His fingers tugged gently, but the sound of the knot loosening thundered in my ears like a gunshot. The coat fell open with a soft rustle, slipping from my shoulders and pooling at my feet.

He pulled back just enough to look down at me. His eyes darkened instantly, his chest rising sharply as he sucked in a breath. His gaze lingered, slow and heavy, taking in the sight of the red lingerie clinging to my body.

For a long moment, he said nothing. His jaw clenched, his hand still hovering at my ...