Suddenly, she was very conscious of the thud of her heart, of the blood pulsing through her veins. She found his dark gaze wandering over her body like a caress. Her breasts ached, and heat pooled at the base of her belly.
She placed her hand in his. His palm was hard and hot as though his blood ran at a much higher temperature. He wrapped his fingers around hers and tugged her to her feet. Mere inches separated them, and she breathed in his hot, spicy scent like cinnamon and pepper.
“I want to make love to you, lose myself in your body,” he said. “But Christian will be here soon, and when it happens, I want it to be good between us.”
He reached up with his free hand and ran the ball of his thumb over her lower lip. “But perhaps a kiss to keep me going?”
Without waiting for her answer, his head lowered toward her and she raised her face to him, no thought to deny him his kiss.
She wanted this so much; her whole body ached. His words made her face how much she would love to spend the night losing herself in Ash’s embrace. She didn’t know what she felt for him, maybe it was nothing more than infatuation; he was the most beautiful man she had ever known and she felt right in his arms.
Time seemed to slow. She kept her eyes open as he brought his lips to hers because she didn’t want to miss a moment.
As his lips touched hers, all rational thought faded from her mind. He kissed her lower lip, then her upper, small, biting kisses. At last, his mouth covered hers, warm and firm and heat washed through her. His hand slipped behind her neck and he tilted her head for better access—she was tall, but he was much taller. His tongue pushed inside and she opened for him. She was conscious of nothing but the hot, wet, languid thrust of his tongue. Heat welled between her thighs, her breasts ached, and she pushed herself up against him, wanting to absorb him into her, to get some relief for the desire clawing at her body and her mind. He was rock solid, the leather smooth, and his erection nudged against her belly.
Not taking his mouth from her, he backed her against the wall, pressing into her so he was plastered against her from the hips downward. One leg slipped between hers, lifted, and rubbed against her core and still he kissed her.
A pulse throbbed between her thighs. He pulled his mouth free, buried his head against her throat, and kissed the tender point where her shoulder met her neck. With one hand, he ripped down the front of her shirt and his hot lips were pressing kisses to her breasts, nipping her nipples through the thin lace. His hand slid down between them, over her stomach, to push beneath the waistband of her pants.
She went still, her lashes drifting closed, her breathing fast, as she waited for him to touch her. His fingers flirted with the curls before gliding lower. If he stopped, she would die. She felt out of control as though she might fly into a thousand pieces. His hand cupped her sex and she groaned.
He raised his head. “Look at me.”
Her eyes flickered open, and she stared into his hot hungry face as one long finger pushed inside her. He withdrew, then found the sensitive little bud at her core. He massaged it with his fingertip and the pleasure built quickly, mounting. She bit her lower lip, not daring to move in case he stopped. Then her head fell back and she came in a starburst of pleasure.
He waited until she went still and stroked her again. This time, her knees gave out and he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa.
As he lowered her to the cushions, she caught a brief glimpse of his eyes, glowing crimson. Then she blinked and the illusion was gone.
Ash pulled her into his arms so she lay with her head against his chest. He was hot beneath her cheek and she could feel the thud of his heart. As he stroked her hair, she relaxed into the feeling while the tremors ran through her body.
She could still feel his erection pressing against her. Sliding her hand down, she stroked against the bulge, but he put his palm on hers to stop her as a car horn sounded from the street outside.
“Oh God,” she muttered.
“No, not God—Christian.”
Sitting up, she ran a hand through her hair. The orgasm had released some of her tension and she felt boneless, replete, and for the first time since this whole thing had started—at peace.
Ash settled her on the cushions and rose to his feet. He stood for a moment gazing down at her. “One day, we will finish this,” he said. “I’ll take you to my home where no one will dare to interrupt us.”
“It’s a date.”
The horn sounded again, and he sighed.
“You’re a good friend to help him like this,” Faith said.
“I’m not doing this for Christian, but for Tara. I’ve only found her. If I lose her now—”
“Found her? I don’t understand. What is Tara to you? I thought she was just your friend’s wife.” She had the impression there was no love lost between Tara and Ash. Or had that been on Tara’s side only? Maybe Ash loved her, maybe he’d made a pass at her, and she’d spurned him, and that’s why she sounded as though she hated him.