Free Be Mine by Jennifer Crusie Page A

her thighs and pinched her.
    “And what’s wrong with you? You’re all flushed.”
    “I think I have a fever.” Emily swallowed. “I may lie down for a while.” She felt Richard’s head between her legs again, the softness of his hair on her thighs, and then she felt his tongue on her skin, moving upward again.
    “I really have to lie down,” she told Jane. “Hold all my calls for an hour.”
    “Let me get you an aspirin,” Jane said.
    “No, I have everything I need right here. Just go away.” His fingers were pulling at the silk again.
    “Emily!” Jane looked concerned. “You’re really
ill.”
    He slipped his tongue inside her.
    “No.” Emily grasped the edge of her desk. “Go away and leave me alone.” His tongue was thrusting harder and harder against her, and she could feel the waves of heat surging through her. If Jane didn’t get out of the office, she was going to scream and fall off the chair right in front of her.
    Jane looked hurt. “All right. Call if you need me.”
    Emily was beyond speech. She closed her eyes and thought only of the heat and Richard between her legs. Vaguely she heard the door close behind Jane, and then Richard was pushing the chair back, pulling her to the floor, his mouth hard on hers, his fingers pulling off her panties, and then suddenly he was hard inside her, and she moaned and bit his shoulder through his jacket. He thrust harder and harder, and she exploded under him, sobbing his name, arching closer to him as she came. When she stopped, gasping in her satisfaction, he was still there, stroking inside of her, and she opened her eyes and looked at him.
    He wasn’t the Richard she knew anymore; the control was gone and he was as crazed by love for her as she was for him. He’s mine, she thought, and her whole body pulsed with his. She drew her fingernails down his back, and felt him shudder under the thick cloth of his suit. She arched and clenched under him, and he responded to her every move, and she laughed with the pure joy of knowing she could make him shiver with need. He felt so good inside her. She pulled his face down to hers and bit his lip, and he moaned and his release had a jarring suddenness.
    He fell against her, his face buried in her neck, his body heavy on hers. She stroked her fingers lightly over his neck and ran them through his hair, and he moved his head against her hands.
    “I love you, Richard,” she said, and stopped, appalled at her stupidity. He will now set the land-speed record for leaving an office, she thought.
    He raised himself off her, braced above her on his hands and looked down at her, his eyes half-closed, his mouth swollen from making love to her.
    “I love you, too,” he said. And then he laughed shakily. “I can’t believe I’m saying this. I love you, Emily.” He kissed her forehead. “I love you.” His lips were soft on hers. “I love you.” She felt his mouth move down against the base of her throat. “I love you.”
    He kissed her again, and she responded with all the feeling she’d been denying. He rolled to his side and pulled her over on top of him, sliding his hands down the back of her silk blouse and over the bulk of her pulled-up skirt. His hands cupped her to him, and he kissed her over and over again until she gasped for air. Then he tipped her gently back onto the floor and sighed.
    “I’ve got to get out of here,” he said finally. “If I don’t, we’re both going to be rolling around naked when Jane comes in to check on you.” He kissed her once more, and then got to his feet, dressing himself as he stood.
    He looked down at her, tousled on the floor, and smiled. “This is the way I want to remember you,” he said, and reached down to help her to her feet. When she stood beside him, he pulled her to him and kissed her, pulling her skirt back down over her hips.
    When he stopped, Emily sighed and stepped away, tucking in her blouse. “Do I look okay?” she asked, and he smiled and