“And what about what I will not tolerate? Your vicious assumptions. Your—your pathetic attempts at seduction…”
She was in his arms before she could protest. He took her mouth with his as he had those other times, hard, deep, fast. He kissed her as if the contract was valid and she was his.
Suddenly the shock of what was happening overwhelmed her.
Alyssa began to weep.
She cried without sound, tears trailing down her face. She tasted the salt of them on her lips and he must have, too, because all at once, his kiss changed.
His mouth softened, asked instead of demanded. He whispered her name against her lips.
And her bones felt as if they might liquefy.
No, she thought, I don’t want this.
“Si, amada,” he whispered, “you do.”
Alyssa had spoken the thought but it didn’t matter because Lucas was drawing her into his lap. She could feel the beat of his heart, the power of his erection.
And then she stopped thinking.
She leaned into him. Let his arms enfold her, his hard body take the weight of hers. She had stood alone for so long. For all of her life. To surrender to his strength, to give herself up to him…
A whimper broke from her throat.
His hands cupped her face. She covered them with hers and he tilted her head back, changed the angle of their kiss. Her lips parted, clung to his. His taste was on her tongue, clean and heart-stoppingly male.
Her body was singing.
Singing, and aching for more than this kiss. For more, oh God, more…
He whispered something in Spanish. She felt his mouth at the pulse point beating rapidly in her throat, felt his hands sweep down her body, beneath her leather jacket and skim her breasts, his thumbs barely brushing her nipples.
Sensation shot through her. She cried out, arched against him. Her head fell back and he bent his head, kissed her silk-covered nipple, closed his teeth lightly around it.
Another cry burst from her throat. She buried her hands in his hair and he said her name as he slid his hand down the back of her trousers, under the edge of her panties. His palm burned against her skin.
God!
She wanted this, wanted more, wanted—
Suddenly Lucas tore his mouth from hers. Her eyes flew open as he thrust her back into her own seat. She saw his face.
His cool, amused face.
“So much for my so-called pathetic attempts at seduction, chica. As for your response…Very nicely done. It’s everything a man could want in a woman. Sweet. Passionate.” The look of amusement fled. “And, unfortunately, a little too convincing. I cannot imagine a virgin would return a kiss with such fervor.”
Alyssa lunged at him, fist raised. Lucas wrapped his hand around hers, hard enough to make her wince.
“You can understand, then, if I inform you that your comments about seduction strike me as a tease rather than a complaint.”
She spat a word at him, and he laughed.
“Such language, amada, and from that supposedly innocent mouth.” His laughter faded; his eyes turned cold. “As for seduction…If you behave yourself, I might consider taking you to bed. But I wouldn’t marry you if yo
u were the last woman on earth. Is that clear?”
Alyssa yanked her hand free. “You’re despicable.”