Beyond the Edge by Susan Kearney

belief that he had every right to be here that she found disconcerting. The knowledge that he could do whatever he wanted, look for however long he wanted, already had her on edge.
    “Are these marks on my body permanent?”
    “They will last until tomorrow when I’ll reprogram the body buff to groom you again.”
    So she would wake up every day with her flesh marked by him. The notion should have offended her. It didn’t. She allowed the soothing citrus scent of the shampoo to calm her, then rinsed. Shaving wasn’t necessary. With the exception of the hair on her head and her mons, the rest of her was as smooth and hairless as a baby’s belly thanks to the body buff that had worked while she slept.
    “Showering isn’t really necessary. The buff keeps you clean.” He held out soap to her. “However, I’ll enjoy watching you wash your body.”
    She’d bet he would. She bit back a grin. If he wanted a show, she was going to give him one that she hoped would lead to some lusty lovemaking on the king-size bed, or chair, or right here in the shower. With no phones, she had no way to let anyone know where she was and felt as though she were playing hooky. She might as well enjoy herself…and him.
    Dressed in black slacks and a white shirt, yet barefoot, Kane was a mix of formal and casual. She imagined that he’d come to her before he’d finished dressing and she liked the idea that he’d wanted to see her so badly that he hadn’t stopped to don his shoes. She liked even better the notion of turning him on so they could make love. So she held the soap under the water and built up a good lather.
    She began by smoothing the soap over her neck and arms, careful to turn so the spray let the suds drizzle over her chest and back. The heat in Kane’s eyes was all the response she required. Oh, yeah. He liked watching her. And she liked him watching her.
    The sensual connection between them simmered, but the emotional connection was ready to boil over. Raising her gown to expose herself to him, then sitting on his lap naked had caused her to get over her inhibitions with amazing speed. Now she wanted what he’d promised and couldn’t think of a better way to start the day than to take off his clothes, run her hands over his flesh and taste his mouth.
    Showering in front of him would be her way to make him come undone. He looked entirely too in command and she couldn’t wait to put a dent in his armor.
    But then with a gruff command, he interrupted her fantasy. “Face me and take the nipple rings between your soapy fingers.”
    Her breath hitched at his demand. She should have known those rings that attached to her were not pure decoration. Uncertain how tender her skinwould be, she put down the soap and gingerly touched the third ring on her breast, the largest ring but the one farthest from her nipple. Her skin tingled but before she could do more than touch, he stopped her exploration.
    “Those aren’t the nipple rings.”
    She moved her fingers to the tiny ring on the end of her nipples. When she held the ring, she learned that they weren’t three separate loops but spiraled into one another. And sensation rippled not just across the very tips but across her areolae.
    Startled by the exquisite stirring ache, she jerked up her gaze to find his searing gaze boring into hers. “Pluck the rings and release them.”
    She did as he asked and a thrill of excitement shot through her. She released a breathy sigh. “This is going to be fun.”
    “So you like that?”
    “Yes.”
    “Do it again.”
    She pulled at the rings and released them and wondered if she’d grown a bit more sensitive. The zing had increased. Her stomach was twisting into a knot of desire and although she told her body to slow down, it wasn’t listening.
    “Again,” he demanded.
    And she obeyed without hesitation, welcoming the wash of pleasure and blissful wonder. She wanted to pluck her nipples again and squirmed a little that he was going to