Going Down by Vonna Harper

expected…”
    â€œYou thought I was some oversexed simple-minded bimbo? Instead I turned out to be a real human being?”
    â€œSomething like that.”
    Understanding he didn’t want to reveal more than he already had, she contented herself with studying the contrast between his dark, competent fingers and her small, pale ones. Tonight she wasn’t playing a role. Nothing was expected of her—except honesty. And although he wasn’t giving her the same in return, she’d take what little he granted her.
    Not sure what she had in mind, she brought their intertwined hands up to her mouth and planted a series of feathery kisses on his fingertips. The chair was on a riser above the deck floor. As a consequence, she and Reeve were nearly eye to eye. Just the same, she couldn’t shake the impact of his larger and stronger body.
    Damn it, she was more accustomed to the male form than the majority of women. Certainly she’d had more experience exploring the naked male and should have a familiar if not jaded reaction and response to muscle and bone, but he was far from what she was accustomed to. No experienced dom or rigger, he nevertheless exuded an undeniable alpha air.
    Was that it, he was alpha wolf and she his potential mate?
    Silently laughing off the absurd notion, she sucked on his fingertips. As she did, she studied him, pleased to note that his self-control was in jeopardy. With a wink as warning, she straightened a leg and slid it between his. He remained in place, prompting her to lift her leg until her shin bone found his crotch.
    â€œA warning,” he hissed. “Unless you’re ready to face the consequences, don’t.”
    â€œI’m not teasing. Did you think I was?”
    â€œI’m just telling you how it is.”
    Smiling, she started rubbing her leg against him. “This is my answer.”
    Although she could have sworn he was about to say something, only silence greeted her declaration. Grabbing her leg at the thigh, he pushed up, forcing her to bend her knee. At the same time, he backed away, causing her to lose contact with him. But instead of releasing her, he continued bending her knee until he’d anchored her foot on the edge of the chair. Holding her in place with a single hand, he flipped off her sandal. That done, he rolled her leg to the outside.
    Far from fighting, she slid forward a little in wordless invitation. And although her vision blurred, she kept her eyes open as he ran a hand under her shorts. His rough finger pads on the inside of her thigh made her shiver. “You’re tickling—”
    â€œThat’s not tickling, Saree. If you want me to demonstrate—”
    â€œNo.” Sucking in sea air, she willed herself to relax. But although she managed to leave her leg in place, she couldn’t do anything about the way her nails dug into the chair arms. “I don’t want…”
    Inch by inch, movement by movement, his assault on her thigh continued. Although there was no doubt of his destination, she focused on the journey as he slid toward her core. The sleek skin on her inner leg was so damn sensitive, fragile almost in contrast to other parts of her body. Adding to the unsettling and sensual sensation was the knowledge that she couldn’t easily break free. Oh, she could bury her nails in his flesh if fight came to fight, but what if he managed to shake off the pain while—while what?
    There he was, his forefinger sliding along her panties, teasing, not asking permission to enter that private zone but demanding. Why hadn’t she worn slacks?
    But if she had, that would have only delayed the end result. The culmination she wanted.
    On a sigh, she slid even closer so now much of her weight rested on her tailbone. Off balance, she accepted that getting away from him would be even harder now. His covered hand retreated, but only momentarily. And when he came at her again, he wasted no