STORY/ADULT EXCERPT

The elevator’s motor groaned and the slight tremor under her feet startled her, making her seek safety with Nick. She turned to look at him. He smiled at her and she became self-conscious. His dark gaze stroked her body and set little fires in her blood and she knew her will to be celibate had flown off with a pair of cardinals that nested in a nearby cedar tree.

Her mouth softened when he moved away from the wall and held his arms out, just a hint, nothing demanding. Her body quickened and her pulse raced with desire for union with this man. He didn’t try to hide the fact he became aroused. She would have known, sensing the same rush of heat that swept over her consumed him. Her jacket slipped from her fingers and dropped to the floor.

The cage shook and gears ground, throwing her against him. It was forbidden, someplace between heaven and hell. She pulled back, gesturing toward the blinking panel.

“Do something, Nick,” she demanded.

He drew her back, pressing her close to his body. “Shel, be still. I’ll take care of you.”

“I don’t …I’m not….” She gave her clipboard a toss and scant consideration to the papers that fluttered in the breeze. Nick held her tight and she slowly melted against him. The delicious way his arms held her secure and the intent in his gaze met her every expectation. With each beat of her heart, she hurried toward the euphoria he could offer. Her lashes lowered in reaction to the hypnotic sound of his voice cloaking her.

“Hello, baby. What are you doing in a place like this?”

She heard the lure of promised secret delight in his rich laugh.

He flirted with her, apparently trying to ease her concern about possibly falling forty feet. Shelby no longer cared why he did it or the fact he wanted only one thing. If having him meant getting over her anger for ten minutes, she would make the sacrifice. Aflame with her longing, she leaned back and slowly worked her hips against his.

“Just hanging around.” She liked the way his large hands cupped her bottom and held her against his hard sex. The sensation rivaled hot lead and she ignited, gasping with unrestrained appreciation of his endowments. A tiny jolt of shame stabbed her pride, but she kicked the useless emotion aside. Nothing as dull as common sense would interfere with his seduction.

Her gaze played with his mouth and the nice size of his nose until the buttons of his shirt caught her attention and she set to work, releasing them all before pulling his shirt free. His buff upper body laid bare for her viewing, making her dry lips demand moisture. She licked them and ignored the satisfied little smile working over her mouth.

Her lips stilled to let his press a lingering kiss and allow his tongue to slip into her mouth and claim her as his own. She accepted his invasion and loved the warm firm texture of his mouth against hers.The emotions he wrung from her were too strong to be touched by the ordinary.

If the sky fell, Shelby knew she would have asked it to wait until Nick had satisfied her yearning. The heat couldn’t end, not while he nibbled her throat and her breast swelled in his hands. The freedom of being high above the earth and with him made it all so sensuous, the cool sensation of her blouse being freed to let the breeze whisper over her bare skin, the slide of her skirt being pushed up to her hips seconds before her panties slipped down to lay about her feet. The moment she stepped out of them, the wisp of white lace lifted in the breeze and skittered off to join the papers fluttering in the corner of the cage.

Slowly, deliciously, Nick drew her to his chest, holding her fast to cover her mouth with a hard, hungry kiss, lifting her up to press her to the cool mesh wire. Urgently she found his belt buckle and zipper.

His dark gaze touched every point of her face and settled on her eyes before he smiled in his wolfish way. “I like my women hot and mean.”

Her purr muffled against his chest. “Then you should be pleased as punch.”

He made a soft growling sound that worked its way up from his chest. “Are you hot?”

“Like July.”

“And mean?” He chuckled.

“You’ll be wearing scratches on your back.” Her fingers traced a circle around his nipple.

“And you’ll be wearing a smile.”

He claimed her lips and kissed her greedily, holding her to his tense body, pressing her to the makeshift wall.

“My God, Nick,” she mildly protested. “You’re crushing me.”

“Sorry, babe.” He caressed her back and massaged her rear. “I’m so hot for you I can’t wait.”

She heard her own sultry laugh and teased him one more time. “It’s going to cost you.”

He buried his face in the curve on her neck and groaned. “Name it.”

“You stay away from the site until it’s finished.”

“Never.”

His answer had been blunt but not unexpected. She shrugged and dismissed her plan to make him suffer. Making him suffer wasn’t what she wanted, not while his mouth hovered above hers in delicious enticement.

His exploration briefly ended when the elevator came to a jarring halt. “Let’s be the first to have sex in this place.”

He picked her up and released the side door latch. It opened into a half finished apartment where carpeting had been stored. He let her down, and following her to the plush carpeting, winked at her.

“Where did we leave off?” He took several deep breaths and smiled as if he had slain a dragon for her. He caught her face in his hands and brushed his lips over hers, picking up the foreplay talk they always indulged in. “How do you want it?”