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“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” She didn’t get it.
Jack shook his head and moved away. He stalked off to the bathroom and she heard the water running as he turned on the faucet.
Liza wondered for a brief moment if she’d done something wrong. Was that impulsive move a total romance killer?
When she looked down at the small mess on her chest, she finally got what had Jack so tense. Yes, there was a bit of bodily fluid on her skin that she wasn’t used to seeing. And her nipples were still pebbled tight, as though they’d been covered with ice. But that wasn’t what had Jack so concerned. The tiny, faint patch of purple between her breasts did the trick all on its own.
She let out a sigh. Good grief. So she bruised easily. He hadn’t hurt her. Not in the least.
“Jack,” she said as he returned to his bedroom and crossed to where she still sat. “This is nothing.”
He went to work on her chest, using way too much care and too much of a light touch for her to be able to stand it.
“Oh for Christ’s sake,” she said as she snatched the towel from his hand, tidied herself in short order and handed the rag back to him.
Jack’s dark brows shot up, but a spark of amusement finally lit his baby blues.
Thank God. Any more brooding and she’d have to kick him.
“You didn’t break me,” she told him. “You’re not going to. You can’t. I might not be hearty country stock, but goddamn it, I’m from New York. I’m a fairly tough city girl.”
And she felt quite a bit of pride in the truth of her words. After all, she hadn’t let McClellan-Piper break her spirit. Hadn’t allowed Peter to do it, either. So she’d stumbled and nearly fallen a couple of times. It didn’t matter because here she was, making a new life for herself. One that included a sexy cowboy who, despite his very wicked ways, seemed to care about her.
She’d landed a job tonight and had decided on volunteering some time to help Ginger. Hell, maybe she’d even join the Junior League! Devote herself to a higher purpose than a fat paycheck and a Park Avenue apartment.
“Now,” she said, trying to rein in her exuberant emotions, though she suddenly felt very pleased with her new direction in life. “Get over it and get on with it.”
* * * * *
Jack laughed. “You love to shock the shit out of me, don’t you, darlin’?”
She smiled up at him, her pearly white teeth gleaming in the soft glow from the bedside lamp. “And they say only opposites attract.”
She borrowed his line from last night and it made him grin.
“That’s better,” she said.
She slipped off the edge of the bed and stood in front of him, her hands roaming at will, making him forget all about his anger over having lost control and giving into the incredible sensations she so easily evoked. He felt like hell for the faint bruise the tip of his cock had left on her chest, but she didn’t seem to care about that.
In fact, she eyed him with a lusty look and asked, “Exactly how long will it take for you to recover?”
He dropped the towel as his hands shot out and lightly gripped her upper arms. Moving swiftly, he pressed her down onto the bed, sprawling partially across her. His mouth was on hers before she could even say, “Oh!”
He kissed her long and deep, until she was limp beneath him, her arms wrapped around his neck, her legs twined with his. His mouth moved from hers and he worked his way down her neck, tasting her warm, slightly salty skin. His lips trailed lower to her small, pert nipples, tasting of cinnamon. His tongue swept over one small bud, keeping it tight and aroused.
Her fingers twisted in his hair. The sigh that escaped her lips made his groin tighten. He headed south, positioning himself between her legs. He gripped her thighs and yanked her closer to the edge of the bed. His large hands splayed across her inner thighs, parting them wide. His thumbs grazed the already dewy lips that had dampened her champagne-colored lace panties. The pad of one thumb pressed against her clit and he rubbed it slowly as he watched her watch him.
“You said you had more of these?” he asked as the fingers of his free hand curled
around the thin strand of material at her hip.
She grinned. “And replacements are easy to locate.”
One quick tug on the flimsy string and it tore away from the triangle that covered her.
“I’ll buy you a new pair.” The hand that had been teasing her clit this entire time pushed aside the swath of lace.
