“Merry.” She heard the soft whisper of her name before trying to turn around. “No. Stay where you are. I want you just like this.”

She turned her head to see Thorne walking toward her with the stealth of a jungle cat. For someone so large, he moved with a grace that made it seem as though he were gliding across the room.

Merry’s breath caught in her throat when he stopped mere inches behind her. She could smell a hint of his tangy cologne, Cool Water, and liked it. She loved everything about this man. His proximity wreaked havoc with her equilibrium.

Thorne’s hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her against his taut body. She stiffened. What was the meaning of this? He’d never so much as looked at her when he was engrossed in his work. That he was holding her now was a bit of a shock, though not unwelcome.

“Relax, Merry. I won’t bite… unless you want me to.”

“Mr. Mordeaux —”

“Thorne. I’ve already told you to call me by my first name.”

“But —”

“No buts, Merry. Say my name.”

She already thought of him as Thorne in her mind, so why not say it?

Because it was a line she was afraid to cross.

His grip tightened on her shoulders as he lowered his head. His warm breath tickled her skin, sending sparks of pleasure through the core of her being. Merry had wanted this gorgeous man from the moment she’d laid eyes on him. Thorne Mordeaux oozed sexuality, with a tall, powerfully built frame and a set of shoulders so broad she dreamed of resting her head on them.

He had a nice tight ass, which she’d often watch when he walked past her. Thorne could wear the hell out of some Levi’s. His face was just as arresting, with a long straight nose and midnight brows slashed over eyes so pale a blue at times they almost appeared platinum. The dark and the light were such a startling contrast that his gaze had a hypnotic effect.

His lips, though thin, were well shaped, made for kissing. Many carnal thoughts sprang to mind when she looked at his mouth and wondered what it would feel like on hers. She loved the way the unruly waves of his black hair rested on his scalp in a constant state of disarray. It was neither long nor short, just touching the edge of his collar.

He was gorgeous. And out of her league.

Thorne lowered his hands until they cupped her breasts. Merry gasped. “Mr. Mord —”

“Thorne,” he whispered, kissing the nape of her neck.

“Thorne,” she sighed, leaning against his hard body. A wave of pure desire rushed through her.

“You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you, Merry.”

“So why didn’t you ever say anything?” she asked, finding it hard to get the words out when he squeezed her aching mounds in his palms. She felt a tingling between her thighs and squirmed to temper the burning heat within.

“Because I wasn’t sure how you’d react.” His tongue slid over the shell of her ear and Merry thought she’d explode any second now. She turned around to press her tight breasts against his chest.

“I don’t know why you would think I wouldn’t want you. I’ve… I’ve wanted you for a long time too.” Merry cupped the back of Thorne’s neck. Her body awakened when he lowered his head to kiss her. She opened her mouth under the insistent pressure of his tongue initiating its seductive dance.

Merry ground her body against his, wanting to be closer. His hands slid down her back until they reached the curves of her ass, squeezing and molding them with his hands. She reveled in his touch, her body on fire for him. It was finally happening. After two months of daydreaming and fantasizing, Merry was in Thorne’s arms.

He lifted his head with a soft groan, looking down at her with pale, lust-filled eyes. “You’re beautiful, Merry. You have no idea how hard it’s been watching you in this house and not being able to touch you — to tell you how I feel.”

She gasped. “How long?”

“I think from the beginning.”

Merry shook her head. “But… I’m not beautiful.”

“You are to me, and I want you.”

She was on the verge of responding to Thorne’s declaration when a shrill buzz sliced through the air. “What?” she asked, suddenly feeling disoriented and drowsy, the ringing cutting through her subconscious.

Reluctantly, Merry opened her eyes only to discover it was all a dream.

Damn.