First Time For Everything by Aimee Carson

maintain.
    â€œSince when do you care about rules?” he said.
    â€œI don’t,” she said, fingers toying with his top button. “I’m just trying to keep up with your ridiculous list.” She stared at him, her eyes scorching. “So why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind.”
    The look on her face was all fire and heat, while his libido strained on his self-imposed leash. Every molecule in his body had been preoccupied with thoughts of taking her since his fingers had first closed around her wrist in the limo. And take her he would, but they had a few things to discuss first.
    Heart pumping hard in anticipation, he laid out all the internal arguments he’d been wrestling with since the moment they’d met. “I never sleep with women I’m involved with professionally. And before I enter any relationship, I give it careful consideration. I think long and hard about compatibility.” God knew he couldn’t afford another woman in his life that needed bailing out of trouble. He needed someone sensible. Rational. “That usually requires a three-month getting-to-know-you period. And...” He paused for effect and held her gaze, needing to lay out his case very clearly. If he was going to be selfish, he needed her to know where he was coming from. “And I don’t do one-night stands.”
    The disappointment in her face was almost his undoing. Apparently, she thought he was about to push her away again.
    â€œImpressive list,” she said. “Which just about describes everything I’m not. So why are you telling me all this?”
    â€œBecause I want to be clear where I’m coming from before I spend tonight making you the single exception to all of those rules.”
    Gaze locked on his, Jax blinked, her fingers frozen on his shirt. “When did you come to this decision?”
    â€œFifteen minutes ago.”
    â€œThat long, huh?” She lifted an amused brow. “Logical thinking doesn’t come as naturally to me as it apparently does to you,” she said, and then she popped the second button of his shirt open, sending a crippling surge of pleasure through his body.
    Blake gripped her hips, his fingers splayed along her backside, his tone rough. “I’ll take that as consent.”
    â€œIt’d be pretty dense of you if you didn’t.”
    Hands clutching her gentle curves, he walked her backward and trapped her against the cottage door. With one more step, he brought them flush, his erection pressed just above the V at her thighs, and he bit back the groan of pleasure.
    Soon.
    Need coursed through him, but he’d be damned if he’d come unglued now. Never mind that it had been months since he’d last touched a woman. And it didn’t matter that this was Jax, the woman who had him so twisted in knots he feared he’d never untangle his emotions.
    He was going to do this right.
    â€œThere’s something I’ve wanted to do to you since that day in the limo,” Jax said.
    Blake went still, ready to patiently enjoy any and all activities the beautiful lady had planned. “Feel free to do whatever you’d like, Ms. Lee,” Blake murmured, fingers biting into her hips.
    She arched an eyebrow coyly. “Whatever?”
    The thrill almost brought him to his knees. “Whatever.”
    A sly grin stretched across her face as she lifted her hands to his head, threading her fingers through his hair, gently mussing the strands.
    A look of satisfaction settled on her face. “It was a long time in coming, but it’s been well worth the wait.”
    â€œMessing up my hair?” he asked incredulously.
    â€œThe rumpled look goes well with your midnight shadow,” she said, rubbing her soft palms against the stubble on his chin.
    When she dropped her hands down to his arms, he said, “Is that all?”
    A quick flash of hurt and confusion flitted through her eyes,