Who’s the Boss?

“Caitlin.” He said just that, just her name, because he could hardly breathe, but she covered herself with her arms. The most difficult thing he’d ever done was to bite back his own raging needs, to soothe and excite. He wanted to see her wild, out of control. For him. He ran a finger down her arm, watching as goose bumps rose. He touched her hair reverently, then eased it aside to kiss the sensitive spot beneath her ear.

His fingers, light as air, played on her throat, then moved to the back of her neck. Stroking, teasing, always barely touching, but still she covered herself, not wanting to stop, he knew, but not knowing how to make him continue.

With his large, warm, tender hands, he cupped her face and tilted it up. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. “So very beautiful, Caitlin.” Then he kissed her, stealing any breath she had left. That warm, sexy mouth deepened the connection, his powerful body pressing into hers. When he finally raised his head, she moaned in protest.

“Be sure, Caitlin,” he said softly. “I won’t have you regretting this.”

“I have nothing to regret,” she promised. The words were no sooner out of her mouth than his head descended. Each kiss got hotter, wetter, deeper. He ran his hands down her arms to her elbows.

“Why would you try to hide such an incredible body?” he wondered hoarsely.

“Because I’m embarrassed.” She closed her eyes. “I’m too…”

“Too perfect.” He finished her sentence in a husky whisper. “Don’t tell me you’re hiding something. Tan lines? Freckles?”

“Both,” she admitted with a choked laugh, which died on a harsh intake of breath when his fingers explored the soft flesh spilling out above and below her crossed arms. “Oh…oh. Joe, hurry.”

“Don’t rush me,” he murmured. “I want to see and touch and taste each little bit as we go.”

She had melted at his tender touch, but his words finished the job.

Gently, Joe took her hands and pulled them away from her body. His gaze held hers, and she’d never felt so exposed or so aroused in her entire life.

“No, don’t do that. Don’t be embarrassed,” he told her. “Save it for when you sail down the stairs on your ass. Or when you blow up my coffeemaker. But not here. There’s no room for it. Only for you, and me and what we make each other feel.” Without another word, he lowered his head, splaying his hands on her bare back to draw her close, and opened his mouth on her breast.

Fire speared through her, and Caitlin bit her lip to keep any sounds she might make inside, but it was difficult, made more so by what he continued to do to her. With his tongue, he teased, using a maddening light touch, then suckled hard and strong.

She was burning up. Her toes were curling. Her insides were churning, shaking. So were her legs. She shook her head to clear it. Still, her body raced, each pulse a desperate, needy beat “I feel… funny,” she whispered, realizing she was holding tight to his shirt with a death grip.

“I feel overdressed.” Straightening, he whipped his shirt off, and the light that had been too stark only a moment before became a blessing. Rugged, lean and rangy, he was quite simply the most magnificently made man she’d ever seen. His gaze held hers as his fingers went to the button on his jeans. It opened and…

Oh, how could she have forgotten? “Joe-” She let out a disparaging sound. “I don’t know quite how to tell you this,” she moaned.

His fingers stilled. “You could start by opening your eyes,” he suggested quietly.

She did, then wished she hadn’t. His body was incredible. His chest drew her fingers. She couldn’t help herself, the tensed muscles, the light, springy hair that tapered down and disappeared into his open jeans…

Capturing her wandering hands in his, he looked at her. “Tell me now, before this goes any further. A change of heart?”

“Not exactly.” Bravely, she met his hot, frustrated gaze. “I’m sort of a…virgin.”

12

“SORT OF?” Joe let out a choked laugh. “You’re sort of a virgin? How is that?”

“Because I haven’t done it before.”

“Caitlin.” His rough voice held a hint of a smile. “How is it you’ve never done this before?”

Self-conscious now, she turned from him and once again crossed her arms over herself. “I know you probably thought I had lots of experience. I let people think that because…”

“Because?”

This wasn’t the time to shrink back and try to save her feelings, or her pride. “Because then they know I mean it when I say back off.”

“Ah…the curse of being desirable.”

“I don’t understand it.” She wished she had her shirt back, but in her haste to jump him, she’d tossed it dramatically across the room. “But nobody looks beneath the surface.”

“Or past the checkbook,” he said in her ear, making her jump.

“I guess you do understand.”

“What I don’t understand is why you were going to let me have you.” With terrifying tenderness, he pulled her back against his chest, crossing his arms over hers to hold her close.

It took every ounce of courage she had, but at this point, there was nothing to lose. Turning in those warm, capable arms, she met his questioning, and yes, still passionate, gaze. “Because I love you, Joe. I wanted you to be my first.”

His eyes were bright, eloquent. “I thought we weren’t going to make promises.”

“I don’t expect one back,” she assured him, pulling his head down to hers. “Please, Joe. Love me. Just for now.”

Her lips clung to his, warm and wet. Sensuous and innocent. Just for now, Joe promised himself. His eyes never left hers as he stepped out of the rest of his clothes. “Don’t regret this. I won’t be able to stand it if you do.”

“I won’t.” Her gaze was glued on him, her eyes wide and huge as she unabashedly stared at his proud, heavy sex. “You’re so beautiful, Joe. All virile and…hard.”

On a laughing moan, he lay down, wrapped her in his arms and held her to him while his mouth ravaged hers again. “Hard being the key word here.” He slipped his hands beneath her skirt, caressing her thighs, playing with the tiny panties he knew were covered with happy faces. “I’ve wanted to take these off since the moment I got a front-row view of them on the landing.”

She closed her eyes, her face flushing. Laughing, Joe kissed her until she was flushed with passion, not embarrassment. He loved the texture of her-all soft and dewy, he discovered as he removed the last of her clothing. Loved, too, the way her body quivered at his every touch. Lowering his head, he nuzzled at her, kissing and nipping until she was squirming and burning and restless beneath him.

Lifting his head, he whispered, “Every time I was a jerk at work, it’s because I wanted to do this.” His thumbs made passing caresses over the tips of her tight, aching breasts, and he watched her body’s response, the way she panted for air, how her nipples puckered and beaded. When he drew her into his mouth again, she arched off the bed and into his arms.

His hands ran down over her stomach, her thighs and back up between her legs. She caught her breath when he touched her there, then again when his touch deepened. Tossing her head back, she fisted her hands in the sheets and pushed up against his fingers, whimpering shamelessly.

“Good?” he asked.

“More.”

She was the sweetest, most desirable woman he’d ever seen, and for the moment, she was his. “Yes,” he promised. Her slippery heat coated his fingers and he moaned. “Yes, more.”

Her body tightened as he stroked her slowly, every muscle clenched. His fingers continued their sensuous play, giving her what she’d wanted, and she whispered his name, her voice torn between need and panic.

“It’s all right.” He drowned in the pleasure of watching her discover desire. “I’m right here to catch you.”

She was on a tightwire, grappling and struggling for balance. She hadn’t expected this. Had thought it would be