“You smell so f**king good, I want to take a big bite. I want to lick you from the tips of your toes to the tops of your ears.”

His words left her gaping like a goldfish in a bowl. She gave in to the feelings, let go and let her fingers thread through that thick hair of his. It was softer than she’d imagined. The strength of him under her hands, as he bent to her, sent a tremor through her. Oh, she wanted this, wanted the power of his body against hers, sliding skin to skin.

“I want you, Elise, and I think you want me too. No. I know you do. I can see it there in your eyes. I tasted it on your skin.”

She nodded as he stood back, straightening. His hands remained at her waist, the heat of him, the weight a reminder of what they could have.

“We’re friends now, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re busy, I’m busy, but I want you so much it drives me to distraction.” So much he’d found himself at the bank on a nonbanking day. Made himself go to the little restaurant so he could look at the door to her studio. Finally let go of what he should do and let himself go to her.

What a surprise Elise Sorenson was. Not just any ballerina but a principal dancer. The pictures and news clippings he’d seen on her walls as he’d climbed the stairs, the prestige of what she’d been and accomplished, hadn’t really come as that much of a shock. Despite her size, he was quite convinced she was a strong and driven person. But when she danced she was magic.

He was nearly forty; he’d seen a lot in his life, had done a lot. Until he’d met Elise, he’d been quite sure nothing could surprise him anymore. Until she kissed him back on her porch that night after dinner. Until she’d moaned, just a whisper of sound as he’d done it.

Until he’d seen her dance for him just moments before. He’d never paid much attention to ballet. He didn’t hate it or think it was too froufrou; he realized it was incredibly difficult. He’d just never taken much interest. But the strength she emanated, the grace and fluidity, it was achingly beautiful and keenly athletic all at once. And it made his want for her simply unbearable. That one person could move with such utter confidence of grace and timing simply shook him. He didn’t quite know why it touched him so deeply, moved him so, but as he’d watched her, the need had crawled over his skin.

“And?”

“We have chemistry, Elise. We fit. Given the way I nearly came just from kissing you for five minutes, I think we should expand our friendship to friends who have sex.”

She was silent, chewing her bottom lip until he began to think he probably shouldn’t have said a damned thing.

She met his gaze without blinking. Nodding. “I agree.”

Oh. Well, he . . . All right then. He raised his hand to touch her, but she caught it, halting his movement, but keeping her hand on his.

“I have some ground rules.”

He grinned. “I promise to make you come every time.”

She laughed, her blue eyes dancing with a light he hadn’t seen before. It was then he knew for certain they’d be dy***ite in bed.

“That should go without saying. My rules are that you can’t sleep over. I’m sorry but I really need stability in Rennie’s life. I won’t be dating for a while yet and I don’t want to have men overnight to confuse her. And if we do this, I’m the only one you sleep with. I realize you’re not offering me your frat pin or anything, but I want to be careful, and frankly, I think I deserve that one nod to fidelity.”

He’d never let on that he found her so f**king cute when she got demanding, or that he hadn’t wanted another woman since he’d felt the touch of her fingers on his cheek that day he’d been hit. He’d been with a lot of women, but he couldn’t seem to recall a time when he’d wanted a woman more than he did Elise. Plus, it certainly wouldn’t be a chore to f**k her and only her as long as they had this little arrangement.

“I agree to both conditions. I respect your putting your kid first and I respect you too.”

“I don’t have another class for two hours. What I do have is a very large couch in my office and a door downstairs that locks.”

And yet more surprises from her. Boldly sexual too. “I’ll be back in a sec.” He dashed downstairs, flipped the sign to closed and locked the door.

She called after him, “Don’t break anything! Those stairs are steep and I’m not going anywhere.”

He stalked to her, burning for her now that he’d been freed to touch. “Neither is my need for you. Come here. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since about thirty seconds after the last time.”

She went to her toes on those glorious satin shoes and took the kiss he offered. Her mouth was sweet, just as he’d remembered, but the need there was a stronger flavor. It met his own, challenged his own, tested the limits on his control.

Her arms around his neck were strong and sure and held him in place against her lithe body as she squirmed to get closer. This artlessness, the sort of innocent need she showed as she clung to him, surprised him as much as her total confidence of movement when she danced. What a package of contradictions and layers she was. How utterly delightful.

“I want to lay you out and reveal you inch by inch,” he gasped, pulling his mouth from hers.

She took his hand and led him down a side hallway and through a door at the end. Her office held a large desk, a big, cushy couch and lots of windows high up on the walls so the room was filled with light but held privacy.