Free Gambling on the Bodyguard by Sarah Ballance Page B

at the view as he spoke, but then he tugged at her hand, tipping her just enough in his direction that she landed solidly against him. He released her hand, captured her face. “Don’t ever stop looking, Colorado. Don’t ever settle for anything less.”
    She opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but she didn’t get the chance before his lips touched hers. Claimed them. Fueled something inside her—a fear that they’d get back to Vegas and she’d lose the night, that the spell would be broken. That he’d have to work. Anything, anything but Rome.
    He broke free, only to slant his head and go in deeper. It was that whole tongue-mating thing she’d read in romance novels, only it wasn’t some cliché. It was real. So real.
    She muttered something unintelligible to her own ears and slid her hands under his shirt. His skin was unbelievably hot. When his abs flexed under her fingertips, she had to fight the urge to peel off his shirt, to see what lay beneath. Perfect , that little voice whispered. Had to be utter physical perfection. Could be nothing less.
    He returned the favor on the shirt, drawing her close, then taking over. His hard, incredible body was a force, his kisses a demand. And she wanted more.
    She wanted everything.
    The ache between her thighs turned crippling when he backed her against a rock and worked one of his legs between hers, the sweet tease of the pressure not enough. He’d looped one arm around her back to cushion her against the hard surface, but there was no saving her from him.
    He broke free, and for a single terrifying moment she feared he’d back off again. But then he dove in, this time with his free hand caressing her intimately through her pants. She arched against the pressure, whimpering, and felt his mouth stretch into a smile. “You like that, Colorado?”
    She couldn’t have answered if she tried. She was embarrassingly close to having an orgasm, fully clothed, in public. The sun was low, but not yet touching the horizon, and yet she still had the undying urge to have sex, right there on government property. White-hot need grew and splintered, every jagged edge dragging her closer. And there she was, tearing at his clothes, needing him closer, needing to feel his skin, while he toyed with her.
    “I would like nothing more than to fuck you,” he said. “Right now.”
    Good to know we’re on the same page .
    “But I don’t have a condom on me, so I’m going to have to improvise.”
    She nodded, not even caring what he meant. “Just touch me.”
    “That’s exactly what I had in mind.”
    In public . Reality gave her a mild slap. Was she crazy? “Is anyone coming?”
    “Just you, any minute now.” He moved his hand under her sweater, and her nipples tightened painfully in anticipation of his touch. But instead, he flattened his hand against her belly and worked his way south until his fingers were buried between her thighs. “Do you have any idea how much I want to be inside you right now?”
    Oh, God oh, God oh, God. “Maybe a little,” she managed to whimper.
    “Do you like having your nipples sucked?” He asked her so casually, like he wasn’t curling his fingers inside her, sending showers of sparks to the edges of her peripheral vision to scatter in the desert breeze. “Do you want to feel my mouth on you?”
    Yes. Yes, she did. She nodded. Barely. Maybe. That had never been a thing for her before, but she didn’t think there was any way he could touch her that she wouldn’t love.
    “Lift your shirt.”
    Arms shaking, she obeyed. The cool air on her bare breasts sent yet another jolt of desire through her, and his appreciation as she bared herself to him left her burning.
    He dipped his head and closed his mouth on one stiff peak.
    Her knees honest-to-goodness gave out on contact, but he had her. Or she had him. She hadn’t realized it, but she was riding his hand like a pony, and the scrape of his teeth against her nipple was making her buck.
    And