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spell was making her more
susceptible. She didn’t care.
    “I’m going to kiss you now.” Not a question, not a demand,
just a simple statement.
    “Yes.” She’d rather face Dante’s seven levels of hell than
stop.
    He fisted a handful of her hair, immobilizing her. Sharp
stabs of pain jackknifed through her skull. Anticipation made her teeth ache.
She knew he would control the kiss, take it at his pace. She was desperate. She
wanted to plaster herself to him, feel his taut muscles moving against her soft
curves.
    Agonizingly slowly, he leaned down, pressed a chaste kiss to
her lips. She strained, desperate to get closer. He tightened his grip. The
nerve endings in her scalp screamed as the pain rushed down her spine and
sparked a chain reaction in her pussy.
    “Greedy.” And then he kissed her.
    Teeth nipped, tongues dueled as he forced his way inside. He
kissed with unleashed desire and skill. Gone was the calm businessman, replaced
with an invader. He took possession of her, stripping away her defenses with
his lips, one hand in her hair, the other pressed into the small of her back,
angling her against him.
    His cock prodded her thigh and she couldn’t stop the deep
moan from rolling out of her chest. He caressed the cheeks of her ass before
pinching. She’d have a bruise tomorrow but she didn’t care. The pain fired her
synapses, making them sing. And still he kissed her.
    She melted. Her insides turned to a quivering mass of need.
It had been too long since she’d felt the hard planes of a man. Too long. She
wanted to cry and laugh in equal measure. Years of pent-up frustration came
bubbling to the surface. And she wanted more. She wanted him to crawl inside
her skin and drink deep.
    The world returned to its normal axis as he drew back,
allowing her to breathe.
    “You drive me insane. Make me lose control. You make me
forget who I am.” He stroked her cheek, loosened his hold on her hair.
    “You’re Iron Man.”
    His lips twitched. “So I’ve heard.”
    Her senses reeled, her skin hyperaware, every cell drowning
in him. She’d never been so desperate for anyone.
    He took her hand. “We really do need to talk. Den?”
    “It’s an open-plan kitchen-lounge.” What a dumb thing to
say. Now he’d think she was a blithering idiot.She pointed to the end
of the store. “Up the stairs, to the right.” Hopefully he’d take the lead and
she could regain some composure.
    He nodded and tugged her behind him as he walked.
Midnight-blue dress pants encased his ass to perfection. She ground her teeth
to stop a moan. He had a pert ass. Delectable. Bitable. Would he let her sink
her teeth into the firm flesh? Would he let her mark him? He still wore his
suit jacket and she wanted him to force her to service his cock while he was
fully clothed in that expensive suit.
    She really, really needed to get laid.
    Her apartment was what she liked to call quirky yet chic.
The combined den and kitchen meant she always had light. It felt airy and
clean. Relaxing. Natural woods and neutral tones provided a soothing haven from
the deep mahogany of the bookstore. The quirk came from various prints and
ornamental pieces—owl statues, bookends, crazy lamps. They all added character
and showcased her personality. Or so she thought.
    Maybe to the casual observer she just looked crazy.
    He didn’t comment on the décor. Instead he motioned to her
couch. “Sit. Refreshments?”
    She sat down and asked, “Alcohol? Coffee? Tea?” Sweat beaded
on her upper lip. This seemed wrong. Shouldn’t she be the one hosting?
    “Alcohol.” Joshua opened various cupboards, moved things
aside as he searched.
    Ruby watched him navigating her personal space and tried not
to hyperventilate. She didn’t like people touching her things. This was her
sanctuary. The easy domesticity set her teeth on edge. “Top cupboard. Third on
the left.”
    He opened the door and perused the contents. “Nice. Good
liquor. Glasses?”
    She pointed to the