caressed the skin of her throat and then pressed into her jaw and angled her head back. “I want to get you hot. Hot enough so you don't feel anything but me. So you don't think of anything but what I'm doing to you. I want you liquid.”
He dropped and took her mouth, going in deep, taking her over. He searched all her corners until there was no interior place he hadn't explored. Then he changed the kiss, retreating and advancing, a rhythmic penetration that got her wetter and even more ready for him.
“That's it, Mary,” he said against her lips. “Let yourself go. God, I can smell your passion… You are exquisite.”
His hands drifted down, going under the lapels of her coat, on to her collarbones. Good lord, she was lost to him. If he'd told her to lose her clothes, she would have stripped. If he'd told her to get on the ground and spread her legs, she would have hit the grass for him. Anything. Anything he wanted, just as long as he never stopped kissing her.
“I'm going to touch you,” he said. “Not enough, not nearly enough. But a little…”
His fingers moved over her cashmere turtleneck, going lower and lower and—
Her body jerked as he found both of her tight nipples.
“So ready for me,” he murmured, plucking them. “I wish I could take them into my mouth. I want to suckle on you, Mary. Would you let me do that?”
His palms flattened and he took the weight of her breasts.
“Would you, Mary, if we were alone? If we were in a nice warm bed? If you were naked for me? Would you let me taste these?” When she nodded, he smiled fiercely. “Yeah, you would. Where else would you like my mouth?”
He kissed her hard when she didn't answer. “Tell me.”
Her breath left in a wordless rush. She couldn't think, couldn't speak.
He took her hand and put it around one of his.
“Then show me, Mary,” he said into her ear. “Show me where you want me to go. Lead me. Go on. Do it.”
Unable to stop herself, she took his palm and put it on her neck. In a slow sweep, she brought it back to her breast. He purred his approval and kissed the side of her jaw.
“Yeah, there. We know you want me to go there. Where else?”
Mindless, out of control, she drew his hand down to her stomach. Then over to her hip.
“Good. That's good.” When she hesitated, he whispered, “Don't stop, Mary. Keep going. Show me where you want me to go.”
Before she lost her nerve, she put his hand between her legs. Her loose skirt gave way, letting him in, and a moan broke out of her at the feel of his palm flat against her core.
“Oh, yeah, Mary. That's right.” He rubbed her and she gripped his thick biceps, her head falling back. “God, you're burning alive. Are you wet for me, Mary? I think you are. I think you're covered with honey…”
Needing to touch him, she shoved her hands into his jacket and onto his waist, feeling the raw, somewhat frightening power of his body. But before she could get far, he pulled her arms out and held her wrists in one hand. He clearly wasn't stopping, though. He pressed her backward with his chest, until she felt the solid trunk of a tree against her shoulder blades.
“Mary, let me make you feel good.” Through her skirt, his fingers probed and found the pleasure spot. “I want to make you come. Right here, right now.”
As she cried out, she realized she was on the verge of orgasm and he was utterly detached, an engineer of her lust who felt nothing himself: His breathing was even, his voice was steady, his body was unaffected.
“No,” she groaned.
Hal's hand stopped the rubbing. “What?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Instantly, he backed off. And while he stood calmly in front of her, she tried to catch her breath.
His easy acquiescence hurt, but she wondered why he'd done what he had. Maybe he got off on the control. Hell, making some woman pant all over herself must be a terrific power trip. And it would explain why he wanted to be with her and not those sexy types. A not-so-attractive woman would be easier to remain distant from.
Shame constricted her chest.
“I want to go back,” she said, about to start crying. “I want to go home.”
He took a deep breath. “Mary—”
“If you even think of apologizing, I'm going