IntheMood Read Online Free Page A

cattle they used to drive
here.”
    “Ah. You gave me a shock. I thought I’d picked up some kind
of Jill the Ripper.” But he was smiling as he said it.
    Her sharp laugh sounded nervous, even to her ears. “I never
thought of that. I know you, but you don’t know me, do you?”
    “No, but I’m not sure where you’d hide a big-ass knife in
that getup.”
    Her coat was a raincoat, thin with small pockets, and her
small purse wouldn’t hold much. Except a gun. She could fit a small gun in
there if she really wanted to. “Taking a chance on me?”
    “Carried away with passion.” Grabbing her waist, he twirled
her around. “Intoxicated with it.”
    Keeping his arm around her waist, he led her into the
building.
    Of course he lived on the top floor. The penthouse
apartment. But the old service elevator had been replaced with a smoothly
gliding modern one, although they’d kept the original grilles and the style of
the foyer was grandly pompous. She liked it. It made her smile, reminded her of
all the self-made men and women who’d come from nothing, made their fortune and
wanted to prove it. They decorated everything that stayed still long enough.
    And here she was, another of Chicago’s pushy kids, going for
the high one herself, and for tonight at least, getting it.
    He opened the door and slammed it shut. Before she had a
chance to take in the apartment, he had her against the wall, pressing her body
against the hard wood, the panels scoring lines into her back. His kiss seared
her mouth, hard and unforgiving, but she needed his desperation, because it
echoed hers. Her whole body ached to be touched, learned, and she wanted to
feel him skin on skin.
    He jerked back with a gasp. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I want you so
much. You’re beautiful, sexy, but it’s more than that.” As he regained a
semblance of civilization, a smile flickered across his mouth and then was
gone. “I’ve never wanted anyone so much.”
    “Me too.” Honesty. She could try for that. Courtesy went
when she reached for his black shirt and began to undo the buttons feverishly.
As she revealed more of his skin, she moaned at the sight.
    “You’re killing me here.” With a powerful flex of muscle, he
bent and lifted her, heading for a room that turned out to be his bedroom. She
got a vague impression of muted colors and a large window before he joined her
and framed her face with his hands. Then he kissed her.
    Several long, luscious kisses later, her dress came off and
so did his shirt. She ran her hands over his hot, smooth skin, pausing to tweak
his nipples. His sharp cry went a little way to assuage her. She wanted him to
want her as much as she wanted him, and it seemed he did from his eager
response. He cupped her breasts, still held in the soft bra she’d put on what
seemed like eons ago but was in reality earlier that evening, after her shower.
She sighed and moved from side to side, to feel his hands on her. He slipped
one hand under the strap and released the clasp of her bra with an ease that
spoke of years of practice.
    But not now. Now there were only the two of them, for the
whole night.
    He tossed her bra aside and it joined her dress somewhere on
the floor. Filling her gaze with him, she smoothed her hands down the powerful
muscles of his back and slipped the tips of her fingers under his belt, sliding
them around to the front. Then she cursed under her breath. He drew back,
rested his weight on his forearms and stared down at her, a smile quirking his
mobile lips. “Something wrong?”
    “Double belt,” she said and groaned.
    “Can’t stand the tension?”
    “Two buckles.”
    He laughed down at her. “Better get busy then. Because if
you don’t, I might just burst out.”
    She paused, her hands on the first buckle. “That could be
interesting.” She got back to work. “Pity I can’t wait to find out.” Then she
paused again and glanced up at him. Strange to feel shy in this situation. “Do
you have