Page 67 of The Grumpy Billionaire
“You don’t have to tellmethat. But thereisone tactic I haven’t tried yet.” He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers in a mock-threatening tickle gesture.
I gave a little squeal and turned to flee, reaching the patio door and flinging it open before running through his apartment in a doomed escape attempt.
Reid’s stride was much longer, I had on heels, and he knew the layout of the place, whereas I’d never been here before.
I ran down a long hallway. He caught up to me as I burst through the doorway at the end. I shrieked with laughter, even before his fingers made contact with my very-ticklish rib cage and underarms.
Damn him for remembering my every weakness.
I writhed out of his grip, only to have him grab me again and tickle me without mercy. “Please,” I wheezed between breath-stealing laughter, wiggling, squirming, trying in vain to get away from his strong, teasing hands.
“Come on, Mara. Tell me. Don’t force me to up my game.” Reid laughed through his threat. “You’re going to make me resort to extreme measures.”
“I’ll never tell,” I vowed as I broke away from him and ran further into the dark room, which now that I got a look at it, appeared to be the primary bedroom.
Oh crap.
Reid caught me again and hauled me back against his body with one arm wrapped around my waist.
“Okay, I warned you,” he said.
And he planted his lips on the side of my neck in a wet, open-mouthed kiss.
TWENTY-TWO
Practice
Mara
I struggled once more, a weak half-hearted effort, then my body melted back against him. I was breathing hard from the combination of running and struggling and what he was doing now.
His mouth traveled up and down my neck, caressing and teasing the sensitive skin and absolutely demolishing all my thoughts as his hands gripped my hips and held me in place.
The protest that had been on my lips dissolved in a wave of hot bliss as Reid’s mouth worked its way past my ear to my jaw.
I should stop him.
This was exactly where I had vowed not to go. But my traitor body had mutinied against my rational mind. It just felt too damn good. He felt good.
He’d always known exactly what to do to makemefeel good, to break down my defenses.
And then I was turning in his arms. Was he doing it? Was I? I didn’t know—maybe we both turned me around to face him, but suddenly I was right where I wanted to be, lifting up onto my toes, with his mouth moving over mine and his hands dropping to my waist, pulling me closer.
His jacket had fallen from my shoulders during our tickle-fight, and his hands slid around to my back, running up and down, gliding over the silky fabric of my dress.
The kiss went on and on as I lived in a state of suspended reality.
My hands shook with the desire to touch him back, to hold him. Finally I gave in—I was already in deep trouble anyway.
My fingers went to his chest, finding it solid and more developed than it had been when he was a boy back in high school. Now Reid was a man, fully grown and displaying the whole potential of his athletic build.
I slid my hands down the front of him, pressing my palms against the fascinating terrain of his abdomen, so firm and segmented with muscle.
His body was at once comfortingly familiar and excitingly new. It was still him, but it struck me that there was more of him, in all the right places.
My touch seemed to multiply Reid’s excitement. He made a small grunt of enjoyment as my hands roamed over his torso, and his kiss changed, becoming harder and deeper.
His body was tensed all over, the muscles growing rock hard, as if he were preparing for battle of some sort. His hands moved to my head, burrowing under my hair and holding me in place for his kisses.
