Chapter 3

AN:Thanks for the reviews, everyone...Dang, I am having fun with this! Hope you are, too!...I'm up late (Early, actually), so I thought I'd post ahead of schedule...

"Okay..." she said, picking up the book and holding it close to her chest. "How should we divide this up?"

"Let's just start with position number one and knock them all out of the park."

She shook her head. "That's silly. We don't need to do some of them. I mean, I've probably done twenty or so of these..."

"I've probably done sixty," he said with an eyebrow wiggle. "Doesn't mean I don't want to do them again."

"Derek," she said, frowning a little. "If this isn't educational-"

"Pleasurable first; educational second," he interrupted quickly.

She frowned more, but this time in confusion.

"Baby," he said, reaching out, taking the book out of her hands. He proceeded to cup her hands in his, his thumbs lightly stroking the backs gently. "I don't want to do this like I am doing a practice run on you, perfecting it for some other woman. I am going to bring my A game and make love to you like you deserve to be made love to. I'm not going to be thinking about anyone but you. Pleasure first; yours and mine."

His hands felt warm and good, and his words were spicy yet soothing. For the first time since she'd foolishly mentioned this, she seriously thought this could work.

Judging by the tingles running up and down her arms...This would definitely work.

She nodded and tried to speak, but she had a catch in her throat. She cleared it, then smiled and said huskily, "How should we start?"

"Chapter one, momma." He stood and reached a hand down to her. "And let's read it in bed."

She blinked up at him. "D-Derek, I-"

"How else are we going to get comfortable with each other, and start seeing each other as lovers? What better way than to read this thing in bed?" He turned, and tugged his shirt over his head, revealing a gorgeous expanse of bronzed skin, before heading through her beaded curtains.

She watched him walk away, before disappearing through the doorway, his broad, strong shoulders, the muscles in his back tapering down to jeans that dipped low on his hips, and she felt a hot, overwhelming stirring of lust.

Then her eyes grew wider, and she started to panic. "Naked?" she croaked, quickly following him to the doorway. "You didn't say naked."

When she opened the curtain, he was dropping his jeans to the floor. "I'm usually naked when I am in bed. I thought I'd get comfortable."

She was beet red and blushing, and her heart was pounding hard. She was also wet; after all, six one of nearly naked Morgan was standing in her bedroom. Hadn't she dreamed of this?

To her relief, or maybe to her chagrin, he climbed in with his boxers still on, and then patted her pillow. "Come in."

She handed him the book. Good Lord, if he was in his underwear, then she needed to be in hers, too. She didn't look like Morgan, but he'd been looking so eager for her earlier-and he still looked that way, like the wolf waiting for Red Riding Hood. She needed to get over her fears and just go for it. At least she was grateful she was wearing a demi cup pure lace bra and nice panties today. It took that minute of true mental coaching, but she unbuttoned her shirt and slid it off.

Derek's eyes honed in immediately on her breasts, and she saw them heat up. He stared... and stared... then stared some more, before he looked up and met her eyes.

"Damn, woman," he murmured huskily, giving a low whistle. "I always knew those would be something else when you finally took off your shirt."

She smiled to herself thinking about what he just said. He'd always been thinking about her breasts, huh? That was a nice thought! Empowered, she unzipped her skirt and slid it down, revealing her matching lacy boyshorts.

"Oh, hell, yes," he growled, his voice throaty. He patted the bed again, giving her a silky, very sultry look. "Come, sweetheart; cuddle next to your Hot Stuff..."

She smiled, the Mona Lisa smile of a woman who knew her appeal. "You letcher," she answered, crawling into the bed next to him.

"Can I touch?" he asked, sweeping his hot eyes over her like a Vegas wind: hot and potent, making it hard to breathe. "You have no idea how badly I want to touch right now..."

She giggled a little. "Jeez, D..."

"It's been a while," he murmured again, then his voice dropped to a whisper, "and I've been looking forward to this."

"Really?" she asked, her voice a low whisper, too.

He nodded. "Since you first popped the proposition.." There was something unsaid behind the rest of that, but she didn't quite know what it was.

Now watching his dark eyes heating even hotter, she felt the rapid beating of her heart. She no longer thought they'd do this and think it was ridiculous. There was no doubt to her now that they'd do this... and probably light the bed on fire.

With that came the thought that he'd light the bed on fire with any woman he went to bed with. He was just hot, just sexy, and just very horny. He'd always told her he had a high sex drive. She was ready to reap the benefits of that... but not this very minute.

"Not quite yet, cupcake, okay?"

The heat in his eyes tamped down just the slightest bit, but he smiled and said, "Okay. I'm patient, angel; I can wait."

She giggled. "It's only been two days since we bought the book."

He gave her the strangest look, one she didn't understand at all. Then he grinned and tapped the book. "Chapter one."

She began to read, but he stopped her.

"Wait a minute," he said. He laid down more comfortably, and then stretched his arm out. "Come closer...I promise, I'll behave."

She nodded, and then laid down in the familiar spot. As she started reading again, his hand caressed her arm and shoulder, slowly rubbing. Not in a sexual manner per se; rather just being close and gentle.

"This talks about how we are supposed to prepare for making love," she said, looking up at him.

He was attentive, his warm brown eyes looking down into hers. "Mmm hmm."

"You know...dressing the part, being well groomed-"

"You look fine to me," he replied, burying his face in her hair. "And you smell wonderful."

"Thank you; you do, too," she said. For a moment, she couldn't help but stare, lost in the dark, hypnotic warmth of his eyes, the clean, masculine scent of his body.

"What else does it say, sweetness?"

"Hmmm?" she was confused. What did what say?

He gave an amused half grin. "The book, honey."

"Oh," she said, still caught in the heat of the moment. Then she shook her head. "Oh, oh yes! Ahem...It says we need to talk, listen, look... and... and.."

"Kiss," he said, leaning a little closer.

With her heart beating quickly and her breath coming faster, she leaned towards him, too. Before she closed her eyes, she whispered, "Yes."