Her skin tightened in the darkness, her heartbeat fluttering, as a smile pulled at her mouth.
Sex! That made it sound so ordinary, or mechanical. But it had been anything but that.
Beside her, Ram shifted in his sleep, and the damp warmth of his body sent a tremor of hot, panicky excitement over her skin.
Remembering his fierce, hard mouth on hers, his hands roaming at will over her aching, desperate body, she pressed her hand against her lips, her stomach flip-flopping as she felt the slight puffiness where he’d kissed her again and again.
She’d expected the sex to be incredible. But now, with his hard, muscular arm curled possessively around her waist, and her body still throbbing from the frenzied release of their lovemaking, she knew that what she and Ram had shared had been more than incredible.
It had been—she searched for a word—it had been transformative. Beautiful and wild and breathless, flaring up like a forest fire, so hot and fast that it had consumed everything in its path straight to the sea.
And then afterwards calm, a peace such as she had never known. Just the two of them glowing in each other’s arms, spent, sated, their bodies seeping into one another.
It had felt so right. He’d felt so right.
She shivered again. Ram had been the lover she’d imagined but never expected to meet in real life. Intuitive, generous, his touch had been a masterclass in power and precision.
He had demanded more from her than she had been willing to give, but she had yielded, for it had been impossible to resist the strength of her desire. The intensity of his.
Over and over he had pulled her against him, touching her, finding the place where liquid heat gathered, using his lips, his hands, his body to stir and torment her until the blood had beaten inside her so hard and so fast she’d thought she would pass out. She had been frantic and feverish—hadn’t known who or where she was. Her entire being—every thought, every beat of her heart—had been concentrated on him, on his mouth, his body, his fingertips...
A memory of exactly what he’d done with those fingers dropped into her head and she squirmed, pressing her thighs together.
She couldn’t understand why she was feeling this way. Why she had responded so strongly to a man she barely knew and didn’t even really like.
She’d loved Connor—or at least she’d thought she had—yet sex with him had only ever been satisfying. Whereas with Ram it had been sublime.
It made no sense.
But then, nothing she’d thought, said or done in the last twenty-four hours had even come close to making sense. Not least sleeping with the man who, for the next twelve hours or so, was still her boss.
Her breath felt thick and scratchy in her throat.
Oh, she knew why she’d done it.
Ram Walker was not your average man. Even just being in his orbit made her feel as if someone had handed her the keys to a top-spec sports car and told her to put her foot down. He was exhilarating, irresistible.
But she knew from sleeping with Connor that giving in to temptation had consequences. Messy, unexpected and painful consequences. And so she’d waited until now, until the day before her contract ended, to give in, believing that she was being smart.
Believing it would just be one perfect night of pure pleasure.
Her skin grew hot, then cold.
She’d thought it would be so easy. Not just the sex, but the aftermath. Maybe there might be a few awkward moments. But surely nothing too dramatic or life-changing. After all, she barely knew Ram.
It had never once crossed her mind that she would feel this way—so moved, so alive.
She’d thought once would be enough. That her body would be satisfied and she could forget him and move on.
She almost laughed out loud.
Forget him!
As if she could ever forget him.
Right now, there was only him.
It was as though he’d wiped her mind—erased every memory and experience she’d ever had. And it wasn’t only the past he’d obliterated. Her future would never be the same now either. How could it be after last night? She might not have a crystal ball, but she didn’t need one to know that sex was never going to be as good with any other man.