How many times had he pictured this woman naked? Enough times to make him begin to fear he was some sort of creeper.
But nothing—nothing—could have prepared him for his first true glimpse.
She was perfect. A warm, satin, living work of art.
“Don’t try to pretend you don’t feel it,” he husked.
Her breath rasped through the air. “Feel what?”
He palmed the soft globe, his thumb circling the tender nipple. Instantly it hardened to a tight nub, blatant proof of her eager response.
“The heat.”
Unable to resist temptation, he dipped his head down and traced the nipple with the tip of his tongue. She gave a strangled moan, her hands lifting to land against his chest. He stilled, waiting to see what she would do. One push and he would back away. She’d been through the wringer today. He wasn’t going to add to her distress.
But she didn’t push away.
Instead her nails curled into his chest until he could feel a delicious prick of pain.
“The excitement,” he continued, catching the tip of her nipple between his teeth. She hissed in pleasure, her back arching as he twirled his tongue before once again sinking his teeth into the tender flesh. “The hunger.”
She quivered, her voice thick with need. “All I feel is anger.”
“Liar,” he growled, his hand tugging the other strap off her shoulder to expose the breast still hidden beneath the lamé.
“God.” Her nails dug into his chest, her head tipping back to rest against the rack.
Suckling her with growing urgency, Liam gave a tug on the swath of fabric that passed for a dress, groaning as it slithered to the ground.
“Admit that you want me,” he commanded.
She shook her head even as her fingers tangled in his hair. “You think you’re so damned irresistible.”
Liam lifted his head, his gaze taking a slow, thorough survey of her slender body.
His cock twitched, fully appreciating the sight of her dressed in nothing more than a white lacy thong and silver stilettos.
Oh hell.
As much as he wanted to spend the entire night seducing this woman, he knew he wasn’t going to last long.
“Only to you,” he muttered, his hands tracing the curve of her waist to linger on her hips, just above the tiny white bows that held the thong together. His entire body clenched with white-hot anticipation. Shit. She was going to be the death of him. “Do you think I missed all those covert glances when we’re working together? Or how your pulse races when I touch you?”
She gave his hair a tug. Just hard enough to make him shudder with bliss.
“Because I hate you.”
“No.” He leaned in to kiss her with a stark demand. Enough. She wasn’t going to be allowed to hide behind her resentment any longer. “You might hate the fact your father sold me the company you assumed would someday be yours.” His lips skimmed along the stubborn line of her jaw. “And the fact I won’t allow you to twist me around your little finger.” He discovered a hollow beneath her ear that made her tremble with need. “But you don’t hate me.”
A strangled moan was wrenched from her throat.
“Didn’t you just warn me that I wasn’t allowed to tell you what to think?” she growled. “Right back atcha, buster.”
“Then tell me, princess.” His tongue traced the shell of her ear. “Admit that you want me.” He nipped her lobe. “That you want this.”
“I…” She released a soft moan as his lips skimmed the line of her jaw before nuzzling at the edge of her mouth. “Damn you.”
“Say the words,” he insisted. “Admit you’re as eager for me as I am for you or this stops right now.”