ScandalandSin by Lynn LaFleur Page A

into
tears.
    Rye’s hand wrapped around her wrist. “The
picnic was nice. I appreciate it.”
    Not a word of apology for the way he’d
treated her. She should finish packing up the basket, get out of here and never
come back. He had all her ideas. She wouldn’t have to step inside Stevens House
again until the last coat of paint dried.
    Deep inside her soul, she knew it hadn’t
been simply sex between them. There had been a connection, something she’d
never experienced with any other man. He was still a little broken from his
relationship with her sister. That shouldn’t keep him from looking for love
again.
    It was right in front of him if he’d open
his eyes and see her.
    His hand tightened on her wrist as she
reached for the empty wine bottle. “Alaina, I’m sorry.”
    The damn tears were almost choking her. She
kept her head lowered while she continued to pack the basket so he wouldn’t see
them shimmering in her eyes.
    “Hey.” He cupped her chin and turned her
face toward his. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    A tear escaped her eye. Alaina reached up
to wipe it away. Rye caught her hand before she could. He sipped the tear from
her cheek with his lips.
    The sweet gesture melted her heart. She
turned her face and touched her lips to his.
    He tasted of wine mixed with the flavor of
man. His lips were soft and a bit slick from the butter he’d eaten. His
mustache felt almost as soft as his lips.
    His hand cradled her neck, his thumb
brushing the sensitive area beneath her ear. He tilted his head ever so
slightly and parted his lips. The tip of his tongue slid along the seam of her
mouth, making the kiss even more delicious. Wanting more, Alaina touched his
tongue with hers.
    It must have been the signal Rye needed.
The kiss went from gently exploring to hot and passionate in a heartbeat. His
other hand cradled her neck too, holding her head in place while he ravished
her mouth.
    A kiss shouldn’t make her so weak. A kiss
shouldn’t make her breasts swell so quickly, her pussy moisten in mere moments
in anticipation of Rye’s possession. Desire took time to build…or at least it
always had for her. With Rye, everything was different than with other men. A
look from those deep brown eyes was all Alaina needed for her body to respond.
    She couldn’t help the moan when Rye drove
his tongue into her mouth. She wanted to feel it on her nipples, between her
legs…
    “You kiss like you can’t get enough,” he
whispered against her lips.
    “I can’t. Not from you.”
    He pulled back a few inches, looked into
her eyes. His thumbs stroked her lips, over and over. Alaina nipped the tip of
one, then licked the bite.
    Desire flared in his eyes. “This isn’t
exactly the best place for a seduction.”
    “I don’t need candlelight and soft music,
Rye.” She took one of his hands and drew it down to her breast. “I only need
you.”
    He watched his hand as it molded to her
flesh. Alaina’s eyes wanted to drift closed in pleasure, but she forced them to
stay open so she could see him.
    “Your breast is so firm.” He squeezed her
gently. “God, you feel good.”
    She couldn’t stop her eyes from closing
when Rye cradled her other breast. Alaina arched her back and pressed her
breasts into his hands. He kneaded and lifted the mounds as his thumbs circled
the areolas…coming close to but not touching her nipples. She was ready to grab
his thumbs and guide them where she needed them the most when he flicked her
nipples.
    She gasped in pleasure.
    “Do you like this?” he asked, rubbing her
nipples with his thumbs.
    “Yesssss.”
    “What do you want me to do?”
    Alaina opened her eyes and gazed into his.
Rising to her knees, she ran her fingers into his hair. “Make love to me.”
    A pained look crossed his face to mix with
the desire in his eyes. “Alaina, I’ve worked all day. I need a shower before—”
    She covered his mouth with her fingers. “If
you don’t get sweaty making love, then you