But instead of simply grabbing her and putting out this damn inferno he’d lit inside her, he made no move to touch her. Instead his gaze tracked slowly down to her feet, then back up, igniting tiny fires on her skin and tightening her nipples. She felt that leisurely perusal as if he’d caressed her, and her skin grew increasingly warm and prickly with want.

When their gazes met again, he said in a husky voice, “You’re like an unwrapped present.” He reached out and traced his fingertips along her collarbone, halting her breath. “And it’s not even my birthday.”

Any reply she might have made evaporated into nothingness when his hands wandered lower to palm her breasts. His thumbs brushed over her aroused nipples, a light feathery caress that dragged a moan from her throat and pulsed pure want straight to her womb.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice a raspy whisper.

She opened her mouth to say something that resembled thank you, but he again stole the words when he lowered his head and drew her nipple into the satiny heat of his mouth. With a gasp, her head fell limply back and she grabbed his shoulders for support.

While his lips and tongue laved her sensitive flesh, his hands skimmed lower, one roaming over her abdomen while the other curved around to cup her bottom. His fingers glided between her thighs, and she spread her legs wider.

Her long ooooohhhh of pleasure filled the air as he teased her with a light, circular motion that weakened her knees. Her fingers slid into his thick, silky hair, then slipped beneath the collar of his shirt to stroke his back. His skin was hot and smooth beneath her palms and she desperately wanted, needed, to feel more of him. All of him.

But instead of speeding things up, he continued to torment her with his unhurried pace. His lips moved upward to explore her neck and the sensitive skin behind her ear. He tortured her with slow, deep, drugging kisses, his tongue caressing hers as his fingers glided over her slick feminine folds until she felt ready to implode. Skimming his hand down her thigh, he lifted her leg, and with a groan she hooked her calf around his hip. His talented fingers continued their maddening arousal, slipping deeply inside, slowly stroking. She tried to sustain the pleasure, to not fall over the edge, but his gentle assault on her body was relentless. Her orgasm throbbed through her, dragging a cry from her throat that tapered off into a deep sigh of sated satisfaction.

No sooner had her shudders subsided than he scooped her up in his strong arms. He walked swiftly down the hall, and she buried her face in the warm spot where his neck and shoulder met and grazed his skin with her teeth. He smelled fresh and clean and warm and delicious and he’d made her feel so damn good.

His low groan vibrated against her lips. “If you keep that up, we won’t make it to the bedroom.”

“I already didn’t, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

“Believe me, I noticed. If I’d thought to have a condom in my pocket, you wouldn’t have made it out of the den.”

“If you weren’t carrying me, I wouldn’t have made it out anyway. My knees feel like limp, deflated balloons-a condition for which I heartily thank you, by the way.”

“The pleasure was all mine.”

“Actually it wasn’t, but I’m looking forward to returning the favor.”

“That makes me all kinds of lucky.”

“Oh, honey, trust me, you are definitely going to get all kinds of lucky.”

Seconds later he deposited her on his bed with a gentle bounce. Standing next to the edge, looking at her with an expression that all but breathed fire, he was about to pull his shirt over his head when she rose to her knees and stilled his hands. “Not so fast,” she said, skating her hands under the soft material. “You undressed me; now it’s my turn.”

Daniel released the ends of his shirt and settled his hands on her hips and pulled her closer. The soft curve of her belly bumped against his erection and he sucked in a breath. His palms drifted slowly up and down, exploring her exquisite curves.

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think you actually removed your towel, for which I’d like to heartily thank you, by the way,” he said, echoing her earlier words.

“You’re welcome.” Reaching out, she touched his glasses. “Can you see okay without these? I wouldn’t want you to miss anything.”

He slid them off then tossed them onto the nightstand. “I’m really nearsighted. I’ll have to stay pretty close.”

“Consider it done. Now-off with the footwear.”

After he toed off his sneakers and kicked aside his discarded socks, she said, “Hands in the air.”

He raised his arms. “Am I under arrest?”

“Yes. You have the right to remain…” She lifted his shirt over his head then tossed it aside. He lowered his arms and her gaze and fingers strolled down his chest, igniting bonfires and tensing his abs. “Really, really hot.”

“I thought I had the right to remain silent.”

“You do, but it’s not necessary. Make all the noise you like.” She slowly rubbed her breasts against his chest and a wicked grin curved her lips. “You already know I’m a moaner and groaner.”

“Yeah. That’s a shame. Really.”

She smoothed her hands slowly down his torso, then trailed her fingertips around the sensitive skin just above the waist of his jeans, while she leaned forward and gently bit his earlobe. When a growl rumbled in his throat, she whispered in his ear, “That’s a promising sound. For starters.”

Moving off the bed, she stood in front of him. When he reached for her, she shook her head, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Oh, no. It’s my turn. No touching from you.”

His gaze roved over her full breasts, their erect nipples a whisper away from his chest. “Okay. But that’s asking a lot.”

For an answer, she leaned down and slowly brushed her tongue over his nipple. Another growl of pleasure rumbled in his throat and his eyes slid closed. She kissed her way across his chest while her hands lightly kneaded his back. He could only guess that she was an excellent masseuse because her hands were nothing short of magical.

Given her unhurried pace, she obviously planned to have revenge on him. Not that he was complaining-hell, no-but he didn’t know how long he’d be able to withstand the exquisite torture.

When he felt her hands at his waistband, he opened his eyes and watched her flick open the button on his jeans then slowly drag down the zipper.

“Is that a few dozen truffles in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” she asked in a sultry, teasing voice, easing her hands beneath the waistband of his boxer briefs.

“I am extremely-” he sucked in a swift breath as she freed his erection then skimmed his jeans and underwear down his legs in one, smooth motion “-happy.” He pushed the discarded clothes aside with his foot.

“So I see.” Touching her index to the center of his chest, she walked slowly around him, dragging that single fingertip along his skin. When she stood directly behind him, she said, “View is exceptional from the back as well.”

He would have thanked her, but she stole whatever command he still retained over the English language when she stepped closer and slowly rubbed herself against his back. A shudder ran through him at the sensation of her skin brushing against his. Her fingertips drifted over his hips, down his thighs, while she pressed openmouthed kisses across his shoulders.

Her hands continued their gently teasing marauding, roaming up and down his torso and legs, touching him everywhere-except his erection. “You’re killing me,” he said, his voice gravelly with need.

She walked around until she faced him again. Then ran a single fingertip down his hard length. “Better?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know. Better do it again.”

Wrapping her fingers around him, she gently squeezed, dulling his vision. “Good?”

Incredible. He tried to say the word, but all that came out was a guttural groan. Tipping his head back, he endured the sweet torture of her stroking him, cupping, teasing and caressing him until the need to come approached overwhelming. Lifting his head, he looked down at the erotic sight of her hands pleasuring him and knew he couldn’t take anymore.

He grasped her wrists, tumbled her onto the bed, then followed her down, making quick work of grabbing a condom. After rolling on the protection-a delay that nearly unhinged him-he covered her body with his. The slow, slick glide into her tight, wet heat dragged another growl from his throat. She wrapped her legs around him, urging him deeper, meeting his every thrust. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his every muscle strained with the effort to hold off his release until she came. The instant the first ripple of her orgasm gripped him, he let himself go, and with a feral groan, followed her over the edge.

He wasn’t sure how long he lay there, still deep inside her, his face buried in the soft, fragrant curve of her neck, before he found the strength to lift his head. A minute? An hour? Damned if he knew. He propped his weight on his forearms and gazed down into her eyes. She looked drowsy and satisfied and sexy as hell, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he felt as if he’d been sucker punched. Right in the heart. Cripes, he’d thought their simple kiss had felt complicated? The tangle of unexpected, unsettling feelings roiling through him after what should have been nothing more than a breezy bout of no-strings sex had him positively reeling. Several seconds ticked by as they simply stared at each other. Then she licked her lips and whispered, “Holy cow.”

If he’d been able to string two words together, those were the two he’d have uttered. Since one was about all he could manage, he said, “Yeah.”

“That was…”

“Yeah.”

“That couldn’t possibly have been as incredible as I think, could it?”

More so. “Maybe,” he said as if his entire world hadn’t just tilted on its axis, “but I’m not positive, so I vote for a re-do, just to make sure.”

“Count me in. I, uh, didn’t know computer nerds had so much…”

“Stamina?” he provided helpfully. “Willpower?”

One corner of her mouth quirked upward. “I was thinking along the lines of skill and finesse, but hey, if the shoe fits…”

“It’s the glasses,” he said in a perfectly serious voice. “Men who wear glasses are frequently underestimated.”

She ran her fingers down his back and lightly pinched his butt. “Hmmm…I suppose that’s true with some guys, but I never doubted you’d be as clever in the bedroom as you are with a computer. Trust me, you could be the poster boy for skill and finesse.”

“Thanks.” He smiled and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. She turned and pressed a warm kiss against his palm, and his sucker-punched heart rolled over.

“Guess what I want?” she asked, nudging him with her hip.

He nudged her back. “Same thing I want?”

“I was thinking ‘chocolate.’”

“I wasn’t. But I’m willing to concede.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, unsettled by how much he wanted to turn it into something more than a quick kiss. “For now anyway.”

Five minutes later, Carlie entered the kitchen, wearing one of Daniel’s dress shirts, with Daniel following her. He nuzzled her neck from behind as she opened his refrigerator. “Got milk?” she asked.

“Got anything you want.” Probably he should let her go, but damn, he just couldn’t keep his hands off her. Still nibbling on her neck, he reached around her with one hand and snagged the carton of milk.

“Is it sour and lumpy?” she asked eyeing the container with clear suspicion. “I know how you bachelors operate.”

“No lumps in the milk.”

Just as he was about to hip check the door closed, she pointed to the top shelf and said, “Oh-there’s your heart half from Sinfully Sweet. Have you read the secret message?”

“I have.” With an effort, and just to prove to himself that he could, he released her, then reached for two glasses. “Feel free to take a look.”

While he poured the milk, she unwrapped the blue foil and pulled out the slender strip of paper. “Passion is best described as unpredictable because it’s often found in surprising places. With unexpected people. Leading to unanticipated encounters. All of which can result in unforeseen outcomes.”

“Pretty prophetic, huh?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he looked up and their gazes met. Something he couldn’t define flashed in her eyes, then she nodded. “Very. And very familiar. It matches mine.”

He raised his brows. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not. I have the other half of your heart.”

“Which means I have the other half of yours.”

“Right. Which means-”