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179
The week had been a slow, exquisite torture of digital intimacy. Derek had called every night, his voice a low, gravelly anchor in her ear, telling her that he missed her, that he dreamt of her a lot, that he couldn't wait to see her soon, and all Olivia could do was smile like a kid who'd been given candy. 

He was back to his usual funny and flirty self. He'd even sent her flowers twice during the week—white lilies and deep, blood-red roses—had turned her apartment into a fragrant reminder of his presence. He was being thoughtfully clingy, giving her just enough space to breathe while making sure she never forgot she was wanted.

By the time Friday evening rolled around, Olivia was vibrating with a restless, hungry energy. When he’d asked to take her out for New Year’s Eve, the ‘yes’ had left her lips before he’d even finished the sentence.

At ten o’clock sharp, she stepped out of her building, the air crisp against her skin. Derek was already there, leaning against the hood of his car like a dark omen.

He had traded his usual rugged layers for a tailored, charcoal-grey suit that fit his broad shoulders with lethal precision. He’d skipped the tie, leaving the top two buttons of his black silk shirt open to reveal his collarbone. He looked expensive, dangerous, and entirely too handsome for her peace of mind, but as Olivia approached, his breath visibly hitched.

She was wearing a dress that was less of an outfit and more of a dare—a midnight-emerald silk slip dress that clung to every curve like a second skin. It featured a dangerously high slit that showed off her legs and a back that dropped low enough to make a man lose his mind. She’d left her hair down in soft, voluminous waves, and her lips were painted a dark, defiant berry.

“Stop staring so hard or I’ll trip,” Olivia called out, her voice playful despite the way her heart was drumming against her ribs.

Derek didn't just stop staring; he pushed off the car and moved toward her with the predatory grace of a man who had finally found what he was looking for. “Then I’ll catch you,” he said, his voice dropping into a dark, intense register that vibrated in the small space between them. “And then when I do, I’ll never let you go.”

Before she could respond, he reached out, his large hands finding the small of her back and pulling her flush against him. The heat of his palms through the thin silk was an absolute shock to her system.

“With a dress like that,” he muttered, his gaze raking over her with a hunger that was almost palpable, “we might not make it to dinner, Liv. I might just lock the car doors and stay right here.”

Olivia let out a shaky laugh, her head tilting back as he leaned in. He didn't go for her lips; instead, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, pressing a string of hot, lingering kisses against her pulse point.

“Derek…” she moaned, her fingers tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck. The week of distance vanished in a heartbeat. “I missed you. So much.”

He pulled back just enough to study her face, his expression turning raw, almost as if he wasn't expecting that much honesty from her, “Not as much as I missed you,” he countered, his grip on her waist tightening until she was lifted slightly off her heels. “I think about you every hour of the day, I feel like I’m losing my goddamn mind, Liv. You make me so obsessed with you.”

The honesty in his voice was a physical weight, heavy and more real. He wasn't just flirting; he was admitting he was undone, and it turned her on. His gaze shifted from her eyes to her lips and an intense arousal surged within him. Desire didn’t just claw at him; it ripped him open, laid him bare to a need of the most intense kind.

“Kiss me, Derek,” Olivia said softly. 

He stared at her, “You're not worried about your lipstick?” he asked, “You usually are,” 

Olivia shook her head, “No. Not right now,” 

Derek didn't need to be asked twice. Not able to resist temptation any longer, he closed his eyes on a groan and hungrily covered her mouth with his. He released another groan, this one of deep longing and satisfaction, while burying his fingers into the thick curls on her head, as if doing so would bring her mouth closer and lock it tight with his.

God it'd been so long, he thought hungrily. His tongue took possession of hers, claiming it with a hunger he felt through his bones. The pounding of need in his groin made him groan again in raw male appreciation. His body was making demands and they were all for her. He felt like he was burning from the inside out. His hands left her head and he wrapped his arms around her to pull her even closer to him. 

Her lips presented a temptation that made him question his sanity, while at the same time testing the bounds of his endurance. Never had the taste of any woman lit him the way she did, overwhelming him to the point where raw male satisfaction was humming all the way to his soul. His body was throbbing while a hard shot of lust rushed through his veins.

Derek knew if he didn’t pull back from the kiss now, he would want to take her back inside, strip off her clothes and be inside her in a matter of minutes. But he didn’t want that.

He was determined to get everything right with her this time. He reluctantly released Olivia's mouth, but not before giving her lips a sweep with his tongue. 

“Derek…” 

She said his name on what sounded like a breathless moan and he braced his forehead against hers. Gosh, whenever he touched her he felt like he'd had his common sense hammered by passion. He was one short sentence away from suggesting they crawl into the back seat, strip naked and have crazy, mind-blowing sex.

“I like it when you kiss me like that,” she whispered, as if saying the words sucked up oxygen she desperately needed.

He heard the words and was moved by them. She then tilted her head to look at him, to stare deeply into his eyes. As if she needed to regain control of her senses, too. Then she asked, “Where are you taking me tonight, Derek?”