Page 15 of Playing By His Rules

Before she could respond to that comment—the loss of parents, something else they had in common—a knock sounded at the door. Rick got up and let the waiter roll a serving cart into the room, the surface filled with various desserts. He signed for the order and once they were alone again he situated the cart right in front of where Madison was sitting on the couch before he took his seat next to her again.

She glanced at the assortment of tempting items—chocolate mousse, a chocolate layered cake, and a platter of plump red strawberries dipped in milk chocolate. There was also an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne, which Rick retrieved, opened, and poured them each a glass.

Madison eagerly picked up one of the two spoons on the tray, grinning like a kid in a literal candy store. “You took my request for chocolate very seriously. I have no idea where to start.”

He chuckled as he turned on the big screen TV on the wall in front of them and pulled up the pay-per-view movies. “When a woman asks for chocolate, I listen.”

She took a bite of the rich, dense cake, followed by a spoonful of the lighter mousse, unable to hold back the moan that rumbled in her throat at the rich, decadent taste filling her mouth. Even her eyes nearly rolled back in ecstasy, considering it had been forever since she’d been treated to such delectable sweets.

“Oh, my God, these desserts are amazing,” she said, sighing in pure bliss after sampling one of the juicy, chocolate coated strawberries before grinning impishly at Rick, who was watching her enjoy each treat with amusement and something far more sensual darkening his gaze.

She ducked her head, a little bit embarrassed by her enthusiasm over the desserts. “Don’t mind me while I overdose on all of this chocolate,” she murmured.

His gaze lowered to her lips as she licked off a smear of mousse from the corner of her mouth. “No overdosing until I get my kiss.”

His husky voice caused a ripple effect deep in her belly that spread lower, prompting her to be a bit daring with him. “You could take the kiss right now, you know, and be done with it.”

“Be done with it?” he drawled, arching a dark brow as he took a long drink of his champagne. “Kissing you isn’t an inconvenience I need tobe done with, sweetheart. No, I have a feeling it’s going to be a revelation that I intend to savor and enjoy.”

Desire flowed through her veins, hot and liquid, and she absently tugged on her bottom lip with her teeth to distract herself from that swell of restless need pulsing inside her.

“Don’t bite your lip,” he said in a low, demanding growl that startled her—mainly because the sexy sound caused her body to snap to attention and made herwantto obey his order. “Tonight, I’m the only one who gets to do that. Understand?”

She nodded her agreement.

“Good.” Then Rick glanced back at the TV as if he hadn’t just showed her a glimpse of a man who might harbor a deliciously dominant side, one that resonated with the sensual woman within who craved a man’s control over her body.

Clearly, she’d just been waiting for the right man to bring it out in her.

Chapter 8

That intriguing thought lingered in Madison’s mind as they settled in to watch Meet the Parents, an old comedy that had them both laughing out loud throughout the show. Enjoying the bawdy humor made Madison realize just how long it had been since she’d done something fun and silly, and how badly she’d needed to forget about her life for a few hours and immerse herself in another world where she had no burdens or responsibilities hanging over her.

She and Rick shared more of the desserts, Madison indulged in two glasses of champagne, and by the time the movie was over she felt incredibly relaxed . . . until Rick shut the TV off and met her gaze in the dimly lit room. The sudden hunger in their depths caused her heart rate to increase in her chest and generated an undeniable awareness to thicken between them. He’d been a perfect gentleman the past few hours, but now . . . well, he looked more like a wolf eyeing his prey, and she shivered at the notion.

“Come over here and lay down on the chaise, Madison,” he murmured, patting the cushions next to where he was sitting that made up the lounge part of the sectional. “I’m ready to claim my kiss.”

Even though his tone was firm and gave her the impression he wouldn’t tolerate disobedience, she knew without a doubt if she refused his request that he wouldn’t force her to comply. But she had no intention of denying herself something she wanted so badly she ached for it. Rick, his mouth ravishing and seducing hers, and making her feel something other than the despair of the past few months.

She reclined back on the chaise and Rick settled in beside her, his lean, muscular frame pressing along the right side of her body and crowding her between his solid frame and the back of the sofa cushions. He angled himself closer, pressing one of his hard thighs between hers to separate them before he pushed a hand into her hair to cup the back of her head. He splayed his other palm on her belly, and she realized that she was essentially being held down, albeit subtly, but instead of experiencing any panic or anxiety over his more dominant position, a pulsing, throbbing heat settled low and deep inside her.

She’d thought he’d take the kiss in a more traditional way—sitting on the couch or even standing up—and she hadn’t expected this intimacy between them. Their bodies entwined and his face so close to hers she could see tiny gold flecks in his dark green eyes, along with the unbridled sensuality etching his features.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as he lifted the hand on her mid-section and strummed his fingers along her collarbone, then traced one of the thin straps of her dress down to the swell of her breasts in a teasing caress. She was still fully dressed, and he wasn’t touching her inappropriately, yet her nipples tightened into hard, aching points and the thought of him filling his hand with her breast and squeezing the mound made her shift restlessly beside him.

A wicked, knowing smile curved his lips. “You ready for me to kiss you?” he asked, his voice low and very male.

“Yes, please,” she whispered, desperate for it.

Anticipation nearly exploded inside her as he finally lowered his head down to hers, the initial warm, soft touch of his lips making her shiver at how gentle the kiss was. He took her bottom lip between his teeth and gently bit on the plump flesh, and she moaned at the small jolt of pain, then nearly melted as he soothed the slight sting with a lick of his tongue.

He did it again, and again, driving her mad with desire and need. No matter the impatient noises she made in the back of her throat, or how she fisted his shirt in her hand to pull him closer, he continued to tease her, and it was the most arousing, blissful form of torture. By the time he finally fused their mouths together and deepened the kiss she was nearly frantic for him. His tongue tangled with hers, and he tasted like dark temptation and sin—all the things she’d tucked away as her most intimate, secret fantasies.

Except this aggressive man dominating her was one hundred percent real. And she liked this assertive side to him . . . a lot.

He gripped his fingers in her hair and drew her further into the kiss, deeper and deeper, hotter and more reckless, until she was drowning in the arousing pleasure of it and her body burned for him. His free hand now gripped the back of her thigh, his firm palm sliding higher to push the hem of her dress up a few inches before he hiked her leg over his hip, close and tight against his groin. With a low, possessive growl that vibrated against her lips, he gyrated forcefully against her pussy, and she moaned against his mouth as the insistent pressure of his hard, thick cock rubbed against the soaked panel of her panties, causing a delicious friction against her clit that had her own legs clamping tight against the thigh wedged between hers.

She whimpered as exquisite tension spiraled deep in her core, as she shamelessly rode his muscled thigh as he devoured her mouth, uncaring of how brazen she’d become with him as she chased the orgasm pushing her higher and higher. Her sex clenched, and the free-fall into the most glorious climax she’d ever had was only seconds away when Rick tore his mouth from hers.

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