My mouth parched as Tent's fingers wandered to the buttons of my shirt. His were rough, calloused from a lifetime of work, but they moved with a gentleness that sent shivers down my spine. Each button that came undone felt like a step closer to something I wasn't sure I was ready for, but my body didn't seem to care. It was already betraying me, craving his touch.

The smell of him—balsam, clove, and something wonderfully, uniquely male—enveloped me like a blanket. His warmth seeped into my skin, making the fire burn higher within me. My heart raced, my body shaking with need. I wanted him. God, I wanted him....