Page 26 of The Donovan Dynasty

As he leaned toward her, she lifted herself onto her toes and met him.“Wrap your arms around me, Lara.”

She parted her lips in anticipation and he claimed them.The force of their kiss took him aback.He’d kissed dozens of women, but he’d never felt a searing connection.

Lara wasn’t tentative.She met his tongue, tasting, testing as deeply as he was.It was as hungry as it was natural.

When she laced her fingers behind his neck, he fisted a hand in her long hair and pulled her head back a little so he could deepen the kiss.

She offered herself to him with no resistance, not struggling, but rather, inviting.He accepted, lowering one hand to her derrière and drawing her against him, softness to sinew.

As she’d promised, she dug her hands into his hair, holding tight, the way he wanted her to.Having her there seemed right.

Her body went slack, and he took advantage.Coffee tasted sweet in her mouth, but it was the headiness of her surrender he appreciated most.

Suddenly he hoped she was brave enough to play with him later this evening.

With more reluctance than he’d ever felt, he ended the kiss and helped her to stand.

She blinked as she released his hair.After she was steady, she took a step back and smoothed her skirt, avoiding eye contact.Finally, she cleared her throat and looked up.

“May I?”He moved toward her and reached inside her blouse.

“Connor…”

He smoothed a hand down her chest and straightened her bra.Her nipples were still hard, and because he knew himself well, he resisted the temptation to tease them one more time.Nothing about her, or this, was simple.He already desired her.If he continued, he’d want more, and he wouldn’t be satisfied until he touched every inch of her skin as he bared it.He’d want to lick her cunt from back to front to memorize her scent.And he’d want to mark her.

Being a gentleman, he rebuttoned her blouse.Then, to distract himself, he said, “Give me your cell phone.”

“Er, it’s in my purse.”

He crossed the room, then picked up the clutch and placed it on his desk before unhooking the metal clasp.“May I?”

“I have a feeling I won’t have many secrets from you.”She tucked her shirt tails into her waistband.

“Not if I have my way.”He pulled out her phone.

“Make a Z-shape across the keyboard to unlock it.”

A few moments later, he had saved his cell phone and office numbers in her contacts list.For good measure, he added his personal email address.He was a bit disappointed she hadn’t done that herself yesterday, when he’d given her his business card.“No excuses not to call me.”

“I figured that was what you were doing.”

“You’ll also notice that I didn’t ask for your information.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?I’ve no doubt you could have it in less than a minute if you wanted it.From Erin, if nothing else.”

“I could,” he agreed.“But I won’t.”He propped a hip on the edge of the desk.She hadn’t moved from the center of the room, but her clothing and jewelry were once again in place, and she’d smoothed back her hair.Her shoulders, though, were curved slightly forward.

The beautiful Lara Bertrand—who’d just had a sample of what he’d require from her submission—wasn’t quite as in control as she probably hoped to appear.

“The point is, the next step is yours.You’ve had a tiny taste of what it would be like with me.A small amount of pain on your nipples.Hopefully a sensual, arousing pain?”If the way she’d responded to his kiss was any indication, it had been.“Text me, call me, shoot me an email if you want to explore more.Eight o’clock.What area of town do you live in?”

“You move fast.”

“We’ll go at your speed,” he assured her.“Tonight.Tomorrow.Next week.It’s your call.It was my understanding you were anxious to get to the marriage part.I’m willing to wait as long as it takes.”

“The Heights,” she said after a long sigh.

“If you’re agreeable, I’ll have my driver pick you up around seven-thirty.”