Nobody's Fool by Barbara Meyers Page A

plan—
    “Court?” Jolie leaned toward him. She touched the back of his hand.
    He stared at her. His mouth went dry.
    Her lips were parted, smudged with the remnants of pale pink lip color.
    “Court? I think I’m in love with you.”
    That declaration deserved a response, didn’t it? A snort of disbelief seemed appropriate. Denial was in order, at the very least. But Court couldn’t speak. He couldn’t move. His carefully thought-out plan had not prepared him for this moment.
    Undeterred by his lack of response, Jolie moved closer. The backs of her fingers brushed his jaw. Her eyes were soft and smoky. He made a noise low in his throat—of protest or delight, he wasn’t sure—just before her lips touched his. Soft. So soft. So pretty. So much to offer.
    She kissed him. She wanted him. He couldn’t deal with this. Not with her mouth against his, the tip of her tongue teasing him like this. Not with the heat beneath her sweater scorching his hands. Rational thought was simply not possible. The blood had rushed from his brain to settle elsewhere. No problem. That was his last fuzzy thought. He could figure this out tomorrow.
    It was the wine, Jolie decided, that had made her bold enough to tell Court how she felt. The wine that sent her into his arms, that prompted her to kiss him, even after he’d been staring at her as if he were in shock.
    But that wore off quickly after the initial moment. He ravaged her mouth like a starving man and she gave him all she had to give. He yanked her sweater over her head. She was panting by then, trying to remember the last time a man had acted like he wanted her this much.
    Never , came the distant reply, and on some level she knew it was true.
    His mouth and his tongue set her on fire, exploring her throat, her shoulders, her chest. All the while, his hands cupped her breasts through her barely there bra.
    Take it off , she wanted to scream just before he released the clasp. She was nearly crying from her own need. When was the last time she’d wanted a man this much? Never. Not the way she wanted Court. Not like she’d die if she didn’t have him right now.
    She closed her eyes as he suckled and touched, giving each breast equal attention. Heat pooled between her thighs and she began to whimper with the need for release.
    Court pulled her securely into his lap and kissed her long and lovingly.
    He stood up with her still clinging to him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, because if he thought she was letting go now, he was nuts.
    He found his way into his bedroom. More excitement built as her bare nipples rubbed against the denim of his shirt.
    By the time he lowered her to the bed and lay down next to her she was almost mindless with need.
    She disengaged from his kiss long enough to say, “Hurry.” She began to unbutton his shirt, surprised to find her fingers so nimble when the rest of her felt so shaky.
    “What’s your rush?” he whispered as she shoved the shirt from his shoulders and yanked the sleeves over his wrists. “We’ve got all night.”
    Now they were both naked from the waist up. She straddled him, basking in the sensation of her breasts pressed against the swirls of hair on his chest. She rubbed herself against him, rewarded when she heard his quick intake of breath.
    “Exactly my point,” she whispered. She kissed him again, exploring, seeking. Helpless with desire and feelings of love. And fear. And wonder.
    The past week she’d sensed Court watching and waiting. But tonight he was far from passive. He was an equal and willing participant.
    He wrapped his arms around her, making her feel protected and secure. He’d never hurt her. Ever since high school she’d known that. He’d never abandon her, never betray her. She didn’t have to hold back. For the first time in her life she felt free to be herself.
    His hands smoothed down her back. He clutched her closer to him. She could feel his arousal through the denim. She rubbed against him