Sinful Rapture (The Rapture #2)(19)

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

His gaze skimmed down to the curve of her breasts, lingering on the nipples that hardened beneath the feral heat of his inspection.

“I don’t want to know what you should do. I want to hear what you want to do,” he said, his voice thick.

She licked her lips. “You could tell me about your plans for expansion.”

He groaned, his gaze locked on her mouth.

He’d felt those soft lips stroking over his chest…pleasuring his nipples.

How would they feel locked around his cock?

Paradise.

He was forced to clear his throat. “Our plans,” he corrected. “And we can discuss them when we’re at work. Today is for enjoyment.” He pressed her hard against his thick erection. “Tell me what you want.”

She bit her bottom lip, blatantly torn between desire and the fear of what he was truly demanding.

“I don’t know.”

He smiled. “Admit that you want to ravish me.”

She trembled, her eyes darkening to gold. “Did you really just say ravish?”

“Okay.” Without warning, he grasped the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head. No bra. Perfect. “Admit that you want to make mad, passionate love to me.”

She quivered as his hands cupped the soft weight of her breasts in his hands, his thumbs teasing her nipples to hard nubs.

“Sex,” she breathed.

“No.” He held her wary gaze, refusing to let her diminish what was between them. “When we’re together, we make love,” he insisted, his voice fierce. “Love.”

Predictably, she paled at his blunt confession.

He smiled wryly. He’d made no effort to hide his obsession with her. Or his desire for a relationship.

Still, she’d been determined to disregard his interest as a shallow sexual attraction.

“Liam,” she finally managed to choke out. “You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I can.” He shrugged, deciding to go all in. He was a gambler, after all. “The men in my family are notorious for recognizing the women they intend to marry at first sight.”

Her breath rasped loudly through the air, her eyes wide.

“Oh…shit,” she rasped.

“I’m not trying to pressure you,” he assured her. “I just want you to know where I want this to go.”

“And if I’m not ready?” she husked, shuddering as his hands glided down her bare back.

He brazenly tugged down the shorts, a growl wrenching from his throat at the tiny thong that had a Playhouse emblem directly over her clit.

Sweet.

“Then I’ll wait until you are,” he said, his voice distracted as he gave a tug on her thong and watched it float to the floor. A smile curved his lips as she gasped in need. “I have no doubt you’ll eventually realize we’re destined to be together.”

She shivered, heat blazing through her eyes as she watched him unbutton his shirt and shrug it off.

“Arrogant,” she accused.

“Confident,” he countered. “I know when a woman wants me.”

He kicked off his shoes, swiftly ridding himself of the rest of his clothing.

Over the past twelve months he’d tortured himself with fantasies of making love to this woman in every room of his home.

He intended to start with this office.

Sensual anticipation flowed through his veins like warm honey as he grasped her around the waist and carried her to the nearby desk. Perching her on the edge, he tugged her legs apart, his body clenching as she instinctively arched her back in silent invitation.

“Fine, we’re sexually compatible,” she conceded.

He shook his head.

Was she kidding?

He craved her with an intensity that was terrifying.

And it didn’t matter how many times they made love. It would never ease his need for her.

“It’s not just compatible,” he growled, his hands exploring the inner skin of her thighs. “We set each other on fire.”

Holly studied him with an unconsciously vulnerable expression.

“Sex isn’t the same as love.”

Liam gave a low groan, pressing his lips to the pulse beating at the base of her throat.

“You think I don’t know the difference?” he rasped. “Trust me, I wouldn’t have spent the past year in hell if it’d just been sex.”

“Trust.”

Slowly he pulled back, his expression somber. “Yes, princess. I’m asking for your trust.”

“I’m not sure I can. I…” She struggled to form the word. “I can’t bear to be hurt. Not again.”

“I get it, I truly do,” he told her. “Just give me a chance, princess.”

His mind fogged as she wrapped her legs around his waist, her hands flat on the desk as she studied him from beneath half-lowered lashes.

“Enough talking, Mr. Conner.” Her smile was pure female temptation. “I’m ready for some action.”

Oh…hell yeah.

“Sweet Holly,” he breathed, feeling oddly unnerved as he buried his face in the curve of her neck and began a thorough exploration of her naked body. “You’re going to be the death of me.”