Love Bites: A Sugar City Novella (Entangled Bliss) by Ophelia London Page B

kissed the fading welt, feeling his body tremble. “I hope I wasn’t too rough for you, Mr. Great White.”
    Jeff gazed down with an expression she couldn’t read. “Damn it all, Sharona,” he said with a new fire behind his eyes. His mouth was over hers before she was able to take a breath. She parted her lips, wanted to open everything for him like she never had before. She wiggled, trying again to peel off her top. This time, Jeff was there to help.
    “Slowly,” he whispered. “Allow me.” He moved his hand onto her bare stomach, then inched up the hem of his T-shirt she wore, exposing her lacy bra a centimeter at a time. “You should always wear nothing but my clothes.” The look of concentration and admiration on his face was killing her.
    “You’re so beautiful,” he said, dipping his chin to kiss her collarbone, the middle of her stomach, the spot right below the front clasp of her bra.
    “I want…” she panted, wrapping her legs around him even tighter.
    “Shhh. Hold on,” he whispered, his lips touching her mouth as he took her wrists again and held them above her head.
    Sharona was all good with foreplay, but seriously, a full day of it was enough. When she struggled to pull free, he placed an index finger over her mouth, and she heard footsteps coming down the ladder.
    “Cruz?”
    Pax, though she couldn’t see him.
    Jeff sighed against her neck. “Yeah?” he answered while gazing down at her, a beckoning fire blazing behind his eyes.
    “We’re about ready. Everything is stowed. Manny says another five.”
    “Yeah, thanks, mate. Be right there.”
    A second later, she heard movement up the ladder.
    “Sorry,” Jeff whispered.
    “It’s better than him walking in thirty seconds later.” She nipped his earlobe. “Trust me.”
    “Damn. And I was just about to show you a more interesting meaning for ‘down under.’” His eyes crinkled at the edges. “But I don’t pay Pax enough to keep that information from getting back to the crew.”
    Sharona still had a hold of him. His smell, the smooth, warm skin and muscles were too delicious to let go of. Since Jeff didn’t seem in a hurry to roll off, she gave him a squeeze, slid her hands as far down the curve of his back as she could reach, then kissed him.
    His response was unlike the other kisses they’d shared. Up until now, they’d been fevered and frantic, fueled by passion and dangerous timing. But now, Jeff took his time, trading breaths and touches and caresses, like he wanted to milk those five minutes until he had to rejoin the crew above. With each tender movement of his mouth and hands, Sharona felt bits of her brain melt away, her bones turning to liquid, melting into him.
    He ran a hand through her hair and kissed every inch of her mouth, her cheeks. This was the longest moment they’d been alone since last night, but still…incomplete. Every touch made her anticipate what would come next.
    After one last deep kiss, Jeff slowly exhaled and collapse on top of her, but then quickly rolled to the side, half of his large body hanging off the bunk. “I have to get up there,” he said, his sweet, labored breath caressing her ear.
    “I know.”
    “But believe me, I’m not finished with you, baby.” He kissed the side of her neck, sending shivers through her bloodstream.
    She exhaled a quiet, dreamy moan of pleasure, stroking the back of his head. “Not even close to finished.”
    He rolled all the way off the bunk and onto his knees, resting his forearms on the bunk and dropping his chin like he was positioned for bedtime prayer. She heard his breath and saw his back raising and falling with each inhale.
    She pulled in her knees, swung her legs over the side of the bunk, and sat up. Jeff placed a hand on her knee, running a thumb over her skin, moving it farther up her thigh. When their eyes locked, she lifted an eyebrow.
    “I better get out of here,” he said. “I think Manny would overcharge me if we destroy this