Destiny by Carly Phillips

embarrassed girl routine, which wasn’t truly a routine. She spent so much of her life hiding her real emotions and putting on a tough front to get through the day that she was surprised at how easy she found it to be herself around him. To be open and real. But to let him see her vulnerability exposed too much of herself and of her heart.
    “I can’t get you anything?” he asked.
    She shook her head and smiled. “Just you.”
    “Now that I can give you.” He stepped forward, pulled her into his arms and all her anxiety dissipated in a rush of heat.
    She tipped her head back, expecting him to lower his lips to hers as he’d done before. Instead, he slid her shirt off one shoulder and pressed his mouth against her skin. She shivered and her entire body responded, her breasts grew full, her nipples puckered, and flutters picked up deep in her belly.
    Nothing that felt this good could be wrong and she tilted her head, giving him better access. The smart man took advantage, trailing his tongue over the sensitive flesh of her neck. He was gentle, which somehow caused every nerve ending she possessed to come alive under the arousing strokes of his tongue. A soft moan escaped her lips and she felt a responding shudder go through him as well.
    “Let’s go somewhere more private,” he said roughly in her ear.
    “I thought Dare was working.” She hadn’t seen him around the apartment.
    “He is. But haven’t we been interrupted enough?” he asked, winking at her and thereby easing her anxiety.
    What was it about him that he calmed her as easily as he often agitated her? She didn’t know, but right now she wanted to find out as much about him as possible. Every part of him.
    “Lead the way,” she said in a husky voice she barely recognized.
    She shed her shoes and followed him upstairs, making her way down the carpeted hall and into the master bedroom. Once inside, she had no second thoughts, no hesitation.
    She sat down on the bed’s navy comforter, making herself at home. She glanced at him standing by the door, silently watching her, looking sexy in his dark khakis and long-sleeved shirt, unbuttoned just low enough to give her an enticing peek of his dark chest hair.
    She wanted to see so much more.
    “What are you waiting for?” she asked, leaning against the pillows and patting the space beside her.
    With a wolfish grin, he stepped closer, unbuttoning his shirt as he approached the bed.
    Inspired and feeling braver by the second, she followed his lead and undid the buttons on her blouse too. He slowed his steps, giving him more time to undress. Garment by garment—pants for pants, her bra, his socks, her panties, his boxers. By the time he reached the bed, they were equally naked.
    Beneath the polished clothes was a magnificent male body. He clearly worked out. His shoulders were broad, his upper arms muscular. His chest was also a treat, hard and toned for her viewing pleasure. Below the waist… well, that defied description and made her want to do more than watch and admire.
    He devoured her with a hungry gaze. A hunger she hoped he found reflected in her own eyes. Just in case, she crooked a finger and he joined her on the bed.
    His thigh brushed hers and his body heat caused a rush of warmth to envelop her and a sweet feeling of anticipation to course through her veins.
    He leaned back against the pillows, propped up on one arm. “You’re beautiful,” he said as he brushed her long hair off her shoulder.
    She shivered and knew without glancing down that her body flushed at the compliment. “Thanks.” She shivered and he pulled her close.
    “So, tell me, are you having second thoughts? Or wondering why we fought these feelings so hard?” he asked in a husky voice.
    “Wondering,” she murmured as he rolled her onto her back and came down on top of her.
    Her soft body fit perfectly against his rock-hard one, and his erection nestled between her thighs. He felt delicious. “I’m definitely