Playing Doctor by Jan Meredith Page A

were dark and erotic, his voice deep and rich with promise, and she wanted it all. She’d never been so turned on in her life.
    “ Are we agreed ?” he repeated.
    “Yes, we’re agreed.”
    He held her gaze a moment longer, and then slid out of the car. There were no words of praise for her vehicle this time when he helped her to stand. His focus remained solely on her.
    She felt the power, the hunger within Gabe as he adjusted his long stride to match hers. They crossed the hotel lobby and stepped into the elevator.
    “What floor are you on?” Gabe asked, studying the numbered panel on the wall. He slid his arm around her waist, holding her to his side with a possessiveness she found both soothing and arousing.
    “Eleven.” Now, having made the decision to spend the night with Gabe, Beth fully intended to take Connie’s advice to set her inner vixen free. Tonight was about sex. About dropping her insecurities and inhibitions for one night with the first man she’d wanted to go to bed with in years. A man she would walk away from in the morning and never see again. He wanted her, no doubt about that. The things he’d said to her in the car made his intentions explicitly clear, his voice, rough and deep as he told her in no uncertain terms what he wanted to do to her…and for her to do for him. A shiver of anticipation moved through her.

Chapter Six
    Following Beth into her room, Gabe closed the door and blew out a silent whistle of appreciation. Spacious and decorated in shades of cream and white, there was a small sitting area with a pair of overstuffed chairs and a large flat screen TV mounted on the wall over a fully stocked wet bar. Tucked in a corner, a compact office area was already in use, a laptop and several open folders occupying the desk.
    To his right, an open door revealed a bathroom, but the focal point of the room was the California King.
    She set her purse on the entry table, looked around, and ran her hands down her hips. Her teeth worried her lower lip and he could almost see the wheels turning, thoughts swimming in her pretty head, thinking, Now what ?
    “Do you, um…want something to drink?”
    Just you. From your luscious lips and that sweet, wet spot between your legs. “No, I’m fine, thanks.”
    She looked away, running her fingers through her hair. “I’ve never done anything like this.” She drew in a shaky breath and it seemed her whole body trembled when she blew it out. “I…think you should know there hasn’t been anyone since Jamie, my husband…and no one else before him.” Her hands came up, fell back at her sides. “I have no idea where to begin.”
    It was the uncertainty that slayed him.
    Gabe hadn’t thought it possible to be so filled with wanting and so humbled in the same moment. Four years. He’d tasted the desire on her lips, felt her body vibrate with it. Had she held all that passion in check for four years, or given in to what nature had gifted her with and pleasured herself? He opted for the latter and the mental image that thought evoked sent a spear of lust straight to his cock.
    “I’m honored you chose me.” He pushed away from the door and took her hand, brought it to his lips, and held it there with his eyes closed, absorbing her warmth and accepting her precious gift. “Why don’t we start with this?” He skimmed his hands up her arms and over her shoulders to tunnel them through the heavy curtain of her hair. He tipped her face up and took her mouth. He wanted to go slow, but when she bowed her body into his, made that soft sound in the back of her throat… damn!
    Dragging his mouth from hers, Gabriel hesitated, giving her the opportunity to change her mind, and praying she wouldn’t.
    “Are you sure?” he asked.
    “I’m sure.”
    “Thank God. I was ready to beg.” He grazed his fingers along her jaw. “Would you have liked me to?”
    The corners of her mouth, moist from his kiss, lifted. “Maybe later.”
    Gabe swallowed, found