Her mouth slid across his, a tentative touch, but that was all it took for Jack to give up any pretense that things weren’t gonna happen between them and to hell with the consequence. His arms snaked around her waist, and he pulled her in as close as he could get her. He kept one hand on her hip, holding her steady while the other threaded through the hair at her nape.
A groan escaped him as his mouth closed over hers, and he took command. He kissed her—he kissed her hard—his mouth bruising and passionate and angry. He tasted every inch of her, his tongue sliding across her lips, her teeth, wanting deeper. Wanting more.
Jack gave one more sweep of his tongue, his hand running down the small of her back until he cupped her ass. There was no doubt that she felt how hard he was and for a moment, he had to catch his breath.
He rested his forehead on hers, both of them breathless, and those hot, needful things that filled the air were inside them. Invading. Coaxing.
Jesus Christ.
Jack angled his head so that he could see her face. See the mouth that was swollen from his. A mouth that had driven him to distraction in the past and one that haunted him still.
He knew that he should walk away, because that was the right thing to do for so many reasons. Another man might have done that, but then Jack wasn’t the type to play hide and seek. Not now. Not ever.
Some would say that what he was contemplating was foolish. That one more night with the woman who’d pretty much ruined him for all others was a mistake. But Jack knew better. This here, this wasn’t about love anymore. Hell no. That was dead and gone, and he’d never dig up that old ghost.
Right now, this was about satisfying a craving he’d never been able to shake. It was about taking that one last taste. Savoring it. Enjoying it.
And then moving on.
“I’m giving you one chance to say no,” Jack whispered, eyes glittering. “One chance to walk away from the thing that’s still here between us.” He bent forward, his warm breath sliding across her cheek as he sought out that place near her ear. He felt her shudder and smiled as he waited, mouth hovering over her skin.
One second.
Two and three and four.
And then his eyes darkened as his hands slid over her. He cupped her possessively, his body tight with anticipation. Voice lowered, he waited a half a second more and then whispered.
“Time’s up.”
Chapter Ten
* * *
Donovan should have run as far away from Jack Simon as she could when she had the chance.
“Time’s up,” he whispered.
Should of. Could have. But ultimately she didn’t. Why? Because every single cell in her body was on fire. She hadn’t felt this alive in years and damned if she was giving that up anytime soon.
That kiss. Holy hell that kiss was all kinds of want and need and desire and heat. It was everything she’d missed and everything she wanted and…
She thought of Cooper Simon.
It was everything she couldn’t have.
Unless…
“One night,” she whispered, unaware she’d spoken until Jack angled his head and gazed down at her.
“What was that?” he asked, voice a little rough.
For a heartbeat, she stared into eyes that would haunt her for the rest of her days. For that heartbeat, she saw everything they’d had and everything they would never know. But right here, right now, she could have it all again.
“One night, Jack. That’s all I got.”
His eyes were hooded, that amazing mouth of his in a half-grin, and just for a second, fear sliced through her. If Cooper ever found out, he’d destroy both of them.
“I’m good with that.”