Surfacing from a dream—hazy, sensual, but indistinct—Ann first became aware of the pleasant sense that she was warm. She was still in the heavy relaxation of sleep, curled onto her right side, and her connection to her body felt tenuous, almost intangible but for the heightened sensation of arousal lingering from the dream.

As she woke enough to remember her impending deadline, her relaxed mood evaporated. She had serious editing to do on her novel, and only a few more days to finish. She needed to get up and start working right away.

With wakefulness, the impression of warmth along her spine solidified into the feeling of Jason’s lean body pressed against her. His breath passed over the back of her neck with each exhale. She was lying in his bed with his arms wrapped around her as morning light glowed behind the raw linen curtain covering the window. Their energetic coupling the night before, followed by a long, relaxing soak together in his hot tub, had sent them tumbling into bed naked. Jason barely had the wherewithal to tug a sheet over their bodies before they’d lost consciousness. Stress and deadlines had been the farthest things from her mind, and now Ann realized they had slept so deeply that the white cotton sheet was still tucked under her arm and draped behind her over his body.

Lazy mornings in bed with the man she had grown to love were becoming a favorite of hers. She savored the comfort of it, the familiar sensuality between them now, and the opportunity for slow, languid lovemaking, as yet unrushed by the coming day’s agenda. They had been together a year, and the chemistry between them had only grown as they learned about each other and their feelings deepened.

Jason stirred behind her. He gave her waist a little squeeze and drew a deep breath as he slid his hand up her torso, between her breasts, and flattened his palm against her sternum. She closed her eyes, savoring the contact as she drew her left foot up his shin, acknowledging and returning his touch.

“Mmm.” Jason pulled her tighter against his chest, and his nose trailed against the shell of her ear as he nuzzled up to her.

The soft touch sent tingles running outward and along her spine, and she echoed him with a small, pleased sigh. A deep, satisfied hum rumbled in his chest, and she shivered as he repeated the motion.

The growing hardness of his erection pressed against her, and Ann arched her back to push her ass into him firmly. His breath hitched and his grip tightened as he rocked his hips forward, meeting her pressure, and she smiled, her eyes still closed to the light. Shivers ran up her spine as he placed kisses along her neck, starting behind her left earlobe, and trailing down the line of muscle to her shoulder. He mouthed the place where muscle met shoulder before he worked his way back up again, this time closer to the back of her neck. He buried his nose in the hair at her nape, breathing in the scent of her, and then exhaled. All thought of editor’s proofs and deadlines evaporated as warmth cascaded over her skin, and Ann held herself taut in anticipation.