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She recognized it for the ploy it was. “I’m not playing that game, Coburn.”
“It isn’t a game. If you can prove to me there is no connection left between us to build on, I give you my word we will leave.”
She stared at him. At the matter-of-fact expression on his face. Surely she could do that. Surely after what he’d done to her that night at his apartment, she could kiss him without emotion. All she needed to do was channel the intense hatred she felt for him in that moment and she’d be out of here, free, because she knew if she stayed the consequences would be worse.
Her gaze met his. “Let me go.”
He uncurled his fingers from around her wrist but kept his palm to her back. His earthy, spicy scent from his morning run filled her head, reminding her of far too many hot, sweaty encounters with the man who held her. She took it as a warning, channeling a Zen place she didn’t even remotely feel as she curved her fingers into his powerful biceps for balance.
She stood on her toes, pressed her lips to his firm, beautiful mouth in a light pressure that was in no way threatening, then pulled back.
“There.”
Amusement glittered in his eyes. “Try a real kiss, Diana.”
She swallowed the urge to claw his eyes out instead. He was such a bastard. He wouldn’t kiss her that night in his bed, but now she was supposed to kiss him without emotion?
She took a deep breath and focused on the sensuous curve of his mouth that had always fascinated her. A man with a mouth made for kissing had been her initial impression of him, and it hadn’t steered her wrong. Coburn loved to kiss. He used to make out with her for the better part of an evening when they’d worked together on the sofa, before finally carrying her to bed. That was why when he’d refused to kiss her that night, it had felt like a total and complete rejection of everything she was...
Blanking her mind to the low, tight pain that tugged at her insides, she caught his lower lip between her teeth and tugged. It might have been a bit more punishment than pleasure, but he played along, opening up for her. She slid her mouth against his, this time in a caress meant to stimulate. His hand pressed firmer against her back as he gathered her into him, returning the kiss with a steady pressure that signaled his complete acquiescence. She stiffened at the contact, because wasn’t she supposed to be the one in control here? But then again a kiss involved two people, so she had to be okay with that.
Except then the weight of his solid, thickly muscled thigh moved between hers, the power of his corded muscles far too stimulating...
A few more seconds, she told herself, not about to be the one to cut this off so he could accuse her of reneging on their deal. She cupped his jaw in her fingers and dragged her mouth across the sexy contours of his, taking back control of the kiss. He felt like heaven, that was the problem. The soft, seductive, expert caress he gave back was one only Coburn knew how to give, as if he had all the time in the world to seduce her. It was everything she’d wanted when he’d taken her that night in his apartment, every bit of reassurance she’d craved that he was as much under her spell as she was under his.
It shattered her. Sucked her into a maelstrom of emotion she didn’t want to feel—memories of how very good they had been together when it had just been them worshipping how they made each other feel. How nothing could touch her when she was in Coburn’s arms because he was a part of her.
His palm at her back urged her closer into the V of his hard thighs. Deeper and harder the kiss went. When he urged her lips apart with the pressure of his and his tongue sought hers, she moved toward him, sliding her tongue along his in an unhurried, erotic movement she knew he liked. A shudder went through his big body. “That’s it, baby,” he murmured. “More.”
A shiver rocked through her. The way she could make him feel made her feel a little too invincible. Soothed the raw edges he’d left the night he’d set out to prove he didn’t care. Because it made him a liar as much as her.
She fitted her hips to his and rocked against his blatant arousal. The feel of him rubbing against her through the thin barrier of her silk robe sent a bolt of electricity to her toes. The taste of him, that essence that was distinctly Coburn, captivated her, enticed her on, his low growl into her mouth as he palmed her buttocks and held her still pulling a whimper from her throat.
The sound brought her crashing back to reality. She tore her mouth from his and flattened a palm against his chest. “No.”
He let her go. As if he’d made his point. Her gaze landed on his lust-infused blue one. On the rise and fall of his chest as he struggled to get his reactions under control. She bit back the confusion raging through her, threatening to bubble out of her, but it was too late. The satisfaction glittering in his eyes told her he already knew.
