The Best Of The Year - Medical Romance. Carol Marinelli
me to thank whoever put this bar in my room.”
Since that was probably her dad, there was no way she was reminding him of anything.
He moved deeper between her legs and leaned over to plant a kiss on her stomach, sliding his hands beneath her shirt and pushing it up, until his lips grazed bare skin rather than her white tee shirt. His tongue dragged up her stomach, her muscles rippling in the wake of his touch.
Almost against her will, her eyes fluttered closed and her fingers went to his shoulders as he continued to kiss his way across her belly. When he reached the hip that lay just above the top edge of her jeans, he nipped at the bone, sending a quiver of electricity arcing right down to the parting of her legs. She ached for some type of pressure, but there was only air between her and his chest with no way of inching any closer. Not unless she wanted to fall off the bar. And there was no way she wanted to distract him from his current task.
His fingers went to the button on her jeans and had it open within a second, the zipper following soon afterwards. For once she was glad she’d put on feminine lacy panties and not her utilitarian black cotton undies.
As if reading her thoughts, his growled “Nice” hit her ears, making her smile.
The smile disappeared when he looked up the length of her body. “I’m going to need your help for a second. You lift, and I’ll slide.”
Why that raised a decadent picture, she had no idea, but the image of her hips coming up while he slid home swamped her brain, making it difficult to obey his command.
Lift. He said lift.
Bracing her hands on either side of her hips, she lifted up while Jack tugged her jeans down her thighs and then her legs as she returned to her seated position.
His fingers trailed around the top band of elastic on her panties and slid under the lace ties at the sides. “I am going to enjoy undoing these. But first let’s take care of that shirt.”
He stepped back, making her frown.
What?
Wasn’t he going to help her with that as well? When his arms went over his chest she had her answer.
It was either put up or shut up. And she was definitely aiming for the “put up” side of the equation. As in...grabbing the bottom of her shirt, raising her arms and dragging it over her head. She then let it drop onto the floor behind the bar.
Her bra matched her panties, both peek-a-boo pieces of lingerie that did a whole lot more peeking than anything else. She found her courage from somewhere. “Bra?”
“Not yet.” Stepping forward again, he planted his hands on her knees and slowly pushed them apart until he was back between them.
Too late, she realized what he was planning when his lips pressed against the skin of her rib cage, just below her bra, and moved on a slowly winding path that headed south. He reached her belly button, dipping inside for a second, then the tip of his tongue toyed with the upper edge of her panties.
“Jack.”
Plea? Or protest?
She wasn’t sure. Only knew that he’d finagled things so she couldn’t clamp her legs closed, and all the parts that mattered were well aware of that fact, pulsing with a heavy need she hadn’t felt in a very long time.
His fingers came up and found the ends of the ties on either side of her underwear. “Do you want me to stop?”
If she said yes, it would be all over. He hadn’t said it, but she knew herself well enough to know it was true. She’d be too embarrassed to continue. And in truth she didn’t want him to quit. Wanted him to show her exactly what he wanted from her.
And she had a feeling she wouldn’t be sorry.
“No. Please, don’t stop.”
His eyes closed for a beat or two, hiding those gorgeous brown irises. Then they opened back up. “I’m going to make you say those words again in a very short while.”
She gulped as a wave of awareness swamped her just as he tugged those ties and released the knots. Her underwear fell away, the front and back panels dropping to the bar. Jack wrapped his arms around her butt and pulled her hard against his chest, until that center part connected with his bare skin.
“Ah.” She wanted nothing more than to grind against him in a frenzy but, as suddenly as he’d made contact, he pulled away again, the cool air flowing against her and making her squirm with need.
Lord. What was he doing to her?
“Take me to the bedroom.” She was more than ready to have him right there, inside her, giving her the relief her body was starving for.
He kissed her stomach. “Soon.” The warmth of his breath rolled across her skin. “Do you remember what I said up on that mountain?”
He wanted her to remember...words? At a time like this? With the heat his body was putting out? “No.”
His hands were back at the tops of her thighs, thumbs pressing just enough to let her know he was there. “That’s a shame. Because this would be such a great demonstration of that gentleman’s rule.”
Ladies first. That’s what he’d said.
As his lips lowered to the top of her right thigh and kissed it, a shudder rolled across her. “That’s not necessary. Let’s just go to bed. I—I want to.”
“Oh, sweetheart. So do I. More than you can possibly know.” He kissed the inner surface, teeth nipping at the tender flesh. “But I can’t. Not yet.”
He pushed her legs wider as his lips ventured closer to a very dangerous area. “Intoxicating. Your scent. The taste of your skin.” The words muttered against her sent fire rushing through her veins and anticipation clenching through her stomach. Then he was there, and the shock of his tongue making gentle inroads made her go completely still. She had to prop herself up on her elbows to keep from falling backwards at the rush of sensation as he slid up and around, avoiding that one tiny part that craved his attention more than anything.
“Please. Jack. Oh, God.”
He pulled her closer, until everything came into contact with his mouth all at once and her legs draped over his shoulders as he finally gave her what she wanted. Her back arched, and she couldn’t stop herself from using the soles of her feet to push closer to that incredible source of pleasure. He didn’t disappoint, his lips surrounding her and sucking gently—tongue rubbing against her.
That was all it took. She grabbed a breath and then let go with a loud moan, pumping herself against him as her body flashed red-hot, the lights in the room fading to almost nothing. Again and again her inner walls clamped, finding nothing to grab onto, and yet the ecstasy was still stronger than anything she’d experienced in her life.
She lay there for a few seconds, mouth open, eyes closed, her lungs snatching for air and still feeling deprived.
When random thoughts finally started trickling back into her brain, she was stunned. Winded. Unnerved. Then she looked down to find his eyes on her, his mouth still poised between her legs.
She couldn’t believe she’d let him do that to her. On a hotel-room bar, of all things. But she couldn’t bring herself to regret it.
“You’re bad,” she said, unable to come up with a more sophisticated expression at the moment. “Very, very bad.”
He laughed and stood, reaching behind her—to help her down, she thought. She was wrong. Snap went the clasp on her bra, and he eased her upright, removing the garment before he finally gave her a response.
“Sweetheart, you have no idea just how bad I can be.”
HE SCRABBLED