Kara His blue eyes were even deeper, somehow more intense in the muted glow of the light. They were patient as he followed Dylan to the front door—no, not patient. They were waiting. Anticipating what was to come. I heard my brother's footsteps, and his, then the click of the lock. The echo it made in the room was as loud and heavy with meaning as a declaration of war. Then those eyes, with those deep blue irises, shifted to mine. Conquer me, they challenged, before I conquer you. It was bait. And he wanted me to bite. I formed my hands into fists, instinctively stepped back, stopped when the back of my knees hit the couch. The effect he had on me was undeniable, and I didn't care for it. I didn't like the way I felt defenseless around him, how he could strip away my reasoning just by looking at me. As if he heard my thoughts, his lips, slowly and deliberately, formed into a smile. I got you, his smile said, exactly where I want you. Strength and controlled power stamped every movement of his body as I watched him cross the room toward me. His body was big and sleek, like a stealthy cat roaming the jungle, patient and hungry. My eyes took in the long lines of his arms, the ripple of muscles, the veins that stood out like cords, his thick wrist. Every part disciplined, tight, and masculine. He stopped in front of me. "Kara," he whispered my name. His voice was deep and rich, and my name sounded and felt so carnal coming from his lips. "Tell me why you're here." I tried to answer. God knows I tried, but my body wouldn't cooperate. It felt so easy, so sinful, like slipping into luxurious, expensive silk, to give in. Let someone take control for once. No, not just someone. It had to be him. I closed my eyes in defense. I was losing, and surprisingly, I didn't seem to mind. Not yet. I would soon, but not yet. Was this what it felt like to want? To need? The air was thick with tension and I felt it move a moment before his fingers stroked the inside of my wrist. Once, then twice. Then it was gone. My lips opened a fraction, letting out a sharp, silent breath. An expulsion, a way my body released the building pressure forming inside it at the aftermath of his touch. Or maybe, maybe, it was a silent demand for more. "Open your eyes," he said softly. I kept them closed. "Kara." His voice was soft as velvet, coaxing. "Look at me." But what would happen if I did? This was something I'd never felt or experienced before. I'd never been this close to anyone nor wanted to be. I was teetering between two worlds—the one where I would stay the same if I stepped away from him now. And the other one where the world I knew would end and change to something unfamiliar. Which one would I choose? I always put others before me. Responsibilities, commitments, family. When was the last time I did something just for the hell of it? I opened my eyes. And stared right into the blue of his. He was ruthlessly beautiful. The straight dark brows, the deep-set eyes, the long, straight nose, the full lips. And all that beauty framed by soft black hair. I had thought he looked like a dark archangel when I first laid eyes on him. I still did. More so now. There was more to him that I didn't know. He was as deep and dark as a cave, and I was standing right at his entrance. Should I go in or leave? I'd made up my mind. His lips parted in surprise as the pad of my fingers slowly traced his collarbone, marvelling at the warmth of his skin, at the softness of it. I thought I'd be satisfied just by feeling it, but I wanted to do more. His muscles tensed as I moved my fingers to the long line of his neck, rubbing the stubble on his jaw, tickling myself. I smiled but didn't say anything. I usually had a lot to say, but I wasn't myself right now. I was different when I was with him. I felt bolder, more beautiful. The pulse at the base of his throat jumped as I focused on his lips. They were full, pink, with a prominent Cupid's bow. Suddenly he opened his mouth and caught my finger between his lips, between his teeth, then his tongue. And sucked. I gasped, my eyes snapping to his as I snatched my finger away, feeling like my whole body was on fire. I backed away from him instinctively. There was so much emotion raging inside me and it all concentrated in this room. My skin prickled. I felt hot, itchy, needy. I wanted... more. Just more. "You're driving me fucking crazy," he whispered. His voice husky, more than a hint of frustration in it. When every move before was disciplined, now he radiated restless energy. It felt like having a big edgy cat in a small cage. His eyes grew heavy, hungry. "I'm waiting for you to run away," he said quietly. When I didn't reply, his arms fell dejectedly at his sides. "I don't want you to." I bit my lip at his confession. He made me feel wanted. That I shouldn't deny myself what I wanted. Even just for this moment. The way he looked at me felt like heat gliding across my skin. Hot, palpable, alluring. He looked so good, so big, so unapologetically male. "Kara." I looked up at him. He held his hand out to me, palm up. "Come here," he said huskily. As if in a trance, I crossed to him, placed my hand on his. His hand was wide, with long tapered fingers. It was rough, with calluses and scrapes. A working man's hand. A capable, strong, gorgeous man. My eyes shifted to his. There was a delicious hot curl in my stomach at the approval and hunger I saw in his blue eyes. Suddenly his hands banded on my hips, his fingers pressing intimately, possessively, as he sprawled on the couch, pulling me to him and settling me on his lap. I gasped as our bodies made contact, as I straddled him. He was wide, and God, so big that my legs stretched to accommodate him. Up close he was even more beautiful. Almost unreal. His features were perfect, his skin creamy and smooth. His hands slipped under my sweater, fingers stroking the skin on my lower back. I shivered at the delicious rough texture of them. When his lips touched my ear, I jumped. He let out a deep, low laugh. Butterflies whirled in my stomach at the sound. Even his laugh was sexy. "Can't stop thinking about you," he murmured. He dragged his lips from my ear to my jaw, inhaling long and deep. My hands gripped his arms, waiting, wanting him to keep going, wanting to feel what was going to happen next. His hands left my back, gliding up my arms, gently securing both sides of my neck. His thumbs stroke the hollows of my throat. My head fell back as I savoured his touch. Back and forth and back and forth on my pulse that had gone mad. He leaned forward until his lips were almost touching the side of my mouth. Almost. "Kara," he whispered. "Won't you kiss me?" I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. I thought he would just take, remove the decision from me and just take, but he waited until I was ready. Until I made up my mind. He wanted me to make the choice. Oh, this man. I felt his body poised, for my rejection or my surrender. But there was no question in my mind. I closed my eyes and took his bottom lip between mine. I heard him growl, as if he'd been starved and I just served him a feast. And then he took over. His tongue traced the seam of my lips, seeking entrance inside my mouth. I opened up to him and he slid inside, shocking me with the arousal that bloomed inside me. He tasted like orange and mint and a hint of the beer he was drinking earlier. He tasted entirely male. One of his hands moved to the back of my head, securing me in place, as his mouth slanted against mine, wanting more, demanding more. He moaned, deepening the kiss. And I was lost. I pressed my hands on his back, pulling him closer, rubbing my body against his. He was hard everywhere, his muscles rippling and tensing as I placed my hands under his shirt, glided up his chest. His skin was burning hot. His hands settled on the heels of my feet, sliding up to my calves, swirling at the back of my knees, up my legs, then cupping my ass. Then his hips surged up. Oh God. His hands reached for the zipper on my pants. My eyes flew open. "Stop." I pushed against him, but it was like pushing a car. He was so big and heavy, it didn't even budge him. But he stopped, his hands falling at his sides. I untangled myself away from him, breathing hard. His mouth was wet, rosy, his eyes smoky with desire. "Kara." "No," I repeated. His hands shook as he raked his fingers in his hair. "I won't do anything you don't want me to." He reached out, his big hand closing on my wrist. "Don't go," he pleaded. I shook my head, pulled away, but he was ten times stronger than I was. There was no way I would be able to escape him. "Let. Me. Go." He looked at me for a moment. There was a vulnerability in his blue eyes I hadn't seen before. It nearly undone me. And then he opened his hand and let me go. I ran to the door, feeling claustrophobic. I needed space, time to think. I held the doorknob in my hand, twisted. "Kara." I turned my head, looked at him one last time, and left.