Next Song I Sing (NEXT TIME AROUND) by Donna McDonald Read Free Book Online Page B

“We can go back now. I just didn’t want to embarrass myself by asking you in the lounge.”
    Chloe walked out around him, heading to the door of his office.
    Jasper beat her to it by a fraction, his hand slamming against the edge, rattling the door in the jam as he pushed it closed again after she’d just opened it.
    “Wait!” he demanded, his voice rough and urgent. “You can’t leave yet.”
    Staring into Chloe’s very wide and now alarmed eyes, Jasper damned all of his years of politeness training for making him hesitate. There wasn’t any way to explain his irrational action of stopping her retreat, so instead he just told her what he wanted.
    “I need to try that kiss again,” he said desperately, spinning her back to face him and putting his mouth confidently on hers, aware this time and fully cognizant of everything about the amazing woman.
    At first Chloe was too shocked to do anything other than fit her mouth to Jasper’s as it lowered over hers. Then as his lips slid across hers expertly, she wanted to giggle at the little hum that escaped her throat. God, was he good at kissing. Especially when it was his idea.
    “Bliss,” Jasper said succinctly, breaking the first kiss before diving back for more.
    “Jasper,” Chloe whispered, her voice husky, her heart in her throat when his lips came to hers, this time hot and urgent instead of seeking permission.
    She laughed at her own excitement. Jasper was good-looking, sure—but who would have guessed he would kiss like he had to or die? He was a desperate, determined kisser, and Chloe liked his style much more than was smart since she’d just met the man that day.
    “Open your mouth, woman. Let me taste you,” he ordered, sliding his mouth over hers again, his tongue plunging deep when Chloe laughed and fell against him, letting him kiss her any way he wanted.
    When he felt Chloe’s weight sag against him in surrender, Jasper spread his legs to brace himself, and scooped her close to hold her upright. He hadn’t felt so masculine in ages, or so powerful as a male in a couple of decades. Chloe was lush, womanly, and felt so damn good he didn’t want to let go.
    “I simply can’t remember the last time I genuinely wanted a woman as much I want you right now,” Jasper admitted, not minding the mai-tai fueled giggle he got in response. In his view, they had gone way past the politeness of being mostly strangers the first time she’d wrapped her tongue around his in welcome.
    “This is too much—way too much,” Chloe protested, dipping her head away from Jasper’s mouth, his very talented mouth. “I’m—God, my divorce was just final a week ago. I really am not ready for anything this intense yet.”
    Jasper slid his hands up her sides until they rested under breasts that he knew would fill his hands and overflow. He wanted to crush her in his hands, make her needy and weak with wanting him again. He closed his eyes against how strong the urge was to do it no matter how much she protested it was happening too fast.
    He didn’t really care that she was right. But she was right.
    Then Jasper thought of the woman waiting in his room, a woman who was never going to make him feel even a fraction this needy, never had in the entire time he’d known her. Chloe’s divorce might be fresh and still emotionally raw for her, but his—Jasper decided—his was finally, blessedly over. And he didn’t even care that Max was going to say he told him so.
    He just wanted to make sure that some point in the future would bring him and Chloe back to kissing again.
    “Okay,” Jasper said reasonably, wanting to say or do anything that would inspire Chloe to think of this favorably. He slid hands away from her breasts to bring her close again, this time moving his hips against hers, making sure it was obvious what he wanted. “When you’re ready for this to happen, will you promise to let me know?”
    He moved his lips across her cheek again, thrilled all