His tongue darted out against my lips.

My mouth opened and it swept inside.

Oh my, he tasted good.

I whimpered, held his lapels tight as my legs got weak and my body swayed into him.

His tongue plundered my mouth and there was no other word for it. That was it, plundered. And he did this delicious activity in a kiss that was very wet, very hard, very long, very demanding and very, very amazing.

So much so, I whimpered into his mouth, one hand detaching from his lapel to slide up swiftly, around the warm, sleek skin of his neck and into the soft, thick mess of his hair. I pressed my torso deep into his as best as I could, still holding onto his jacket with his hands at my jaw.

And I gave myself to the kiss. To Knight. All of me cupped in his hands. All of me plundered by his talented tongue.

He tore his mouth from mine and I made a mew of protest because I didnt want to lose it. It had become the reason for my being. It was existence. At the same time my fingers spasmed in his hair and I pushed even closer in a nonverbal effort to share this message.

I felt his warm breath on my lips, it was coming fast and my eyes slowly opened to look into Knights dark, hungry ones.

Now Ive kissed you, babe, feel better? he asked, his voice rough and so fucking beautiful.

I wanted to laugh because it was funny. It was also sweet.

But I couldnt.

I could only hold on and breathe, Yes.

His eyes moved over my face and darkened, that intensity corresponding with the intensity of the wetness gathering between my legs and he asked, Like the dresses?

Yes, I repeated breathily.

Good, he whispered then, still in a whisper, Gotta get back, babe.

I blinked and my hand spasmed in his hair again.

What?

Work, Anya. I got shit to do. Didnt have time, took it to get your gratitude now I gotta get back.

I didnt move, held on and held his eyes.

He let me for a long happy moment before muttering, My baby doesnt want me to leave.

No. I didnt.

I didnt share that. I let my body do the talking and it did this by continuing to hold on and not move.

Told you, baby, he said softly, when I took your mouth, wed need time so I could give it attention. Your sweet message, couldnt wait so I didnt. But, f**kin sucks, now, I gotta go.

Hed taken time out to come all the way to me.

God.

God.

I liked that.

And he needed to go.

So I pushed away, my hand sliding out of his hair as I whispered, Okay, honey.

The thumbs of his hands, still at my jaw, swept my cheeks. Then he leaned in, slid his nose along mine then lifted up as he pulled my face down and kissed my forehead.

Then he tipped my face to him again.

Later, baby.

Later, Knight.

His fingers gave my face a gentle squeeze then he let me go and he was gone.

I followed him, locked the locks, turned off the light, turned my back to the door and stared into my dark living room.

Then I wrapped my arms around my middle and smiled.

Huge.

Chapter Eight

Hold the Fuck On

I walked into the nearly summer-like air of the late March night.

It was Saturday just after ten. Less than five minutes ago, I got a buzz up with the announcement, Yo. Ride to Slade at the curb.

And that was it.

No greeting, no introduction and I knew by the electronic click he was gone.

So I got my bag, dashed to the bathroom to give myself one last look, opened my bag to make sure everything was there and I ran down.

The car was long, big, black and gleaming. It was also double-parked. And Hulk was standing outside it wearing a black shirt, black trousers, black blazer and a scowl.

Backs full, woman, you take front, he declared when I got close then he opened the passenger-side door.

I smiled into his scowl because first, I was wearing a killer outfit. Second, I had a killer night with my friends ahead of me. And third, after three days of quick phone calls, nothing at all that day and the rest of the time Knight was sight unseen, I was going to see him that night.

I slid in and twisted immediately to look into the backseat where Viv and Sandrine where sitting, decked out, eyes on me, smiles huge.

That dress is hot! Ohmigod! Sandrine shrieked.

No joke, f**kin shit, she is not lying, Viv concurred.

I grinned and whispered, I know.

Their huge smiles beamed. They knew about the dresses because Id told them. In fact, I told them everything so they had both done an understandable about-face about Knight Sebring.

Hulk slid in, twisted his tree trunk neck and aimed his scowl at me.

Woman. Buckle, he grunted.

I looked back at the girls then turned to face forward and followed Hulks orders.

The minute he heard the click, Hulk put the car in gear and we started rolling. Then he reached into his inside jacket pocket, pulled out a phone, flipped it open and hit buttons. He did all this with his eyes to the road.

He was taking a right when he said, Yo. Pause, Yeah. Shes here. Pause then, Red. Pause, Later.

He flipped his phone shut and shoved it back into his pocket.

But me

I had stopped breathing.

Red.

He was reporting in.

Knight wanted to know which dress I was wearing.

I twisted my neck and looked back at the girls.

They had big eyes and still wore their huge smiles.

They knew what I knew.

I giggled.

They giggled too.

Hulk muttered, Shit.

I giggled harder.

They giggled harder too.

Hulk drove us to Slade.

I was standing in our VIP section holding a martini glass with the dregs of my lemon drop in my hand when the three friends I was talking to of the twenty-five I invited that night looked beyond me.

But I knew.

It was late, Id been there hours. It had to be well past midnight. Id had four lemon drops.

And finally he was there.

I turned my head and saw an aubergine shirt and black suit jacket then my eyes tipped up in time to see Knights head dip down right before his lips skimmed the skin of my bare shoulder.

That tingle came back but it slid up to my scalp and down to the small of my back, radiating out across my waist, h*ps and bottom.

God, lovely.

He lifted his head barely an inch but his eyes came to mine.