Page 36 of Enemies Under One Roof

It was an innocent gesture, one she’d invited, but still her treacherous body trembled, and her breath hitched.

He froze and she glanced up, something at her height she rarely had to do, to hold his hooded gaze.

‘Okay?’ he murmured.

She nodded, speech beyond her.

Again, he tugged the tab, and she held her breath as it came free inch by inch. His eyes followed the zip, and so did hers, revealing her black silk shirt, the outline of her lacy black bra and nipples.

He swallowed and glanced away. ‘Are you freezing?’ he asked, his voice low. She leant closer to hear him and caught another intoxicating hint of mint and him.

She nodded again.

‘I better get this off you then.’ Gently he peeled the jacket off her shoulders, over her wrists and dropped it to the ground before rubbing her arms in slow steady strokes.

As though she were hypnotised, she couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it while he continued the sweet torture. For a second? An age? She had no way of telling.

‘Still cold?’ he murmured, his breath warm against her face.

An inferno of desire scorched tracks along her skin, but it wasn’t enough; he’d ignited a fire that she didn’t want to quelch.

‘Very,’ she lied.

His eyes flared. ‘I’ll have to try harder then.’

Her pulse jumped at the delicious promise of his words. ‘Please,’ she whispered.

He drew her into his embrace, chest against chest, hip against hip, and began the same tantalising dance up and down her back.

Her hands, clenched at her sides, refused to stay dormant any longer and wrapped around his waist.

He jolted, and her pulse leapt, yet he didn’t stop the gentle movements.

‘Better?’ he muttered against her ear.

She should put an end to this delicious madness, but she couldn’t bring herself to form the words why she couldn’t have him, ever. That she didn’t deserve him or the feelings he evoked. She was a murderer. Yet the strength to keep fighting the endless battle of her out-of-control attraction to him eluded her with every passing second. She hungered for the warmth and comfort only he could provide.

Just for a little bit longer.

Just a little bit more.

She reared back slightly and shook her head, unable to deny what she wanted. With no attempt to hide her longing she focused on his lips, firm and full. She wanted, needed, them all over her body. Heat pooled between her legs and she bit down on her lip.

A muscle ticked at his jaw, but he remained statue still as she reached onto tippy-toes to bring her mouth to his.

This!

This was what she’d been waiting for.

His taste flowing into her.

The rasp of his jaw beneath her fingertips.

She whimpered and lifted her hands to the back of his head, tangling her fingers in his hair, pressing him closer, hunger for more overtaking everything.

He jerked, his arms, tightening, crushing her breasts into his chest.

Her body sang.