“Heck, yeah.” I smiled.
“Thank God.” He smiled back, then added, “But all this isn’t you.” He tossed my whip to the floor. “Tell me, sweetheart, how would you have chosen to seduce me?”
I sucked in a sharp breath. If I’d had any doubts about sleeping with him before, they were long gone now. “Well, I did come with a backup plan. I could show you, if you want.”
“Oh, yeah. I want. I just don’t want you to regret this later. Last we talked, two weeks ago, you said--”
I pulled my hand from his and covered his mouth. “Shhh. We’ll talk later. Right now, I can’t wait. I’ve missed you terribly.”
Kissing my fingers, he whispered, “Ditto. I’ll just hang up my coat and go through my mail. Holler when you’re ready.” He stood and started to turn away.
“Um, Dylan?”
He turned back. “Yeah?”
“Would you mind unlocking these? The key’s on the dresser. I think I’ve had enough of Gloria’s toys. And I don’t think I’ll ever wear leather again.”
“Oh, I don’t know. It could be fun. A little pain and pleasure,” he teased, roaming over the length of me, but the joke was on him as Mr. Winkie sprang to attention. Dylan winced, then shifted.
“The pleasure I’ll take, but lying here locked in this contraption for the past two hours has been pain enough for me, thank you very much.”
“Two hours? You’ve been half-naked, sprawled across my satin sheets, waiting for me all that time?”
I nodded as I licked my lips.
Clearing his throat, he quickly undid my handcuffs, then said, “Hurry,” as he headed out to the living room, double-time.
***
I stared at my reflection in the mirror above Dylan’s dresser as I smoothed my hands down the pale-green nightie in the same shade as my eyes. The same one Dylan had convinced me to buy that night in the lingerie shop. The same one he’d landed in a pile of Miracle Bras over. I smiled, then tucked my short bob behind my ears, feeling so much better in this outfit than that leather-clad nightmare.
Nerves battled excitement within my stomach. God, I’d dreamt about being with Dylan since that first night in the sleazy dive when I’d thought he was a criminal. It hadn’t mattered one bit. I’d wanted him just as much even then.
Scanning the room, I made sure everything was perfect. I’d sprayed the sheets, so now the scent of lilacs permeated the air. Candles flickered on the dresser, their warm glow bathing the room in amber, and their vanilla scent mingling with the lilac. I’d asked Dylan for some ice and a bucket, so my bottle of champagne stood chilling, begging to be uncorked. And a bowl of fresh strawberries sat next to the champagne, pleading for someone to nibble them. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be the only things to get nibbled.
Taking a heartening breath, I called out, “Oh, Zeus, your goddess of love awaits you,” and my voice cracked.
Note to self: Corrr-nyyy!
I giggled, feeling more than a little foolish, when the door swung open. Dylan stood there, shirt untucked, and the top button on his jeans undone. His lips parted and face took on a mask of wonder and awe as he looked around the room, and then focused on me.
“Wow,” he said in a hoarse whisper. His gaze ran over me, and his eyes burned with heat and passion. “You look beautiful.”
My embarrassment vanished, and I tingled all the way to my toes. I never knew it could be like this. I held out my hand and tried to calm my racing heart.
He walked toward me, grabbing the hem of his T-shirt and sweeping it over his head, then letting it fall to the floor along the way. Reaching up, he pulled his ponytail out of its band and shook his head. The dark-chocolate strands fell to his shoulders, and the amber candlelight rippled off his hard muscles. He licked his full lips, his nostrils flaring once as his gaze focused on my puckered nipples. God, he looked wild and savage. I swallowed hard, unable to peel my gaze away from his fabulous bronze pecs and washboard abs.
He lifted his hands and ran them over my hair then down my shoulders and arms until he linked his fingers with mine. Goosebumps zipped over my skin, but I grew warm as melted cheese poured over noodles. “H-Hey. I’m the one who’s supposed to be seducing you,” I managed.
“Callie, I am seduced. Can’t you tell?” Dylan whispered in my ear with hot air, then flicked my lobe with his tongue. Skimming his teeth down my neck, he bit my shoulder. “If I get any more seduced, we’ll be done before we get started.”
“Oh, well.” I backed up a step, needing some room to breathe. I couldn’t think when he touched me. He made me forget my own name whenever he drew close. I bumped into the bed. “Whoops.”