Page 46 of Romancing the Rumrunner
“They obviously did. Some more than others. That man could have hurt you if I hadn’t gotten there in time.”
Jessie waved him off. “Louis was right there, and so was your bouncer. I would have been fine.”
“Jessie…”
She couldn’t keep from smiling. “You seemed to enjoy it well enough.”
He stared at her, his irritation melting into something much more sensual. His smile grew and he pressed closer, showing her exactly how well he enjoyed it. “Is this what you had in mind, Miss Harlan, when you sang that song to me?”
He nipped at her lip and Jessie’s breath caught in her throat.
“Yes. I mean, no,” she said when he chuckled, the low, rumbling laugh full of virile male pride and heat. “I…I wasn’t singing to you, I just…”
He brushed his lips along hers, then deepened the kiss until all Jessie could feel and think about was his mouth against hers, the taste of the rum on his tongue, the silky softness of his hair sliding through her fingers.
“Is this what you want, Jessie?”
His voice had grown husky and sent shivers down her spine. Or maybe it was his lips trailing down her neck that was doing that? Or the way he nibbled at the pulse jumping in her throat?
Oh yes, this was exactly what she wanted.
His lips covered hers before she had half a second to think and he kissed her with a vigor that shocked her. She’d wanted to torment him, but she’d never dreamed she’d be quite so successful. Her surprise melted into desire as his onslaught continued and she kissed him back, pouring into it every ounce of passion, desire, fear, and anxiety that had been tumbling around inside her for the past few weeks.
His hand came up to cup her face, his thumb stroking down along her jaw, gently pressing on her chin until she opened to him. He explored her mouth until only his hard body pressed against hers kept her from slumping to the floor on legs that no longer wanted to hold her.
He leaned his forehead against hers and she was happy to find that she wasn’t the only one breathing as though she’d just run up a flight of stairs. He pulled away, his eyes burning into hers, and waited. She knew what he was doing. Giving her the chance to stop, to walk away. And she knew she should. But it would have been easier to cut off her own leg than walk away from him.
Instead, Jessie ran her hands up Tony’s chest, over the lapels of his suit, up the rock hard column of his neck where his pulse beat against her hand as though it would burst from his skin. She smiled, loving that his heart pounded forher. Then she slipped her fingers into his hair and pulled him back to her, drawing his tongue inside her mouth, tasting every inch of him, until their slow and steady kiss was no longer enough for either of them.
Tony’s hand dragged up her thigh, hiking her dress up with it, and the first brush of his hand on her bare skin had Jessie gasping his name. She brought her leg up to wrap around his waist and he bent, lifting her into his arms so she could wrap the other around him as well.
He pressed her back against the wall, letting the full hardness of his body rock against her aching core, and she arched into him with a moan. He covered her mouth with his own, swallowing down her cries as he kissed her. She yanked at his bow tie, tore at the buttons on his shirt, wanting,needing, to feel his skin against hers.
Jessie didn’t know where this frantic desire came from that had to be met before she went insane. She knew she should stop. Sheknewit would bring her nothing but trouble. But every brush of Tony’s lips against her skin made her care less and less.
She had never felt like this with Mario. Had never felt this instant rush of fire that ignited every inch of her body. There had been excitement, and enough heat to lead her to do things she wasn’t ready for. But nothing like this inferno that threatened to consume her. She whimpered, clutching at Tony, not even sure what she wanted, only knowing he was the only one who could give it to her.
The pounding of someone’s fist on the door startled them both into awareness of their surroundings. Tony let her slide down the length of his body, setting her dress to rights while they both struggled to catch their breath.
Someone knocked again. “Boss? You in there?”
“Yeah, whaddya want?” Tony growled.
“The crowd’s getting a little restless. Will Miss Harlan be going back on tonight?”
Tony glanced at her and Jessie gave him a small nod. “She’ll be out in a few.”
“All right, boss. I’ll tell the band.”
Jessie leaned her head against Tony’s chest, both relieved and disappointed that they’d been interrupted. She’d been ready to let him take her right there against the wall in his office. She couldn’t imagine what he must think of her. And yet, with every nerve ending still on fire and begging for his touch, she didn’t regret her actions. Only that they’d been interrupted.
Tony straightened her dress, brushed her hair back from her face, and then pulled her gently into his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead before his lips moved lower, kissing each cheek, trailing to her neck, to the hollow behind her ear. The tension built again, an aching burn that begged to be inflamed.
But reality had intruded and as much as she hated it, she knew she had to be smart and keep her head about her. She wanted Tony. More than she’d ever wanted any other man in her life. But now wasn’t the time. Not when all their secrets hung over their heads. It took more effort than she cared to admit, but she gently pushed him away.
“This isn’t a good idea, Tony.”
Tony wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her back against him, leaning down so he could whisper in her ear. “We might have to agree to disagree on that point, Jessie. But I’ll give you a fair warning. Unless you want to spend a lot more of your time in this office with me…” He ran a hand up her back, tangling his fingers in her hair. “Then you might want to be more careful with your song choices.”
