A Perfect Strategy. Anna Sugden

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ it was an unwelcome barrier.

      Pulling his lips from hers, he kissed his way across her cheek to her ear. She inhaled sharply as he nipped at her earlobe. When his mouth trailed down her neck, she tilted her head to give him better access.

      Sapphie sighed as he continued his journey across her shoulder, paying particular attention to the hollow of her collarbone. When he reached the curve of her shoulder, his mouth took a lower path, toward her breasts.

      He licked a moist trail along the top of her dress, following the rise and fall of the blue fabric over the swell of one breast, into the valley between, then up over the other.

      He nudged aside the silk and retraced his path.

      He wanted more. He ran his hand along the back of her dress, searching for the zipper.

      He tried again.

      Where the hell was the damn thing?

      Sapphie chuckled softly as she moved his hand to her right side. “Try here.”

      Sapphie proved she wasn’t put off by his fumbling by loosening his tie, removing it and tossing it aside. Then she undid the top button of his shirt. And the next.

      His fingers curved tightly against her side as she pressed a hot openmouthed kiss to the pulse at the base of his throat. Then went lower.

      And lower. Unbutton, kiss. Unbutton, kiss.

      He almost protested aloud when she halted with his shirt only halfway undone. Don’t stop now!

      She didn’t. Scott couldn’t hold back his groan as she separated the two sides and licked across his right pec, circling his nipple, then returning to repeat on the other side.

      This time, when she arrived at the center of his chest, she started to trail downward. His stomach clenched with anticipation.

      Uh, no. If she continued along that route, he’d embarrass himself in the worst way possible.

      “My turn.” He slid a finger under her chin and tilted her face to his.

      Her sassy smile did crazy things to his insides. “Be my guest.”

      He nibbled her bottom lip, then licked it, relishing the taste of her. Sweet yet spicy. Champagne and chocolate.

      Scott took her mouth fully, then deepened the kiss. This time, his hand moved aside the fabric that did such a good job of covering the damn zipper and slowly pulled the tab down. Then he slipped his fingers inside.

      And found nothing but soft, bare skin.

      That made his task much simpler. No more barriers to exploring to his heart’s content. And he did.

      First her back. Her skin was as smooth as the silk that had covered it. He trailed his fingertips lightly down the ridge of her spine.

      He smiled as she arched her back, gasping slightly. So she was ticklish. Or very sensitive. Either way, he’d return shortly to investigate further. In the meantime, he wanted to move to other, uncharted territory.

      His thumb slid under the front of her dress and traced the curve of her breast. First the underside, then up over the top. Then around the other way. When he tried to part the fabric, he noticed there was a hook at the top of the zipper, holding the bodice in place. He undid it and the front of the dress fell open.

      Her breasts were as beautiful as the rest of her. Perfectly sized, perfectly shaped. A tan line from a bikini framed the creamy mounds, which were topped by taut, pink nipples. As tantalizing and mouthwatering as the most decadent dessert.

      He dipped his head and circled one bud with his tongue.

      The sound of laughter close by was like a plunge into an ice bath, shocking him out of the haze of desire.

      Scott straightened. What the hell was he doing? He shouldn’t have put Sapphie in such a potentially embarrassing situation. It was his responsibility to protect her from such exposure.

      “I’m sorry.” Carefully, he drew the dress back over her breasts, covering them. He tried to refasten the hook, but his fingers were too clumsy to manage the fiddly device.

      Sapphie pushed his hands aside and neatly slotted the hook into its eye, then pulled up the zipper. The rasp of the slider against the teeth seemed harsh and discordant in the still night air. She then stood and wiggled, to rearrange the dress so that it fell properly into place.

      Damn it if that wiggle didn’t turn him on. Made him want to mess her up again.

      “No harm done.” Smoothing her tousled hair, she smiled.

      He jammed his hands in his pockets. “I guess we should head inside, to the party.” He looked at his shoes and socks. Probably ought to put them on.

      Sapphie picked up his jacket and dusted off the back before handing it to him. “If you insist. Or we could continue what we were doing in a more private setting.”

      Her steady gaze met his. “I have a room in the hotel. You’re welcome to join me there.”

      * * *

      OH MY GOD. Sapphie had asked Scotty Matthews to her room. She stifled a girlie squeal and tried to look like it was no big deal.

      And it wasn’t really. He was just a guy. Okay, a gorgeous, sexy—if a little serious—and utterly tempting guy. The thought of loosening him up, making him lose control, sent a shiver of delight through her.

      Over the years, she’d slept with richer and more famous men. She’d even had a memorable night with one of her teenage Hollywood crushes. Sadly, it was memorable for the wrong reasons—one of which was particularly small. Her choice of man didn’t depend on how famous he was, how much he had in his bank or whether he was on People magazine’s list of sexy people.

      Being in charge of her life meant that she chose who, when and for how long.

      Scotty filled the bill very nicely.

      Sapphie didn’t want the night to end—and she would eliminate the possibility of another interruption. She wanted to investigate the unexpected fire that had erupted between them and see how hot it could burn. Given what he’d done to her with his kisses—holy moly, his mouth was lethal—she had no doubts they could shatter a thermometer. As for his touch, the man was as talented with his hands off the ice as he was on. Her skin still tingled from his caresses.

      But still...this was Scotty Matthews.

      She’d never been in such a dizzy whirl about a man.

      Sapphie became uncomfortably aware of the silence. Scotty hadn’t responded to her offer. He hadn’t even blinked. The way he was looking at her made her nervous.

      Had she misunderstood the signals? No. He wanted her. He’d been as turned on as she had. She’d felt his erection pressing against her. The slight tremble in his heated touch. Tasted the passion in his kiss.

      Maybe a kiss was as far as he’d wanted to go. Was it too soon after his divorce?

      “Won’t СКАЧАТЬ