Hot on Her Heels by Susan Mallery Page B

to hurt any of my sisters. Now or in the future.”
    Now came the hard part. She squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “This is strictly business. We’re helping people we care about, nothing more.”
    One corner of his mouth turned up. “Meaning?”
    â€œNothing personal between us.”
    The words just kind of hung there in the silence. She braced herself for his laughter because this was where he pointed out she was nothing he would ever want.
    â€œHaven’t you figured out it’s all personal?” he asked right before he kissed her.
    She was caught off guard, something she never allowed to happen. One second he was speaking, the next he had his hands on her upper arms and was drawing her close to him. At the same time his mouth claimed hers with an intensity that left her breathless.
    This wasn’t an exploring, getting-to-know-you kind of contact. This was hot and demanding. He kissed her as if he didn’t have a choice.
    Heat swept through her. It burned away any conflicted feelings, so that she could feel nothing but hishands on her arms and his mouth on hers. She couldn’t think, either. There was only the sensation of skin on skin and the fact that she needed so much more than this.
    She shook off his touch so she could hang on to him. He wrapped both arms around her, drawing her nearer still. They touched everywhere and it wasn’t enough.
    The intensity of the flaring passion frightened her, but it also intoxicated her so that resisting wasn’t possible. She tilted her head, then parted her lips before he even asked. He swept inside and she met him stroke for stroke. They kissed deeply, taking and giving, straining for more.
    His hands moved up and down her back, then to her sides. She broke the kiss long enough to nip his lower lip. He dropped his head so he could nibble the length of her neck.
    Everywhere he touched burned. Her breath came in gasps. She ran her fingers through his hair, in part to touch him, in part to hold him in place. His breath was hot on her skin, his mouth warm and teasing.
    Without thinking, she reached for his shirt. She told herself to stop, that this was insanity, but there she was, unfastening the small white buttons. He pushed her back and grabbed the hem of her sweater. With a single, swift movement, he pulled it up and over her head. Then they were in each other’s arms, mouths clinging, tongues teasing.
    She felt fire on her skin and a quivering that beganlow in her belly. The wanting was beyond powerful. It was greater than her need to breathe. She knew she would die if they stopped—that her heart would cease beating.
    He touched her bare arms, then her bare back. Every inch of contact was heaven. She wanted his hands everywhere.
    Her bra was suddenly loose. She hadn’t felt him unfasten it, but was grateful that he had. She tossed the sensible white undergarment away and reached for his hands. She placed them on her breasts and moaned softly as he cupped her curves.
    His thumbs and forefingers found her aching nipples. He squeezed them, sending ribbons of liquid need pouring through her. She was ready, so ready. She wanted to be taken until she was weak with surrender.
    Surrender. The word was nearly enough to stop her. While she enjoyed sex, she never gave in completely. There was always a part of her that she kept to herself. A place no man went.
    A problem for another time, she thought frantically, trying to tug off Garth’s shirt so she could touch him.
    He drew back enough to shrug out of it. While they were separated, he kicked off his shoes. She pulled off her boots. His pants went flying, as did her jeans. Socks followed and soon his briefs and her panties were puddles on the floor.
    She had a brief impression of toned muscles under scarred skin. He was already hard and thick. Just thesight of his arousal made her thighs tremble. The intensity of her desire made it difficult to catch her