All or Nothing by Catherine Mann Read Free Book Online Page B

waters held some answers. Jayne’s ocean-fresh scent gave him only a second’s warning before she took his face in her hands and kissed him.
    * * *
    Desperate to forget the past, Jayne sealed her lips to Conrad’s. Right or wrong, she just needed to lose herself in the feel of his body against hers. The roar of the waves crashing against the shore echoed the elemental restlessness inside her.
    With a low growl, he wrapped his strong, muscled arms around her. He took her mouth as thoroughly as she took his. The taste of coffee from dinner mingled with the flavor of him. And what a mix of the familiar and a first kiss wrapped up in one delicious moment. Goose bumps sprinkled along her arms, shimmering through her, as well.
    Her hands slid from the warm bristle of his face to his shoulders and she held on. Because, God, this was what she’d wanted since the second she’d sensed him walk up behind her in the casino, drawn by the intoxicating warmth and bay rum scent of him. The way his hands smoothed back her hair, stroked along her arms, stoked a familiar heat inside her. She’d been right to instigate this. Here, in his arms, she didn’t have to think about the pain of the past. To hell with peace and resolving their problems. Rehashing old issues just brought more pain. She wanted this bliss.
    And then goodbye.
    His mouth trekked to her jaw as he dipped lower, his late-day beard a sweet abrasion against her neck. Her head lolled to the side, a moan rolling up her throat. She stroked along the fine texture of his tux over bold muscles, up and into his hair. Combing through his impossibly soft strands, she urged him to give more, take more. She tugged gently, bringing his mouth back to hers.
    Bittersweet pleasure rippled through her, reminding her how good they’d been together. Her breasts ached for his touch and she wriggled to get nearer, pressing against the hard wall of his chest. She struggled to get closer, swinging a knee over and bumping the gearshift.
    “Damn it,” Conrad’s muffled curse whispered against her mouth but the thought that he might stop was more than she could bear.
    She shoved her hands under his tuxedo coat, sinking her fingernails into the fine fibers of his shirt. Three years of being without sex—without him —crested inside her, demanding she follow through. His hand skimmed up her leg, tunneling under her dress as he’d done years ago. The rasp of his calluses along her skin ignited a special kind of pleasure and the promise of more.
    Except that private theater box had been a lot roomier than his Jaguar. And she wanted more than just his hands on her.
    “Take me...” she gasped.
    “I intend to do just that.” His voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating against her.
    “Not here. Home. Take me home.”
    He angled back to look at her as if gauging the risk of pausing. He grazed his knuckles along her cheek. “Are you sure?”
    “Absolutely.” As sure as anyone could be about making love with the person who’d broken her heart. She scored her nails down his back. “I know what I want. I won’t change my mind about being with you tonight.”
    It wasn’t a matter of winning or losing anymore. It was just a matter of stopping the ache and praying for some of that peace. Because wanting him was tearing her apart.
    Angling into him, she nipped his bottom lip. “Conrad, I think it’s time we break in your new furniture.”
    * * *
    Conrad hauled Jayne into the private elevator and willed the doors to close faster. He may have hoped to clear the air of past issues during their drive before jumping right to sex, but now that Jayne had taken that decision out of his hands, he was all in.
    He’d made record time driving back to the casino, determined to get to the penthouse before she changed her mind. God help him—both of them—if she backed out now. After tasting her again, touching her again, he was on fire from wanting to be with her. Wanting to bury himself heart deep inside her