Full Surrender. Joanne Rock

in his face, an irrepressible smile drawing him into the sphere of her spell.

      And yeah, he could call it that because she had that kind of power over him.

      “Would you like some help figuring it out?” He sifted his fingers through the dark waves curling around one of her shoulders and twined a lock around his thumb.

      “I’m all ears,” she assured him, swaying closer.

      His heart slugged so heavily in his chest it felt like an alien force trying to fight its way out. He wanted her. Badly.

      “We could try the kiss again,” he suggested, his voice dipping into a predatory rumble no matter how he tried to keep things light. “Maybe this time, we could christen the do-over better than what I managed out in the bay.”

      Bright blue eyes shifted downward, her glance settling on his mouth.

      “I’d like that.” Her hands found his arms and gripped them lightly. She dragged him down to the couch to sit beside her.

      Every instinct he possessed urged him to wrap her against him and hold her there. He’d let go of her five years ago and lived to regret it sorely. How the hell could he resist squeezing her tightly to him now?

      But the battle raged inside him and he wrestled that hungry beast to the ground, giving Stephanie the barest brush of his mouth on hers. She tipped her face higher, providing him with more access, so he increased the pressure slightly.

      Slowly, he learned the taste of her all over again. Recalled the nuances of her kisses and the way she arched into him for more. His soap on her skin didn’t dilute the more feminine essence beneath it—her fragrance, her lip gloss, her everything. He cradled her face in his hand, enjoying the moment.

      That would have been enough for hours. For days even. Except that she closed the space between them, pressing her breasts to his chest with nothing to separate them but his T-shirts—one on him and two on her. She wore nothing underneath his clothes. He’d thought as much earlier when he’d watched her move around the living room. Even before that when he’d touched her shoulder and didn’t feel a bra strap there.

      But now, knowing for certain how easily he could cup the gentle swell of her breasts in his hands …

      Slow and easy went out the window.

      Sliding his arms around her back, he hauled her against him and hoped he never had to let go.