The Best Of The Year - Medical Romance. Carol Marinelli
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all been taken to the hospital. The staff has my cell number, if they need to get in touch with me.”
He got into the elevator and punched the button for the top floor. Mira’s eyes widened. “You’re in one of the penthouse suites?”
“My coach, remember? I didn’t book the room.”
She leaned against the wall. “Your coach has good taste. And a hefty bankroll.”
He snagged her hips and dragged her against him. “They spared no expense.”
“They must like you an awful lot,” she murmured, looping her arms around his neck.
The last thing he wanted to do was talk about his coach, or how much they were or weren’t willing to fork out to get him back up to snuff. “And what about you? Do you like me?”
A shadow went through her eyes before it was gone. “I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t.”
At least they both knew where the other stood. Jack didn’t have to worry about Mira getting hung up on him or deciding she wanted to take things to the next level, because he couldn’t. Not now. Probably not ever. She wanted a fling. And he’d been thinking that it had been too long since he’d been with a woman. They were both on the same page. And after tonight they could turn that page and never revisit it.
* * *
Mira waited outside the door as Jack slid his keycard into the lock and listened for the familiar snick as it released. She’d been in these rooms before, of course, but never as a guest. She’d forgotten that pro football players made millions of dollars a year. But even if she’d remembered, she wouldn’t have expected Jack to make as much.
Besides, after her talk with Ellory—where Mira had grilled her about whether or not she’d told Robert about their bet—she’d wondered if her friend was right. Whether a naughty romp with the man in question would solve her problems once and for all—or if that was a plan doomed to fail. She was attracted to Jack. Very attracted. Which is why she couldn’t quite move on to the next guy.
So, Ellory’s answer? Sleep with the man. Kind of a wash-that-man-right-out-of-your-hair move that would clear him from her system. It had worked for Ellory in the past, so it should be just as easy for her.
Jack pushed the door open, and she stepped into the large marble foyer. While the downstairs portion of the lodge was a study in rustic furnishings, this room went in the other direction, its sleek, modern touches hinting at wealth rather than shouting it from the rooftops. From the white plush carpet to the glimmering stainless-steel accents, the room reflected the snowy setting outside.
He shoved the door shut with his foot. “I thought you weren’t interested in my room.” The words had a smile behind them, but she jerked around to look at him anyway.
“I’d forgotten how nice the penthouse suites were.” Where was that mess he’d mentioned? The room seemed as clean as a whistle.
He glanced around. “They are nice.” Motioning toward the tiled wet bar on the other side of the living room, he asked, “Do you want a drink?”
Yes. She did. And now that she was here she was beginning to wonder what she was thinking. She couldn’t believe she’d actually propositioned the man, something she’d never done in her life. But she hadn’t been able to think of a way to casually head him in this direction, and she had no desire to hang around the bar, hoping he’d make a move. So she’d decided to pull an Ellory and take the bull by the horns.
And now that she had him? What exactly did she do with him? Tell him to strip naked and get to work?
A drink. She’d start with that. “I’d love one. Red wine, if there’s one of those mini-bottles somewhere around.”
“I’m afraid this room doesn’t have a mini-anything. It’s all big.”
He was right on that front. Her eyes went to the man as he walked toward the bar. The room was huge, but Jack’s height and frame made it seem almost ordinary. And that butt she’d admired a week ago...
She swallowed, changing her mind about the wine. “Jack?”
“Mmm?” He walked behind the bar and retrieved two glasses from a stand beside the sink.
“Would you mind if I skipped the drink?” She twisted her hands in front of her, wishing she was better at this whole seduction gig.
He set the glasses down, and brown eyes bored into hers. “I was just thinking the same thing.” He leaned his elbows on the polished wood surface. “Come here.”
On legs that were suddenly shaking she made her way toward him, until she was on the other side of the counter. He crooked his finger. “Closer.”
She licked her lips then leaned over the surface until she was within inches of him.
“Nice.” One of his hands came up to cup the nape of her neck, fingers threading through her hair. He tugged her nearer until they were mouth to mouth. “Is this more along the lines of what you were thinking?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Good.” His mouth met hers with a sweet pressure that made her want to melt against him, made her wonder if she could leap across the barrier and grab handfuls of his shirt and haul him against her. But she didn’t act on any of those thoughts. She stood there, leaning as close as she could get while his lips slid over hers time and time again. His teeth played with her lower lip, teasing it, until all she wanted was him hard against them, thrusting into her mouth like he’d done on the sleigh ride. Only tonight there was no Norm or Patsy to catch them in the act. It was just her and Jack. And this time she had no intention of stopping.
Her hands went up and caught his head when he started to move away from her mouth.
Uh-uh. That hadn’t been nearly enough. She wanted him right there.
She eased him back to her mouth, and this time she opened, hoping to tempt him into sticking around for a while. With a low sound his hand tightened in her hair and the kiss morphed into something else. Harder. More demanding. His tongue pushed past her lips with a quick thrust that made her gasp. He filled her, head turning sideways so he could reach even deeper.
A moan worked its way up from inside her as he released the pressure, only to surge forward again. When he finally lifted his head she dragged in deep breaths, trying to clear her fuzzy brain.
“You’re still too far away,” he murmured. Taking her hand, he led her around the bar until she was at the spot he’d been standing seconds earlier. “Better.”
He proceeded to drug her with several long, wet kisses that had her insides quivering with need. His hands slid down her sides, until he came to her waist, which he gripped. “When I say three, jump.”
Her breathing still erratic, she somehow managed to spring up when he hit the number, finding herself perched on the glossy wood bar, looking down at him. When she frowned, wondering what he was doing, he backed up with a smile and then yanked his dark shirt up and over his head.
Ooh, she liked that. Her glance skated over his bare torso. Strong and muscular without being bulky, his tanned skin had obviously been kissed many times by the sun.
Surfer dude...football doc. That’s right.
A smattering of dark hair started at his chest and flowed downward, narrowing until it was just a slim, fascinating line that disappeared beneath the waistband of snug black jeans. When her eyes finally came back up, she found him watching her. Her teeth gnawed her bottom lip when he came forward, his warm palms landing on her thighs just above her knees and slowly smoothing along the surface of her legs. Her mouth went dry the higher he got, his thumbs grazing the sensitive area just inside her thighs.
Oh, man.
Then his hands were on her hips, and he jerked her forward until she was balanced on the very edge of the high bar, her thighs parting