Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan Page A

stood in the doorway, asking without words if he was welcome in her private sanctuary.
    â€œCome on in and look around.”
    As he closed the door, she began straightening the bins of yarn that were already in perfect order. Anything to keep her mind off the gorgeous hunk of manhood behind her. She fumbled for a topic of conversation and pounced on the obvious. “How is Chase doing?”
    â€œGreat. He’s a natural, just as I expected him to be.” Jarvis’s voice came from right behind her, his breath sending a chill dancing down her spine.
    She closed her eyes, trying to string together a coherent thought. “That’s, um, real good. Nice.”
    He laughed. “Am I making you nervous, Gwen?”
    He was now close enough that she could feel his body heat all along her back. Would that make any woman with a pulse nervous? Heck, yeah.
    â€œWhat makes you think that?”
    â€œBecause it makes me nervous. I’d hate to think I’m the only one wondering if we’re ever going to kiss again.” His big hands slid up and down her arms, sending more shivers through her.
    She ought to step away, out of his reach. But when she moved, it was to face him. His smile was crooked, his dark eyes warm.
    â€œThat dress is driving me crazy. Ever since that first morning when you were sleeping in the chair, I’ve been dying to see all the rest of your freckles.” He fingered the edge of the fabric at her shoulder. “The way this is cut just makes it worse, because it teases with hints and glimpses as you move.”
    She’d always hated her tendency to freckle, and he was making them sound like a gift from above. “They get worse in the summer.”
    His face lit up. “Really? Tell me, do you have them…everywhere?”
    She nodded. He groaned and closed his eyes.
    He leaned in close and whispered, “I would give anything to get the chance to count them all. I can’t sleep nights, for thinking about it.”
    Lord have mercy, the images that flowedthrough her mind: the two of them in her bed, his big body sliding over hers, in hers…Her hand came up to rest on his chest, unable to resist touching all that warm strength.
    â€œKiss me.”
    She skimmed her hands up the expanse of his shoulders to the back of his neck, enjoying the journey. Then she raised up on her toes to close the distance between them and pressed her lips against his.
    She tasted every bit as good as he remembered. Gwen filled his arms perfectly, matching her feminine curves against him. His loose gym shorts did nothing to disguise the effect she was having on him, but she didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary, when he splayed his hands on the sweet curve of her backside and pulled her up against the evidence, she made a sexy little noise in the back of her throat as if asking for more.
    He yearned to take her someplace private and get her naked now. It was damn hard to be noble with her in his arms.
    Her hands stroked his back, her nails scraping lightly over his skin. He wanted to purr or roar, warning everyone to stay the hell away from them. He pushed the soft cotton fabric of her dress to the side, wanting to taste a few of those freckles he’d noticed on her shoulders. He flicked his tongue over her damp skin, loving the rich flavor that belonged solely to her.
    She arched her neck to the side, giving him better access, and he growled his approval as he nibbled along her collarbone. At the same time, he reached down to catch the hem of her dress, sliding it up as he enjoyed the satin feel of her thigh. When his hand reached the leg of her panties, he hesitated. How far did they dare go?
    Gwen wasn’t trying to stop him, but…this wasn’t the time or the place. She must have sensed his reluctance because she froze. Silence hung between them except for their ragged breathing and the staccato beat of his pulse.
    At least she wasn’t running for the door