Free Dinner With a Bad Boy by Kathy Lyons Page B

the condo. Even then Su Ling waited until she heard the rumble of the elevator doors shutting before releasing a heavy sigh and letting her head drop back onto the couch. Only then did she dare look at Mitch.
    He hadn't relaxed one iota. If anything he held himself more rigid, haughtier. "What did you want to talk to me about?" he asked stiffly.
    She sighed. "Try to understand. My mother's afraid. She doesn't know who I am when I'm with you. Hell, sometimes I don't even recognize myself."
    "Do you know what an accusation of drug dealing will do to my career?" he snapped. He turned toward her, the movement stiff with suppressed anger.
    Su Ling straightened, trying to explain. "She's just afraid. She won't go to the school board. She didn't mean it."
    "Yes, she did. She'd eat glass to protect you." He sounded envious.
    "She won't do it. I swear. I'll make sure." Then she waited in silence, studying his expression as he at last softened, the anger slowly draining from his body.
    Eventually he shifted, wearily settling onto the couch beside her. "She's trying to control you."
    Su Ling shrugged. "She's my mother."
    "That makes it okay?" He didn't even try to hide the disgust in his voice.
    "Of course it's not okay. But that's the way she is."
    "Only because you allow it." He twisted to look at her. "Stand up to her. Tell her to mind her own business."
    Su Ling shook her head, horrified by the family breech that would occur if she took the direct approach. "I still do what I want. It just takes more effort. More finesse."
    Mitch exhaled a long, loud sigh that seemed to sink him down into her couch. "So you manipulate her while she manipulates you. Can't you see how much energy you waste on that nonsense? Just take control. Like you did with your job."
    She squirmed nervously on the couch. "This is my family. I can't just quit them."
    "Why not?" Then before she could argue he straightened up, pressing his point further. "Don't you ever do what you want, what feels right, and damn the consequences?"
    "Mitch—"
    "Listen to your gut," he interrupted. "What do you feel right now?"
    She hesitated, only now understanding what she wanted, what she felt.
    "You're thinking too much," he pressed. "Just say it. I won't be shock—"
    He didn't get any farther. Su Ling took over his mouth midword, kissing him with a ferocity that shocked her. And for the first time in her life her actions felt absolutely, totally, and perfectly right.

 
     
     
    Chapter 5

     
    Mitch felt completely lost in a maelstrom of emotions, feelings, and thoughts, none of which made any sense, but all of which felt absolutely wonderful. As he kissed Sue's mouth, held her perfect breasts, even stroked the satiny flesh of her perfect thighs, he knew he had finally found it. He'd spent years searching for it, aching for this kaleidoscope of experience—wonder and hunger and even that razor-thin edge of fear all wrapped up in one amazing moment.
    But this engulfed him in more than a moment. Minutes, hours, eons of sensations spun through him, taking him well beyond what he'd ever been, and centering him in the most unlikely place—in a woman. In Sue.
    Never had he wanted to pleasure a woman more. Never had he felt more fear that she wouldn't like his body or his touch or him. And yet she left no time for fear. Her first kiss robbed him of breath, and from that moment on they seemed to adore each other—together.
    He wanted to touch, taste, and exalt every part of her. He left her mouth to pull open her blouse, kissing down her neck as he found her incredible breasts. Impatiently pushing away her bra, he stroked and squeezed them, thrilling at her gasps as he took her coral nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue.
    She began tugging at his shirt, stripping it away from him, but he barely noticed until he felt the satin slide of her skin against his. And as their naked flesh touched, his body became attuned to hers. He felt her quiver against him, communicating