No other thought could surface through the flood of memories igniting her body with a tense excitement.
Only the hard, uneven pattern of books’ spines cutting into her back jolted Kathy back to reality. Jack had walked her right into a trap. He caged her there, pinning her against the bookcase at the end of the aisle by simply lifting both his arms to rest on the shelves behind her.
God help her if Sherri showed up now. Kathy didn’t want to imagine the gossip that would cause. Not that Jack looked like he cared about what this little scene might cause her…or him. One thing for sure, Mr. DEA Agent didn’t look concerned.
He didn’t look overwhelmed with lust either. Like a cascade of ice water, that realization helped chill the fire burning in her veins, a little too late given her pussy had already soaked her panties in a silent cry for attention. Kathy could feel the blush racing across her cheeks as the smell of feminine arousal mixed with Jack’s own soap-fresh scent.
Thankfully, Jack didn’t appear to notice. In fact, when Kathy dared a direct look into his icy blue gaze she found him focused on her with such intensity she forgot every other damn thing in the world. She even forgot to breathe when his head dipped. With her breath held, his washed over her upturned face in a low growl.
“About my truck?”
“It was an accident.” That lie popped out without any thought, an instinctive response based on the primal need to placate the very large, pissed-off man snarling down at her. It might have worked better if her barely-there whisper hadn’t cracked in clear strain. Instead the small show of submission had Jack leaning in harder against her as his own voice deepened with the husky note of desire.
“And you’re going to pay for it.”
“I don’t have the money.” The bald truth slipped out as easily as the lie had, but with panic replacing the fear.
“I’m certain you have something to barter with.”
Kathy’s eyes widened over the low-toned assurance of his arrogance. If she had any doubt of what he thought she should offer as payment, the heated feel of his palm pressing into her thigh answered it. The soft fabric of her skirt protected her skin from the rough scrape of his palm, but it wouldn’t last.
Inch by inch, his fingers drew the cotton hem up higher and higher along her legs. Some rational part of Kathy’s brain knew she should stop him, that it was completely indecent. Worse, Sherri was still about.
The words, though, couldn’t surface without breath, and Kathy didn’t have the strength to take one. Then it was too late.
“Jack—” Her voice broke over his name as his hand slipped under the hem and slid boldly up to cup the sodden crotch of her panties.
“Are you wearing pink lace again?”
“Lavender.”
“I want to see,” Jack growled, tickling her neck with the heated rumble.
Kathy could only answer with a soft, complacent moan, too drugged by the sultry feel of those magical fingers tracing heated patterns over her panties. It wasn’t enough. She needed to feel the rough glide of those calluses grinding over her swollen flesh, not be teased by the silky slide of her own underwear.
“And you’re going to show me.” This time when she didn’t answer, Jack nipped her neck with his teeth. The small sting sent a frisson of awareness streaking through the passion fogging her mind, enough that she could follow his prompt. “Isn’t that right, Miss Coben?”
“Yes.” Kathy didn’t know what the question was, but was certain of the right answer. He’d taught her that much last night. “No” could be a very dangerous word to use against Jack.
“Yes,” though, had him rewarding her instantly, smoothing over the small assault with a soft brush of his lips. Arching her neck to offer her tender flesh up for something more than a toying caress, Kathy offered a similar silent plea for more than a teasing massage with the lift of her hips.
“In fact,
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