Connell (Carolina Reapers 3)

She was heady, intoxicating, and if I kept this up, I’d be addicted with only this one kiss.

I moved my forearm from the wall, sliding my hand behind her back and pulling her against me. Damn it, she felt even better against me than I’d imagined. Her soft curves cradled the sharp lines of my body as I leaned into her. This was a woman who could take all of me—no holding back, no keeping myself in check.

She kissed me with the kind of abandon that spoke to her desire. She was pure want and need. No artifice. No coy smile and practiced flirtation like every other woman who’d come onto me after signing that first contract.

Fuck, I was never going to stop. I’d kiss her until we both died with the need of it. Until the flames licking their way down my spine and hardening my cock consumed us both.

“Annabelle,” I groaned and sank back into her mouth, the kiss turning openly carnal as I took her mouth with the same rhythm that I rolled my hips against hers.

She whimpered and tilted her head so I could kiss her deeper, and I took complete advantage of what she offered. I’d take everything this woman offered.

I felt her gasp all the way in my dick when I set my lips to her neck. How did she smell so fucking good? Everything about this was so good—

“Stop!” she squeaked.

I lifted my mouth from her skin and sucked in a breath, praying she didn’t just—

“Connell, you have to stop. We have to stop.” Her voice shook, and so did my hands as I untangled them from her delicious body.

My heart raced faster than it did while I was on the ice, and the struggle to control my breathing was so real it would be embarrassing if I cared about hiding my reaction from her. But I didn’t. I wanted her to see what she did to me.

“Annabelle.” The plea was obvious as I stepped back, giving her the space she demanded.

“We can’t do this.” She pushed at my chest, and I stepped back. “This…” she gestured between us, “can’t happen. Not while you’re working here. Or ever, really.” She pushed again, and I pivoted, backing away.

“Annabelle.”

“Don’t. Don’t you say my name like that, all soft and burred and accented. That’s not fair!” She shook her finger at me before pushing me back again. “I mean, we can’t do this, right? Right. It’s wrong! And it’s an abuse of power.”

“Lass, I didn’t mean to make you feel powerless.” Another step back.

“What? No, I’m the one in power, remember? Right. I’m the boss, and you’re the employee. Kind of. Right. Either way, this is wrong, and we can’t do it. I mean kissing, not it, you know. And we definitely can’t do it, either!” With every statement, she pushed, and I retreated. “It doesn’t matter that you kiss like a romance novel, and you’re built like… well, you are. This.” Step. “Isn’t.” Step. “Happening.”

I found myself in the hallway outside the office.

“Annabelle—”

“I’m so glad you agree. Good talk!” She slammed the door in my face.

What the bloody hell just happened? I raised my fist to knock on the door, but instead, I lowered it and shook my head. I’d never been one to pressure a woman who’d said she didn’t want me, and I wasn’t about to start with the one woman I wanted above all others.

“Right. Good talk.” I gave the door a mock salute and headed down the hall.

I was halfway home before I realized she hadn’t just stolen every ounce of my control—she’d taken my dinner too.

4

Annabelle

Connell’s lips against mine, his strong, hard body pressing into me. Sweet tea on a hot day, the memory haunted my every waking thought.

I was no virgin, but I’d never, not once, felt something as powerful and intoxicating as his kiss.

And it was just a kiss.

But his tongue had moved expertly against mine, his hands gentle yet demanding on my body in the most delicious way. I’d felt safe and wild, and my head had damn near exploded.

Until I’d come to my senses.

Damn my senses.

I sucked in a slow breath, rubbing my forehead as I sat at my desk. I’d been trying to make sense of a simple spreadsheet for an hour, but all I could see or taste or feel was Connell. I practically purred between my thighs, the ache a true and harsh craving for something I’d never experienced before. Something electric.

But it could never happen again.

I was his superior. He was basically my employee. The scandal!

My pulse spiked as my mind played his kiss on repeat in red hot flashes.

Those lips.

That tongue.

His scent making my head spin.

Where did he learn to do that? Make a woman completely forget where she was, who she was. I’d never been so reckless in my life.