Catering to the Italian Playboy by Tamelia Tumlin Page A

overdressed for this party. Let me help you with that.” His silky tone curdled her insides. Max leaned over and unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin beneath. Sophie shivered. Then he unbuttoned the second one. Then…
    Sophie’s breath caught. Remember girl, no expectations. Just a little fun.
    The third button popped open to reveal the swell of her breast against the lacy fabric of her pale purple bra. Her nipples hardened as heat surged to their peaks. Max lowered himself to the bed, straddling her with his arms to hold his weight, and took a nibble of the creamy flesh bursting from the inner side of the bra. Sophie ran her  fingers down his arms. His biceps quivered beneath her tips and she relished in the sense of womanly power.
    Max’s teeth grazed her flesh, igniting her body like a four- alarm fire. Sophie let out a soft cry of delight as he took another nibble.
    “Too many damn clothes,” Max muttered, yanking her shirt apart in one swift jerk. Buttons missiled across the room like bottle rockets, but the only fireworks she noticed were the ones exploding inside her. Her mind didn’t even take time to register the fact he’d just ruined a perfectly good shirt.
    He deftly unhooked the front clasp of her bra. Her full breasts, firm and throbbing, bounced out of their constraints and begged for his touch. Max’s eyes widened then feasted on her creamy mounds. “ Dio, cara! You are exquisite.” He lowered his head and licked a soft delicious path to one pink tip.
    Sophie gasped, then stroked his head, tangling her hands in the dark at the nape of his neck. She tightened her grip as fire blazed a trail along her skin where his lips teased. Max flicked his tongue over her nipple drawing another cry from Sophie. “Please … Max…”
    “Please what, cara ? This…?” He raised his head, gray eyes tempestuous as a summer storm bored into hers. He shifted on the bed to rest his weight on one elbow then used his other hand to circle the rosy peak with his thumb. She tingled all the way to her core, her need for him naked and raw beneath his gaze. “Or this…?” He ducked his head, fastened his warm lips onto the bud and suckled. His hand slid down her quivering stomach, unsnapped her slacks and tugged her zipper down. She lifted her hips. He shifted on the bed again and in one deft movement her slacks were on the floor. Then ever so slowly he brushed his fingers across the wisp of purple lace covering her intimate area.
    White-hot ripples of pleasure plunged south. She arched toward him wanting more. Her hands gripped his shoulders, nails lightly scraping his smooth olive skin. “Max…” She panted between waves of bliss. “I … want … you …now!”
    “Not yet. I want you to enjoy every minute.”
    Well, what did he think she was doing, for Pete’s sake? Baking a cake? Seriously, she was about to explode. “Now … Max … now!”
    He chuckled and kissed her stomach. “Bossy little thing, aren’t you?” He rolled away from her, stood and pulled a foil wrapper from the box of condoms on the bed. The ripping sound as he opened it set her teeth on edge.
    God, what was taking him so long?
    He dropped his boxers and stepped out in full glory. His gaze caught hers. Electricity sizzled the air and Sophie pulled a sharp breath. He was magnificent. Dark glistening skin, rippling toned muscles and abs that would have made a six-pack jealous. She lowered her gaze. Her pulse surged forward as he stood proud and firm before her.
    He took his sweet time unrolling the latex. Sophie white-knuckled the plush comforter. If he didn’t hurry up she was going to jerk it out of his hand and help him.
    Hungrily, she watched as he finally sheathed himself.
    The knowing smile hovering on his lips told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her. And he was enjoying every moment of it. Her hands tightened on the comforter.
    He lowered himself to the bed, dipping the mattress