As the kiss slows, Mav presses his hand to my chest and lays me back. One foot at a time, he removes my sandals. His hands circle my ankles and his fingers slide leisurely up my calves. Dipping his head, he places soft kisses on my knee, first one and then the other. The ticklish pleasure has me flinching to pull away and at the same time practically begging for more.

Who would’ve thought having a man kissing your knees could feel so good? I didn’t, but the way he does it, so affectionately, so endearing, sends a rush of warmth through my chest.

“I told you that day to get on your knees and get ’em dirty.”

How could I ever forget?

Let’s break in those soft knees of yours . . . Show me you can do more with that mouth of yours than piss me the hell off . . . suck my cock like you like it. Lick it like it’s a goddamn lollipop . . . the best fuckin’ thing you ever tasted.”

“I remember.”

Coming back up to look me in the eyes, he massages my knees. “I’ll take care of you whatever way you need me to. Whether you do the same for me. You never have to get on these knees again, Doll. Not unless you want to.”

Snaking his arm behind me, he begins to unbutton my shirt. After it falls away to the bed—like he’s done many times before—he sweeps my hair away from my eyes, and his knuckle lightly trails over my cheek. It keeps going down my neck and over my shoulder.

“Your skin is beautiful.”

“It’s covered in freckles.”

“Which I find fuckin’ beautiful. It was the first thing I noticed about you.” The intensity of his eyes leaves me with no doubt of the truthfulness of his words. “Your eyes were the second. They fuckin’ gutted me every time you looked at me. But I was so fucked up, Doll. I wouldn’t let myself feel what I wanted to feel for you.”

Without waiting for me to reply, he starts kissing a path up my thighs, shifting from one to the other and getting closer to my sex. His hands work on the button and zipper of my shorts. Slowly, he pulls them down my legs and throws them on the floor. His heated eyes fall on pink lace.

“Fuck. Are these for me?” His hand covers the top of them and his thumb strums over my clit.

I moan. I’m already so sensitive. I bite my lip and press up against his finger, seeking more of the throbbing sensation pulsing through me.

I had other underwear laid out. Safer underwear. Underwear I thought would keep me from being half-naked around him. But at the last second, I changed my mind. Maybe I knew this is exactly where I wanted to be tonight. With him. In his bed. With his eyes devouring every inch of my skin.

“Yes or no, baby?”

When I don’t answer right away, his taunting finger stops moving. “Tell me.”

“Yes.”

He unsnaps my bra, and once it’s gone, his gaze gradually travels over me from my shoulders to my navel. Everywhere his eyes touch, I feel him, just like his hands are physically caressing my skin.

He hooks his finger into my panties.

“I want to see all of you. Every inch, Doll. Will you show me?”

I nod, and he sheds them from my body before tossing them to the floor. Wasting no time, he pushes my thighs apart.

A sharp breath leaves him and his nostrils flare as he stares at the very heart of me. His gaze shoots to my face. “Show me,” he breathes and waits. “With your own fingers, spread yourself open.”

Dear heaven . . .

A flurry of nervous anticipation rushes through my body. This is so new to me, but so hot that I’m lost in it. Held captive by him.

I do as he asks and slide my hand between my thighs. I’m wet and my fingers glide smoothly over my lips. Spreading two fingers, I open myself for his eyes only.

His fingers on my thighs dig into my skin so hard they might just leave marks. “You’re so wet, Doll. I can see how much you want this.” Almost reverently, he whispers, “Do you know how many times I thought about tastin’ you here?” Bare now, he stokes me. “Too many,” he says huskily. Wrapping his hands around the back of my knees, he tugs me forward. “I’m fuckin’ starvin’ for it.” He guides my legs, first one over his right shoulder and the other over his left.

“Mav, I’ve never—”

“Shhh . . . You’re gonna love this as much as I’ll love seein’ you fall apart.”

I’m high, dazed, and very close to exploding. I nearly come all the way off the bed as his tongue sweeps up my center and leaves a blazing trail of cool fire in its place. I thrash my head to the side and grab hold of the blanket beneath me.

“Oh. My. God.”

“More?”

Before he can even finish asking me, he’s there sucking on my clit and sending shock waves through every part of me.

“I had no idea,” I say breathlessly.

His tongue starts further down the next time and sweeps past where I crave him. Then slides all the way up before teasing and playing with my clit. His lips wrap around it and lightly bite. The bolt of painful pleasure nearly makes me shatter.

I clutch the comforter, clawing for a hold on my sanity. I bow up off the bed to both escape this wonderful torture and seek more of it. First, he taunts me then spears me and begins thrusting his tongue into my pussy repeatedly.

While rocking against him, my hand finds the back of his head. Mav captures it with his. I’m certain he’s going to pull it away. Instead, he forces me to push his head into me. And it’s almost as if he’s telling me it’s okay to let go, to take what I need from him.

He sinks two fingers inside me and thrusts deep. Those fingers work fast, hitting the bundle of nerves with each stroke until a tremor rakes down my body and I break apart, fall just like he said I would . . . into pieces. His tongue joins his fingers, and my muscles convulse repeatedly around both. He laps gently at my tender folds as I float away and revel in the bliss rolling through me.

I’ve never soared like this. I’ve never flown this high or this free away from all the responsibilities and worries always clouding my mind. I never thought I was capable of such a thing.

But with this man, I am. With this biker, I can.

There is a flicker of hope building inside me that he could be a part of “my perfect.” But I don’t dare believe it. Not yet.

Our limits need to be tested or we’ll never know how good it feels to overcome our fears.

EMBER

When I wake from my delirious daze, Mav’s standing at the end of the bed, watching me. He removes his boots, socks, and with slow deliberate movements, unbuttons his jeans. As they make their way down his strong legs, my gaze latches onto the dark smattering of hair that disappears beneath his black boxer briefs.

If I had an ounce of strength left, I’d sit up and do something I’ve wanted to do for days—follow that trail with my tongue, and see where it leads. Maybe repay the favor Mav paid me.

With a smirk covering his mouth, Mav kneels on the bed. “You okay, Doll? Or did I break you?”

I shake my head slowly from side to side. “No. Maybe. Ugh, that was amazing.”

He laughs out loud this time. “I’m glad you liked it because I plan on doin’ it often.” Lifting me under my arms, he repositions me to lie in the middle of his big bed. Half of his body blankets mine, and his heavy erection makes itself known against my thigh.

A hum of sexual energy flutters through my stomach.

He caresses my cheek. “You look tired, babe.”

“I am, a little.” It’s the truth, but I’m also tempted to see what he’ll do. Does he actually have this much control? When it’s blatantly obvious he’s hurting?

“Are you?”

Pulling away, his eyes leave my face and move down over my body. They sear a trail from my breasts down my belly to my sex. His fingertips barely graze the softest part of my belly before his hand draws back.