Now he didn't want to think about them. He wanted to bury his head in the sand and keep on kissing her, pretending that he was just a man and she was just a woman, and he hadn't started something between them that could be their undoing.

He'd tell her when the time was right and hopefully she wouldn't hate him for it, or completely freak out. Mating was a complicated process, and thankfully sex was only a small part of it, and what they were doing wouldn't affect it.

Her hand brushed against his chest, exploring his muscles as much as it could when his shirt was mostly done up. He reciprocated her move by cupping her breast, giving it a gentle squeeze and smiling inside when she moaned into his mouth. He couldn't believe how this night was turning out, and things were only going to get better once they got back to her place. If she wanted him to prove that sex between them could be a hundred fold better than what it had been in the club, then he was more than happy to oblige. He liked a challenge.

The taxi stopped.

The man at the front mumbled something about money. Erik fumbled in his wallet, not wanting to break contact with Kim but having to in order to get the money out. He handed the cabby a twenty pound note and told him to keep the change. A ten pound tip was what the cabby deserved for having to put up with them kissing each other to death in the back of his taxi. Although the idea of the cabby paying them had crossed his mind. He knew the man had been watching.

Opening the door, he stepped out onto the pavement and held the door for Kim. She looked a little flustered when she got out of the taxi and glanced at him, her fingers smoothing down her dress.

She looked up at the apartment building and then back at him.

Her flustered look turned nervous.

The night hadn't done anything to lower the temperature. It was still muggy and sticky, too close.

She stared at him.

The taxi pulled away.

It seemed to snap her out of whatever thoughts were weighing her down. A smile graced her lips, and it grew wider when he took hold of her hand.

She didn't say anything, she just locked their hands together and led him up the stairs to the front door of the building. He waited in silence as she unlocked it and then followed her up the stairs, his own nerves battling against his confidence. He knew that some of the visions she'd had of them were the same as his own. Those dreams were shared. If they were both asleep at the same time, then they would experience the same fantasy.

Now he had to make those fantasies into a reality for her. It was easier said than done, and sense told him to start out slow and build up to their most recent dreams. It was time they got to know each other.

Kim smiled at Erik when they reached her door. She fumbled with the keys and hoped he didn't notice how badly her hands were shaking. In the club, she hadn't been able to stop herself from asking him back to her place. During their journey here, the nerves had returned and she wasn't sure how to act around him. The kisses in the taxi had set a different kind of tempo inside her, a deeper kind of desire that asked her to take it slow now. They'd both made it obvious they wanted each other, and now that the need between them had been sated, she wanted things to switch tracks. She wanted the dream where they'd explored every inch of each other. She wanted to find those ticklish spots and sensitive areas that made him purr.

She reminded herself that real men didn't purr.

Moan then.

She wanted to make him moan and look at her like he had in her dreams, as though he could see right down into her soul and see the person she was inside, the one she didn't even know yet. She wanted to find herself with him, and lose herself in him at the same time.

Walking into the kitchen, she put her jacket and bag down on the side. She looked in her refrigerator and wondered what she was doing. Was it more alcohol she was looking for? She didn't want that. They were both probably sober by now. If they were sober, then whatever happened now meant so much more than it had done in the club.

She turned to find the kitchen door empty when she'd been expecting Erik to be there. Walking out into the hall, she locked the front door, and then frowned when she looked down the corridor and into the lounge.

Erik was pacing. She watched him, studying the subtle changes in his expression. There were nerves in it sometimes, but he still looked dangerously seductive when his gaze came to rest on her. She was drawn to him, torn between wanting to kiss him and comfort him for some reason she couldn't quite put her finger on. There was a struggle written in his eyes, as though he was fighting some internal battle that he couldn't put voice to, but one she understood instinctively. She just didn't know what it was.

She walked down the hall, straight up to him, and stopped him in his tracks. He stared down into her eyes, his honey ones showing her everything he was feeling, and she wished she could understand it all.

Raising her hand, she cupped his cheek and then stroked it. Her thumb ran across his lower lip and the heavy emotions in his eyes began to lift. His pupils dilated and he pressed a kiss to her thumb. She trailed her fingertips down his neck and over his collarbone, following it to the notch below his Adam's apple.

She craned her neck and pressed a kiss to it, listening to his steady breathing as she explored his throat. He tasted salty and smelt of warm summer sun. She could feel his heart beating against her lips as she kissed up the side of his neck and then down towards his collarbone. His skin was so warm. He tilted his head back and she smiled when she heard the quiet groan in his throat.

Slowly unbuttoning his shirt as her mouth moved down to his chest, she drew everything out, wanting to make the most of this night. She stepped back when she opened his shirt, and ran her hands up to his chest, her fingers splaying out and running over his stomach muscles, tracing the shape of his ribs. Her eyes followed her hands, watching as she dipped them towards his armpits, rubbing thumbs over his aroused nipples, before palming his chest and stroking his shoulders.

She pushed the shirt off his shoulders, drawing it slowly down his arms, delighting in the feeling of his strong muscles beneath her fingers. Slipping the shirt off over his hands, she tossed it onto the couch and ran her fingers back up his arms. She stared at them, memorising each vein and the shape of each muscle as she explored them. He looked stunning. His square shoulders were drawn back slightly, adding to the definition of his body. There was such prowess in it, power, like she'd never seen before.

Her heart jumped when his fingers brushed across her chest and he began to unbutton her dress. She looked into his eyes, watching his fascinated expression as he slowly revealed her to his gaze. Desire stirred in his honey eyes, sending shivers of awareness and arousal through her body. She brought her hands along his arms, ghosting lightly over them, and then took hold of his hands. Guiding him, she parted her dress and it slipped down her, catching on her hips. A wriggle of them and it was pooled around her feet.

She brought his hands down, making him cup her breasts and then sliding them around to the back as she stepped towards him. He took the hint. A single movement and he'd undone her bra. She drew in a sharp, deep breath when his fingers skimmed up her back to her shoulders, and he pushed the straps off them, lowering them down her arms.

Cool air washed over her exposed breasts and her nipples hardened, desperate for his touch. She didn't care that she was stood before him in just her knickers. She closed her eyes at the first tentative sweep of his thumbs over her nipples. His fingers pressed into the sides of her breasts, raising them slightly as he circled her nipples with the pads of his thumbs. She moaned quietly, wishing it were his mouth on her.

Opening her eyes, she reached across to him and unbuckled his belt. She could see his hard cock through his trousers. The memory of the way it had felt inside her stirred her desire and she licked her lips, wanting to feel it again. She carefully undid his trousers and slid them down his hips.

He kicked his shoes off and then stepped out of his trousers, moving closer to her.

Her hands explored his hips, memorising each dip and peak of his muscles and his strong legs. She felt warm wherever he touched, his fingers grazing down the curve of her spine, running over the small of her back and tracing across her stomach. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, leaving her burning for more.

She hooked her thumbs into the waist of his boxers at the same time as he began to push her knickers down her legs. She smiled when he looked at her, his eyes still reflecting his hunger and his body telling her how much he wanted her. Stepping back, she shimmied out of her panties and kicked them to one side. When she looked back at him, he was naked.

She gave herself a moment to look him over, taking in his physique and how good he looked. She was right. Adonis had nothing on this man.

Moving back into his embrace, she kissed him hard, her tongue exploring his mouth as his hands roamed over her body. Fingers teased her nipples, heightening her arousal and making need burn hotter inside of her. She melted into his arms, feeling her way around his body, moving slowly lower at the same time as his hands did. She moaned into his mouth when he ran a hand over her curly hair, and then slipped a finger between her pussy lips.

Her hand came to rest on his cock. He groaned and kissed her harder, his finger circling her clit and making her realise how wet she was for him. She stroked his length, feeling it jerk beneath her touch, evidently wanting more attention. She smiled against his mouth and lifted her leg, placing her foot down on the seat of her couch. His hand slid lower and her eyes widened when he slipped a finger up inside of her. She tightened her grip on his cock for a moment before releasing it again. Concentrating on the slow pumping of his finger, she matched his rhythm with her breathing, her fingers playing lightly over his length. He moaned again and sucked her lower lip into his mouth, kissing her more hungrily.

She knew what he wanted. She ran her thumb over the head of his cock, rubbing the sensitive spots either side of it, making him moan again and shudder. She wanted it too. She wanted him back inside.

Erik frowned when she stepped away from him. He was about to ask her what she was up to when she walked away and disappeared into the kitchen. When she came back, she was carrying her purse and he hoped to God she had in mind what he thought she did. She turned the overhead light down a little, dimming the room, and placed her bag down on the couch.

He watched eagerly as she opened it, his cock begging him to touch it while he was watching her. She looked delicious bent over like that, her backside raised in the air, breasts swinging freely.

When she straightened up, she was holding another condom. He smiled, took it, and tore it open.

He frowned when she took it back from him.

She stepped towards him, one hand wrapping itself exquisitely tightly around his length while the other lowered the condom towards it. His brows furrowed when she rolled it onto him, her movements slow and sensual, her eyes never leaving his. There was such blatant want and hunger in them that he had to take a deep breath to stop himself from taking her there and then.

He had to retain control.

This had to be better than last time.

She'd challenged him after all.

He kissed her slowly, lowering her towards the floor. He didn't want to rush things this time. He had to show her just how good things between them could be. If he couldn't find the words to tell her about his primal side, then he had to make things as good as they could be so when she inevitably found out, there would be less chance of her leaving him.

Kissing along her collarbone, he nestled himself between her knees. He ran his hands down her sides as she finally came to rest fully on the cream carpet. It probably wasn't the best place for making love, but it was more interesting than a bed. Her fingers roamed his body, scratching at times and a feather light caress at others. He moaned into her neck, one push away from purring as her fingers continued their sensual dance down his back. It felt so good to have her this close to him, to smell her desire and her need, and see the growing affection in her eyes. There was no doubt in his heart now that she liked him, possibly as much as he adored her.

He lowered his head to her chest and kissed across to her left breast. He ran his tongue around the nipple, feeling it tighten beneath his touch, and smiled inside when she raised her knee, grazing his hip with it. One of her hands quit its exploration of his body and pressed against the back of his head, holding him. He wasn't going anywhere. He could do this all night, just licking and suckling her. He'd still be hard for her at the end of it.

Her other knee came up and she clamped his hips between them. She mewled and writhed beneath him, her stomach flattening against his. It seemed he could wait all night, but she couldn't.

Running his tongue around her nipple one last time, he moved across to the other one and sucked it into his mouth. She could wait a little longer. He wanted her ready to burst before he entered her. He wanted to explore every inch of her like he had done in their dreams.

"Erik," her voice was a breathy moan.

It sent a shiver of pleasure through him to hear the way she spoke his name-so hungry and pleading, and laced with tender need, as though she never wanted him to stop doing this to her. He'd never stop. She only had to say the word and it would always be like this between them.

She caught him by surprise when she rolled him over onto his back. He lay submissively as she sat back on him, knees either side of his hips and her crotch firmly pressed against his. She smiled. She looked so confident and in control that the sight of her whispered words of submission to him. His mind said to let her be in control, but his heart told him that she'd issued a challenge and to surrender control to her would be to fail that challenge.

He groaned when she wrapped her hand around his cock and guided it to her entrance. She sunk back on his length, her smile disappearing in a moan as he filled her. He was deeper than last time. This position let him all the way inside. It would be so easy to let her ride out her pleasure on him.

Flipping her over, he pinned her to the floor with his body, his eyes locked with hers. She stared into them, hers wide and dark with desire. Drawing out of her, he slid back in with gentle force. Her brows furrowed but her gaze remained fixed on his. He held eye contact as he moved inside her, long slow steady thrusts that would see them both coming undone.

He felt so connected to her. Even when they'd made out in the club and it had been rushed and rough, he'd still felt as though they were connected on some deeper level. His eyes half-closed when she tightened around his length, her sweet breath hot on his face and her quiet moans urging him on. He gripped her hands, locking fingers with her and holding them tightly. She looked at him with wide eyes and he wondered if she could feel the connection too.

The pace of his thrusts increased, his hips curling in an effort to find the spot that would have her crying out his name. Her hands left his and she grabbed hold of his shoulders, her nails digging in. He lowered his head and pressed his cheek against hers, closing his eyes as he concentrated. The sweat on their bodies made their skin stick together one moment and slide off each other the next. He could feel it dampening his back. The heat of the summer mixed with the heat of their lovemaking. Her body tensed beneath his, her breathy moans begging him not to stop. He grimaced as she dug her fingernails in deeper, sure that she would leave marks for him to remember this moment by. He thrust harder into her, groaning in her ear and holding back his desire to growl. Her whole body was tensed, ready and waiting for that one last thrust that would push her over and take him with it.

She writhed beneath him, her legs coming up to wrap around him, her whispered words of encouragement ringing in his ears. Letting himself go, he grabbed her shoulders and plunged into her, harder and faster, moving with the tempo of his heartbeat. It lured him on, telling him to go faster and faster until he couldn't keep going any more. He obeyed, a slave to the lust and pleasure filling his mind, and to the begging of the woman in his arms.

He could sense how close she was. Her legs locked against his back and her muscles clenched his cock, milking it and making her unbelievably tight around him. He thrust harder into her, long quick strokes that had him biting his lip to hold himself back. His balls tightened, his instincts screaming that just a few more thrusts and he'd be there, and hopefully she'd be right there with him.

She jerked beneath him, her legs flexing around his hips and her pelvis dropping down as she came. He felt her convulsing around him, pulsing with her orgasm as she moaned into his ear, her breathing fast and choppy. Gritting his teeth, he rode out her orgasm, stretching out the pleasure for her and seeking his own.

She pressed a kiss to his neck and then his cheek. He growled low enough in his throat that she wouldn't hear it and came hard, his cock throbbing as he slowed his thrusts. He breathed heavily into her neck, kissing it occasionally as the warmth of his orgasm spread through him, sedating his every nerve. His heart was rocketing. He closed his eyes, listening to the staccato rhythm of their combined heartbeats. He could hear hers beating furiously, but slower than his.

Rolling over, he pulled her on top of him. The sweat stuck their skin together, making it hard to move her, but he managed to pull her up his body. She smiled at him and then closed her eyes when he craned his neck.

He kissed her slowly, reaffirming their connection and trying to show her just how he felt.

Just how she'd made him feel.

He hoped she knew.

Chapter 13.

Kim yawned and smiled dozily. She felt so relaxed. She stretched slightly, seeking a cool spot under the sheets. She could hear cars outside and the occasional laughter of children playing. She fluttered her eyes open and her smile widened when she saw Erik. He was lying on his side in bed beside her, his honey eyes bright in the morning light. They were fixed intently on her.

"Hey," she said quietly.

"Morning." He smiled.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath when he kissed her, stirring the feelings of contentment and calm back into life. This was good. She hadn't felt this good in years. Sunday was really feeling like a Sunday. When he went to kiss her deeper, she pulled back and covered her mouth.

"I should brush my teeth," she said, slipping out of bed with her hand still covering her lips.

She didn't bother grabbing anything to put on to cover herself up. Screw modesty. Erik rolled onto his back and stretched, a tangled sweep of sheets barely covering his hips. His eyes raked over her naked body. When he looked at her like that, she felt so sexy and beautiful. She lingered a little longer, lowering her hand and letting him get a good look. He smiled lazily, his eyes closing slightly as he heaved a long sigh. He looked content again, stretched out in her bed as though it was the only place in the world he wanted to be.

She couldn't believe she'd slept with him. She couldn't believe they'd done it three times, and each time had got more intense. She smiled back at him, desperately trying not to blush.

Walking into the bathroom, she kept smiling. It seemed she couldn't stop. She looked in the mirror at herself and ran her fingers through her sleep-tangled hair. She felt a little rough after last night's drinking session, but she'd never looked as pretty as she did today. She was beautiful. That's what he'd told her, and she believed him. The way he looked at her, and the way he kissed her, made her feel he was telling the truth. He really did think she was beautiful. She grinned at her reflection.

It dropped away when she heard Erik getting out of bed.

Her bed.

She smiled again and picked up her toothbrush, wondering if it was normal to feel so giddy and silly after the most wonderful night of your life.

Brushing her teeth, her thoughts replayed the entire night while she stared into the mirror. She'd hoped that it would end up like this, but she'd never dreamed it would happen. Well, she had dreamed it, but reality was never like a fantasy. Only it was now. Her fantasies were becoming her reality.

Erik appeared behind her in the mirror. He was still smiling and still looking incredibly relaxed. He looked damn sexy too. His black hair was tousled and there was a hint of sleepiness in his eyes. The way he was standing naked behind her, his fingers rubbing his hair as he woke himself up-she'd never seen anyone so sexy.

She focused on brushing her teeth as he stepped up behind her, but all concentration disintegrated when his body touched hers. She could feel his groin against her, his hip touching her backside. His hand slid around her waist and he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

Her eyes widened and she realised that she had a mouthful of toothpaste that she had to spit out. She gave him a panicked look.

He grinned and nodded towards the sink. She shook her head. He closed his eyes and chuckled quietly.

Rinsing the toothbrush, she put it back into the holder and then reached up and covered Erik's ears before bending over the sink and spitting the contents of her mouth out into it. She released Erik as he opened his eyes and gave him a little smile before grabbing the mouthwash.

"May I?" he said.

She looked at him. He was pointing at her toothbrush. The thought of a minty-fresh Erik made her nod immediately.

She swigged the mouthwash and watched him brushing his teeth as she swirled the mint flavoured liquid around. Her eyes trailed over his body, taking in the strong, sweeping curve of his back and his buttocks. Adonis definitely had nothing on him. Move over Michelangelo's David.

He was perfect.

Bronzed sun-kissed skin stretched tautly over packed, defined muscles, all topped off with the most handsome face she'd ever seen. And those eyes. He looked at her, his honey eyes inquisitive. He was probably wondering what she was thinking as she stared at him. She wondered what he thought whenever he looked at her.

She motioned for him to shut his eyes and cover his ears. He did. She spat the mouthwash out into the sink and tapped his shoulder to let him know it was okay to come out now.

He spat into the sink and rinsed with mouthwash, spitting that into the sink too. She wondered why she was being so delicate around him, when he was so relaxed around her.

"You want a shower?" she said.

His eyes dropped to her body and slowly raked back up, turning up the temperature inside her. He didn't need to speak in order for her to know exactly what he was thinking. It was there in his eyes when they met hers. She could do a shower. It sounded like fun. And it was one step away from getting him into the bathtub with her.

Sliding the cubicle door to one side, she turned the water on and checked the temperature of it. She looked back at Erik. He stepped towards her and she couldn't stop herself from imagining just how good his body was going to look when it was all soaped up. Life was full of firsts, and this was another.

Stepping into the shower cubicle, she made room for Erik. He stood under the shower with the water beating down on his back and slid the door closed. The water was cool as it sprayed off him and onto her, but it did nothing to lower her temperature. She reminded herself that things couldn't get too physical. They'd used up what measly supplies she'd bought in the girls bathroom last night.

Her eyes wandered over his body, slowly working their way up to his face. His hair was wet now, plastered against his forehead and shining with the morning light coming in through the bathroom window. She smiled into his eyes, building up the courage to do something. Her gaze slipped, following a rivulet of water as it ran down his body. It traced a line over his chest to his stomach, curving around his navel before following the contour of his body downwards.