Page 23 of Her Captivated Hero

“I’ve been waiting over a week for this,” he said gruffly. His hand slid inside her jacket and touched the bare skin of her back, bringing her closer to him. She felt her nipples pebble against the silk of her dress and Gray slid his chest back and forth against her. She moaned at the sensation.

“Gray, why aren’t we going inside?” she whined.

“If we do, it’ll go too far. We’re still in the get-to-know-you stage.”

He wasn’t making any sense, but her foggy brain didn’t want to figure out the puzzle. She was too busy focusing all of her attention on the rasping sensation.

“I don’t care that you’re confusing. Just kiss me.” She gripped the short strands of his white-blond hair and pulled down his head so she could feel his lips on hers.

Soft.

Hard.

Demanding.

Coaxing.

Gray was everything. He plundered, and his tongue plunged into her mouth. Her fingers lost their grip, instead her arms twined around his neck and held on for dear life as she went liquid in his arms. So much sensation as Gray swirled his tongue against hers, lighting up nerves she never knew she possessed.

Vaguely she heard a whimper as her hair rippled down her back and he pulled at it, another riot of sensation in her scalp that added to the brilliant feelings that had her rocking her body against his. She was startled when she felt his bold erection pressed against her bottom, but then she felt a sense of pride to think that she evoked such a reaction from a man as strong as Gray.

He tugged on her hair and lifted his head. “Stop squirming, or we’re going to be arrested for indecent exposure.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” All sense of pride and pleasure fled.

“Hey, I’ve enjoyed every minute, don’t you doubt that. I love your reactions, they’re beautiful. I just need a minute to get myself under control. You pack quite the punch.”

Riya smiled and pressed her forehead against his chest. She took a deep breath. Then another.

“Come on, let’s get you inside,” he finally said.

“Thought that was too much of a temptation,” she whispered weakly into his shirtfront.

He smoothed his hand over the smooth black silk of her hair, then threaded his fingers through it and pulled softly so she would look up at him.

“Sassy. I like it.” He kissed her, his lips such a pleasure and provocation. The kiss ended far sooner than she wanted and somehow she found herself resting against the passenger seat. Riya looked at the fogged windows as Gray’s door slammed. In a blink she felt the rush of night air washing over her as Gray opened the passenger door. He caught one of her hands and plucked her purse from the floor at her feet and handed it to her.

Riya was thankful for his warmth as his arm wrapped around her shoulders as he led her up to her door. Gray withdrew her house keys at the same time her hormone-muddled brain remembered he had them.

He pushed open the door and stared into her eyes. “Dr. Patel, when can I see you again?”

Riya thought through her schedule. It was hellish for the next week, she planned to work twelve and fourteen hour days. “Anytime you want,” she answered.

“Riya, didn’t you say you had a presentation due at the end of the week?”

“Oh yeah, I did. So I was right, anytime this week is fine.”

Gray’s laughter rang out through the night. One big hand slid under her hair to caress the nape of her neck, his other arm wrapped around her waist and drew her close. She had just a moment to see his blue eyes gleam before his mouth covered hers. A tidal wave of pleasure swamped her. Riya closed her eyes and savored the long moments. When Gray finally lifted his head she couldn’t help the whimper of loss.

“Wednesday night then?”

She nodded her head.

“Now go inside and I’ll wait until I hear you lock the door and you tell me you’ve set your alarm.”

Riya shook her head to clear it. She stroked her fingers over his chest. “Wednesday,” she agreed with a small smile. She stepped over the threshold. “I promise to lock up.”

“And set your alarm,” he reminded her.