breathing was as ragged as hers and beneath her hand his heartbeat raced. Caressing her nape, he trailed his fingers to her throat, drifting lower lightly down over her breast to her waist.
As he caressed her, the tingling electricity finally sent a warning that broke through her stormy senses. Moving mechanically, she stepped back a fraction to stop their kisses.
“Jake, wait. This is getting out of hand. I never intended this to happen and neither did you.”
He framed her face with his hands. “You never expected it to happen when you came to my place. From the moment we faced each other on the porch, we both wanted to kiss. It was inevitable. I still desire you and you still want me to kiss you because it shows in your expression.”
With his words her heart raced faster. He was right and it was obvious, but that didn’t make it acceptable. He had nothing to lose. She definitely did.
“Okay, so it shows. Common sense tells me to stop. You and I aren’t friends. That’s a prerequisite to me for someone to be a lover. An extremely close friend.”
Her heart raced as she talked and her gaze was held by his that conveyed his desire. She wanted to lean the last few inches and return to his steamy kisses. He was on target totally, but she had some resistance. Reminding herself of her mission and that he was a Benton, she moved away. “I think we should stop dancing and go back to conversation,” she said, heading toward a sofa. She turned to glance at him.
He stood watching her. Locks of his brown hair had fallen across his forehead. His tight jeans revealed his desire that hadn’t diminished. Even with distance between them, his expression held lust. His gaze roamed slowly over her and his perusal might as well have been a caress.
Tingling, her body sent entirely different signals from what her logic conveyed. Without taking his gaze from hers, he crossed the room to her. Each step closer made her heart flutter faster. He walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her, bending to kiss her. It was a demanding, possessive kiss that seared and made her weak in the knees.
His hand locked behind her head, his fingers tangling in her hair while he kissed her and shattered her resistance. She pressed against him, losing the battle willingly, pouring kisses back while she clung to him with her arm around his neck. Her other hand roamed down his back and then across the strong column of his neck. Her fingers combed through his short, thick hair. She was never going to forget Jake’s kisses. The fleeting thought was as unwanted as his kisses should have been.
Why did he have such a devastating effect?
She didn’t care why or how threatening they were. His kisses made her want more of him, made her respond and moan with pleasure. Kisses that locked in memory as they awakened needs long dormant, exploded longing and imagination.
When his hands began to free the buttons of her shirt, she gathered her wits to take another stand.
“Jake, stop now. I have to.” She gasped for air, looking up at him, fighting the temptation to rake her fingers through his unruly locks to comb them off his forehead.
Giving her a searching look, he released her. “Want a glass of water or anything to drink?” he asked suddenly. When she declined, he turned and left the room.
She didn’t know if he had to put distance between them
to help them both cool or just wanted a drink. Whatever the reason, she welcomed his absence and was grateful he had left her. While her heart raced, her breathing sounded as if she had just run a race.
Why, oh, why had she found this excitement and magnetism with Jake Benton—literally the worst person she could think of to feel drawn to.
On the other hand, she should seize the moment, take advantage of the heat between them—as he would—and try to win his cooperation about selling to her.
She glanced at the rain that was coming down harder again. She was in for hours more with Jake and she intended to make the most of them without yielding to his seductive lovemaking.
She sat on the sofa, still conscious of the slight brush of their fingers as he joined her to sit near her.
“When do we return to business?” she asked.
“How about next week when I’ve had time to think about this? You’ve known you want to buy back the property, but this is all new to me since late afternoon.”
“Why do I suspect you’re stalling, although I don’t know why you would. Maybe the prospect of seduction tonight is keeping you from flinging a refusal at me.”
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “That’s a sufficient enough reason,” he said, turning to look into her eyes. Tingling again, she drew a deep breath.
“I don’t know why I have this reaction to you,” she admitted.
One dark eyebrow arched. “Man, beautiful woman, there it is,” he said. “Elemental.”
“Not even remotely elemental,” she replied. “I hate to admit to you, few men have the effect you’ve had.”
Something flickered in the depths of his eyes and his chest expanded as he drew a deep breath.
“Oh, my, I shouldn’t have divulged that to you,” she said, her pulse drumming again.
“No, you shouldn’t have if you want me to keep my distance. Remarks like that—there’s no way in hell I can sit back and say, ‘How nice.’“ He moved closer. His arm went around her waist and he lifted her to his lap.
Her instant protest ended as his mouth met hers and they kissed again. Her heart pounded while she clung to him, kissing him hungrily. He cradled her against his shoulder, kissing her while his free hand ran over her hip and along her thigh, sliding up to her breast to stroke in slow circles that taunted even through her lacy bra and cotton shirt.
Fiery tingles radiated from his touch. She should have left well enough alone, but the thought was dim and slid away. Desire surged in a scalding heat running in her veins.
His hand slipped down over her stomach, inching lower between her thighs. Even through her heavy jeans, she could feel his touch as if it were fire.
With an effort she sat up. While she gasped for breath, she gripped his wrist to hold his free hand. “You stop. I shouldn’t have told you what I did. We’ve gone too far too fast.”
“Not at all,” he argued in a husky, gravelly tone.
She slipped off his lap to the other end of the sofa where she turned to face him. His hooded gaze indicated he still wanted her.
“We should get on some safe topic. Tell me about your hobbies. Your brother and your parents. Your controlling father that meddles in your life.”
“My father is the last thing I want to discuss or even think about tonight. I’ve been enjoying the evening beyond the obvious frustrations. I do not need to drag anger back into my life.” He stood. “I’m getting a beer. Want something else? Soft drink? How about homemade lemonade? Juice, milk, wine, martini, any mixed drink—whatever you like?”
“I’ll have that lemonade, please, which sounds absolutely wonderful.”
