“It’s the principle of what you did that bothers me. I trusted you and believed you’d keep your promise,” she said, but the anger had melted out of her tone. He felt his pulse jump because she was reacting to him just as he was reacting to her.
“I honestly didn’t give it that much thought,” he said. “I have no intention of tearing down the house and didn’t think to consult you about getting someone to do repairs.”
She rolled her eyes. He shifted closer and tightened his arm around her. “Now, what was that about my charm and sweet talk or my seductive touches?”
“Not one thing!” she exclaimed, her eyes dancing with fire. But her cheeks turned pink, denying her answer. “Don’t you start with them, either. You’re just trying to melt my anger—”
“Damn straight,” he said softly and lowered his head, his arm hauling her up against him while he kissed her hard.
Juliana’s heart thudded and for an instant she forgot everything, his broken promise, her anger, where they were. Gone were the kisses he had given her at home, kisses that coaxed her to respond. His kiss now was filled with hunger and an aggressive taking. Heat spread in her and then cen- tered low within her, an ache that was becoming more in- tense with every passionate encounter.
Without thinking about what she was doing, she wound her arms around his neck and responded, kissing him as fiercely as he did her while her desire escalated.
Her hips thrust against him, feeling his arousal, startled by the swift reaction he had to her. His hand drifted down, deftly twisting free the buttons of her blouse, sliding be- neath the fresh cotton and pushing aside the scrap of lace. She gasped as his fingers caught the taut bud and caressed her. She arched into him and his arm tightened, holding her.
She turned her head. “We’re in your office.”
“I don’t give a damn,” he answered gruffly, his mouth stopping her answer. “You want this as much as I do.”
Juliana’s pulse pounded, her body responding to each caress, to his words and obvious need. Her reaction to him frightened her in its intensity because she had never experienced anything like it before with any man. She wanted to stop worrying, to give in to desire, and for another moment she did. He pushed her jacket and blouse back on her shoulders and flicked the catch of her bra, his dark hands cupping her breasts and his thumbs flicking over the throb- bing peaks.
She strained toward him, closing her eyes while she moaned with pleasure, lost to his touch. His hand slid down over her hip, catching the hem of her skirt, caressing her leg. Struggling as if coming up out of the depths of a raging current, she knew she had to stop him. She knew she should remember she was dealing with a strong, forceful man who would do just as he pleased.
She pushed against him and stepped back, her breathing ragged while she fumbled to pull her blouse in place. The smoldering look he was giving her made her hands tremble. “We’re in your office,” she repeated breathlessly.
He stepped closer, catching her hand .and stopping her from buttoning her blouse. “You make me forget every- thing else in my world. I want to shove you down on the desk and take you right here,” he said in a husky voice that played over her like his hands.
“You’re doing it again,” she said, pushing against his chest, attempting to reassert her control. “Don’t try to kiss away my words. You’re not going to get me on your desk,” she said, yet there was little force to her words, and his look of pure desire made her breathless.
She moved away from him, going around the desk and turning her back to refasten her bra, button her blouse and straighten her clothes, struggling to get her thoughts back in order. Never had Barry lost his cool control and she was astounded that Cal had. He made her feel like the most de- sirable woman on earth. And he was too damned sexy.
She turned around, wondering about him. He was too appealing, too aggressive and passionate to have lived with as little romance in his life as she had. “How many women have been on that desk before me?” The question was in- tensely personal and she knew in asking she had just crossed another invisible boundary. And she had sounded jealous, something she had never done before in her life.
His eyebrow arched, and he sauntered toward her with a predatory air that made her pulse jump again. She tried to keep her gaze eye level, but she dipped a glance down. His arousal thrust against the soft slacks and she yanked her eyes up instantly. Halting inches from her, he tilted her face, his fingers holding her chin while his dark eyes seemed to nail her to the spot and hold her steadfast.
“No one has been on my desk, babe,” he replied quietly. “No one has ever made me forget everything else like you do. Maybe in high school when my mind was hormone- driven, but that doesn’t count. Not in my adult life,” he said emphatically, his eyes dark with desire that was blatant and breathtaking. “Anything else about me you’d like to know?”
“I want to know if you’ll break more promises to me.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t think discussing repairs was that important.” His fingers slid along her jaw, and she suspected that she would be back
