Seconds before he came, he leaned forward and pulled her up and on top of him until her feminine heat aligned with his hot and ready erection.
She caught on quick, clamping her thighs tight around his and grinding her pelvis into his erection. He jerked his hips upward one last time and found the hottest, sweetest release he’d ever known.
Without being cocooned inside Mallory’s warm body, it wasn’t enough but at least when he came she was where she belonged, sitting on his lap and writhing against him, straining for her own release and helping the quaking shudders to continue wracking his body long after they should have ceased.
He closed his mouth over hers and with his palm, he cupped her hard between the juncture of her thighs. She moaned and arched into his hand.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Let me feel it.” With his fingers, he worked her the best he could through the denim barrier and her hips gyrated in time to the movement of his hands.
“Harder, more, Jack please…please…” Her breathless words caused a renewed stirring in his loins and when she started to convulse against his hand, the sounds and the feelings were as strong and intense as his own orgasm.
She collapsed against him, her chest against his damp one, her head cradled in his shoulder and her breath hot and heavy in his ear.
MALLORY TRIED to move and couldn’t. “I can’t catch my breath.”
His hands tangled in her hair. “I can’t say that’s a problem, considering the reason.”
She chuckled. “Good point.” She’d meant to please him and she obviously had. He’d pleased her, too, but an aching emptiness in her body remained and Mallory understood the reason only too well. She hadn’t experienced
She’d had that same thought as she’d changed from her plain gray dress into the shorts and halter top she now wore. And she’d planned ahead.
“Jack?” She pushed herself back so she could meet his gaze.
Still clouded with residual desire, his dark eyes stared back at her. “What is it?”
“I hope you realize we’re not finished yet.”
Laughing, he leaned his head back against the leather seats and ran a hand through his hair. “I’m pretty damn well spent.”
She punched him lightly in the shoulder. “That’s not what I mean.”
Though she had no intention of getting all weepy or clingy with a man who only took commitment seriously when it came to escaping one, she did plan to make her point.
She reached for her purse on the front seat of the car and pulled a silk scarf from the outside zipper.
“I draw the line at wearing women’s clothing.” His lips twitched in a grin.
She let out a breathless laugh. “Thank goodness.”
His impossibly shaded eyes darkened as his palm caressed her calf.
A renewed stirring surged inside her. “Not yet.”
She took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck like a tie, pulling down on the ends until he leaned forward, his lips inches from hers.
“Bring this to my room tonight,” she ordered.
A wicked expression crossed his features, anticipation lighting his eyes. “Not the cabin?”
“I’d like to say it’s already rented but the truth is I’m tapped out. But trust me, you don’t need the cabin for what I have planned.” She pressed her lips against his and teased him with a kiss that tantalized but her tongue never plunged into the warm recesses of his mouth.
“You’re killing me.” His lips moved against hers.
“Now why would I do that before we’ve gone all the way?” She wriggled her hips downward, feeling him begin to harden and swell beneath her.
“You feel good.”
“There’s so much more where that came from. And remember, control is an illusion. Now be at my room at eight.” She bolted for the front seat before her desire and feelings for this man overwhelmed her too soon.
CHAPTER TWELVE
MALLORY LAY on her bed staring into space. When she’d pleased Jack today, she’d done so knowing she loved him. When she made love with him tonight, she’d know the same. And with each step, she’d find it harder to walk away.
What had started as a game was now an important part of her life-memories she would store and treasure for always. The fun they’d shared and the feeling of having him inside her. And, she thought, recalling the scarf she’d grabbed from her drawer earlier in the day, she wanted to create those same memories for him as well.
She didn’t want him to ever forget Mallory Sinclair. Because she knew for certain she’d never forget him.
She had only a few hours to prepare her room and herself. A tremor of excitement shimmied through her as she undressed, removing the clothing she’d worn for their trip today. A hot shower, a quick dinner and some last-minute arrangements and she’d be ready for Jack.
A hard knock on the door startled her. “Coming.” She slipped into her robe then glanced into the peephole.
“Jack?” Something had to be wrong, she thought, as she unlatched the chain.
She hadn’t planned on seeing him until tonight.
She opened the door quickly. “What’s wrong?”
His jaw was pulled tight with obvious tension and unease. “I need to make a quick trip back to the city,” he said.
“Is everything okay?” She gestured with a sweep of her arm and he followed her inside. The door slammed shut behind them, enclosing them in the small entry to the room.
“Family emergency.” He leaned back against the beige wall and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. His steely eyes were as cool as his voice.
Icy tentacles of unease swept through her. Mallory knew better than to take his change in attitude personally but his aloof demeanor hurt just the same. She curled her fingers into a fist to prevent herself from acting on impulse and smoothing the crease in his forehead or massaging the tension from his tight muscles.
He didn’t seem as if he’d be receptive to any intimate gesture right now and considering how hard her heart was pounding in her chest, she doubted she could handle an outright rejection.
Not when she wanted desperately to ease his distress. So much for professionalism and remaining detached, she thought wryly. Falling in love had a way of shattering that kind of objectivity.
She clenched the lapels of her robe tighter in her hand. “I appreciate you letting me know.”
“I didn’t want to just disappear on you without an explanation.”
Somewhere in the depths of his eyes, she sensed a softening of emotion and hoped she wasn’t just imagining things she wanted to see. Though disappointment flowed heavy through her veins, so did concern. Whatever this family emergency was, it had changed his mood and affected him deeply.
She wondered if the urgency had to do with his parents but thought better of asking. If he wanted to confide in her he would. “When do you need to go?”
He glanced at his watch. “A car’s picking me up in fifteen minutes.”
Uncertain of what to say next, she clenched and unclenched her fingers around her robe. “Is there anything I can do?” she asked, finally.
He shook his head. “Just keep an ear out around here.”
“I expect to hear from Rogers soon.”
He nodded. “I’ll check in with you when I get back.”
She sensed he was too distracted to concentrate on business. “When do you think that will be?”
“I’m hoping to catch the last plane back tonight.” He turned and placed one hand on the doorknob.
She didn’t know why this felt like such a final goodbye but the possibility freed her to act on impulse. Mallory reached out and touched his shoulder. “Jack, wait.”
He paused.
