The Best Of The Year - Modern Romance. Annie West

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СКАЧАТЬ took control of her mouth and ravaged her senses. His hands cupped her breasts and she moaned, her craving intensifying. What he was doing wasn’t enough. She wanted more—much more. She wanted no barriers between them, wanted his hands on her, skin to skin.

      As if he’d heard her silent plea he dropped his hands to the seam of her top and pulled it up. Firm hands caressed her bare midriff, forcing her breath out of her lungs. Blood surged underneath her skin, escalating the dizzy spin already sending her off course.

      Hanging on to the belief that she was in control, that she could stop despite the haziness of her thoughts, she thrust her tongue against his, savouring its rough texture and boldly following it when Bastien retreated. His chest lifted, sucking in air. His grip tightened at her waist, and then he was easing her top higher, his intent clear.

      Ana briefly considered protesting but the fever raging through her was all-consuming—a powerful drug more potent than the heroin she’d been accused of taking. The whisper of air over her skin barely registered before Bastien drew her closer once more. His heat scorched her. He touched, caressed, coaxed the very fire from the core of her being as his hands trailed over her skin.

      A sense of awakening overwhelmed Ana. Tears prickled behind her closed lids and she fought to breathe as sensation bombarded her. And through it all Bastien continued to ravage her lips as if he couldn’t get enough.

      ‘Touch me,’ he commanded hoarsely.

      She obeyed.

      His muscles clenched at the touch of her hands on his back. Tentative, excited, she caressed him, following the sleek, toned power of his shoulders until her hands settled on his nape. A deep groan rumbled from his chest, the sound evoking a well of pleasure inside her.

      Clenching a fist in his hair, she tugged his head down, bolder in the effort to wring one last ounce of pleasure from the kiss. Because she had to stop soon...had to—

      He bit her lower lip as he pinched her hardened nipples. Ana cried out. Liquid fire pooled between her thighs, drenching her with need.

      He lifted his head and stared down at her, eyes stormy grey with barely leashed passion. Deliberately, he moulded her breasts, his action slow, tormenting. Another hoarse gasp echoed through the room. Without breaking eye contact he pulled down her bra cup and sucked one hardened nipple into his mouth.

      Ana watched, and the sight was so erotic, her knees buckled.

      With every pass of his tongue he drove her closer to an unfamiliar precipice. Her fingers tightened in his hair and she was unable to look away as he performed magic with his tongue. He squeezed her breasts together, his movements urgent.

      Just when she thought it couldn’t get any more delicious he straightened and reached for her bra clasp.

      ‘I need to see you.’

      Her instincts screeched, belatedly swamping her with a sense of preservation. ‘No...’

      ‘Oui,’ he stressed, the untamed glint in his eyes drying her mouth.

      ‘I can’t. God, you don’t even like me!’

      He tensed, his face registering surprise. ‘That’s not true. You can’t help who you are—’

      Her shocked laughter cut off his words. Roughly, she pushed him away. ‘I can’t believe you insult me in one breath and want to make love to me in another.’

      He shook his head. ‘You misunderstand. Lust isn’t logical.’ One hand speared through his hair, mussing the dark gold strands. ‘Whether we like each other or not, we can’t help the way we feel, ma belle. The chemistry between us isn’t rational, but it’s there—undeniable. Maybe this is one way to get rid of it.’

      ‘You mean get it out of our systems?’ She couldn’t believe she was half-naked, having this conversation with Bastien.

      He shrugged again. ‘Why not?’

      ‘Because it would make us no better than rutting animals!’

      He cupped her jaw, his thumb caressing her skin before tilting her face to his. ‘And how long do you think we can keep avoiding it until it ravages us?’

      She licked her lips, desire drowning her even as she fought to stay sane. ‘We don’t have to give in to our impulses just because the urge is there.’

      He gave a low, husky laugh. ‘Really?’

      Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head. His lips brushed hers once. Twice. She moaned. Another laugh, another kiss. Light, ephemeral. Fresh tingles shot down her spine, singeing every cell until she was engulfed in sensual flames.

      ‘Then walk away,’ Bastien commanded, his mouth a hairsbreadth from hers.

      ‘Wh—what?’

      ‘Prove we’re not animals. Walk away. If you can.’ His thumb performed another pass, then rested on her frantic pulse.

      ‘Bastien...’ she protested. Feebly.

      ‘I won’t stop you if you want to end this. But do you want to deny yourself this exquisite pleasure?’

      ‘I...’ She couldn’t conjure up more than that single word.

      ‘By morning we will have dealt with it. Then we simply return to the way things were, minus the desperate need to tear each other’s clothes off.’

      Ana opened her mouth to refuse. Her lips brushed his. She tried to pull away. He stayed her with a firm touch. But reality had intruded enough for her to know that accepting his offer would be madness, tantamount to retracting every vow she’d made to herself.

      The harsh consequences of her mother’s promiscuity warned her against giving in to her baser instincts, against surrendering to this heady, insatiable need to satisfy the craving that tore at her soul. No matter how painful.

      She shook her head.

      Bastien’s chest expanded on a deep, slow breath. There was a mildly stunned look in his eyes. Then he released her.

      Ana felt as if part of her had been ripped out. He was walking away. The thought tore a jagged path through her mind, bringing with it the knowledge that cracked open a belief she’d never contemplated.

      She wasn’t her mother. Which meant she could take what she wanted and not destroy anything or anyone in the process.

      She wasn’t stringing anyone along or making false promises.

      There was a finite outcome to this. Bastien had offered the perfect solution. She could take this unique journey with this man who set her world on fire, explore what promised to be untold pleasure, and still keep her dignity and her heart intact.

      Deep in her heart Ana knew she’d never experience this level of chemistry with another man. Bastien was the only man who’d ever elicited such riotous, incredible feelings within her. What if this was her only chance of pleasure at its headiest? Could she deny herself this?

      His expression shuttering, he started to turn away. She grabbed his hand and returned СКАЧАТЬ