A Shot of Red by Tracy March

undeniable attraction, but she hadn’t felt it herself except when she’d been anywhere near Gio. And now she was closer to him than ever before. She’d passed it off as a forbidden fruit kind of thing, but she was beginning to think it was way more than that.
    He tried to unclasp her chin strap, but had difficulty with the catch. Leaning in, he took a closer look. “Enjoy the ride?” he asked, his lips mere inches from hers.
    “More than I even imagined I would,” she said softly.
    The strap loosened and she tipped her chin with the shifting weight of the helmet. Her lips brushed his ever so lightly and he drew back.
    Mia’s heart clamored as he captivated her with his questioning gaze, and she willed herself not to look away. He gently swept his fingertips along her jawline, threaded his fingers through her hair, and pulled her toward him. Her helmet fell to the ground as his lips met hers—strong, supple, and searching.
    Mia melted into his kiss, alive with anticipation and overcome with an aching need she hadn’t realized was there. A cool night breeze rustled the shrubs in the nearby hedge, and she shivered. Gio clutched her waist, lifted her onto him as if she were nearly weightless, and wrapped his jacket around her. His lips never left hers, each slow sweep of his tongue seducing her senseless.
    He braced his feet on the ground as she straddled him, one hand around his neck with a fistful of his silky dark hair, the other stroking his sandpapery cheek. She’d never pictured herself in a position like this—but that made her even more into it. Her blood ran hot, pulsing through her as if it carried sparks. She shifted on his lap and his breath hitched—maybe the sexiest sound she’d ever heard.
    “Gio,” she said breathlessly, liking the sound of his name on her lips. “Let’s go inside.”
    …
    Gio’s mind had raced nearly as fast as his heart as Mia led him into the grand Beaux-Arts house and up to her apartment, which covered the entire third floor. When he’d decided to go to the concert earlier, he had no idea what kind of surreal fantasy this night would turn into. There was no denying he was on fire for Mia—had been since the second he laid eyes on her. Yet he was also drawn to her in an emotional way even he didn’t understand, since such a thing rarely happened with him. What he did understand was that her mother would freak the hell out if she had any idea what was going on between them. If he was wise, he’d leave now, but no amount of warning himself would convince him to go. Not after that ride, and definitely not after that kiss.
    Everything about Mia turned him on, even the scent in her apartment. It reminded him of the orange blossoms in the groves where he’d played in Florida as a child. She closed the door and he found himself standing in the foyer of a large, open space—living and dining areas, and a kitchen in the distance beyond an island, all dimly illuminated by accent lighting. Even that was sexy.
    Facing him, she leveled her pale-blue gaze on him and he felt compelled to say something. But what? Is this really a good idea? Do you have a clue how much I want you? “Mia, I—”
    “Shh.” She stepped forward and pressed two fingers to his lips. “I don’t want to talk.”
    Holy hell… Every man’s fantasy had just come true for him.
    She bit her lip—the first sign of nervousness he’d seen. “I just want to see if what’s going on here is real.”
    His heart hammered. He wasn’t the only one feeling it. Sure, she’d kissed him, but so had lots of women, and he’d never been crazy enough to risk his job by taking things further with them. But he’d resign right now if it meant he could have Mia tonight. There were plenty of jobs out there, but there wasn’t another girl who did it for him like this one. He was consumed with her mystery, her confidence, her intellect—all of which she had a reputation for. But the chemistry between them was strictly