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  "This is so unexpected. I…uh…I don't know what to say—"

  "That's an easy one." He flashed a confident smile. "All you have to do is say yes."

  "Yes." She returned his smile. "You're right…that was easy."

  Parker reached out and gave her hand an intimate squeeze. "Terrific. I'll pick you up at your house. Is seven o'clock good for you?"

  "Seven is fine, but—"

  He placed his finger against her lips. "No buts. You already said yes. It's too late to suddenly remember you have a previous commitment." He tried to suppress the teasing grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Or worse yet, you just realized that you need to wash your hair."

  Carli's laugh immediately settled Parker's nerves. He could not deny that her closeness definitely rattled his senses. His nerves had tightened that morning as the time drew closer to their eleven o'clock appointment. Lunch had been his intention all along, from the moment she called to set up their annual Christmas shopping meeting.

  "I'm not changing my mind. However, if you've been eating most of your meals in restaurants since your divorce or making do by popping something into the microwave, I thought you might enjoy a home cooked meal. So, dinner at my house? That will also allow us to discuss our business without feeling as if the restaurant wants us out of there so they can seat waiting customers."

  "Dinner at your house will be my pleasure." What a surprising turn of events. A warm sensation flowed through his veins, agreeing with his words. A quiet setting where they could continue their conversation from lunch rather than a noisy restaurant. "I'll bring the champagne."

  Just the two of them at her house…some dinner, some champagne, and hopefully lots of sex. Maybe his erotic fantasies about her naked and beckoning to him would soon be reality.

  "Champagne?" A teasing grin spread across her face.

  It took all his will power to keep from taking control of her mouth, a delicious looking mouth that truly needed to be kissed long, hard, and often.

  "I think I'll need to upgrade dinner from hamburgers to something more suitable for champagne. Although I need to warn you, it will probably be more leftovers than anything else." She glanced at her watch, then flashed a charming smile. "I have a busy schedule this afternoon. I don't think I'll have time to go grocery shopping."

  ****

  Parker carried a champagne glass into the living room and made himself comfortable on the sofa. "That was a delicious meal, certainly a lot more than leftovers." He surveyed the room, taking in everything anew even though he had seen it on previous occasions. This time he assessed her home on a personal level.

  "I really like this cottage. I wasn't aware this area even existed before the first time I stopped by to pick up a purchase you made for me—a bluff overlooking the ocean, trees, seclusion yet close to all the amenities the city offers. If it had a thatched roof, I'd say it had been transported directly from the English countryside. Perhaps a village in the Cotswolds."

  Carli sat on the sofa, keeping one seating space between them. All through dinner, he had been a perfect gentleman and a perfect dinner guest, but the underlying current of sexual tension reached out and grabbed her as nothing else ever had. At least for her it resonated as a very strong lure. She didn't want to appear as if she was suggesting anything by sitting right next to him, but neither did she want to appear standoffish by sitting in a chair on the other side of the coffee table.

  "You mentioned the Cotswolds. I've always wanted to go to England. The excitement of London, the rolling hills of the countryside, the quaint little villages. I want to experience all of it."

  He scooted a little closer as he warmed to one of his favorite subjects. "I love to travel, seeing new places and revisiting ones I enjoyed. Have you done much traveling?"

  "Just here in the U.S. and a little bit of Western Canada."

  "International travel would certainly allow you some terrific shopping opportunities for your clients. You could buy generic items that you can't find here without having a specific person in mind, then save them for the right opportunity."

  "Funny," a soft chuckle escaped her throat, "I shop for a living, but when buying something for myself, I go to the store knowing exactly what I want so I can get in and out as quickly as possible."

  He took the last swallow of his champagne, then set the empty glass on the coffee table.

  She picked up the glass as she rose to her feet. "I'll get you a refill."

  He grabbed her hand to stop her. "Maybe later."

  He pulled her down onto the sofa, their bodies almost touching. A tremor of anticipation rippled through her reality and settled in her pussy. Was he making a move on her? If not, then why not? Did she dare become the aggressor?

  The spontaneous thought shocked her. Was she really that horny or was it specifically Parker Simmons who had her blood pulsing? Sexual tension had been leaping between them all evening. She had caught him staring at her on a couple of occasions in a very non-platonic way. Reality or only her wishful thinking?

  Then all speculation came to a screeching halt when he leaned closer. The moment his mouth touched her lips, hot sexual energy surged through her body, replacing the speculation and anticipation. Her pussy tingled. A shortness of breath caught in her lungs. The magnitude of his mesmerizing presence enveloped her like a sensual cloak…a sensual cloak plugged into an electrical outlet.

  A searing arc of excitement sizzled between them, followed by a sexual intensity that told her, client or not, she wanted him in a way so much more intimate than she had ever wanted another man. She wanted him in every way possible. And she wanted him now.

  A thought worked its way into her consciousness, one saying she would willingly accept it as a permanent situation. But as soon as the notion invaded, it frightened her. True, her attitude had come around to the place where a committed relationship once again appealed to her. With time, she had moved beyond that post-divorce never again mindset. And also true, she believed Parker Simmons to be the type of man any woman would want to call her own. But that didn't tell her what Parker wanted.

  His kiss quickly moved from tender to all-consuming, literally taking her breath away. He wrapped her in his embrace at the same time as her arms encircled his neck. He pulled her body tightly against his, sending a rush of need through her.

  Carli's mouth, her taste…it was everything Parker knew it would be. Even though his advance was more spontaneous than planned, her enthusiastic response whetted his appetite for more…much more. His cock twitched until he achieved full erection. He didn't have a specific plan in mind for the evening, hadn't thought out how much or precisely what he wanted or how far he could take it. But he knew he needed to be careful. She was the type of woman who could turn a man's thoughts toward home and family. And that was the last thing he wanted.

  He aggressively thrust his tongue between her lips, seeking out her tongue, meshing with her texture and taste. She twined her tongue with his, letting him know she welcomed whatever came next. His hard cock shoved against the confining fabric of his briefs, demanding its freedom. His chest heaved with his ragged breathing.

  Parker broke the kiss just long enough to force out a few words. "I want you."

  "My bedroom is down the hall on the right."

  Her breathless words were the sweetest sound he had ever heard. No silly games. No coy maneuvers. Nothing but straightforward honesty. What a refreshing change from my experience since the divorce. Then another thought hit him. A refreshing change from the year before my divorce, too. He quickly dismissed the anger accompanying the second thought. That was history. He much preferred to concentrate on the here and now.

  She led him down the hall, neither of them saying anything, the air alive with expectation and heightened arousal.

  He quickly took in the nuances of her bedroom. As with the rest of her house, the decoration and style were in excellent taste, the room appropriately feminine without being girly-frilly. His focus shifted from
his surroundings to the very desirable woman in his arms.

  Once again, his mouth claimed hers, taking in her taste and the heat of her passion. He ran his hand down her back to the perfect curve of her ass, then pulled her body tightly against his. A soft moan escaped her throat, at least he thought it came from her. It could just as easily have come from him.

  He twined his tongue with hers again, scraping texture against texture. Everything about her pushed his lustful buttons. He wanted her out of her clothes and in her bed only a few feet away.

  Sex with his wife had become mechanical and finally non-existent except on those occasions when she wanted something and used sex to manipulate him. Sex since his divorce had been frequent, occasionally hot, and always devoid of any personal involvement beyond the purely physical nature of the act. But this encounter with Charlene somehow felt different. A little twinge of uncertainly tried to make itself known, but his hard cock overruled everything except hot sex.

  It had been a long time since he had participated in a slow, sensual seduction, the type where two totally willing partners teased and tantalized while engaging in foreplay, driving each other crazy. He broke off the kiss and cradled her head against his shoulder. Inhaling deeply, he breathed in the fragrance of her perfume, a light spicy scent that tugged at his libido and increased his already overextended desires.

  "I've thought about you so many times." His words came out in a raspy whisper. "But never considered it would lead here."

  After dismissing a moment of unaccustomed apprehension, he lifted the bottom edge of her sweater, paused a moment, then pulled it over her head, revealing her lacy black demi-bra—just the type of lingerie he found exciting. Did her panties match? He would soon know. With a little more confidence, he unfastened her slacks and lowered them down her hips until they fell to the floor.

  Matching black lace bikini panties. A tightness pulled across his chest. He sucked in a deep breath in an attempt to calm his racing pulse and pounding heart. Suddenly, his clothes seemed too restrictive. Reluctantly, he took a step back from her. Lust seemed to propel him as he yanked his sweater over his head. Then he felt her hands at his belt buckle as she quickly unfastened his pants and lowered the zipper. He pulled the condom packets from his pocket and dropped them on the nightstand. A moment later, all his clothes were in a pile at the foot of the bed with her bra and panties on top.

  She eyed the condoms, then raised a questioning eyebrow as if to ask why he had been so prepared for sex. His words came out in a raspy hush. "It wasn't an assumption, just wishful thinking."

  A crimson tinge of exhilaration colored her cheeks. Her perfect breasts, capped by dusky pink nipples, rose and fell with her labored breathing. Her blue eyes sparkled with an excitement that grabbed hold of his cock and refused to let go.

  Charlene's pussy throbbed with a torrid need, one she knew his magnificent cock standing at rigid attention could easily satisfy. The passion in the depths of his green eyes sent a rush of anticipation through her body. Even though she thoroughly enjoyed sex, she was not a promiscuous woman who hopped in bed on a first date. But what else could you call what she was about to do?

  She had never experienced such a strong feeling transmitted without any words. It was as if he had silently given her permission to let go of any concerns or uncertainties and trust her instincts. That everything they shared sexually would be safe…certainly physically. Even though they had known each other five years and had developed a very comfortable working relationship, their personal non-business interaction had consisted of only the last few hours. Yet in that short time she knew he was a man any woman could easily fall for in a big way. A man who could have any woman he wanted. The danger was definitely emotional.

  All her insecurities from the past returned with a vengeance, everything that plagued her following her divorce came rushing back. Would he think less of her for instantly jumping into bed with him? Would she be able to satisfy the needs and desires of such a dynamic man? Would he be disappointed in her as a lover? And the reality constantly lurking in the back of her mind…could her actions tonight have an adverse impact on their future business relationship?

  Then another reality intruded into her apprehension, one that overruled her concerns. He was a man who could be trusted—an honorable man. Exactly the type of man with whom she wanted to spend her life.

  She had secretly lusted after Parker Simmons for a long time, too long to allow this opportunity to be denied. He enfolded her in his embrace, but before he could pull her to him, she secured her hand between their bodies. The sensation of his rigid cock as it pressed against her palm told her just how exhilarating sex with him was going to be. She wrapped her hand around his ample girth. Her fingers tingled from the heat of his engorged veins. The thought of his hard shaft filling her pussy, thrusting in and out with ever-increasing intensity, had her pulse galloping.

  Moisture seeped from between her pussy lips. Her entire body quivered in anticipation. Then his mouth claimed hers, both demanding and giving at the same time. She pressed her breasts against the hard planes of his chest. His breathing felt as ragged as hers.

  He slid his hands down her back, then cupped her bare ass cheeks as he maneuvered her the few steps toward the bed. The back of her knees hit against the mattress. Her legs buckled, the sudden loss of balance causing her to lose her hold on his cock as she fell back onto the bed.

  And a moment later, he was next to her, his torso touching along the length of her body. He placed a soft kiss on each of her tautly puckered nipples. "I've thought about this, even visualized it, but never thought it would happen."

  Even though his words came out in a raspy whisper, their message resonated loud and clear. Her heart swelled with the emotional impact. Then a moment of rational thinking made its way through the cloud of euphoria. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she grasped that he hadn't said exactly what she originally heard—his words said sex, but she had heard emotion. She quickly shoved the unacceptable realization aside and allowed the tender warmth to inundate her. "You took the words right out of my mouth."

  A sly grin turned the corners of his lips, and a mischievous twinkle shone in the depth of his eyes. "What other treats does your mouth offer?"

  "I'll be happy to show you." Brazen words, an aggressive manner…this was not like her, not like her at all. But being naked in bed with this incredibly desirable man had a solid impact on her normally sensible demeanor. Just the thought of the possibilities made her mouth water and her pussy tingle.

  With a renewed confidence coursing through her veins, she ran her hand across his sculpted chest then down to his rigid shaft. Her lips quickly followed the same route with kisses and nibbles until she reached his dark red cockhead.

  Sensual licks across the smooth rounded skin, flicking the tip of her tongue against the small opening, cradling his balls in her hand. It was all so decadent. Incredibly stimulating. And unbelievably sexy. She had never felt as free to pursue whatever pleasure beckoned as she did at that moment, never this wild abandon.

  And she fully intended to take advantage of it.

  Chapter Two

  Parker sucked in a quick gasp. He hadn't been prepared for her mouth to gravitate to his cock so quickly. The other thing he hadn't been prepared for was the intense effect it would have on his senses, that incendiary rush of hot lust. If he didn't regain some control quickly, she'd have him finished before he got started. And the last thing he wanted was to disappoint her…a possibility he refused to accept.

  He pulled back slightly, but as soon as he broke the physical contact, her startled gaze locked on him. A quick moment of confusion darted through her eyes, immediately followed by hurt and embarrassment. He instantly gathered her into his arms. "I'm sorry, but as soon as your tongue made contact, you had me rushing toward the finish line way too soon." He brushed a tender kiss against her lips. "I didn't want to be done before I've had the opportunity to please you."

  He brea
thed a sigh of relief when the tension drained from her body. He wanted the night to be special, for it to be more than the two of them rutting in hot sex. She wasn't someone he just met, someone he didn't know and would never see again. She deserved better than fucking for the sake of fucking…two people out to satisfy their own needs and nothing more.

  His mouth found hers, his kiss conveying more than sexual desire—hopefully also telling her of his deep respect. A little tremor of something shivered inside him. A warning of some sort? He shoved the troubling moment aside. This was neither the time nor the place for doubts and second guessing.

  His tongue explored the hidden recesses of her mouth. His fingers plucked at her nipples forming them into taut peaks. Her response was everything a man could want—hot, sensual, and excited. His heart pounded and his breath came in ragged bursts as his arousal increased. His hard cock stood tall, but he wasn't ready to give in to those needs…not yet.

  The sensation of her creamy smooth skin beneath his fingertips heightened his desire even more…if that was possible. He teased the pebbled texture of her nipple with his tongue before sucking it into his mouth. She responded with a soft moan then arched her back for increased contact.

  Carli wasn't sure where reality ended and the fantasy began. She had been shocked by his admission that he wanted to put her pleasure ahead of his own. No one had ever said that to her, certainly not her ex-husband. She trembled in anticipation when he tickled his fingers up her inner thigh, cupped her pussy in the palm of his hand, then slipped his finger inside her. Her entire body instantly responded to the stimulation. Her mouth went dry and her pulse jumped erratically while her arousal soared. Her clit sparked each time he stroked the engorged nubbin.