picked up its cadence and he felt lightheaded.
“Bree…” he whispered.
She opened her round, brown eyes and he fell in. Deep.
“Don’t think,” she breathed back. “Not yet. Perhaps…” he felt himself leaning involuntarily into her, “… later.”
If only he could. “I need to say a couple of things. I don’t do this. That time in your office…I’d not done that in years. I am…was…totally devoted to Carson. I don’t play around and yet, I fucked you in your office restroom like a wolf in heat. I want to apologize…”
“I was there, too,” she told him. “Don’t blame yourself, Jake. I stepped over that threshold; you didn’t haul me in and have your way with me.”
“No, but it was a mistake. I should have had more self-control. And ever since that day, I can’t get you out of my head…”
“Nor can I, you,” she breathed.
If there was one fraction of resolve left inside him, it was gone with that statement.
Lunging forward, he captured her lips with his. Fully on the bed now, he gathered her into his arms as they both scooted away from the pillows. Body to body, pressed together length to length, he took her face in both hands while his lips and tongue tasted and kissed.
And she kissed back.
With each thrust of her tongue, or gentle caress of her dewy lips against his, his body trilled with her nearness and their connectedness.
He could not stop himself. Nothing could make him…
She wiggled in his arms. “Jake, stop.”
Except maybe that.
Groaning, he pulled back. “Bree, I’m in such utter contradiction here. I don’t know whether to devour you or put you out in the snow.”
“I just want to say one more thing.”
“What is it?” He traced the outline of her face with his forefinger, waiting out his frustration. What a beautiful woman. And he wanted her so damned bad.
“I won’t hold you to anything. I… I am as conflicted as you. I don’t want to come between you and Carson. I just need…” Her voice trailed off and she looked to his chest, “Shit, I just need you for
Huffing out a breath of relief, he rolled fully on top of her. “Okay.”
“Last time was too quick,” she added.
Closing his eyes, and his mind, against anything but the woman in his arms, he replied, “It appears we have twenty-four hours.”
She nodded. “And for those twenty-four hours, I belong to you.”
Chapter Five
Never had Bree felt so totally free, and at the same time, consumed by another. She didn’t care. She wanted to be totally possessed by Jake. And she had an entire night and day, it seemed, to enjoy.
Pushing back any guilt about Carson, and the relationship she could be infringing upon, she studied Jake’s face and the puzzle of emotion painted across it. Her own face likely echoed that sentiment.
But Carson had agreed. Or rather, insisted. He wanted closure, one way or another. She did not want to come between them. Would not. If she and Jake had tonight, with Carson’s blessing, then so be it. She, too, would get Jake out of her system.
After that, she couldn’t say.
His long fingers threaded through the fine hairs at her temples, holding her against the bed. He peered down into her face, the low flicker of candles reflecting both passion and desire in his eyes. God, she wanted him.
“Please, Jake,” she whimpered.
He lowered and thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. The act of penetration into that orifice made her curl toward him in want. His tongue grappled with hers, and he tugged at it with his teeth, slowly drawing it deep inside his mouth with a thorough suck.
Their mouths fused, Jake sucked harder, continuing an erotic and sensuous intake of her tongue into the cavern of his mouth. Her arms went around his broad shoulders and her legs around his hips. She clung to him, and he rocked into her pelvis.
Her pussy longed to have him between her thighs. Now, she only needed him naked, with the hot friction of skin against skin.
Whimpering, she clasped at his head, weaving her fingers through his inky locks. She broke away with a gasp; he jerked back, fire licking in his eyes, as he raked his gaze over her face and down her chest.
He grasped the bodice of her dress and ripped. It fell away like so much crepe paper. Tearing the fabric from her body, Jake unwrapped Bree like a Christmas package. Lingering bits of tinsel scattered about the bedcover, and she was left with nothing but her black thong, strapless bra, and boots.
On his knees now, Jake’s hungry stare scraped down her body, his breathing labored. His large hands started at her shoulders and worked their way down either side. He palmed her breasts, lifting them out of the bra cups, pinching her nipples between thumb and forefinger. Passion zinged through her at the squeeze. She ached for more.
Reaching behind her, he grasped the clasps at her back and pulled hard. The bra sailed off as he tossed it over the side of the bed. Continuing downward, he smoothed his hands over the indent of her waist and the flare of her hips. He thumbed over her hipbones and twisted the string of the thong on both sides. With a snap, he jerked his hands in opposite directions and broke the string, the thong falling away, as well.
The only thing left was her boots.
Bree’s entire being hummed with expectation.
With aggravating slow precision, he unlaced the left boot. The thin patent leather parted, and he peeled the boot off her calf, then down to her ankle, and finally removed it. He did the same with the other leg, each time smoothing his hands over her calves and ankles in appreciation.
Jake lifted a foot close to his face. Bree watched as he closed his eyes and ran the tender sole of the foot over his stubbled beard. The fine prickles heightened the sensitive nerve endings there and caused her to shiver. Never before, had a touch in her arch sent her into waves of sexual desire.
With his thumbs, he applied pressure just under the pads beneath her toes, massaging and fondling. Starting with her smallest toe, he then began sucking each, pulling the digits into his mouth one by one, laving his tongue over them.
He moved to the other foot and did the same.
She had no clue toe-sucking could be so sensual.
“You’ve been on your feet all night,” he murmured. “Let me take care of you.”
“Lay back, Bree. Close your eyes. And let me.”
Without protest, she did just that, but not before saying, “Take your clothes off, Jake. Now.”
He did, and she marveled at the glorious planes and hollows of his naked body, and the strong upright profile of his cock-to-die-for.
Moving up into the vee of her core, Jake spanned her thighs with his hands. He settled between her legs and opened her pussy wide. With practiced movements, he palmed over the tender junction of leg and hip and massaged her there. Like butter, she melted into the bed and he smiled, knowing he was providing her with much pleasure. Pushing back the tiny crest of dark brown curls that rimmed her labia, he parted her lips to reveal a glistening bud. He leaned in closer and rubbed a finger over her pearl.
Bree jumped and arched upward; his smile deepened.
With a middle finger, he entered her. Then with two. Moaning, she laid back and allowed him access. He
