He saw the way her breathing changed at his request, first hitching, then coming faster. It was all he could do not to yank her out of her chair and across his lap. Little sparkles of light leaped from his fingertips. He quickly pushed his hands under the table, hoping she hadn’t noticed. He’d never wanted someone so badly that he’d been unable to control his powers before. “I promised I wouldn’t touch you without your permission.” The urge to put her in his bed, tie her up, and never let her go was so strong he was shaking with it. He clenched his fists in his lap, getting his magic back under control with a surge of his will.

When she licked her lips he nearly lost control again. “Yes.”

The soft, nervous quality in her voice only added to her appeal. He wanted to take care of her, to let her know she would have nothing to fear, either from him or anyone else, ever again. He would protect her with everything he had, no matter the cost.

He stood up and held out his hand. She took his offer and let him help her to her feet. He led her over to the sofa and helped her sit down, much to her visible confusion. Apparently she’d been expecting him to kiss her standing up. He’d much rather be comfortable, and the sofa was plush and inviting, rather like the woman sitting on it. He sat down next to her and cupped her cheek in his hand. She leaned into his palm unconsciously, a move that spoke of a trust he hadn’t yet earned, but was determined to prove was not misplaced. Very slowly he leaned forward and placed his lips over hers.

She tasted like chocolate and wine, sweet and rich, with that underlying hint of woman that drove him nearly insane. He couldn’t wait to see what the rest of her tasted like. The air was filled with her scent, making his head spin with need. He placed his hands on her shoulders and held her in place while he began a leisurely exploration of her mouth that had them both gasping for breath.

Ruby felt her breasts lift up in a silent plea for his hands. His kiss was easily the most erotic thing she’d ever felt in her entire life. She leaned into him, raising her hands to stroke his bare chest. His skin felt incredible, hot silk over hard muscles, a light smattering of hair around his dark brown nipples narrowing down to disappear into his tight leather pants. She’d been watching his naked chest all during dinner, dying to get her hands on it, and now she indulged herself, sliding them up and down, her fingers clenching slightly in pleasure at the incredible feel of him. She was rewarded for her efforts by his shudder.

Oh, yeah, let my fingers do the walking!

His kiss became hungrier, one of his hands moving up to her hair, his fingers twining in it to grasp the back of her head and tilt it. He began to ravish her mouth, his tongue thrusting in and out in a promise of what he wanted to do to her. Just tipsy enough to go with the flow, but not so tipsy she didn’t know exactly what she was about to do, she drew her hands down his chest until her fingers lightly brushed his nipples.

She played with them to her heart’s content, tweaking them into hard little points, her reward the groan he couldn’t hold back.

When he pushed her back against the arm of the sofa she went willingly, her panties already soaked through with her juices. He kept one hand buried in her hair, holding her in place. With the other he eased down the front of the red satin corset to reveal her breasts to the cool air of the room. His actions were slow enough that she could have stopped him at any moment, but she had no desire to. Her nipples, already hard and aching, brushed against his chest, sending jolts of pleasure straight to her clit. Unconsciously she began to move her hips up against him, silently pleading for his hands, his tongue, any touch he was willing to give her. She’d never felt this kind of fire for a man before. Its strength was frightening, but the thought of pulling away was even scarier.

Breaking from the kiss, he began nibbling his way down, lingering in the sensitive juncture of her neck and shoulder until she was shuddering with need. One of her hands went up to the back of his head and held him to her. He licked and sucked, his teeth scraping along her skin before latching on. From the strong suction of his mouth she just knew he was leaving his mark on her. She arched into him, sucking on her bottom lip at the incredible sensations shooting from his mouth straight to her nipples and clit.

Abruptly he sat up, his breathing harsh in the silence of the room. “Damn, Ruby. Better tell me now if you want me to stop or not. I’m about to hit the point of no return, here.”

She watched his throat move as he swallowed convulsively. She could see how affected he was. He sucked in deep breaths, staring at her naked breasts, hunger and something more written all over his face.

When he licked his lips she hissed, her body arching slightly towards his in a subconscious plea for more.

She’d never felt like this before, like she would die if she didn’t have him right now.

He clenched his fists at his sides to keep from touching her, his legs straddling her thighs, quivering with obvious need held firmly in check. “Choose.”

She could see the strain not touching her put on him. He held himself steady, watching her, his whole body tight with need. He trembled, waiting for her answer, and she knew if she denied him he’d let her go.

It would probably kill them both in the process, but he’d do it.

It said a lot about him that he’d kept his word that he wouldn’t touch her without her permission.

She looked up at him through eyes gone heavy with lust and threw seven years of caution to the winds. When am I ever going to have a chance like this again? Men like Leo didn’t usually go for women like her, but for tonight, there was no doubt in her mind that he did. “Do it.”

One brow arched. “Do what, Ruby?”

She licked her lips, suddenly nervous. “Do me.”

Emotion flashed across his face, gone too quickly for her to see what it was. Surprise, maybe?

Pleasure glittered there now, mixing in with the lust. “Do what to you, Ruby?” The slightest hint of a brogue only increased his incredible sexiness. One hand reached down to tweak her nipple. The other hand began a lazy massage of his cock behind his zipper. Her eyes were drawn to the sight almost unwillingly before they turned towards his.

“Make love to me.” She looked up at him, her voice pleading and heavy with desire. “Please.”

“My pleasure.”

Chapter Three

Leo nearly came in his pants. It took all of his self control to stop the magic from getting away from him. If she looked anywhere but at him she’d probably see little fireflies of light darting around the room, something that hadn’t happened to him before. He’d never lost it this badly. There was a catch in her voice, a plea he’d rarely heard, the cry of a woman who didn’t think she was pleasing but wanting something she couldn’t name.

Leo decided that from now on he’d see to it that she never doubted her appeal again.

With that in mind, he moved the hand fondling his cock down to her skirt. With a wicked grin on his face he began inching it up, exposing the thigh-high stockings and red thong panties she wore to his admiring gaze.

“Damn, kitten. I like your taste in underwear.” He petted her covered mound, earning a hiss of pleasure. He turned his hand and cupped her, easing the fabric aside enough to allow them to stroke through her drenched slit. He looked down and shuddered with need.

She was completely bald. “So fucking sexy.” He couldn’t wait to see her uncovered, but first he wanted to see her come. He strummed her clit, watching her reactions closely, trying to see what made her crazy with want. She arched into his hand with a soft cry, her breath hitching. “Right there, kitten?”