“What are you doing?”
He ran one finger down her smooth cheek. Her lower lip trembled slightly, but her chin tilted in pure stubbornness. Amusement touched his voice. “What do you think I’m doing?”
“Trying to take payment for dinner, Charming? Aren’t we past that?”
She was trying to needle him, but it wouldn’t work tonight. He wanted her sweetness and light and honesty tonight. His senses screamed it was time to take what he wanted. “I don’t want to play games with you, Morgan. I want to kiss you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s complicated. I already explained this.”
Cal pressed a kiss to her temple. Smoothed back the silkiness of her silvery hair, which smelled like wildflowers. Her body shook so slightly, if he wasn’t close, he would’ve never caught it. Her muscles tightened in a grip that told him she was trying to fight her body’s natural response to him.
“I think it’s quite simple. This is separate from our business contract. We can keep this private if you’d like or scream we’re together from the rafters. I’m still going to be a hard-ass, and you’ll still be a pain in the butt. But I swear to God, Morgan Raines, if I don’t kiss you now and take you to bed, it may become the biggest regret of my life. And I’ve had enough of them to last me a lifetime.” He lowered his head. His gaze locked with hers. Her breath came in choppy gasps, and as if she couldn’t fight it, her fingers clasped his shoulders and hung on. Satisfaction shot through him, and the need to claim her for his raged in his blood, dulling every other thought.
“I don’t know,” she whispered.
He cupped her cheeks, his thumb pressed against her lush pink lips. “I do. Now open your mouth for me, baby, and let me in.”
His mouth took hers.
chapter fourteen
Goodness gracious.
Morgan knew the kiss was coming. She prepared herself for the sensual assault like bracing her body for a war, ready for the pleasure but focused on keeping enough control to feel safe. A good-night kiss wasn’t a terrible thing. Besides, she’d been dying to experience his mouth on hers once more. Even their banter seemed like foreplay, all roads leading to this one kiss. Morgan could handle it.
His body and spicy scent surrounded her. A little moan escaped her throat as she hung on, allowing the complete possession of her mouth and shuddering with pleasure. Strong white teeth nipped at her bottom lip, demanding entry, and his tongue slid home with no hesitation or apology.
She frickin’ loved it.
There was nothing to think about or plan when Cal kissed her. The only thing Morgan needed to do was give him what he wanted, and she was rewarded. Rough, capable hands stroked her cheeks, controlling the angle and thrust of his tongue, sipping every last drop from her like the sweetest whiskey he’d ever tasted. Morgan arched up to the demand, her breasts tight and tingly from the delicious pressure of his chest dragging against her nipples. The thickness of his erection notched tight between her thighs, causing her clit to throb and ache for better pressure. She craved the feel of his fingers sliding inside her slick folds, his hot tongue against her breasts. As if he caught her unspoken thoughts, the kiss turned a bit wild, a bit savage, and instead of pulling back to reclaim control, Morgan surrendered without a regret, letting her body take the lead.
With a low growl of triumph, he picked her up and held her against the door. Her legs wrapped around his hips and she thrust all ten fingers into his already messy hair, holding him still and drowning in his kiss. His hips rocked back and forth, teasing her with what was to come, until she lost it and clamped her teeth down in a savage bite, arching her hips for more.
His head shot up. Charcoal eyes simmered with banked fire. “Did you just bite me?” he growled against her lips, lifting her up a few inches only to control her slow movement downward. Frustrated already, she wriggled her hips for more pressure.
“You deserved it,” she shot back.
Pure lust glittered on his carved features, sending a jolt through her bloodstream. “I damn well knew there was a hellcat under all that white. There’ll be payback for that. For now, hang on.”
“I already am—oh!”
He slung her over his shoulder like a real caveman and stalked up the stairs as if she were the weight of a feather. Morgan knew she had a healthy body with curves, and the idea that he took her size with no hesitation or care made her feel feminine, delicate, and very, very wanted.
She caught a flash of tigerwood floors and the scent of lemon polish and got dumped in the middle of a king-size bed. Morgan sank into a ton of fluffy pillows and fought her way to a half-sitting position to give him a piece of her mind.