Free Jaguar Pride by Terry Spear Page A

her not talking and keeping her feelings to herself. On the other hand, he could understand Melissa feeling a little reluctant to be that open with him right at the first.
    â€œWhat are…you thinking? About this?” she asked, motioning to them and the bed. “About, well…”
    â€œUs?”
    â€œIt’s probably too soon, isn’t it?”
    He smiled again. “If you don’t think I want this…”
    â€œJust because we want it doesn’t mean it would be good for us.”
    Okay, immediately he was thinking sex again. When he shouldn’t be. She might not be thinking that way at all. “Are you trying to talk me or yourself out of it?”
    She didn’t say anything for a bit, but just appeared to be pondering the notion. Then she looked up at him and said, “Both.”
    He chuckled. “Come here.”
    She hesitated.
    â€œWe don’t have to do anything. Just…sleep.”
    She let out her breath on a heavy sigh. “You don’t want to just sleep.” Then she moved in next to him, and he wrapped his arms around her. “Do you?”
    â€œHell no.” He leaned down for a kiss. All he should want was a soft, sweet kiss meant for first dates, but the wine on her lips teased him into wanting more.
    He didn’t want her to feel as though he was coming on too strong or being too indecisive. When the hell had he ever given this much thought to kissing a woman? When he was worried about how she’d feel.
    He kissed her again, a little bolder this time, his hand on her shoulder, everything else forgotten but the way her soft lips met his, brushed his, and sweetly kissed him back. But they were pressuring a bit more, following his when he pulled slightly back. He went for it again. A little more force, a tad hotter, and then she did what she should never have done if she hadn’t wanted more. She darted her tongue out and licked his mouth. A teasing, playful gesture that made his blood roar with need. Already his erection was pressing for release.
    When he tried to gain entrance to her sweet mouth, she let him, moving her body against him and rubbing his arousal, flaming his blood.
    His tongue penetrated her mouth, swept in and conquered, his body sliding on top of hers, though he was barely conscious of having taken over so quickly.
    Her hands stroked his hair, her fingernails grazing his scalp in a sexy, intriguing way, and he was suddenly between her legs, pressing his cock against her mound, rubbing and ready to come in his boxers.
    Their tongues tangled as she shifted her hands to his buttocks and stroked him through the cotton. And then, coming to his senses, though he sure as hell didn’t want to, he kissed her lightly against the mouth, ending the kiss but dying to fulfill his raging needs.
    He moved off her, saw the way she was smiling at him wickedly, and wasn’t quite sure how to take it. Which is why he couldn’t do this. He thought she might not be ready to jump into a new relationship. Hell, he wasn’t sure he could do it—and he blamed it all on how much he enjoyed working with her and didn’t want to ruin a good thing.
    â€œThanks,” she said and kissed his cheek. “I…needed that.”
    â€œI needed more,” he said quite honestly.
    She grinned at him. And he was glad he could tell her that he wasn’t turning away from her because he really wanted to.
    â€œBut I think that’s all I can handle…for now.” Then he smiled back.
    And she sighed. “Totally works for me.”
    Then, to his surprise, she snuggled against him. “If I make you too hot, just push me away.”
    â€œNot on your life,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m prepared to suffer.”
    She chuckled and he smiled. He wouldn’t be able to make the same concession the next time they were in bed together like this.
    ***
    The next day, after driving three