you feel what I'm feeling, too?'
She didn't know if the heavy ache between her thighs was all her own or something she was sensing from him. Little twinges of pain from his scrapes and bruises flickered in and out of her consciousness, but the other sensations flooding her, swallowed them up like sharks feeding on minnows.
She felt hot all over. Her skin prickled, perspiration glistening on her bared skin. She touched the center of his chest and felt his heart racing in cadence with her own, his breath rapid and fierce. A feral restlessness settled in the pit of her belly, tight and hot.
'I don't know.' she admitted, meeting his gaze, 'I don't know what's you and what's me.'
A low growl escaped his throat. He lifted his hands to her shoulders and pushed aside her robe. Dipping his head, he covered one nipple with his mouth and suckled lightly. She threaded her fingers through his hair and held on, shaken by the electric pulses racing through her body where his lips touched.
He dropped his hands to her thighs again, his thumbs resuming a slow, circling path up her legs until he reached her panties again. This time, he slipped one hand underneath the fabric and cupped her in his palm, the heel of his hand pressing firmly against the sensitive knot of nerves at her center. He lifted his mouth from her breast, his forehead resting against her collarbone.
He slipped a finger inside her, chuckling softly at her gasp, 'You like that too, huh?'
She was helpless to stop the slow thrust of her hips against his hand. 'Yes, Please…'
He kissed her breast. 'I want you so much, Iris. You know that, don't you?'
'Yes' she breathed, her head falling back. Pleasure stole over her as relentless as an ocean tide.
'That's it, baby. Just let it happen.' Between her legs, his fingers wrought dark magic. Heat bloomed at her center and spread outward, setting off tremors in her thighs and belly.
She dug her fingers into his upper arms, a groan rumbling through her chest as she unraveled beneath his touch. She felt hot, then cold, her heart slamming hard and fast against her rib cage. And still Maddox stroked her deeper into madness, murmuring soft words of encouragement as she rode an even longer wave of pleasure.
She collapsed against him, her head resting in the curve of his neck. Her breathing was rapid and harsh, edged with a low keening sound she hardly recognized as her own voice.
'Do you want to stop here?' he whispered in her ear, the soft words edged with fierce need.
She found the strength to lift her gaze to his. She shook her head slowly. 'No. Don't stop.'
He sat back and reached for the zipper of his jeans. She caught his hands and pushed them aside. Holding his gaze, she unzipped the jeans herself and slipped her hand inside, closing her fingers around him through his briefs. He uttered a heartfelt oath, making her smile.
'You like that?' she asked, feeling deliciously wicked.
'Oh, yeah.' He laughed softly, but his expression bordered on agony as she stroked the length of him through the thin cotton. 'I like that a lot.'
She slipped her hand inside the briefs and took him fully in her hand, both shocked and thrilled by her daring. 'How about this?'
Furrow appeared between his eyebrows and his eyes fluttered shut. He made a low growling noise that she took as an affirmation. She realized, with sudden dismay, that she didn't really know what to do next. Her touch faltered, her hand shaking.
Maddox opened his eyes and looked at her. 'What's wrong?'
She withdrew her hand, hot tears burning her eyes. She looked away. Maddox caught her face between his hands, forcing her gaze up to meet his. The tenderness in his eyes brought the tears spilling down her cheeks.
'It's okay. We don't have to-'
'It's not that.' she said quickly, 'I just don't know-'
He shushed her with a light kiss, 'You're doing fine.'
'I know this was my idea-'
A smile curved his lips, caning dimples into his cheeks, 'I don't know about that, sugar.'
She laughed despite her growing mortification. 'You're a nice guy, you know that?'
He shook his head, his hands settling on her hips. 'Actually. I'm a naughty guy, I thought you knew that by now.'
'I do want this, Maddox.'
She pressed her palm to the center of his chest, allowing herself to draw on the sense of calm she saw in his face. He exhaled softly, his expression shifting as if he realized what she was doing. She started to remove her hand, but he trapped it against his chest.
'It's okay.'
He let go of her hand, and she reached down and tugged the hem of his T-shirt upwards, baring his flat belly. He was sun-bronzed and well-toned, the conditioning he must have received in the Marine Corps still evident. He helped her pull the shirt over his head, then returned his hands to her hips and sat quietly, awaiting her next move.
She ran her fingers over the tattoo of a snarling bulldog and the letters USMC that blued the skin over his heart, then bent and kissed the tattoo. He cradled her face and drew her up for a long, deep kiss. He whispered words of
