stretch of pale pink that sat low on her hip bones and was banded by flirty black ruffles.
"Admit it," he said, his voice rough.
She started to shake her head, but then - oh, God, she realized he was right. All her big talk about one-night stands had been just big talk. Without conscious awareness of it, she'd been hoping for this. Planning for this. She'd been wearing her prettiest panties every day.
Because of him.
"Let's get you to bed," he said, moving close again.
But when she tried stepping back, her feet tangled in the pooled fabric of her shorts. She lost her balance, and Griffin tried stabilizing her. His grab was just a fraction too late, and she landed on her knees...right in front of that tempting bulge of denim. Another shiver rolled down her spine, and she looked up. Griffin was staring at her, his chest moving like a bellows as her fingers rose to the top button of his jeans.
He was hard - everywhere - as she tugged down the tab of the zipper. Glancing up again, she peeled the heavy fabric and his soft cotton boxers away from his hips. His hand sifted through her hair as she leaned forward and drew a line on his shaft with the tip of her tongue.
With the flat of it, she rolled over the crown, wetting the plum-soft skin before drawing it into the cavern of her mouth. His soft groan ratcheted her arousal. Her nipples tightened again, the points tingling as she swallowed more of him. She curled her fingers around the root of his shaft and balanced herself with her other hand on his steely thigh. Her mouth set up a languid yet steady rhythm, and she breathed along with it, her pulse thrumming loud in her ears.
It was carnal and beyond hot, and she imagined herself on the deck of his pirate ship, the Jolly Roger fluttering in the breeze above her head as she was captive to his desires. Her imagination had always been her most seductive partner, and it worked again for her now. Her panties were wet, and she took her hand from his thigh to reach inside them and touch -
"Damn it!" Griffin suddenly yanked her to her feet.
"What? What?" She was dizzy as he lifted her from the floor and half carried, half tossed her onto the bed. Then he was on the mattress too, and he stilled, taking in her body splayed on his sheets, wearing only the pink-and-black panties and the girlie sandals. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Her voice seemed to shake him from his stupor. He slipped her shoes off her feet, dropping one and then the other over the side of the bed. His fingers played with the waistband of her panties. "I'm the captain of this orgasm," he said, as if he'd been privy to her little fantasy. "This time I'm the one who's going to give it to you."
He slid the last piece of her clothing free, and she watched him tuck the little ball of fabric in his bedside table drawer. "You only get them back if you let me give you your climax. Take it yourself, and I take the underwear."
Panty ransom? She would have laughed, but he was giving her a burning, smoldering, serious look. So she stifled her little nervous giggle. "Okay."
He stacked a couple of pillows against the wood-slat headboard. Next, he pushed her up against them, propping her there. "It'll give you a good view," he said. "Now put your hands here and here." He moved them himself, making her curl her fingers around a slat on either side of her head.
It was Jane who was breathing hard now. Her breasts trembled with each inhale and exhale. Still wearing his unfastened pants, he swung a leg over her body to straddle her, his head at the level of her stiffened nipples. "You hold still," he instructed, and then he bent his head to them.
She bowed into the wet heat, the avid tugs. Griffin tightened his knees against her legs, keeping her thighs pressed close together as he sucked her into his mouth. At first it was just the taut bead of the nipple, then he widened to take in more of her breast, then he drew his mouth away, letting the soft mound slide out until his teeth caught only the tight nub. She cried out at the little sting and then cried again when he lifted completely away. But he only