She could barely think for the way his fingers slid over her, for the heat in his gaze as he studied her mouth, for the way temptation was unfurling fronds of anticipation from deep in her belly. She didn’t know why he’d hesitated before. Maybe she’d misread that—her own doubt demons amplifying what had merely been a moment of surprise. Honestly? It didn’t matter any more. Not when he was touching her like this.
She breathed out slowly. ‘You want...’
‘Your company.’ His lips roved. ‘All week. If this is what you want, then we’re going all in.’
All or nothing.
It was up to her whether to take it or leave it. That was when she realised Ash Castle would always win, whatever the game he was playing. He had that intense, focused determination to make the play as perfect for himself as he could. But Merle couldn’t walk away from what he could make her feel. She didn’t want to. So she finally uttered the one little word she’d been biting back since the moment she had first set eyes on him.
‘Yes.’
His lips met hers again—luscious kisses that were intoxicating and everything she’d wanted. Yet the need burning through her body wasn’t soothed. Until with infinite, terrible, wonderful slowness he unzipped her coveralls.
‘Merle...’ He muttered so low, his words almost slurred together ‘...do you have any idea how beautiful you are?’
‘Don’t—’
‘Speak the truth?’
‘Flatter me.’ She closed her eyes as he caressed the skin he’d exposed.
‘Is it so hard to believe I might be being honest?’
‘Can’t you just kiss me? We don’t need to complicate—’
‘Not complicate,’ he corrected with a smile. ‘Communicate. I want to know what you like, sweetheart. What you want. What you need. Be honest with me.’
She stared into his eyes—dazed, confused, aching. Hadn’t she just been honest? Hadn’t she just asked? She didn’t know what else to say...
His hand swept across her shoulder and up her neck. His fingers splayed and he cupped the back of her head, holding her so he could see into her eyes, so he could lean so close she could feel his breath, so he could tease... But that burn within her was too strong. She glared at him.
‘Okay.’ He chuckled and, drawing her close, pressed his mouth to hers again.
Such a contrasting, delicious mix of hot and soft and hard and irresistible. She leaned into him as with sure, bold strokes he fanned the flames igniting inside her. Her yearning built as he created sensations she’d never experienced but wanted so much more of. Her toes curled as he nibbled her earlobes and then gently sucked them into soothing submission. It was the most shockingly erotic, intimate thing.
‘Sweetheart.’ His sigh was tense as she shuddered. ‘You’re making a mess of all my good intentions.’
‘What intentions?’ she breathed shakily.
‘To do what I’ve been dreaming about for ever.’ He toyed with the silky slip of a bra she wore.
She shook her head, unable to speak. But he’d not been dreaming about her for ever.
‘Pleasing you,’ he muttered. ‘I ache to please you.’
His mouth was on hers again, so she couldn’t answer, while his fingers had slid south and were wreaking havoc on her most secret places. Teasing, exploring and so infuriatingly, magically wicked, he brushed against the soft fabric of her panties and she was so glad she’d been too hot to bother with anything but her underwear beneath her coveralls today. The slide of his tongue in her mouth matched the slide of his fingers against her aching, hungry core. She moaned at the insistent, playful pleasure. Oh, he was big and strong and wicked. She clutched at his shoulders, barely able to stay upright, gasping as it suddenly sneaked up on her.
‘Like that, Merle.’ His rough growl of approval sent her over the edge.
‘Ohhhhh.’ An orgasm. The orgasm. So easy—from so little. But it was hard and quick and almost unbearable in its sudden impact and delight.
She closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest while she caught her breath. With her coveralls slipping from her shoulders and her legs trembling like those of a newborn deer, walking was impossible. Ash laughed delightedly and picked her up as if she were little more than a feather. Truthfully, she was a lot more.
‘Seriously?’ she half spluttered as he carried her inside and up the stairs to the second floor. She needed to provoke a little tease, to hear his voice so she could be reminded that this was just for fun. Just for now. ‘You want to flex your superior strength?’
‘Oh, I plan to flex everything, darling.’
Her little laugh faded as he placed her on the centre of his bed. She paid scant attention to the room or its stunning view across the bay. The view she couldn’t ignore was right in front of her. The focus in his eyes ignited her senses even more.
He stood back and studied her supine on the bed before him, trying to suppress the desire to squirm her hips. His lips twitched. But then he glanced about, his energy almost crackling as he moved. She rose up onto her elbows to watch as he pressed a button and blinds closed out the rest of the world. He went into the en suite and returned a moment later with one of the gorgeously lush candles that were artfully placed everywhere.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘Making it perfect.’ He lit the candle and placed it on the table by the bed.
He didn’t need candles to make it perfect. He just needed to touch her.
Amusement flickered in his eyes, dancing like the flame of the candle he’d just lit. ‘You don’t think you’re worth going to any trouble for? Taking
