“Are you looking for those qualities in a man?”

  She shrugged. “I’m barely twenty-four, so I’m not thinking about settling down yet or anything, but yeah. I like guys who can have a good time. I mean, I like stable, loyal, and smart, too, but…”

  “Twenty-four?” He laughed. “Now I feel old.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Thirty. Does that bother you?”

  “No. That’s not old. Besides, I care about the person, not their age. A couple of years back, I dated a guy two years younger than me for a few months. The man I saw after him was a decade older.” Madison shrugged. “As long as whoever I’m with acts like an adult, their age doesn’t matter.”

  “Fair enough.”

  They chatted about nothing in particular until their dessert arrived. The waitress set the plates on their table, then returned with the wine, uncorking it and pouring some for Madison to sample. She nodded. They dug in.

  “You were not kidding,” he moaned between bites of the bananas Foster and the cinnamon ice cream. “This might be the best dessert I’ve ever had.”

  “Yeah! I’m so glad you think so.” She sipped her wine, then bit into a beignet. “One of my fellow schoolteachers retired after my first year and opened up this place with her sister. They serve fantastic prime rib on New Year’s Eve. And these desserts…”

  Matt gulped back some wine, then refilled her glass. “Good call. So…tell me about your first kiss.”

  “Oh, going for the deep, dark stuff, are we? All right. I was fourteen. I had been flirting all school year with this guy who’d just moved to town. He played football and looked hot in his uniform—very important stuff to a freshman in high school.”

  “For sure.”

  “On the last day of school, Haisley dared me to tell him that I liked him, so I did.”

  “Brave of you. What did he do?”

  She grinned. “He took my hand, led me around the corner, and asked if he could kiss me. I said yes.”

  “Did it spark an unforgettable romance?” he quipped.

  “Hardly. His kiss was sloppy and wet—not necessarily a dealbreaker since I didn’t know anything about it at the time—but I went off to summer camp the next day. Two weeks later, he was going out with my nemesis at the time, Hannah Jamison. And that was that. Your turn.”

  Matt sucked in a breath, loving the buzz the wine and this conversation gave him. “I was twelve.”

  “Young.”

  “Horny.” He sent her a self-deprecating smirk.

  She giggled. “So what happened?”

  He remembered it so vividly. “I had a buddy I met playing baseball. He lived a couple of towns over, and every once in a while my dad would let me spend a weekend with him. So this one Saturday, we were hanging out. His older sister came home from a dance class…and I thought she looked fine in her leotard.”

  “How old was she?”

  “A much older fourteen,” he mocked himself.

  “Oh, seasoned, then?”

  “Totally.” As they both laughed, he went on. “That night, when my pal fell asleep, I saw the light still on under his sister’s door, so I knocked. We played Monopoly for a while, but when I ran out of money to pay rent on her properties, she demanded I pay with a kiss.”

  “And did it spark an unforgettable romance?” She repeated his line.

  “No. I got carried away and came across the board to basically leg-hump her, so she got pissed and threw me out. Then she called me a stupid boy and never spoke to me again.”

  “Aww, tragic.”

  “Devastating,” he teased as he ate his final bite of the bananas Foster with a groan. “I can’t eat anymore.”

  She dipped her spoon into the caramel sauce, then sucked it clean with a groan of pleasure that made him fidget. “I think that’s it for me, too. But it was so good.”

  “You didn’t steer me wrong. I usually pass on dessert. Hell, I almost never eat carbs. But that…was worth it.”

  Madison tipped back the wineglass and finished the last of the vino. “I love carbs, and even if this dress is too tight tomorrow, it was totally worth it.”

  Matt didn’t know if the sparkle in her eyes or the wine or the lingering romance from the wedding made him bold, but now that dessert was over, he absolutely didn’t want to let her go. “Spend the night with me.”

  She flushed sweetly. “Are you asking or demanding?”

  He brushed his thumb across her palm, loving the way his touch made her breaths shaky. “Which would make you more likely to say yes?”

  “Demanding.”

  Not the answer he’d expected, but he could roll with it. “Then I’m not asking. Your place?”

  She shook her head. “I live with my dad… Yours?”

  He grimaced. “I knew I wasn’t staying in this apartment, so I never bought more than a sofa, which isn’t big enough for two.”

  Slowly, Madison nodded, looking around. “Well, this is a bed-and-breakfast…”

  And he had money to burn. Plus, he wouldn’t have to drive clear across town before he kissed her and started pulling off her clothes. “It definitely is. Let me go ask if they have a vacancy.”

  “Great.”

  He wandered through an open door and into what acted as the welcoming area for overnight guests. He rang the little bell on the checkout desk. Five minutes later, he had the key to a romantic suite with a private attached bath.

  When he hustled back to the restaurant, he found Madison standing, purse in hand, thanking their server. “I got a room.”

  “I settled the bill for dessert.”

  “I would have done that.”

  “My way was faster.”

  So she was in a hurry to peel off their clothes and get into bed, too? “Smart woman.” He took her hand. “Follow me.”

  He led her back through the lobby, then up a giant wooden staircase to the second floor. After a quick search, he found the door to their suite and opened it, ushering her in with a hand at the small of her exposed back.

  Even at first glance, the place surpassed his expectations. A four-poster bed in a dark wood dominated the room. Delicate side tables with airy lamps, backed by gilt-framed mirrors on gray walls, added a softer feel, along with the pale blue and white bedding. Throw pillows, a potted palm, and a fresh bouquet of flowers gave the space refined touches.

  “It’s beautiful,” she breathed.

  “Glad you think so.” He shut the door behind them and locked it, then turned to find her wandering past a gray loveseat and a pedestal table filled with everything they’d need for coffee service, then into the bathroom.

  She gasped. “Oh, my god.”

  Matt rushed up behind her and took in the view. The white tile and soft blue accents gave the room old-fashioned romance vibes. He’d been damn lucky the room was even available.

  “That steamer shower…” He could picture wrapping Madison’s long hair around his fist with one hand as he covered her back and sank his cock inside her while he worked her clit to a frenzy with the other.

  Jesus, he hadn’t even kissed this girl yet, and he was already desperate and hungry for her.

  “No. That tub…”

  Despite the fact the huge clawfoot fixture was built for two, having sex inside it without splashing water all over the hardwoods would be complicated, but if that’s what she wanted…

  He plucked off Stetson and tossed it aside before he eased up behind her, swept the hair off her neck, then lowered his lips to her velvety fair skin. He loved the way she shivered in his arms. “You want to start here, honey?”

  She peeked over his shoulder, her eyes dark and her face breathless. “Anywhere. Just kiss me.”

  The moment Matt laid his lips on the back of her neck, Madison shuddered. She’d never been so aroused that she struggled to breathe, but the instant he’d touched her, she trembled. Her head raced. Her thoughts swam. It wasn’t smart to give into her feelings this quickly. She’d been burned too many times, starting with her first during her senior year of high school, all the way to the most recent, Zy. After him, she’d sworn off men, reminding herself that sex didn’t give her the love or affection she craved. That she didn’t want to feel as if she’d been used, then trashed the day after anymore.

  But Matt felt different. Her instant ease around him wasn’t like any vibe she’d ever experienced with a guy. He was fun, but he had a serious side. He was friendly, but she sensed he could be very protective. And if EM Security had offered him a job, the man had skills. Zy was a demolitions guy, Trees the scary tech of the team, while One-Mile was obviously the sniper. What role would Matt fill?

  He unfastened the button of her dress at her neck and lowered the zipper along the small of her back. Then he reached under the fabric and settled his hands over her hips, bringing her against him, where she felt exactly how much he wanted her.

  Madison closed her eyes, absorbing the sizzling sensation of his hands on her skin. June had barely started, but his touch made her feel hotter than an August Sunday on the bayou. And nearly as wet.

  He skated his palms up her stomach, tracing her ribs, before he cradled her breasts while he skimmed her shoulder with his lips, inciting another tremor.

  God, he was melting her.

  Madison’s head fell back to his shoulder as his thumbs skimmed her nipples. Everything between her legs tightened to a gnawing ache that made her weak in the knees. She didn’t care what happened next as long as he eased this staggering arousal.

  “Oh, honey…” he murmured in her ear. “Aren’t you soft and sweet?”

  The aching part of Madison told her to listen to her heart, let go, and just feel. What was left of her rational side told her to be careful. Shouldn’t she know a man longer than two hours before she jumped in bed with him?

  She wriggled free and turned in Matt’s embrace, panting as she held her gaping dress against her chest with one hand. With the other, she pushed him away. “Wait.”

  Bracing his palm on the wall above her head, he ogled her. He wasn’t touching her with his hands, but that stare… She had no air to think.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I-I don’t…” Her words dried up. She couldn’t hold him responsible for the way other men had hurt her, but she also wasn’t ready to make herself vulnerable. “I don’t normally do this. Whatever Zy told you—”

  “Nothing.”

  But Matt still knew what had happened between them. “I usually get to know someone. Date them for a while, you know? Before…this.”

  He cradled her cheek in his rough hand. “We can take a step back, if you need. This place is loaded with movies, streaming channels, and games. Or we can talk, tour the grounds…whatever you want.”

  His understanding quelled some of her fears. If he was merely like the others and all he wanted to do was use and forget her, would he even care if she thought things were moving too fast?

  She couldn’t stop herself from nuzzling into his touch. “No. I just needed you to know that.”

  “I never thought you were easy, honey. That isn’t why I approached you at the wedding, and that isn’t why I asked you to get dessert with me. I saw you, and I couldn’t stay away. Our attraction is strong. It feels almost chemical.”

  She nodded. “It does for me, too. I’m willing to risk trusting you.”

  “I know.”

  Then there was nothing left to say. Even if she should exercise more caution, the pull between them was too overwhelming to fight. He’d said it felt chemical. But to Madison, it felt like fate.

  “Then take off your dress.” His seductive voice was as soft as silk.

  He wasn’t asking; he was demanding. He was calling to that something inside her desperate to ignite a fire in one man’s heart and be his everything. The yearning was foolish and fairytale. It would probably never happen, but in that moment, she could almost picture the two of them being completely wrapped up in each other forever.

  If there was such a thing as falling in love at first sight, Madison feared she’d done it. Yes, the notion of death-do-us-part was a lot for a guy she barely knew, but this was more than lust. And if she didn’t give in to this moment with Matt, she would regret it and wonder what might have been for the rest of her life.

  Holding her breath, she slid one strap down her shoulder, then the other. His eyes, which had appeared a pale blue earlier under the bright lights were actually gray. Ringed by black and flecked with both a shimmering silver and a dark azure, they mesmerized her as he watched the lycra slide down her body and pool at her feet, revealing the fact she hadn’t been wearing a bra.

  Now, she stood in nothing more than a tiny thong, which he gestured to with an impatient finger. “Take it off.”

  With shaking hands, she slid the garment from her hips and let it skate down her thighs before she stepped out and left it where she stood.

  His stare roamed all over her, and she felt it like a caress. The arousal on his face made her feel so desired. But if he wanted her, why wasn’t he actually touching her?

  Madison reached for him. “Matt…”

  He gripped her wrists and anchored them to the wall, staring down at her with a hard expression, as if he fought for control and sought a lid to valve his feelings.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  “You incite everything in me. The more of you I see, the less I feel in control of myself. I need a minute to lock this shit down.”

  So he could hold back from her? “Don’t. Give me all of you. The real you. The whole you.”

  He scowled. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

  What did that mean? Why was he hesitating? Had he been used, ghosted, and hurt, too? “Then show me. I’m here for you.”

  For one last moment—a heartbeat—he gazed into her eyes. He all but inhaled her with that expression. It excited her. It seared her. Then his fingers around her wrists tightened. That was her only warning before he lunged into her personal space, flattened her against the wall, and seized her lips.

  He slanted his mouth over hers, urging her lips apart before he crushed them under his own. Desire, dark and heavy, injected itself into her veins as his tongue thrust deep. She arched, plastering herself to him in a futile attempt to get closer. There was already no air and no sanity between them. Though dusk was still hours away, Matt tasted like he smelled—as if he’d bottled midnight, mixed it with danger, then poured the concoction over delicious, toe-curling sex.

  Whimpering for more, Madison gave him free rein over her mouth and curled her leg around his, rhythmically rocking her hips against him, already needy and eager for more. She was never the instigator during sex. Never forward. With Matt, she couldn’t seem to help herself.

  His grip on her wrists tightened as he tore himself away and panted. “You’re driving me to the edge of control.”

  “I’m at the edge of mine. We’ll jump over together.”

  As if weighing whether to be cautious or throw it all to the wind in the heat of passion, Matt studied her, his eyes almost molten. Madison held her breath, waiting and hoping…

  Suddenly, he captured her lips again, plunging his way even deeper, and lifted her off the floor, against his body. Automatically, she curled her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. With a groan, he fitted his hands under her ass, crushed her against his body, and carried her to the bedroom. There, he tumbled her across the bed and fitted himself between her legs. Through his suit, she felt the steely length of his cock pressed almost painfully against her.

  She tore her mouth free, panting. “Matt…”

  He didn’t answer her, merely kissed a path down her neck like a man frenzied as he tore out of his suit coat and tossed it sightlessly onto a nearby chair. He seemed to know every spot where she was sensitive. His lips played under her ear. His tongue dragged up her throat. His teeth nipped at her shoulder. Madison felt herself go up in flames. She’d never felt anything like it. How was this man unraveling her and turning her inside out?

  “I have to get my mouth on you,” he breathed seconds before he sucked her nipple between his lips, frenzied and rough, into a sweltering heat, then ate at her like he’d never get enough.

  The sensation zipped a scorching burn from her chest straight to her pussy. It had her back arching as she gasped out his name.

  “So soft. So fucking sweet.” He dragged his lips around the underside of her mound, to the top, then descended to the stiff, needy nub again, taking it against his tongue with greedy licks before he inhaled it to the roof of his mouth and sucked hard.

  Madison cried out in need as she dug her fingers into his hard, wide shoulders through the crisp shirt she wanted gone. As if her body had a will of its own, she lifted her hips and parted her thighs. He settled between them like he belonged there. Even the slightly scratchy material of his suit pants aroused her.

  “You’re overdressed,” she gasped out.

  “Patience. Once I get naked, I’ll be inside you.”

  “Hurry!”

  “I don’t want to rush this,” he vowed as he gave the nipple he’d sucked one long, last draw before he pounced on its mate, dragging it between his lips for the same beautifully rough treatment.

  She gasped, burning up from the inside out. Desperately, she wound her fingers in his thick, brown hair, seemingly lightened here and there by the sun. She’d bet when he didn’t ruthlessly control each strand, his hair skewed wavy. She loved the feel of it, soft and strong, between her fingers.

  “I need more. Please…”

  Reluctantly, he lifted his head, her breast popping free from his suction, making her shudder again. He stood and looked down at her swollen mounds with their tips stabbing the air desperately. Satisfaction spread across his face. That expression did something to her. She couldn’t explain it. She needed him naked. She needed him now. She couldn’t wait.

  Madison lunged for the buttons of his white dress shirt, her trembling fingers unmooring them one after the other. She couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. With a curse, he joined in, starting with the bottom buttons until the starched cotton hung open, exposing a mouthwatering slice of his hard chest and ridged abdomen. At the sight, she gaped and swallowed, then lifted her stare to his face.