SEALed with a Kiss. Jill Monroe

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

       2

      IN THE PAST, A CAR RIDE to a man’s house was sometimes filled with second thoughts. Reservations. Cold feet. Right now, with Riley, Rachel could only fume about their slowness due to all the traffic. And feel utter impatience. Anticipation.

      “Mind if we stop off at my apartment before heading to the grocery store?” Riley asked, running a finger between his collar and his neck.

      “Ready to get out of that uniform?” she asked, which hey, sounded a lot more sexual said out loud. But she couldn’t even work up a bit of embarrassment. She did want Riley. Out of his uniform. At least his pants.

      “Something like that,” he told her, flashing gray eyes in her direction. Sweet heat emanated from him. All aimed straight at her.

      Rachel’s mouth dried. Her breath hitched. She leaned toward him, aching to feel his lips on hers once more.

      The car behind them honked, and Rachel jumped in her seat. “Just tell me the way,” she said, unable to keep the desire from her voice. She lifted her foot off the brake and applied it to the gas.

      “Turn left at the next light,” he said, pointing the way.

      Her fingers drummed against the steering wheel as she maneuvered through traffic. This would have been a funny situation if she weren’t the one living it. Here she was, so hungry for a man, she hadn’t even spotted the light changing from red to green. Rachel decided right then and there that as soon as she had that man alone in his apartment, she’d do whatever she could to take his mind off food and have him focus on her.

      She glanced over at Riley, who didn’t appear very relaxed. Probably wouldn’t have to work too hard to change his mind. A tiny thrill ran down her spine and settled at the small of her back.

      A tightness laced his voice as he gave her the final directions. Rachel liked that. She’d done that to him. Given him that edge. Ramped up his desire. With only a kiss. But a kiss that promised so much more.

      A few minutes later she claimed a parking space in front of his building. Traditional stucco with a nod to San Diego’s Hispanic roots. Riley had that duffel bag out of her car and over his shoulder before she’d set the parking brake, and another tiny thrill rippled along every nerve ending of her skin.

      A dramatic courtyard filled with palm trees and flowering bushes greeted them, but Riley ushered her to the stairs. That action told her how desperate he was to get her alone. They took the stairs together, and Riley had the door opened and closed behind her in a blur.

      Rachel leaned against the hard wood door. The warm stale air of his condo should have blasted her into reality, made her question why she was alone with Riley.

      “I’ll get the AC on,” he offered, even though he didn’t move.

      And she didn’t want him to. Her hand curled around his shoulder. The muscles rippled beneath her fingertips. “Kiss me, Riley,” she demanded, not even caring that she was showing all her cards. She wanted him so much.

      The duffel bag dropped to his feet. And with not one bit of hesitation he hauled her up against his strong chest. His lips met hers and if she’d entertained any question that the passion on the pier was a mere moment of sentimentality, it vanished.

      Rachel wanted his clothes off. Now.

      She attacked the buttons of his uniform, but she got lost when the rough palm of his hand trailed up the side of her bare arms. Her skin showed goose bumps, and she craved more of his touch. Him. Riley’s fingers drew at the thin strap of the navy cotton cami top she’d worn to combat the San Diego heat. When she’d dressed this morning, she hadn’t realized how thankful she’d be later for the easy-access clothing.

      The kiss they shared went on and on. His lips, his taste, his sandalwood scent … she couldn’t get enough of him.

      With the straps out of his way, Riley shoved the cami down to her waist. He filled his hands with her breasts. She moaned, breaking that amazing kiss, and his lips touched her neck, his tongue circling beneath her ear. The sensations sent tiny flutters of want through her body.

      “Mmm, that feels so good,” she told him.

      Riley’s fingers stroked the bare skin of her waist, her belly, shooting delicious shivers to the core of her. He found the button of her jean skirt, took care of the zipper, then pressed the clothing down her thighs until it pooled at her ankles. Only a scrap of teal lace kept her from total nudity. Never had she wanted to be out of something more.

      Riley apparently felt the same way. His thumbs crept beneath the elastic and soon her panties dropped to the tiled floor of his condo.

      She couldn’t wait for what he’d do next. Riley had all the promise of a fantastic lover, and Rachel was ready to experience it.

      But she got … nothing.

      No fingers. No hands. No lips.

      Her eyelids fluttered open.

      Riley stood before her. He just stared at her. His gray eyes intense.

      “What are you doing?” she asked. The moment stretched between them. Not uncomfortable, but a little awkward.

      “I’m looking at you,” he answered.

      “I can see that. I mean, why?” Sometime after college she’d gotten past feeling flustered while standing bare-ass naked in front of a man. The way she saw it, if he didn’t like her rounded belly and B minus cup size, he could pull up his pants and go home.

      But this staring thing of Riley’s had her feeling disconcerted. “Riley?” she asked, her voice unsure.

      His gaze slammed into hers, and she gasped. Pure hunger was there for her to see. To savor.

      He swallowed. “Since I was deployed it’s been … months and months of nothing but men. I want to study you, Rachel.”

      He leaned closer. “Smell your hair.”

      His fingers slid down the side of her breast. “Touch your soft, soft skin.”

      Her eyelids fluttered as his mouth captured her nipple.

      “Taste you,” he murmured against her lips.

      Rachel wanted it, too. Had she ever wanted a man this much? His gentle words alone were all the seduction she needed.

      He made an impatient sound. “Hell, I’m probably not explaining this right.”

      Shaking her head, she gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “No, it’s all right. I think I understand.” And it was hot. He was making her hotter for him. If such a thing were actually possible.

      He softly caressed her lips with his. The gentle friction caused her toes to curl. “But I need you to just stand there. If you touch me or kiss me back, I’ll have to take things fast,” he warned her, his breath warm against her cheek.

      Riley’s hand was between her thighs now. She took a tiny step, opening herself to him, inviting him to explore the most intimate part of her body. Rachel sucked in СКАЧАТЬ