Page 33 of Shark’s Edge

“You looked like you could use this,” she said, offering me one of the bottles.

“Thanks. I think you’re right.” I cracked the top open and drank half the bottle in one long pull. “I feel like my stomach turned inside out Friday night.”

“Listen, Mr. Shark. I told the police all I knew. I really don’t think it could’ve been from my kitchen.”

I closed the space between us because I couldn’t stand to be so far away from her when it was just the two of us there. A wooded area lined the park on the back side of the building, so no one had a reason to come back here. The parking lot and all the sports fields were in the opposite direction. It was doubtful we’d be interrupted.

“Why are you here today? At this sports park, I mean? I’ve never seen you working in the snack bar before.”

“Oh.” She thumbed over her shoulder toward the building. “I mentor a girls’ club. Middle and high school girls—young entrepreneurs.”

She was fumbling for words, and for some reason it turned me on. Normally the insecure type did nothing for me, but I’d seen the fire in this woman’s spirit. I knew it was solely a reaction to being near me.

My dick twitched as I put the pieces together.

Yep. That’s what was doing it.

I nodded in approval. I appreciated business owners who gave back to the community and especially to youth groups. Having had the rough upbringing I had, I knew the value of outreach programs like hers. “That’s a great idea. You’ll have to introduce me to your group.”

“What makes you think they’d want to meet you?”

I cocked my head to the side. Be serious. I was on the Fortune 500 list for the past ten years in a row. And that was just for starters. I was a self-made success story, and I had a ton of valuable information and advice to teach young business people. She knew it, I knew it—hell, even those high school girls knew it.

“Abbigail.” Her name left my mouth on a sigh, and it felt so right on my tongue. Just like I knew she’d taste so right there too. Her lips. Her skin. Her pussy. Yes. All of it would be perfection. I took another step toward her, invading her personal space exactly like I had in my office earlier in the week. She was so easily dominated. She wanted me to take control of her pleasure. She all but begged me to with her vast green stare as she watched me move incrementally closer.

“Hmmm?” She tilted her head back. That particular way women do. She looked up at me, screaming kiss me but not saying a word. My cock knew what she was asking. The bugger was jerking in my shorts with every bat of her eyelashes.

We’ll get there, big guy. This one’s going to be worth the chase.

“Why is it?” I ran my thumb just above her eyebrow, smoothing out the line of tension that formed there. “Why is it I can’t keep my hands off you when you’re near me?”

“I— I don’t know. Is that an actual question?”

“Mmmmm.” I hummed low in my throat and traced my thumb around her eye to the apple of her cheek, where the sun had kissed her pale skin. She glowed a rosy pink from the afternoon heat. I cradled her face with my other hand, reaching my strong fingers around the back of her head while I caressed her lips with my thumbs.

“I’m going to kiss you, Abbigail,” I growled roughly.

“Yes,” she breathed out in response.

“I wasn’t asking. I know you’ll let me. It’s written all over your face.” I moved my mouth closer to hers. “Your glassy eyes.”

Closer.

“Your sharp little breaths.”

Closer.

“Your parted lips.”

Closer still. Until my lips were just a hair’s breadth away from hers.

“I can smell how much you want me. I can smell it on your skin.” I touched my lips to hers but not a true kiss.

“From between your thighs.”

Then I crashed my mouth together with hers. Mastering her lips apart with my tongue. Calling hers forward, only to retreat when she responded. Again. And again. When a frustrated mewl worked its way up her throat, I gave her what she wanted, twining my tongue with hers, stabbing and thrusting in deeply until she panted through her nose for air.

“That’s good.” I pulled back, grinning. “I can definitely work with that.”