Wildcard Read Free Page B

Wrapping his arms around her, he let the terrible music and all the annoying patrons melt away as he paid homage to the perfection of her lips.
    As he’d expected and hoped, after her initial shock she relaxed. Her lips softened against his as she started to kiss him back. Caressing slowly up and down her back, his hands coasted to a stop on her hips. He itched to slide them down, cup her ass, and drag her up hard against him.
    Stopping the kiss for a moment, his lips lingered close to hers as he fought the urge to just throw her up on the narrow table in the corridor and get to work. God, he hadn’t had such a strong reaction to a woman in years. Perhaps ever. All he knew was he had to have her, get himself balls deep in her luscious softness before the night was out. Whatever it took.
    He nodded at the door. “We should go…” His voice was a hushed, raw whisper he barely recognized as he nibbled at her ear. Anything to keep her off balance and soft in his arms. He read her indecision from the sudden set of her body.
    “We won’t do anything you don’t want to, I swear,” he started, only to be cut off by her soft exhale and chuckle.
    “Oh come on, I’m a big girl. I think I figured out where this is going…just, why?”
    He shrugged and quoted a line from an old movie. “Why ask why? When how is so much more fun.”
    He slid an arm behind her for support as they made their way toward the door. He needed to get her out of here and build on the atmosphere he’d already developed. On their own, without the risk someone would walk in on them, he knew she’d open up to him. From there it was a quick, hot ride to possessing her completely.
    Realizing he had a problem, Michael made a show of patting his pockets. Unless he wanted to seduce her in his car, he was going to need to grab some keys from one of the guys. One of them always rented a cheap motel room, just in case.
    “Damn, gotta get my keys from the gang. Won’t take long.”
    Keeping her arm looped in his, as much to balance her as to make sure she went where he wanted, Michael turned her in the direction of the rest of his squad. Once there, he nudged Parra in the side.
    “Hey man, you got the keys?” He jerked his head toward Jasmine, indicating they were good and ready to seal the deal.
    Parra glanced over. He’d been sitting by himself for some reason, and his eyes widened a little as he started to smile.
    “Damn Mikey, who’s the chica?”
    Michael didn’t smile back. Already he could tell Parra was interested, his body language and the syntax of his speech were both intrusive. His catch had obviously wandered off and Michael wasn’t in the mood for Parra swooping in and trying to steal his.
    “Her name is Jasmine. And she’s fine.”
    The last part oozed with unspoken warning to back off. He’d done them all a favor and picked the wildcard. She could have been a two-bagger, but just because she’d turned out to be stunning didn’t mean Parra could move in and try his luck.
    “Mikey aren’t you going to introduce us?” Jasmine’s dark eyes twinkled with amusement as she looked from him to his friend. Michael swallowed the growl that threatened to rumble up from his chest. Damned if that wasn’t just like a woman.
    He was already annoyed Parra had called him “Mikey.” It was a stupid pet name, one Parra used when he was impressed with something he’d done, or when he planned to do something Michael wouldn’t like.
    “Jasmine, Parra. Parra, Jasmine. There, you’ve been introduced. Keys?”
    He held his hand out in silent demand. If Parra knew what was good for him, he’d take the hint and make ready with the motel keys.
    “Hold on, hold on. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jasmine. Michael didn’t say he’d found such a gorgeous young woman.”
    Parra oozed charm as he took Jasmine’s hand, kissing the back in a gallant gesture. Michael felt his expression freeze, a cold death that was about to fall on Parra’s shoulders