She licked her lower lip and stepped close. Propriety would’ve dictated that she place her hand on his shoulder. Or his waist.

Instead, she splayed her fingers over his belly. His breath hissed as fire exploded from the point of her touch.

He stood rock still and let her fingers drift upward over his chest, between his pecs, and up the side of his neck. He had no idea what was going on here. But hell if he didn’t want to stand there and keep living it.

The sensation was tortuous. And exquisitely pleasurable in ways he hadn’t experienced for a very long time. If ever.

The song ended and a new equally suggestive song took its place. He grew harder as she continued to explore him. Her fingers grazed his shoulder and one forefinger drifted down the side of his neck.

Fuck.

“Honey, if we’re going to dance, we need to get on with it. Before I give in to the urge to eat you alive, right here, right now.”

His words plucked her from a dream-state. Eyes turned stormy met his, and Noah barely managed to suppress the impulse to bare his teeth in visible hunger at the need pounding through him.

She nodded and started to sway before him. He remained frozen, unable to take his eyes from her body as she sinuously moved.

Eventually, she noticed he wasn’t moving and raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to dance?”

“To do that I have to touch you. I’m going to touch you now.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Her finger caressed his neck again. He reached for her, his arms curving over her small waist to bring her closer. She felt warm, soft and firm in all the right places. But he wanted more.

“I’m going to pull you closer.” Like her, he wasn’t asking for permission.

“That’s… that’s fine.”

He tugged her into his body. She exhaled sharply, and her breath washed his neck. This close with her heels on, she came up to his chin. Without them she would be tiny.

The perfect, fuckable handful.

He tilted her face up with a finger. “Tell me your name.”

“It’s Leia. Leia Michaels.”

“I’m Noah King. Is there anything else I need to know about you before we get to the eating alive part? I’m especially interested in any steps I can skip, because I have a feeling I’ll need to get there quickly.”

4

The rough, implacable demand fired another shot of excitement up her spine. Beneath her fingers, his pulse throbbed sure, steady and fast, although not as fast as hers. Hers had taken a wild turn the moment his voice had collided with his indescribable hotness, and it showed no signs of slowing anytime soon.

Noah King.

His name was manly. Commanding. She heard herself silently repeating it and pressed her lips together. She didn’t trust herself not to say it out loud. To test it. To taste it.

Shock jerked through her, and she swayed against him. Or perhaps she just couldn’t help it; had lost control of her body just like she’d felt her mind going when she’d set eyes on him.

She wanted to melt into him. To feel more of that incredibly hot body against hers; the unmistakable imprint of his cock heavy against her belly as they moved to the music. Another blush flared up her neck and into her face. His gaze traced it, and a small smile curved his lips.

He leaned down and placed his mouth against her ear. “Anyone tell you you’d be hopeless at poker?” he rasped.

“Poker relies on the ability to hold a bluff through the body’s reaction. I prefer games that demand more mental aptitude.”

He tensed. “Are you saying you prefer mind games?”

“Not those that deliberately inflict discomfort or pain. I prefer healthy mind games.”