Free His to Possess by Opal Carew Page B

even with her sketchy knowledge of Philadelphia,
     she soon realized they were heading out of the city, and she knew he lived right downtown,
     very near where she’d first seen him on the street.
    They didn’t talk much on the ride, but when they pulled up in front of her building
     and she turned to the car door, he rested his hand on her arm.
    “Jessica, I enjoyed our evening together. It was good to talk about Rafe. It’s been
     a long time.”
    She smiled. “I enjoyed tonight, too.”
    Then her gaze caught his and she sat, mesmerized, as he leaned toward her. His lips
     brushed hers lightly at first then he deepened the kiss. She couldn’t help it. She
     melted against him. His arms came around her, holding her tighter to his body. His
     persuasive lips moved on hers with passion, filling her with longing.
    She wanted him. She knew it. She’d always known it.
    But they couldn’t.
    He seemed to sense her withdrawal and he released her. She stared into his intense
     blue eyes, so filled with desire.
    “I … uh … have a roommate,” she stammered. But, of course, he already knew that.
    He smiled and stroked her cheek with one finger, sending a tremor through her.
    “Jessica, if I’d wanted you in my bed this evening, you’d already be there.”
    He gestured to the chauffeur and the man hopped out of the car and opened her door.
     Dane followed her out of the car and walked her to the entrance of her apartment.
     Once there, he waited while she unlocked the door and pulled it open, then he took
     her hand and kissed it, his lips brushing her skin lightly, sending shimmering awareness
     through her.
    “Just remember. If you ever change your mind about pursuing something more than a
     boss-employee relationship, all you have to do is say the word.”
    At that, he held the door open until she was inside, then he turned and disappeared
     into his black limousine. She watched it drive away, wishing she’d thrown caution
     to the wind and leapt back into the car with him.
    *   *   *
    Why did he have to say that?
    Jessica lay in bed staring at the ceiling. She had decided when she’d first found
     out that Dane owned Ranier Industries that there would be no hanky-panky between them.
     They worked together. He was her boss.
    But spending the evening together getting to know one another had torn away the business
     veneer she had used to shield herself from his intense magnetism. He wasn’t just a
     business man. He had a brother he cared about. Whom he missed. She’d seen a glimpse
     of the emotion in his eyes, even though he’d done a heroic job shielding it from her.
     It made him more human to her. A man with feelings. Vulnerabilities.
    She closed her eyes and tried to forget that kiss in the limo. She’d been so sure
     he wanted to come up here and take her, just like he’d taken her that one night they
     were together. And she’d wanted him to, despite her lame protest.
    She closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep, but she tossed and turned all night,
     haunted by the memory of that one night she’d spent with Dane. She ached for him.
     When she finally fell asleep, she was plagued by dreams of their naked bodies entwined,
     his powerful hands gliding over her skin, his muscular body crushing her to the bed
     while he thrust into her again and again. She woke up, drenched with sweat, the sheets
     twisted around her legs, wishing she could ease her yearning.
    As she showered, scrubbing her skin with her loofah sponge, she wondered how she would
     get through the day. Now that he’d reawakened the intense attraction between them,
     she didn’t know how she could ignore it.
    She towel dried her hair, then put on her makeup and dressed. Over breakfast, Melanie
     asked how the evening had gone, and Jessica told her a few details about the event
     and Dane’s networking, but said nothing about the dance or, heaven forbid, the kiss.
     She knew it sounded pretty dry, so soon the conversation turned