Protect and Serve by Gwyneth Bolton Page A

me.”
    “There was no reason!”
    “Then look at me, damn it!”
    She lifted her head, and her ice-glazed eyes were pooling with tears. “You have no right to come in here and try and boss me around. I don’t have to answer to you, Jason. Get out of my house. I don’t want to see you…Just leave, please.”
    Her bottom lip quivered again, and this time it was more pronounced. She appeared to be just on the edge of breaking.
    He didn’t know if he wanted to see her broken. He could clearly see that she was hanging on by a thread.
    Leaning forward, he cupped her face in his hand, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. He had no idea what he was doing or why he felt the need to touch her, to comfort her. But he had to, even though he was the one bringing her the stress.
    Her lip shook even more, and the tears that had once been content to remain pooled in her eyes started their way down her cheeks.
    His heart started beating faster, causing a powerful thud in his chest. It was official; he was the biggest jerk in the city…probably the state…most likely the entire country….
    Letting his hand move to caress her cheek and wipe away the tears, he let out the breath he’d had no idea he was holding. “Put us both out of our misery, Pen, please.”
    He sighed and placed his lips firmly over hers, kissing her with years of pent-up energy and frustration.
    The startled gasp out of her mouth barely registered, and he used it as an opportunity to forge ahead with his tongue. He moved his hands and arms from her face to her back, pulling her over to him and scooping her into his lap. She felt so good against him. Every luscious part of her seemed to be made just for his hands, his only. He continued to taste and touch her even when she started to wiggle and tried to break away.

     
    Penny placed her hands on Jason’s chest, pushing him away. Even as she attempted to do so, she couldn’t seem to get herself to stop kissing him. His taste was everything she remembered, multiplied over and over again. Lord, she could barely resist him.
    Insane.
    That’s what she had to be. She needed to get her behind on a plane to Los Angeles immediately.
    The strength of his hold nearly took her breath away. His thighs felt like the perfect spot to rest her behind. What she wouldn’t have given to just be able to nestle closer to his rippling chest. His muscled arms wrapped around her felt so right. Yes, she needed to stop this now.
    She made an attempt to close her lips, pursing them as she tried to finesse her way off his lap. All she managed to do was make him squeeze her tighter and cause him to nip and nibble on her bottom lip.
    She opened her eyes and kept her mouth closed until he nipped her a little sharper.
    His gaze, hooded in desire, said more to her than words could have at that point. And as if trying to prove just that, he only said one word. “Open.”
    No way. She tried to push away.
    He held her and nipped her lip again. His tug softened as he whispered, “Open.” It was more of a plea now.
    The desire, the plea, they weakened her. Hesitantly, she yielded her lips to his demand. She wanted to kiss him forever. What did that mean?
    It means you need to get your behind on the next plane to L.A.
    His tongue plundered her mouth at will as his hands roamed her body. Before she knew it, she was beginning to writhe and moan on his lap. She couldn’t help it. Only when he halted the kiss did she get any semblance of control. Except for the panting breaths and the shaking body, she was the picture of poise.
    “Tell me.”
    “Tell you…Tell you what?” she panted.
    Where had all the air gone? Why did it feel like such a struggle to breathe? What had he done to her?
    “Tell me what I need to hear, Penny.”
    Only a jerk would make her forget herself, forget she needed to protect her heart, forget it was too late, forget there wasn’t a future for the two of them.
    Scooting off his lap and standing as best she could on