Love Gone Wild: A Contemporary Romantic Comedy Read Free Page B

the mistake of looking into her eyes. He saw every emotion she was feeling: hope, fear, doubt, desire.
    "One kiss for the lady." Dane tipped her chin. With a forefinger, he trailed a gentle line down her jaw then cupped the back of her neck.
    Her hands crept up his chest, her fingertips resting on his collarbone. He lowered his head, his lips a whisper away. She stared expectantly at him, her shallow breath fanning his chin.
    Slowly, Dane captured her lips and tasted her. Pliant and warm, the tartness of the ginger ale still lingering on her mouth, Dane battled the desire to plunder. Heaven help him, he wished he could indulge in Marissa's desk fantasy. Flipping up the skirt— no. Dane gentled the kiss, settling his hands on her shoulders instead of tracing her spine, instead of molding her firm buttocks, instead of parting her legs and... stop thinking with your dick.
    Her mouth mimicked his, her tentative movements a powerful aphrodisiac. When her tongue dabbed the corner of his mouth, her teeth grazing his lower lip, raw heat surged into his loins. He wasn't going any farther. He couldn't. Dane pulled back and let her go.
    "Did I do something wrong?"
    Luminous green eyes focused on him. He felt a fine tremor shuddered through her, her desire echoing his. "No, princess. You did it right." Dane inhaled a steadying breath.
    "Is that it, then?"
    "Afraid so."
    The disappointment etched on her face twisted his guts into knots. If she'd been experienced at all...but she wasn't, so he refused to think about taking things to another level.
    She crossed her arms. "It was wonderful, Dane, but it doesn't qualify as toe-curling. I believe tongue contact is required for that."
    He laughed, grateful for the distraction. The simple kiss had shaken him—shaken him far more than it should have. "Tongue contact, huh? Are you criticizing my technique?"
    "No. But I'd rather like a French kiss," she said, looking at him hopefully.
    His body remained on full alert, ready to French, Italian, and Outer Mongolian kiss her. The combination of sincere green eyes and honest demands tested his self-control. But Marissa wasn't prepared to accept mere sexual gratification—no matter what her damned list said. Dane voiced his suspicion. "You're a virgin, aren't you?"
    "I don't wish to discuss my sexual status." Her indignation faded. "Is it obvious? I should hate to appear inexperienced for the person I choose for the one-night stand."
    Kissing Marissa Vanderson had been a mistake. Her determination for sexual conquest suddenly annoyed him. "Don't you want to lose your virginity with someone who cares about you? Why give it to some guy on a whim?"
    "Virginity is overrated. I'm twenty-two years old and I want to have sex."
    "You can't go around announcing that to the world. Not every guy is...well, is..."
    "Nice, like you?"
    "I'm not nice, Marissa. I just know how to control my libido." Barely.
    She spread her hands in supplication. "Then help me. Please, Dane."
    Oh no. He'd danced to this tune before and he was through listening to the song. "I just met you. What you do—crazy or not—is your business." He looked at the paperwork scattered on the desk then at the shelf crammed with books, files, and family photos. He didn't want to see the disappointment in her green eyes or that trembling lower lip. Damn that lip. No, damn both lips. He still tasted her, felt her against his mouth.
    "Suppose you just show me a few things on the list. And you could introduce me to your friends. I'll—I'll pay you."
    Marissa picked up the purse and proceeded to paw through it again. She lifted out a wallet. Plucking out ten bills, she handed them to him. $100 bills. A thousand dollars sat in crisp splendor on his palm.
    "Is it enough?" she asked anxiously.
    Dane's hand fisted around the money. "I'm not for hire."
    The door to the office opened and Beatrice sashayed inside, holding a tray full of drinks and her usual saucy smile. "Charlie's been asking about you,