Take Me. Cherry Adair
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him to find out. “Perhaps I’d like something else.”
“So would I.” Joshua brushed a wisp of hair away from her cheek. His touch was electrifying. “But I’m not going to get it before we eat.” She must have looked as blank as she felt. He gave her a wry smile. “I don’t give a damn what the specials are, as long as it’s served fast.”
Jessie controlled a bubble of hysterical laughter. “We could’ve gone to McDonald’s.”
“This was your choice.”
“I’m starving.” God. If they were this hot for each other they’d burn each other to cinders.
He slid from his seat and held out his hand.
“Where are we going?” Jessie took his hand automatically.
“To dance,” he said thickly. “I have to hold you.” He pulled her up, then maneuvered her to the small, empty dance floor and tugged her into his arms.
It felt good pressed against the length of him like this. Far too good. Jessie tried to put a little space between them. Joshua’s arms tightened in a firm, inexorable embrace.
The solid width of his chest felt like heaven beneath her hand. She looked up at him. Would her baby have Joshua’s nose? His pale-blue eyes? His mouth?
The small band in the corner played something soft and bluesy. Lord, this is dangerous, Jessie thought, as Joshua moved her expertly around the floor. And expertly against him. She should have been shocked by the hard length of his erection pressed against her. Instead her heart leaped, and her skin heated. Her nipples puckered and rubbed against the inside of her bra. She moved a little closer, allowing the slide and sway of their bodies to ease the ache a little. He brought his hand up between their bodies, and clasped her hand against his chest. The backs of his fingers brushed against her nipple making her shudder with longing.
It was no accident. Of course it wasn’t. He kept up the slight friction, until Jessie wanted to scream.
His hand felt warm through the thin silk at the small of her back as he pulled her more snugly against him. His thumb moved in a maddeningly light caress. Goose bumps spread from her back to her breasts in a slow, sweet rush that heated her skin another few degrees and made her heart pound.
Oh, boy. Definitely dangerous.
They were practically making love while vertical. Joshua brushed his mouth across her forehead and Jessie felt dizzy with longing. She struggled to find a topic of conversation to keep herself sensible. “Noble’s was the first commercial interior design job I ever did on my own. I’d never done any commercial work until Con convinced Charlie to let me do—”
She glanced up while she was speaking. Why did he have to look at her like that? She licked her bottom lip, losing her train of thought.
Joshua’s eyes smoldered; he drew her closer. “You did a superb job.” He caught her nipple between the backs of two fingers and exerted gentle pressure. Moisture pooled between her thighs and her eyes glazed.
Her skin felt overly sensitive, almost electrified. Get a grip, Jessie. “How would you know? You haven’t even looked.” She managed a smile, and covered his eyes with her hand. She was demonstrative by nature and didn’t give the impulsive act a moment’s thought. But touching his bare skin, no matter what part of his body, was a mistake. A huge mistake.
“Tell me what you like about it.” Her voice sounded strangled. Joshua’s hot breath fanned the edge of her palm, his hips moved in a lazy, age-old rhythm that was making her insane, and his tweaking fingers had her libido at fever pitch. Jessie shifted slightly and rested her elbow high on his shoulder, feeling the play of muscles and the tantalizing brush of his hair on her overly sensitized skin as they swayed to the music. When had their feet stopped moving?
“I like the plaid carpet. And the mahogany paneling, the subtle lighting on the seascapes.” He was very observant. The thought gave her a chill. Watch yourself, Jessie. “And the brass lighting and the dance floor.” She felt his eyes move beneath her fingers.
“Lord,” he said roughly, nuzzling her temple. “You smell like sin.”
She withdrew her tingling palm and vowed to keep her hands to herself from now on. His lips skimmed her cheek.
“Would you make those sweet little moans for me in bed, Jessie? Would you whimper?” His teeth teased the shell of her ear. “You’d be hot and so sweet.” He paused, breathing as raggedly as she, and when he spoke again his words were a fragmented whisper against her cheek. “Do you lie in bed at night and wonder how you’d move beneath me? How incredible it would feel to have me deep inside you?”
The picture came to her in vivid Technicolor and her mouth went dry. She gave him a cool look. “Actually…no.”
“Liar.” His pale eyes looked as hot as lava. “I can see how much you want me. I can see your heart pounding.” He used the tips of two fingers to measure the pulse at her throat. “Right here.” He dropped his hand, satisfied as her pulse throbbed even harder.
“I don’t like the way I behave around you, Jessie Adams. It’s completely out of character and I don’t like it at all.” He said it like a caress. Like a curse.
She smiled, but inside a frightened little voice silently echoed his sentiment. “I thought I made you hot.”
“Oh, you do. Make no mistake about that.” A muscle jerked in his jaw. “Hell, right now I wouldn’t give a damn if half the press corps sat at the next table. That’s how much I want you.”
His face was just inches away; she could see herself reflected in his eyes. Jessie dug her short nails into her palms until she regained her senses.
“Wow,” she said dulcetly. “That much?” She’d observed men play the game of “I want you until I have you” all her life. “Then it’s a good thing we’re in a public place.”
“Which is why I’m not stripping your clothes off.” His brows drew together in a frown. “As a rule, I’m a patient man. Congratulations, you’ve managed to try that patience to the limit.” His fingertips ran along her jaw and left a trail of heat in their wake. His thumb glided over her lower lip.
“You and I have different priorities, Joshua.” She struggled to control her own libido. “Satisfying your expectations is on the very bottom of my list. I happen to have a life of my own and you’re only a very small part of it.”
“That’s going to change, Jessie. Very soon I’m going to be a major part of it.”
His arrogance and self-confidence were bred to the bone. “Don’t be too optimistic, Mr. Falcon. This is our first date and I don’t like having a man tell me what to do, or when to do it.”
His gaze rested on her mouth before he looked her right in the eye. “Are you telling me we won’t become lovers?”
“I haven’t decided one way or the other—yet.” She ignored the little thrill of excitement skimming her nerves. She fought the unwelcome, insidious attraction with a reminder it was a physical ailment, like a cold or the flu, and would pass.
“You’ll be the second person to know once I make up my mind.” She glanced at the table where the wait staff hovered. “Oh, our dinner’s arrived.” Her hand slid down his arm and caught his as they returned to the table.
Joshua sat down and flicked his napkin onto his lap with controlled irritation. “Are you always this stubborn?”
“Let’s say I’m extremely selective. I don’t jump into bed at the drop of a hat. And, frankly, the thought of tossing my underwear into your collection is something I have to think about.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” he bit out, his expression savage. Desire dilated his eyes. Clearly part of him loved the challenge; the rest of him wanted her. Now.
Please God, next Wednesday was the next and last time she planned