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desperation and need as his heart thudded against his ribs. He was frantic to hold onto the dream. Hold onto Cassie. But something told him to open his eyes. He peeled his lids open and blinked several times to get his bearings. The only illumination in the darkened room was the dim light of the moon from the window.
    The scent of long-forgotten nicotine and an intoxicating citrus vanilla filled the air. But mostly, the scent of sex wrapped around them like a summer breeze. Sex? On that realization, his cock jerked painfully against a smooth, bare thigh.
    “What the—”
    Cassie’s brows were furrowed and her lips were parted in what looked like the throws of orgasm. And he was wrapped around her like a spider monkey, the fingers of his right hand buried deep inside her. Oh holy shit . “Cassie, I—”
    When she opened her eyes to meet his, they were bright and pleading and they pierced his soul. “Seth, please. Don't stop”
    ***
    Cassie’s whole body trembled. Lingering waves of ecstasy rolled through her, but she knew there was more to experience. She wanted more.
    Seth’s face flushed red and he tried to pull away. The length of him brushed against her thigh and she bit back a groan. Cassie ground her hips against him in an effort to keep him with her. He couldn't leave her like this. She needed to know what he felt like on top of her. His fingers only hinted at the ecstasy she could feel. She knew it. She wanted to be filled by him.
    Even if this was nothing but a fantasy in the middle of a nightmare, for an hour she needed to forget about who she was and what her brother had made her.
    He might have been dreaming, but Seth wanted her. He’d called her name as he kissed her, touched her, whispered words that stoked the fire between them.
    “Cassie. I—I—I’m so sorry.” His voice, thick and gravely, strained.
    “Please, Seth. For a night let me pretend I'm normal, not some freak.”
    His gaze fell on hers as he withdrew his fingers from her soft flesh. “You're not a freak. None of this is your fault.” He sat back and groaned as he rearranged his penis. Seth’s eyes never left hers. They narrowed as he sucked in a breath. He wanted her. But he wouldn’t take her. He was the epitome of a good man, which was why she trusted him in the first place.
     She held the sheet up, covering her breasts. “If you don't think I'm a freak, then why won't you make love to me?” She put up a hand to ward off his protest. “There's no risk of pregnancy. Peter, he uhm—” She slid her gaze to the paisley comforter before speaking again. “He fixed that. And with the self-healing, I’m impervious to disease.” She didn't add that she'd never done this before, so she couldn’t offer anything other than her enthusiasm.
    His eyes roamed her body and her skin prickled everywhere they touched. “Believe me, I want to. I'm sorry about how it started. I thought I was having the most incredible dream of my life, then I…” Instead of looking in her eyes, he fixated on the beige lamp shade over her shoulder. “I didn’t realize until you started to come in my hands.”
    If she wanted this to happen, she would have to make it happen. She could seduce him. Even though her heart galloped in her chest, even though she could barely breathe. She craved him so much she ached.
    She sat up on the bed and dragged the T-shirt over her head. Seth mumbled a complaint and Cassie smiled. He liked how she looked. She already saw how aroused he was. The scent of sex filled the air. She leaned over him, trying not to think about her inexperience.
    The instant their lips made contact, she sighed with relief that he didn't draw back. What she wasn't prepared for was the speed of his response. With a growl, he flattened her on her back underneath him.
    When his lips met hers again, his kisses held no patience. No gentleness to coax out her response. He took, plundered, tasted. He demanded her tongue mate with his. In a series of shifts