kisses along her forehead, down the side of her face until finally, finally, settling on her mouth. She gripped his strong shoulders, not knowing if it was for support or to make sure he didn’t pull away. A hot ache started deep in her belly and spread outward. There were so many reasons why she shouldn’t do this, but right now none of them mattered. He wove his hands through the back of her hair, and she felt the warmth of his fingers against her scalp. He worked the pins free, and her hair fell around her shoulders in a thick collection of disorganized curls. He ran his hands through the tangled mass and sighed with pleasure as if he’d been waiting forever to do just that.
“Jenny.”
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded with a voice she didn’t recognize, one husky from want and need. She didn’t want him to end this like he had that night on the beach.
“As if I could.” His mouth was warm and demanding, soft yet firm. She pushed her hands under his coat and over his shoulders, feeling the hard strength of him. He grabbed her waist and lifted her up on her toes. His tongue explored the inside of her mouth, driving her crazy with a carnal desire she’d never known. Her breasts began to ache with need and want and desire, and as if reading her mind, he reached behind her, cupped her butt in the palms of his hands, and pulled her even closer until she was crushed against his chest. Pinpricks of sensation tingled outward and hardened her nipples. One hand held her back while his other roamed over her bottom, down her leg, until he found the slit in the back of her dress. Reaching through, he pulled her left leg around his hip and anchored it there.
“God, I’ve been wanting to do that all damn night. Tell me. Tell me you want it, too.”
She looked up at him through eyes half-closed with desire. A small slash of light illuminated his strong profile, and she ran her hand over his cheek. “I do.”
“Do what?”
“Want this. Want you.”
“God, Jenny.” Her name was as much a curse as a caress. He slid his hand farther inside her dress, skimmed the underside of her thigh, before slipping his hand under her panties.
She sucked in a breath, and his hand stilled. She pulled against his shoulders and kissed him with every bit of desire she’d been holding back, telling him without words how much she wanted him. His fingers fanned over her heated skin, and right then he made her forget everything but him. She forgot about the music, the ballroom full of people. His hand continued to deepen its caress. Her body went hot and wet all at once. As his fingers skimmed over her swollen flesh, she stiffened.
Oh God.
She pulled back, dropped her leg from around his thigh. Dampness pooled between her legs, and she felt a stab of shame and fear.
Without saying a word, she ran. She paused at the French doors, but she knew she couldn’t go back into the party. Her lips felt swollen and puffy, and her hair was one long, disheveled mess. She rushed past the doors, past the light, and toward her car. But halfway through the parking garage, she realized Jared had the keys. She stopped, not knowing what to do. Tears stung her eyes, and right then she wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and cry.
“Jenny?” Her sister’s voice startled her. “Oh my God. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Tears made her vision blurry, but even through her watery eyes she could see Anna had just parked her car. Her keys were still in her hand. “Your keys. Please. I need to go home.”
“Jenny.” Her sister’s voice was full of concern. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I can’t. Please just give me your keys.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“No!” She nearly shouted the word. “Please.”
Anna stretched out her hand but didn’t let go of the keys. “I wish you would tell me—”
Heavy footsteps thudded behind them, and they both turned at the same time. It was Jared.
Grabbing the keys from Anna’s hand, Jenny jumped in her sister’s Volvo and roared out of the garage.
All the way home she tried to keep the guilt at bay. She knew Steven was gone, but she couldn’t shake the feeling she was somehow cheating on him. And then there was something else, something she’d never admit to anyone. Steven had been her only lover,