I was on the verge of losing control. I wanted Rob to touch me. More. Everywhere. All over. I wanted him to kiss me. But more than anything, I wanted him to stroke away the ache pounding between my legs.

“Please?” I murmured, eyes closed, head tipped to the side as he nipped my earlobe.

“Please what?” His tongue flicked around the whorl of my ear. He sucked my earlobe into the heat of his mouth. And I whimpered.

“Please. I ache.”

“Where do you ache, baby?” he asked.

“Everywhere.”

His gloved hand slid beneath my coat, settling over my breast. A little blade of sensation burned through my body. “Here?”

“Yes, there.”

“Where else?” His hand slid down, lower, lower. He leaned back a little then eased it into the waist of my snow pants.

I felt every miniscule nerve in my skin erupt as it gradually descended. When he finally cupped the juncture of my thighs, I had my eyes clamped shut, my head thrown back, and I was shaking all over.

“Here?” he asked.

“Yes. Oh, yes.”

“You’re very warm.”

“Too warm.”

“Good.” He removed his hand and I bit back a cry of disappointment.

“Why?” I said, dragging in a huge gulp of air.

He smiled. It was a devious smile that made my heart jerk in my chest. “You’re not ready yet. But soon.”

I swear I almost cried. How could he tease me like that? What did he mean, not ready yet? I was hurt and confused and a little ashamed. I scrambled to act like nothing had happened. Tried to steady my breathing and my quaking body.

He shook his head. “You can’t hide it. I don’t want you to. You look so pretty when you’re burning for me. So sexy.”

My inner walls squeezed around aching emptiness. That was what I wanted. That was what I needed. A touch there. A stroke. Deep inside. I had no idea what it would feel like, but I just knew that was what my body was screaming for. “I’m--“

“Listen to me.” He caught my chin in his hand again. “I stopped now because I had to. I want to give you time to think about it, to decide if you’re really ready to take the next step. Next time--if there is one--I won’t stop. I won’t be able to. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“Don’t doubt for a minute that I want you. I do. With every cell in my body. I want to taste you. Everywhere. I want to suck your nipples until you lose control. And I want to shove my cock into your tight little pussy until you scream. But I won’t do a thing until you tell me to.”