What Are You Afraid Of? (The Agency #2)(61)

With anyone.

But even as he watched a hint of uncertainty flare through her eyes, she released a slow breath. Then, snuggling closer, she slid her hands beneath his sweater. The soft tinkle of her bracelet was like music to his ears. She hadn’t taken it off since he’d placed it around her wrist. The knowledge warmed his heart in a way he couldn’t fully explain.

“I could say the same,” she assured him in soft tones.

Griff hissed at her touch. Raw, delicious heat jolted through him. It felt like he was being branded.

Claimed by this woman.

Tangling his fingers in her golden curls, he lowered his head and kissed her. Electricity zapped him, a thousand watts of sheer pleasure sizzling between them.

He heard Carmen’s soft gasp. A smug satisfaction raced through him. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who was shocked by the sheer power of their attraction. A mere kiss wasn’t supposed to scorch through you like wildfire.

“You’ve haunted me for months,” he muttered against her lips.

“Haunted?” She tilted her head back, studying him with a darkened gaze. “That doesn’t sound very nice.”

“It wasn’t,” he assured her in a gruff voice. “I’ve endured more restless nights and cold showers since I met you than I have in my entire life.”

Her fingers skimmed over his chest. “Are you sorry I approached you on the beach?”

“Hell, no,” he rasped.

Another kiss. He used the tip of his tongue to trace the seam of her mouth, groaning in appreciation when her lips parted to allow him to fully taste her sweetness.

At the same time, he lowered his hands to find the hem of her sweater. Then, with one smooth motion, he was tugging the fuzzy material over her head. With a flick of his hand the sweater was tossed onto a nearby chair.

He locked his gaze on the frilly bra, taking a second to appreciate the lacy concoction before it was joining the sweater on the chair.

His breath hissed between his teeth as he lifted his hands to cup the soft swell of her breasts.

There was another blast of desire, and unable to resist temptation he lowered his head to suck the tip of one breast between his lips.

Her nails dug into his chest, her back arching. “Griff.”

“What about you?” he demanded, circling the hardened peak with his tongue.

“What?” Her voice was distracted as she trembled beneath his teasing strokes.

He kissed a path to her other breast.

“Are you sorry you approached me?”

She arched against him, her head tilting back to allow her curls to tumble down her back in a blaze of gold.

So beautiful.

“I’m not sorry,” she assured him. “I knew from the beginning we could make a great team.”

His hands lowered to unfasten her jeans, pulling them down her legs along with the tiny wisp of fabric that served as her underwear.

“Team—I like the sound of that,” he murmured. “Of course, I get to be the coach.”

Her lips twitched, her eyes dark with desire. “Why do you get to be the coach?”

“Because I have the right equipment.”

She released a startled laugh that turned to a groan as he used the tips of his fingers to trace her slender curves. At the same time, he allowed his gaze to take a lingering survey of her naked body.

He released a slow breath. She was just as exquisite as he’d known she would be.

Firelight danced over her skin, revealing the soft, rounded breasts tipped with rosy nipples. The curve of her waist that flared to the slender width of her hips. And the trim legs that were the perfect length to wrap around his waist once he was buried deep inside her.

Obviously, it’s true. Great things do come in small packages.

As much as he wanted to spend the next few hours simply appreciating her beauty, there were things he wanted to do more.

The sooner the better.

Kicking off his shoes, Griff stripped and allowed his clothes to drop to the blanket.

Carmen’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of his hard, flagrantly aroused body. He smiled, using her distraction to his advantage as he pressed her back against the blanket.

She instinctively grabbed his shoulders, her hair a golden halo around her flushed face and her eyes glowing with passion. A lethal tenderness squeezed his heart. She looked young and vulnerable and utterly edible.

Yes, edible.

The thought passed through his mind as he tugged her legs gently apart and then moved to kneel between them. Carmen held out her arms in invitation, then blinked, momentarily confused as he remained on his knees, his gaze roaming over her silky pale skin.

“Is something wrong?” she demanded.

“Everything is perfect,” he assured her.

Holding her gaze, he gently pushed her legs apart, allowing him access to her most intimate secrets.

Her lashes fluttered, but at last she gave a small nod and he leaned forward so he could settle between her legs. The sweet scent of her teased at his nose, and with a low groan, he angled his head to run his tongue through her moist heat.

Carmen made a choked sound of bliss, her fingers threading through his hair as her toes curled into the blanket.

Griff took that as an open invitation to continue his taste test. He plunged his tongue inside her body before tormenting her clit with short, relentless strokes.