Page 32 of A Taste of Trouble

Liv's breath caught not once, or twice, but three times as she tried to inhale. Her mouth was dry. Too dry. She wanted nothing more than to kneel before him, taking his length deep into the back of her throat.

Liv was curious at how far this would go. Here in the bar. On the bar. His mouth nuzzled against one breast as he licked the fabric of her shirt. She gasped.

Without notice, he lifted it, securing it under her arms, and pulled down the bra cups. He took the beer bottle from her hand and rested it against her stomach. Immediately, her nipples hardened. “She has fantastic breasts,” he said between licks and sexy pulls of his teeth against her nipples.

Liv grasped the back of his head as he attacked her right breast. She undulated her hips to grind into him. But what she really wanted was his mouth on her sex. She wanted his soft lips and velvet tongue working their magic. “Jake.”

“This woman is a challenge.” He moved to the next breast and bit the tip of her nipple. A jolt of pain spread through her, exploding in an intense throb she felt through her entire body.

“But I prefer a challenge.” He licked his way up her body and bit down on the curve between her shoulder and neck. Her body responded by arching into his bite, loving the pleasurable pain he gave so freely. “I prefer to chip away at steel doors meant to keep me out. Little”—he licked her neck—“by little”—he sucked on a nipple—“by little.” He flicked his tongue in her belly button. “I always make my way in.”

His lips found hers and they kissed. Chest to chest, their bodies rubbed together. She whimpered and her body spasmed at his touch.

Jake ripped at her jeans, furiously trying to undo the button on the waistband. She lifted her pelvis, allowing him to pull her pants from her body. When one leg was free, he gave up and let the heavy denim dangle from the other leg.

She flung her arms up and knocked over the beer bottle in the process. It clanked on the bar, then she heard the fizz of the liquid as it dripped.

He inhaled deeply against her chest. “I've dreamt of your scent. You smell so good. Like cookies. And this…” He lowered his face. “I've dreamt of it, too.”

He was just about to remove her panties when the obnoxious ring of a cell phone bellowed.

“Let it ring,” she huffed between gasps of pleasure, her arms forcing him closer.

Jake tensed and pulled away.

“No!” Liv grabbed at his body as he left her cold. “They'll call back.”

“I have to get it.” With his head hanging, he reached in his back pocket for his BlackBerry. He looked at the screen as if wanting to confirm the caller before he picked up. His eyes flitted between the screen and Liv, Liv and the screen.

Pick me! Choose me!

With a sigh, he pressed the button on the phone and left her high and dry. He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Hello.”

The shriek of a female voice squawked on the other end. She should have known.

“No. It's not a bad time,” he reassured his caller. “I'm on my way.”

Liv couldn't believe what she had just heard. She jumped down from the bar and pushed past him. Sliding her leg back into her jeans, she pulled them up, then hid her breasts from his stare.

“I'm sorry. I…” There were those eyes again. Sincere. But an apology didn't repair the blow to her ego.

“Sorry? We were seconds away from…from having sex…and then you stop to answer your phone.”

“It's important. My—”

“It's okay.” Liv held up a hand to stop his explanation. He didn't owe her one, just like she didn't owe him one earlier. They were doing each other a favor, scratching an itch that needed relief, and with Liv's confusing emotions getting in the way, this interruption was just what they needed. “That's just my hormones talking. You got me all riled up and I have no opportunity for release.”

We're not dating. We're not dating.

She had to keep reminding herself of the fact. She had no right to be mad, sad, frustrated, or any other over the top feeling. He didn't belong to her.

With his phone in his hand, he embraced her. His lips landed softly on her head. “I'm sorry, Liv. But I have to go.” He eased away and looked into her eyes. “But I will see you soon.”

Sometimes, his words were cryptic. Sometimes, behind his superbly hot body and incredibly handsome face, there was something dark that pushed its way to the surface.

The realization that she was trying to decipher his words rather than thinking about her bakery put everything into perspective. “Look, Jake…” There was no way she was going to get through the next two weeks of stress if she had to analyze every move she made with him. “We both have important things going on and maybe we should just focus on that for a while.”

“But what about our date?” He looked genuinely disappointed at the possibility of her saying no. She wouldn't lie, it was a great feeling.

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