Momentary Marriage by Carol Rose Page A

asked me to marry you,” she said mischievously.
    Jared slipped an arm around her shoulders as he opened the door to her building. Stopping in front of the elevator, he tapped the button before replying. “Since it’ll be your last dinner with the guy, and you’re meeting him just to let him know you’re getting married, I’ll make a concession this once.”
    Kelsey glanced over her shoulder at him as she stepped into the elevator. He sounded a lot more serious than she’d expected. “No other dates just to tie things up?”
    Jared looked down at her, no glimmer of amusement in his face. “I don’t think so.”
    “Okay,” she said slowly, getting off when the car stopped on her floor.
    Jared followed her to her door, waiting while she unlocked it. Kelsey couldn’t help but remember standing here together two nights ago when she’d wanted so badly for him to kiss her and he hadn’t.
    Then there was the…sizzle, the out-and-out sheer breathless blazing passion when they had kissed in her office and when he’d brushed his lips against hers earlier after giving her the ring.
    Jeez. Just thinking about kissing him made her want to fan herself.
    She pushed her door open and turned back to face him.
    Jared stood there, his dark eyes serious and intense. At that moment, he looked nothing like the playful man who’d joked with her in the car only moments before. He looked…dangerous.
    “Well…,” she started to say.
    He stepped toward her, capturing her between the wall behind her and the wall of his chest. His mouth dropped on to hers in an instant.
    Heat flared up in her like the flame of a torch, scorching as their lips met. Crushed against him, the full length of his body pressed against hers, Kelsey opened her mouth and surrendered.
    Nothing casual happened when he touched her. Every touch, every sensation was new and unforgettable. She’d been kissed by a lot of men. Never had she wanted to merge before, cling so close that not even air came between them.
    He kissed her slowly and thoroughly, the stroke of his lips building raging fires within her. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, didn’t care.
    They stood in the hall of her apartment building, but all she knew was him. His powerful body, the press of his thighs against hers, the ache of emptiness in her. The urge to rub herself against him like a hungry cat.
    She had no awareness of time, only knowing the swamping, massive, roaring desire he evoked in her.
    Jared lifted his head, breaking the contact of their mouths, but staying pressed intimately against her.
    As dazed as she’d been that morning when his touch had unexpectedly sent her up in flames, Kelsey looked up at him.
    His eyes were even darker than usual, black as night. He looked fierce and hungry. “Now you don’t need to be kissed goodnight.”
    “Okay,” she said vacantly, tremors rippling through her. God, he felt so wonderful, his body hard against hers.
    Jared straightened, leaving her leaning against the wall next to her open door. He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath, as if to calm himself down.
    “This weekend, Saturday,” he said, his voice rough. “If you don’t have other plans, maybe we could go visit my family in Long Island . We can talk about the wedding on the drive.”
    “Saturday?” she said blankly. “Okay.”
    “I’ll call you.” A glimmer of a smile crept on to his face. “I’m leaving now, so I don’t get towed.”
    “Okay.” Kelsey still leaned against the wall, reaction to their kiss leaving her boneless.
    His smile broadened. Jared reached out, his hands on each of her shoulders. He tugged her gently away from the wall and steered her into her apartment, reaching for the door knob to close the door. “Have a nice time tonight.”
    He shut her door. She stood in the brief entry hall, staring at the portal as she slowly returned to normal, her heart rate eventually settling down.
    Yeah, have a good time. Sure. Fat chance.