Molly by Peggy Webb

his eyes.
    “No. I have other plans.”
    She marched bravely back across the room. His
tuxedo shirt gleamed impossibly white in the lamplight, and where
it gaped, she could see portions of his chest. Taking a deep
breath, she caught the front of the shirt and pulled it open.
    Sweat sheened his skin and glistened on the
dark hair that swirled across his chest. Slowly she pushed the
shirt aside and put one hand on his chest. He felt damp and solid
and electric. She had meant to be bold and to drive him wild with
her caresses, but it took all her willpower to keep from jerking
her hand back and running.
    His heart pulsed beneath her palm, and the
sound of her own breathing was harsh in the room. Her hand
trembled.
    Suddenly he chuckled. It was a deep sound of
gratification.
    “That’s a great start, Venus. What next?”
    She tilted her head so she could look
directly into his mocking eyes. She’d be darned if she’d let him
get the best of her.
    “Do you really want to know, or shall I just
show you?”
    “Surprise me, Venus. Show me.”
    “Don’t say you didn’t ask for this.” She slid
his shirt down his shoulders, intending to toss it carelessly on
the chair. Unfortunately the shirt didn’t cooperate. And neither
did he. Samuel stood still while she struggled to get the sleeves
over his hands.
    She was so flustered she wanted to kick
something—mainly him.
    “I think you forgot the cuff links.”
    “What?”
    “The cuff links. They’re still in my
shirt.”
    “I knew that. I was just testing to see if
you did.”
    “Naturally.”
    He chuckled again. Laughter was his only
defense. The minute she’d touched his bare chest, he’d been lost.
He knew that if he reached for her now, if he caught her in his
arms and captured those inviting lips, there would be no turning
back. The web she was beginning to weave around his heart would
become chain links, and he’d be bound to her forever.
    He watched intently as she removed his cuff
links and put them on the bedside table. If he didn’t know better,
he’d think that she had never done this before, that she had never
gone to a man’s bedroom for the specific purpose of seducing
him.
    Seduction.
That was her game. And
she seemed to be a novice at it. He was foolishly glad.
    When she came back to him she seemed calmer,
more sure of herself. She slipped his shirt quickly from his
shoulders and tossed it onto the chair; then she leaned down and
kissed his bare chest, right over his heart.
    Shock waves washed over Samuel. There was a
harsh sound, and he realized that he’d been the one to make it. It
was a groan of pure animal longing. Quickly he brought himself back
under control.
    “That’s not so bad for a beginner,
Venus.”
    Her head jerked up. “How did you... I’m not a
beginner.”
    “Prove it.”
    She stared at him for a full minute, and then
she smiled. The smile dawned slowly, them widened until it dazzled
him. He almost wished he could call back his challenge.
    Molly hooked one arm around his neck, while
the other made slow circles on his chest.
    “How do you like your women, Samuel? Sweet
and slow? Or fast and wicked?”
    “Are you giving me a choice? How
refreshing.”
    “That’s part of my charm.”
    She dipped her head down and put her lips on
the side of his throat. It was a sweet touch that made him
shiver.
    Suddenly her tongue flicked out and moistened
his skin. He instinctively reached for her. Warning bells sounded
in his mind. His hand wavered and then withdrew. In his condition
he couldn’t afford to touch her—not even one hair on her head.
    He gazed down at that rich golden hair and he
knew the pain of denial. Not gathering her to his heart caused an
ache that was almost physical.
    “That was nice, Venus.”
    “Nice?”
    “If you expect effusive praise, you’ll have
to do better than that.”
    “I plan to.” She took a deep breath. “Why
don’t we move to a place that’s more comfortable?”
    “You’ll have to be