At His Mercy Read Online Free Page A

though. So she just said, “I’m sure. Thanks anyway.”
    “Okay.” He popped the cracker into his mouth, chewed. Washed it down with a sip of wine.
    An uncomfortable silence hung between them, and despite the sensual awareness warming her skin and making her all tingly, a question hung from the tip of her tongue. A question that would totally put a damp en er on the date-like vibe of the moment.
    How would she ever sleep? In a strange house, with the stress of a job loss — and maybe jail , gah! — looming over her head.
    She needed a little of that wine. Not a lot. She wasn’t a big drinker, had the occasional glass on special nights, holidays, that kind of thing. She hadn’t gotten loaded since college. Tempting as it was to do so tonight, there was no way she’d do something so idiotic.
    “Mind if I upgrade to something a little harder?” She lifted her glass, motioning toward his.
    “Sure. What can I get you?” He popped another loaded cracker into his mouth. A tiny smudge of orange clung to his upper lip, and she couldn’t help staring at it.
    “How about some of whatever you’re drinking?”
    “Coming right up.” He got her a fresh wineglass, grabbed the bottle sitting on the counter next to the wine cooler, and sat back in his seat. He poured her a full glass then handed it to her. “There you go.”
    “Thanks.” Her gaze still locked on that bit of orange on his lip, she took a cautious taste. Ooh, yum. She took several more swallows then pointed at her own mouth. “Um, you’ve got something there.”
    “Where?” He wiped the wrong spot, like people always did. And she was forced to lean closer and actually touch his face with her finger. “There.”
    A big jolt of electricity charged up her arm, almost feeling as though she’d just touched a live wire. She froze, unable to pull her hand away, unable to move at all. He leaned closer, and she realized he was looking at her mouth.
    Oh God, was he going to kiss her?
    “I … uh … have always admired your shoes,” she jabbered, so nervous she didn’t even know what she was saying. Her brain was stuck, like an old fashioned record, playing the same thought over and over.
    He’s going to kiss me. He’s going to kiss me. Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!
    Then their mouths were touching. Just barely. And she quit breathing, which was not good. She closed her eyes, frozen in place, waiting, dizzy.
    He cupped her face in his hands and gently brushed his mouth back and forth over hers. It was the softest, most sensual kiss she’d ever experienced.
    “Oh God,” she heard herself say.
    He answered with a rumbling, sexy chuckle that made her warmer yet.
    Her heart started banging hard against her breastbone and she took a little frantic gasp of air.
    She felt as if she was melting inside, her bones softening, the rest of her turning into slick heat. A tingly warmth gathered between her legs.
    “You want this, don’t you?” he asked against her mouth.
    She did, most definitely. In fact, crazy or not, she wanted a whole lot more than a teasing, sultry kiss. But all she could say was, “Ahhh … ”
    She slid her hands up the smooth material of his shirt until she felt the stiff collar. By the time she had her fingers wrapped around his silk tie, she was more than a little desperate for the kiss to deepen. Enough to take matters into her own hands. She climbed to her feet, so that she could wedge her body between his legs, and pressed against hi m . Her nipples were sensitive, hard little peaks, roughened against the lace cup of her bra.
    And still, he kept that kiss soft and fleeting, the worst kind of torture. She looped her arms around his neck, angling her mouth, “You’re so mean,” she murmured.
    “And you like that too, don’t you.”
    She did. In a way. And in another, she most definitely did not. She pulled on his neck, trying to force him to possess her more fully with his mouth. But instead, he skimmed his lips over her cheekbone then