Heat burned through him, and when she leaned into him, the inferno burst. He groaned and hauled her onto his lap, deepening the kiss, letting his hands roam over her back and down her sides.
She felt good. He wanted to feel more of her, wanted to taste more than her sweet, sassy mouth. His tongue dove inside and tangled with hers, and she whimpered.
He swept his hand across her rib cage. As he listened to the sounds of approval she made, he palmed her breast. She arched against him and his cock, already hard and straining against his pants, jerked.
He slipped his fingers inside the opening to her dress, inside her bra and found her nipple. He brushed his thumb over the taut bud and Savannah whimpered, sucking against his tongue.
Jesus. She made his balls throb. He could take her right here in the garden, undo his pants, pull out his cock, and pull her astride him. She could ride him until they both came. He needed her so badly he was shaking. Her lips licked across his, her tongue taking his in a frenzy of need and desire.
She wanted this as much as he did. He felt her desperation.
But the breeze whipped her hair across his face, reminding him where they were.
Outside. In the garden at his cousin’s wedding. Where anyone could come out. And as hot and oh-hell-yeah ready as he was to slide inside her, he wouldn’t do that to her out here in public.
He pulled his hand away and righted her dress, leaving his hand on her rib cage to feel the hard thump of her heartbeat. It felt good to know she was in this as fiercely as he was, that it wasn’t one-sided.
Savannah drew her lips from his. Her eyes were glazed with passion, her lips swollen. She pressed her fingertips to her lips, her tongue flicking over them. He saw the shock on her face as the cold slap of reality hit her, too.
Goddammit, but he wanted to lay her out, undress her, and put his mouth on every part of her until she came apart for him. The desire was written all over her face. If only they’d been in the right place, he could have taken his time with her, undressed her piece by piece and discovered all her secrets.
But he damn well wasn’t going to do it here. He needed hours with her. All night.
“I know, we got carried away. Let’s go to my place.”
He felt her shudder. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this. I keep losing control with you. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
He swept his hand over her back. “There’s nothing wrong with you. We both want this.”
She slid off his lap and stood, adjusted her dress with shaky hands. “I don’t. I mean I do. God, Cole. I’m not a tease. You have to know that. But my job means everything to me. It’s the only thing I have and I won’t sacrifice it.”
He saw the regret in her eyes before she grabbed her bag from the bench and turned away from him, walking down the path back toward the reception hall.
Cole stood and watched her walk away. His cock was still hard and throbbing. He’d need a few more minutes before he went inside.
He knew better than to pressure a woman who said no. But there was more than just her job standing in their way.
He didn’t know what it was, but he intended to find out.
NINE
SAVANNAH HAD ALMOST CHANGED HER MIND ABOUT going to Cole’s parents’ for dinner.
But she always kept her promises, and since she’d been invited, she was going to go. It might be a little uncomfortable considering what had happened between her and Cole the night of Gavin and Liz’s wedding, but she was a professional. She could handle it.
She’d thought long and hard about that night. Okay, she’d thought of nothing but that night since it happened, since it burned in her nonstop. Her body still throbbed from Cole’s kisses, from his touch on her body.
Damn man. And damn her inability to stop kissing him.
It wasn’t going to happen again. She had a career trajectory and it didn’t include screwing up her job by having sex with one of her clients.
Good god she could ruin her career if she was caught.
No more. She was pushing hot Cole out of her head and only client Cole was going to remain there.
She brought a plant over to Cole’s parents’ house for Sunday dinner. A bottle of wine was so provincial.
Cole’s mother seemed pleased. She beamed with delight and thanked Savannah profusely.
Cara was beautiful, and Savannah guessed her to be in her mid-fifties. She had long, thick, very dark hair that she pulled into a ponytail, the most expressive brown eyes, and she was always smiling.
“Come with me into the kitchen.” Cara led her through the hallway.
The house was modern and beautiful, with marble flooring in the entry, wood throughout the expansive house, and dark tile in the kitchen. There was a definite Italian influence in the décor. The kitchen was filled with stainless steel appliances, a dark granite countertop, and a center island with a sink and a seating area.