Shutting out the noise of the audience, Kale dropped to his knees, insinuated himself between her legs, and gripped the hem of her dress. Her body fairly vibrated. He leaned in close. His mouth was mere inches from her ear. “Do you mind?” he whispered.
Her breath stalled as she shook her head. One perfect eyebrow rose a fraction. “Why would I mind?” she asked, her voice deceptively controlled, but her shaky breathing betrayed her emotions.
He shrugged and pitched his voice low. “Just thought I’d ask. I’m not one to presume anything.” He curled the fabric of her dress in his hand and moved in closer. “I’d never touch a woman who didn’t want my touch.”
She opened her mouth to speak, hesitated, swiped her tongue over her bottom lip and then slid it shut. Damn that mouth. So plump. So luscious. This woman got to him the way no other woman ever had.
“Tell me something, Erin.” He pulled her dress up higher, until he exposed the sleek curve of her inner thighs. His nostrils flared as he visually caressed her. “Do you want my touch?”
Slender shoulders lifted. “I…” She stumbled over that one word. He could almost hear her mind racing. Her hesitation lasted only seconds, then something in her expression changed.
His gaze latched on to her breasts as she straightened her back and drew air deep into her lungs. She flung a wayward curl from her forehead and met his gaze straight on.
Even though there wasn’t a trace of uncertainty in her expression, he glimpsed a guarded looked in her eyes before she quickly blinked it away. Kale knew she wanted to test unexplored waters and experiment with another side of herself, and he wanted to help her with that, but he also sensed her unease. A surge of tenderness rushed over him as his protective instincts kicked into high gear. He looked deep into her eyes, letting her know she was in the right hands.
“Yes, I want your touch.”
A primitive growl full of male prowess sounded low in his throat. “Good. Because I want to touch you.”
Oblivious to everyone around him, he removed her satin shoe and eased the lace over her silk stocking. With a feathery light caress, his hand began a lazy journey up her calf. She immediately reacted to his intimate touch. The sound of her indrawn breath pleased him. Her warm and wanting flesh began to quiver as a fragment of her control dissipated.
“Mmmm,” he moaned. “You have beautiful legs, Erin.” His voice dripped with desire. The cheering of the crowd faded into the background as he focused his entire concentration on her.
A light dusting of pink colored her cheeks as she inched her thighs open wider, providing him with easier access. When she moistened her lips, saliva pooled on his tongue. Fuck, did she know how irresistible that mouth was? He became acutely aware of how much he ached to plunder her lush sweetness.
She made a sexy sound and shifted. “Thanks.” There was a slight tremor in her voice.
As his fingers slid over her smooth calf, she took a gulping breath. Her sweet responses urged him on and filled him with raw, primitive desire.
“Something tells me Jay and Laura planned for us to end up together like this.” Lust swamped him, deepening his voice, making it barely recognizable.
Her sexy, nervous laugh seeped into his skin, evoking a shudder from his body. His muscles bunched as perspiration beaded on his forehead.
“I think you’re right.” She dipped her head to meet his glance. Dark eyes brimmed with desire as they met. “Since we’re both into casual sex, Laura thought it would be a good idea to test Pleasure Prolonged on each other,” she said, gauging his reactions carefully.
He mulled over that idea for quite some time. Although the idea sounded intriguing, and it would be the perfect opportunity to ease his painful, week-long hard-on, something told him the tests would be less than accurate. Besides, he didn’t want Erin to have sex with him under those terms. He wanted her to come to him on her own. And he didn’t want it to be casual.
When he didn’t immediately respond, she rushed on. “That way we’d be sure of the results and wouldn’t have to rely on test subjects or machine readouts.”
Frowning intently, he furrowed his brow and pressed his lips into a fine line. “I don’t think that’s such a great idea. We’d never be able to test the drug on each other.”
A crestfallen expression crossed her face. She lowered her gaze to the floor. Kale nudged her chin up. “I’m afraid the formula would be wasted on me, Erin.”
The confusion she felt was evident in her eyes. “What do you mean?” Then suddenly, as if confusion made its way to understanding, she flinched, her mouth forming a perfect circle.
“Are you gay?” she blurted out.
He stifled a chuckle. She was so damn cute.
She closed her eyes and shook her head in dismay. “Why are all the gorgeous ones gay?”
So she thought he was gorgeous, did she? He lifted his lips in a half smile. “You see, Erin, if I buried my cock inside your sweetness, I’m bound to have a prolonged erection and multiple orgasms. No drugs needed,” he said, letting her know exactly how he felt about her.
“Oh,” she mumbled, her voice tight. She bit her lip and flushed darker. He watched her throat work as she swallowed.
Even though they were practically draped in darkness, he wanted to ensure their privacy. He pulled her dress to her calves, obscuring the crowd’s vision and blocking his actions. His hands trailed higher, until they were a hairbreadth away from the heat of her desire. He wondered how she’d react if he grazed her silk-covered cleft. Wondered what kind of sound she’d make if they were alone and he lapped at her with his tongue. Would she purr? Moan? Mewl?
He
