It’s my body and my heart. If I choose to give them to someone, it’s my business. All I want tonight is a little comfort, a little security, and a whole lot of pleasure.

Jayden wanted a memory to take with her for the next few days or weeks while she made her last stand. She wouldn’t be denied based on stupid, misplaced male chivalry. Inability to speak didn’t equate to stupid. She was in complete control of her mind, regardless of what others thought or what the doctors said, so Mica could just give his knight-in-shining-armor routine the night off.

She knew her body pleased men; the flare of his eyes told her it pleased him…. It was the only thing she had confidence in. As his hungry gaze stole over her naked body, an answering flame of desire ignited inside her. In the depths of her mind, the girl she used to be laughed for joy.

Looking into Mica’s eyes she tried, with every ounce of will she possessed, to communicate that it was all right, that it was a gift freely given, and how much she needed him to accept.

Please. I need you. I’ll bring you so much pleasure.

She took back the few steps between them, touched him softly. Breath left her as sparks flew over her nerve endings. She grew wet, heated, bold—wanting this more with every second. Her body longed to be touched by his hands, but they were clenched in death grips by his side. She took one of his hands in both of hers and eased open his fingers, then pressed her lips to his palm. Their eyes locked. She sucked one long finger into her mouth.

“Oh lord, woman.” The tremble in his tone told her he was weakening. “You could be the death of me.”

I don’t have to be, if you just love me. Fuck me, my Lancelot.

Tenderly caressing his jaw, she brought her lips within a fraction of an inch from his, but he’d have to come the rest of the way. She wanted him, and he wanted her, but she wouldn’t force him. She wanted this night to be a memory he’d hold in his heart for the rest of his life. She held her breath. Pressed her body against his.

No regrets, my hero. Kiss me.

She needed his touch, but hadn’t been at all prepared for the overwhelming sensations of it. His palm seared the skin of her lower back. With his free hand, he yanked the shirt over his head. Skin to skin, in a savage embrace, he crushed her mouth beneath his own.

She wasn’t certain whether she lost her breath, or he took it. He encompassed her in a fiery reality so intense she wouldn’t be surprised if he left burn marks. His kiss scorched her, inflamed her from mouth to soul, and insisted all the while that she was his. Resistance never entered her mind. For tonight, she belonged to no other, only him.

Only you.

Masterful hands braced her face. He tipped her head back, deepening the kiss that was already threatened to overpower her. Taking his tongue deep into her mouth, Jayden greedily consumed it with her own. He moaned against her lips as she sucked on him. She grew more and more wet with raw lust and earthy need. The scent of her arousal became more obvious as she reached for his pants and shoved them over his hips. His guttural sound was a sure sign of approval.

Mica sank his teeth into her shoulder like he’d fantasized, but fantasy was nothing compared to the reality of this naked woman in his arms. He held her head in place while his tongue plundered and perused her willing mouth. She had started this, but his need was too great to let her stay in control. He hoped she wanted it hard and fast, because he knew that was about all he was capable of at this point. He kicked off his pants, cupped her ass in his hands, and lifted her with ease. Turning, he pinned her to the full-length window as harsh laughter rippled in his chest.

“My neighbors are gonna love me tonight.”

But she didn’t seem to want words. She grabbed his face and forced his mouth back to hers, legs wrapped his waist, ankles locked in the small of his back. This was straight out of fantasy. He half expected to awaken at any moment and find himself asleep at his desk in Amaris. Training his thoughts, he realized he was so close to exploding he could feel his semen start to drip. Breath ragged, he pulled away again.

“Protection.” Another hard scorcher of a kiss. “Over there.” He started to put her down, only to have her clamp her legs so hard around him she almost broke his dick in half.

“Aaah. Careful, love.” He repositioned himself at the edge of her opening. “I haven’t had unprotected sex since the eighth grade and that sex talk about how it falls off if you didn’t use protection.”

This was not the time for this discussion. Protection was a fine idea in the light of day, but in the heat of the moment it got fuzzy. She wriggled in his arms, sinking his cock just inside her wet passage. Her muscles clenched around him and then it was no longer up for discussion. He thrust inside her twice before he felt himself lose control and, like it or not, he sent his hot, thick semen inside her slick pussy.

He dropped his forehead against her breasts, ashamed, confused and—for the first time in his life—honestly afraid. Afraid of all these emotions, afraid of whatever danger she faced, afraid of how she was able to move him to the point of recklessness. Around this woman, his brain didn’t work right, and his control was seriously threatened. He’d just proved himself to be the worst lover on the planet, spilling his seed like a green kid taking his first look at a porn mag.

“I don’t plan to apologize, angel.” He deliberately caught her gaze with his own. “I plan to make it up.”