Just Between Us.... Tori Carrington

nipples hardened under his steady scrutiny and she pushed her breasts out even further. They strained against the demi cups and she knew that Jack was wishing they’d just pop right out.

      “Mallory…” he said again in warning, though most of the conviction had drained away.

      She popped the front button on her jeans, allowing the zipper to slide partway down on its own steam to reveal her matching pair of purple lace panties.

      She watched Jack swallow hard.

      Mallory tried to formulate her next move, but the truth was her brain was starting to feel a bit muddled and the heat gathering between her thighs was downright distracting. His gaze moved back to her face as if he was searching for some way to combat his growing physical need. So she licked her lips, making sure to do it slowly and provocatively.

      “Now,” she said, surprised to find her voice so husky. She’d been going after the effect but even she couldn’t have predicted the outcome. Candy, with her throaty cadence, had nothing on her. “I think we’d better discuss this, um, whole no-sex issue.”

      She thought she heard a choking sound, but she couldn’t be sure. But she did know that Jack was looking a little rough around the edges. He nodded. “Yes. I think we should, too.”

      She scooted over on the couch, pushed a few items of clothing out of the way, then patted the cushion. “Why don’t you sit down next to me?”

      He did nothing for long, silent moments, then he shook his head. “I, um, don’t think that’s such a great idea.”

      Mallory smiled. “Why?”

      “Because we won’t discuss the sex issue. We’ll be having sex.”

      “Exactly what I had in mind.”

      “Exactly why I’m staying right where I am.”

      She saw his face take on a competitive appearance. Damn. Maybe she could use a pointer or two from Candy.

      “Okay,” she said slowly. “Then I’ll come to you.”

      Jack seemed so surprised by the proposal that he didn’t move when she pushed off the couch then stood before him, not touching, but definitely close enough to.

      Of course, if she had a hope of getting this femme fatale role down pat, she’d have to learn to quiet her own riot of emotions whenever she came this close to Jack.

      “I’m not going to kiss you,” Jack said, though his voice was hoarse.

      “Mmm. You don’t have to.” She looked at the solid column of his throat. “But you don’t mind if I kiss you, do you?”

      He opened his mouth to answer her but she put her palm over his mouth, trapping his words there. Then she tilted her head to press her lips against the front of his throat, then the side, breathing in the fresh scent of his skin, absorbing the warmth radiating from him like a fine musk. He swallowed again and she smiled, blinking her eyes so that her lashes dragged across his skin.

      “Come on, Jack,” she murmured, itching to feel his hands on her. All over her. She wanted him to explore every inch of her flesh in that possessive way of his, lay claim to her. But he didn’t budge an inch.

      “We are not having sex, Mall.”

      She smiled and slowly began kissing her way down to the collar of his T-shirt. She tugged the soft cotton out of his jeans then worked her fingertips under the hem, not stopping until she felt the hard muscles of his abdomen. How he kept in such great shape, she didn’t know. A more inactive man, she’d never met. But whatever he was doing was working. He was a fine, chiseled specimen of male virility. And just looking at him made her want to rip off her clothes and beg for him to sex her.

      She tugged down the collar of his T-shirt and ran her tongue the length of his collarbone. Of course, right now it looked like she was going to have to be the one doing the sexing.

      Which was all right with her….

      Under his T-shirt, she ran her fingertips down his sides, and he shivered. She smiled then started to slide down the length of him. When he would have protested, she chased the air from his lungs by suctioning her lips to his stomach, then sticking her tongue into his navel, which was a delicious innie. When she was finally kneeling in front of him, she easily found the thick ridge straining against the front of his cargo pants, all the while keeping her gaze plastered to his. It didn’t do much to her ego to see his quiet wariness. But there was no denying he was turned on so she pushed ahead.