As Alec rushed through TC on his motorcycle, weaving through alleys and driving on the sidewalks when he saw cross traffic ahead, he tugged at his collar. Jeez, it's hot. Must be damn near 100 degrees.

When he got to her building, he hauled ass upstairs seven stories to get to her floor, which was a feat in itself since all he could smell was her and her scent was seriously messing with his senses.

Before he could knock, her door swung open, and she stood there in panties, clutching a light blue kitchen towel to her chest; her hair was pulled up, save a few strands, which clung to the curve of her breast and the slope of her back. She was either in a state of undress, or a state of redress, he wasn't sure, and he didn't care.

He stared at her skin, shimmering against the daylight. It made his mouth water, and once he had cleared his mouth, he stood statue-still with his lips slightly parted, sucking in the hot air that permeated her apartment.

Max teethed her lower lip impatiently, her mouth feeling hotter than the temperature. She wasn't sure how much longer she could bear to hold the towel – it was just too hot and she hated the feeling of those little fabric pieces scraping at her skin. She saw how he eyed the towel, waiting for her to make a decision.

The moment was thick, as if the heat was pushing them both forward and down. Max searched his darkening eyes. Alec could feel his pants tighten when she let go of the door handle, imprinted with her hand's perspiration, and took a step back.

Alec caught sight of a big drop of sweat slipping from just below her ear, and watched as it shot down toward the small concave divot at her collarbone. He was holding his breath, waiting for her to catch the bead and wipe it away, but she didn't.

"What are you doing here?" she asked breathily, noting how wound he seemed to be from… the heat?

"Getting to know your purr," he said back, his rough voice sending a cool shiver throughout her body.

With the bead of sweat on the verge of the drop slipping over the edge, she finally dropped the little blue towel to the floor.

Alec lunged forward two steps into the sweltering room, slammed the door behind him, and swept her up into his arms, immediately tonguing the bead of sweat promisingly. She purred at his touch.

She pulled off his shirt and jumped into his lap, wrapping her legs around him as he backed her up against the cool wall and pressed into her.