41

Instead of flipping on any lights, I found the remote to the fireplace and turned it on. As the flames came to life, their glow flickered across her face, giving off just enough of a gleam that I could see what I was doing.

That I could take in that breathtaking face as it looked up at me.

There was no reason to hurry this. I’d waited far too long to rush through it now.

So I took my time lowering her zipper, giving her just enough space to slip her arms out, freeing her top half as I dragged the material down her torso, continuing past her knees until I could toss the dress onto the floor.

All that was left were knee-high boots, black lace panties, and a matching bra.

“Drake . . .” I moaned. “I always wondered what you would look like naked”—I shook my head—“but nothing, not a single image I could come up with in my head, compares to what I’m looking at right now.”

She said nothing, her teeth just grazing the larger of her two lips, a hunger moving through her eyes.

I took the base o