Filthy Rich Alpha - Virna DePaul Page 0,5

solitude of their chance encounter…

It all made her inhibitions crumble.

For once, she wanted toss logic to the side and just feel.

She rose on her tiptoes to give him her mouth, loving the ebony fire that blazed in his eyes just before she made contact. The kiss was a brush of the lips at first, then a searching, urgent opening of her mouth as his tongue met hers. Branden Duke kissed with expert sensuality. The strong body underneath the fine suit conveyed a rising heat as she relaxed against it, not surrendering just yet, but savoring the pleasure of a scorching kiss.

His sensual skill made her feel like a beginner. Never, never had she so much as dreamed a kiss could be so powerfully erotic.

The desire he awakened could easily turn into obsession.

She didn’t know how much time passed. The kiss continued. His hands glided over her curves—front and rear, but mostly rear—but he didn’t try to get underneath her skirt or blouse. She thrilled to his touch, enjoying the subtle slide of material over her hips as he pulled her closer and made her move for him. He knew exactly what he was doing, bringing forth visions of platforms beds and silky sheets and ropes tied around her wrists—

She immediately flinched at the erotic vision of her bound and helpless to this man’s hands and mouth. Whether it was at her movement or because he’d guessed at her thoughts, his kiss became rougher. His touch more possessive, pressing her against him with an unmistakable air of dominance.

She couldn’t help but respond. Cara raised her arms and draped them over his shoulders, breaking off the kiss to nuzzle his neck and press her nose into his heated skin, warmed by that delicious spicy scent. His chin rested lightly on her head and he groaned as she rubbed her breasts against his front, shamelessly enjoying the feel of her nipples tightening against the fabric of her bra and blouse.

Thank God she’d come. Thank God she’d made that promise to Iris. Cara needed this. It had been so long, and now she was here with him, and he was making her feel so good...

“Yes,” she murmured, more to herself than to him. “God, I’ve been waiting for you.” She didn’t even realize what she was saying. She was so lost in his touch, her head lolling back, eroticism making her spine grow weak, that she could barely believe she’d spoken out loud.

But clearly Branden Duke was aware of what she was saying, and clearly he didn’t like it. Abruptly, he set her away from him, leaving her disoriented and cold. His grasp on her arms was hard, frantic yet conflicted, as if he wanted to keep her at a distance but was unwilling to let her walk away completely. Her eyes flicked open and she stared, perplexed, at his now hard expression. Then he landed a sudden blow. “Did you really come up here to rest or were you hoping this would happen? Just what is it you’ve been waiting for? A hot fuck or some cold hard cash?”

She actually recoiled at his harsh words and immediately tried to pull away from him. Her spine snapped up, rigid, and she shot him a glare. “Fuck you.”

He frowned, his grip loosening enough that she could rip herself away. She backed up several steps and simply stared at him. She couldn’t help it. He’d shocked her and she knew by the expression of regret that instantly flashed across his face that she probably looked like he’d slapped her.

He held up a hand. “Okay, maybe that was unwarranted.”

His voice snapped her out of her paralysis. “You think?” she asked nastily. She immediately turned and strode toward the open door. She gasped when his hands gently grasped her arms from behind.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “You…that kiss…it took me by surprise.”

You think? This time she asked the sarcastic question silently. His tone seemed genuinely perplexed and she relaxed even more at his willingness to admit he could be taken by surprise. It was a concession of vulnerability he probably didn’t make a habit of giving.

Deliberately, she took three testing steps forward. He didn’t try to stop her, and instead let her go. And he didn’t try to force her to turn around when she just continued to stand there, trying to get her bearings.

Cara felt dizzy and a bit conflicted. For him to imply she’d been lying in wait for him had been insulting yet, if she