Sacred Surrender by Ava Riley

fresh air will be nice.”  Madison was uncertain as to what she would do otherwise. 
     
    “How do you like your steaks?  I’m guessing rare.” 
     
    “Definitely rare.” 
     
    While Madison watched Rowan grill she couldn’t help but smile.  Men were so in their element with a pair of grilling tongs and a fired up grill.  He was no different from any other man in the world.  Well, he was different in that he made her body ache with need.  Even standing there with the flames from the grill encompassing the raw meat, in a pair of dark blue jeans and black t-shirt that stretched across his muscled chest, he looked mouth-watering.  She’d just as soon forget about the flame broiled meat and have a taste of him.  She was shaken from her thoughts when Rowan leaned over and pressed his lips to hers.  The taste of wine on his lips was more intoxicating than the wine in her glass. 
     
    “Mmmm, you taste wonderful, beautiful.”  
     
    She hung her head slightly, afraid to let him see how his words affected her.  “Thank you, you taste wonderful too,” she said as her cheeks flushed from the admission and her body tingled from his touch. 
     
    “Why do you do that?”  He didn’t want to seem abrupt, but he noticed that every time he complimented her she hung her head.
     
    “Do what?”
     
    “Shy away from compliments.” 
     
    “I’m just not used to compliments.  I mean, other than my father, no man has ever called me beautiful.”
     
    Rowan shook his head and went back to flipping the steaks,  “I find that hard to believe.” 
     
    Madison didn’t answer him because she didn’t want to come across as fishing for more compliments.  And honestly it was a little embarrassing that at twenty-three, she’d not been told something as simple as that.  She felt completely out of her element.  Her lack of experience with the opposite sex would ruin everything with Rowan.  She was taken off guard when he placed his empty glass on the round steel patio table just behind him, intertwined his fingers with hers and continued to flip the steaks.  Although Madison had been surprised by the gesture, it felt right.  More right than anything ever had in her life. 
     
    “Well, looks like they’re done.  Are you ready to eat?”  he asked just moments later. 
     
    “Yes, I am.  I’m starving.  The ham sandwich I had for lunch didn’t do much to quench my appetite.”
     
    Rowan grinned at her as they walked through the back door.  Thoughts of quenching her physical appetites didn’t stop at food.  He wanted to satisfy all of her needs.  Deciding to keep that bit of information to himself for the time being, he winked at her as if to say I’ve got a secret you can’t hear.
     
    As Madison sat at the kitchen table, Rowan served up the rest of the food for her.  Along with the steak he made baked potatoes, corn on the cob and the salad.  An hour and two glasses of wine later, Madison helped him clean up the dishes.  As they finished rinsing up the last of them, she wiped her hands on the green dish towel that lay on the counter, then folded it neatly as if it were going to be placed back into the drawer. 
     
    “Thanks for dinner.  I hate to eat and run, but I should get back home.  Work bright and early, you know,” she said, disappointment lacing her voice. 
     
    She didn’t want to overstay her welcome, but, damn, she could spend hours upon hours with him.  She’d felt so comfortable talking to him and wanted to continue, but she really did have an early morning ahead of her and it was her first week at work.  She didn’t want to make a bad impression by being late. 
     
    “That’s okay, I understand.  Let me walk you home.”  
     
    Rowan enjoyed their time tonight and didn’t want it to end, but completely understood her need to get some rest.  He shut the door behind him, as he and Madison made their way out to his front porch.  He grabbed her hand while they