Not Strictly Business!. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ urging the Frisbee game to continue. Jack ignored him.

      “Then thank you for asking,” she said. “I’d be delighted to take you up on your offer. But if you change your mind, you have to tell me. I don’t want you doing something you don’t want to do.”

      “Again, not my style.”

      She laughed. “Jack, you’re currently doing a job you hate because it’s the right thing to do.”

      He chuckled, realizing she had a point. “Not counting that.”

      Charlie barked again. Then he picked up the Frisbee he’d dropped and brought it to them. Jack reached for it, as did Samantha. Their arms bumped, their shoulders crashed and the two of them tumbled onto the blanket.

      Jack twisted and put out his hands to pull her against him, so he could take the weight of the fall. They landed with a thud that pushed out most of his air.

      Her hands were on the blanket, her body pressed intimately against his. His legs had fallen apart and she lay nestled between his thighs. He could feel her breasts pressing against his chest.

      Their eyes locked. Something darkened hers and all he could think about was kissing her.

      There were a lot of reasons not to and only one reason he should.

      Because he wanted to.

       Chapter Six

      Samantha felt the light brush of his mouth on hers. She knew she could easily stop him by saying something or simply rolling off him. It was the sensible thing to do. And yet she found herself not wanting to move. Her recollection of her previous kisses with Jack, from that one extraordinary night they’d shared, were still vivid in her mind. She was confident that she’d inflated their impressiveness over time. A kiss now would allow for comparison.

      When she didn’t move, he cupped her face with his hands and angled his head. Then he kissed her again, this time moving his lips back and forth. She felt heat and soft pressure. Blood surged in her body, making her want to squirm closer. She was already right on top of him, their bodies touching in so many interesting places, but suddenly that wasn’t enough. She needed more.

      He moved his hands, easing them past her ears so he could bury his fingers in her hair. Then he parted his mouth and bit down on her bottom lip.

      The unexpected assault made her breath catch. He took advantage of her parted lips and slipped his tongue inside.

      It was like drowning in warm, liquid desire. Wanting crashed over her, filling every cell until it was all she could think of. His fingers still tangled in her hair, which made her impatient. She wanted him touching her … everywhere.

      Even as he circled her tongue with his, teasing, tasting, arousing, her body melted. She felt herself softening, yielding, kissing him back with a desperation that made her the aggressor.

      She took control of the kiss, following him back into his mouth, claiming him with quick thrusts of her tongue. At last he moved his hands to her back where he stroked the length of her spine. Her hips arched in an involuntary invitation, which brought her stomach in contact with something hard, thick and very masculine.

      Memories crashed in on her. She remembered how he’d touched her and tasted her everywhere. She recalled the sight of him naked, of how many times he’d claimed her. She’d been sore for nearly two days, but the soreness had only reminded her of the incredible pleasure they’d shared and had made her want to do it again. But she’d resisted—because of who he was and what he could do to her heart.

      She hated the logic filling her brain, the voice that asked what was different now. She wasn’t interested in danger or reality or anything but the way their bodies fit together. If she—

      But an insistent barking distracted her and at last she lifted her head only to find Charlie’s nose inches from her face.

      Below her, Jack groaned. “I’m going to have to have a talk with that dog.”

      She became aware of their intimate position and the very public location. Without saying anything, she slid off him, then scrambled to her feet.

      “We’re in the park,” she said more to herself than him. “In public.”

      Jack rose more slowly. He reached down for the Frisbee and tossed it, all without looking away from her.

      “I doubt anyone noticed,” he told her.

      “Still.” She pressed her hands to her heated face. Talk about acting out of character. She had always been a strictly-in-bed, lights-off kind of date. The only exception to that rule … was standing right next to her.

      Of course. She was fine as long as she resisted Jack’s particular brand of temptation, but if she gave in, even for a second, she completely lost her head.

      “I, ah …” She glanced around, then returned her attention to him. “I’m, um, going to let you get back to your morning.”

      His dark eyes glowed with passion. “You don’t have to.”

      “It’s for the best.”

      His mouth straightened. “Let me guess. This was a mistake.”

      His tone of resignation caught her more than his words. He expected her to pull back because that’s what she always did. There were several good reasons, but he didn’t know them. If she had her way, he never would.

      “Thanks for everything,” she said, trying to smile. “I’ll see you Monday.”

      She hesitated, then walked away when he didn’t speak. A slight feeling of hurt surprised her. What did she expect? That he would come after her? Not likely after all the times she’d turned him down.

      Jack watched her go. Once again Samantha was the queen of mixed signals. She had been from the beginning. Is that what made him want her? He never knew where he stood?

      “Not exactly the basis of a great relationship,” he murmured, throwing the Frisbee again.

      The good news was Samantha wanted him sexually. The truth had been there in her response. For some reason, she couldn’t handle the idea of it, but at least she didn’t find him repulsive.

      Was it him in particular or would she have run from anyone?

      But she still liked to run and a guy with a brain in his head would let her go. Funny how he’d always been smart, everywhere in his life but with her. What was it about her that made him want to keep trying? It wasn’t that he thought that they were soul mates. He didn’t believe in that sort of thing and he sure as hell wasn’t interested in a serious relationship. What was the point?

      He was in it for the sex. Not a one-night stand. That wasn’t fun anymore. He liked to take a lover for a few months, make sure they were both completely satisfied, then move on when one or both of them got restless.

      Somehow he doubted Samantha would be up for anything like that.

      Which left him where? Wanting a woman who didn’t want him? There was a way to start the weekend. СКАЧАТЬ