Skintight by Susan Andersen Page B

Then he cupped her breast in his hand, reveling in its warm weight as he kissed his way down to her nipple.
    Reaching it, he pressed a gentle smooch on its rigid tip, then opened his mouth to suck the tiny morsel inside.
    She inhaled sharply and thrust her breasts up for closer attention. Almost immediately, however, she slid her hands down to his chest and thrust him away. “Too much,” she panted. “Oh, God, Jax, too much, too soon.” She slid off the hood.
    He begged to differ. He thought the time was absolutely right to lay her back and rip those little panties aside.
    â€œForgive me,” she panted. “I’ve never—” A wild laugh escaped her and she shook her head, sending her soft curls floating in a wild nimbus around her head. “Oh, man, I can’t believe what I was about to do in the middle of a parking garage.” She sidled skittishly toward the car door.
    An image of the two of them humping on the hood of her car flashed through his head. She had a point. This was hardly the place for his big seduction. He was stunned at how quickly he’d lost control of the situation.
    Remember the plan. He sucked in and blew out a quiet breath. Staring at her, he licked his bottom lip, tasting a weak reminder of her flavor. “Take me home with you.”
    She was tempted; he could tell she was. But she shook her head. “I can’t,” she said, edging closer to the driver-side door. “I’m sorry—you must think I’m such a tease, but I just…can’t. I’ve only known you a day.” She pulled the door open and climbed inside.
    He resisted swearing a blue streak and said mildly instead, “I’ll call you,” as she pulled the door closed.
    She nodded, but started the engine without further comment. And the next thing he knew, he was standing in an echoing, concrete cavern, sporting a raging hard-on and the beginnings of an equally raging headache as he watched her taillights blink red before disappearing up the ramp.
    â€œShit,” he said, thrusting his hands through his hair. “SHIT!”
    God, he was a chump. Such a big agenda, and all he had to show for it was the need for a cold shower and the sound of his own voice as it bounced back at him off the walls.
    His mouth tightened as it dawned on him that he’d just been played. “You must think I’m such a tease,” he said in a vicious falsetto. His voice dropped back down into its normal register. “No shit, baby.”
    She’d sucked him in, turned him inside out, then left him twisting in the wind. Shoving his hands deep in his pockets, he stalked toward the elevator.
    It damn well wouldn’t happen again.

CHAPTER FIVE
    T REENA POUNDED ON Carly’s door. Excited barking immediately commenced within the condo and she winced, giving her wristwatch a guilty glance when her friend’s voice called out with patent irritation, “Knock it off, already—I’m coming! Rufus, Buster, be quiet!” When the dogs continued barking she heard Carly’s frustrated snarl and an exasperated, “Oh, for God’s sake!”
    The door whipped open.
    Her friend’s blond hair looked spikier than usual, and her face was scrubbed clean of all makeup. With her big blue eyes flashing fire, she opened her mouth to say something that Treena didn’t doubt for an instant would be rude and to the point. But after a quick look at her, she merely said, “Whoa. Come on in.” She pushed the two mutts dancing around her feet aside to make room.
    â€œI’m sorry,” Treena said, following them into the short entryway. “I know it’s late.”
    â€œForget it.” Carly led the way into her colorful living room. “Have a seat. You want a cup of tea? Or a shot of tequila, maybe? Here, let me get Rags out of your way.” She studied Treena as she swept a long-haired black cat off an overstuffed chintz-covered