Page 28 of Hard Wired

If he was trying to get into her pants just because he was bored, did she actually mind? It wasn’t like she wanted to date the guy.

Dominic was sitting just a few feet away, apparently offering to do naughty things to her. And, she assumed, let her do things to him. Oh, fuck. She wanted that.

Why the hell shouldn’t I?

So what if he was a mobster? He was far less intimidating than he’d seemed at first, and he was still the most beautiful man she’d ever seen in real life. He made her body overheat and her lungs tighten in the best way.

She just needed to get him out of her system. Fool around with him so she’d know what it was like, then move on.

And part of her kept thinking, What if he’s the one?

Whenever she was really into a guy, Sylvie felt the same naive optimism that he could give her what she’d been craving for so long. Not that her pleasure was the man’s sole responsibility. Not at all. But Sylvie had tried so many things already to break through that barrier.

She couldn’t even say why she couldn’t climax. No number of therapists had been able to enlighten her. But maybe there was some special alchemy that she’d been lacking with her previous partners.

Maybe Dominic would be different.

“I can see you thinking,” he said. “Are you figuring out how to get rid of me? Because you only have to say the word. I’ve dealt with worse than hurt feelings.”

“You can stay.” She pushed back her chair and stood up, her heart thumping.

Nobody at Bennett Security would ever—ever—know. No one in the world would know, except maybe Maureen. Sylvie had the feeling the housekeeper wouldn’t be too surprised. Maureen had worked for Crane for a while, after all.

Okay. Yep. We’re doing this. Holy crap.

She started toward him, only lifting her eyes when she was halfway there. His grin had turned downright wolfish. The crotch of his jeans was looking a lot more crowded.

Sylvie stopped in front of the couch, standing between his knees. For once, he was looking up at her instead of the other way around.

“I have ground rules.”

Dominic’s eyes moved over her like she was already naked. “I tested clean a month ago. The government was nice enough to allow me a doctor’s visit.”

“I’m clean too, but that’s not what I mean. I’m not getting naked.” She didn’t know Dominic Crane, and she didn’t really trust him. Not enough to give him that much access.

He frowned, though it only made his lips look fuller. “Ever?”

“Not today.” This probably wouldn’t go past today, but she liked to leave her options open.

“Can I touch you under your clothes?”

She knelt on the couch in between his thighs. “Yes.” Oh, please, yes.

The corner of his mouth raised. “I can work with that. Now come here.”

His arms circled her hips and pulled her onto him. Sylvie was already panting from desire. She straddled his thighs, not yet close enough to feel his hard-on, though she could see its prominent outline.

I’m in Dominic Crane’s lap. His hands are on my ass.She’d definitely had some fantasies along these lines.

She felt so small up against him. And he had the same smell she remembered from before. Salt and sex. The urge to lick his neck was almost overpowering, but somehow, she held onto her control. She didn’t want him to know how much he’d gotten to her.

“I believe I was telling you all the things I like about you.” He touched the frame of her glasses. “Like these. Have you always worn them?”

“These ones are new.” The words came out breathy. “But I’ve worn glasses since I was a kid.”

“Can you still see without them?”

“Up close.”

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