On the big screen television the actors were speaking, lips moving, but Silken was hearing not a word. With nothing more than the stroke of his fingers Max had wiped her mind clean and all she could think of was the way his hands made her whole body tingle. No matter that he was lounging on the sofa, seeming totally relaxed and comfortable, she was like a live wire, electrified, every inch of her aware of him. Even her ni**les had gone hard in her bra.
Trying her best to relax, Silken drew in a slow, deep breath then let it out in a soft sigh. It didn’t work. How could it, when right then his hand was leaving its safe place at her nape and sliding into the collar of her shirt? His warm palm caressed her shoulder and she had to fight to swallow a moan.
It was a gentle caress, and he wasn’t touching the intimate parts of her body, but God it was so sensual, so…
Silken sucked in her breath and bit down on her lip. Oh, no. She was growing damp…and he hadn’t done a thing except stroke her neck and shoulder. What was it about this man that made her respond to his simple touch?
Not good. Not when she was so used to being in control.
And then his hand slid over to cup her shoulder and a warm, softly-tingling sensation radiated from his palm, flowing through her body, making her tremble. This time she moaned. She couldn’t help it.
How she wished he would stop this teasing, this sliding of his hand over her skin, showing so much restraint. How did he do it? Right at that moment all she wanted was for him to strip her bare and make sweet, hot love to her…right there in the den, right now.
But he was holding back…and she knew why. As sure as he was of himself, he still wasn’t sure what she wanted, and he wasn’t going to push. She would have to be the one to make the move. That had to be it.
And if taking that first step was what it would take for her to get what she wanted, then she would do it.
Eyes closed, Silken shifted her head on Max’s lap, rubbing her lips along the smooth fabric covering his legs, moving closer into him until his hand, the one smoothing her shoulder stilled. Satisfied that she’d got his attention, she raised her head then slowly, almost seductively, she slid off him and got up, forcing him to release her and let his hand fall to his side.
He was watching her now, intently, his dark eyes blazing. But he said nothing. His eyes told the story. He would let her have her way.
Silken gave him a tiny smile, knowing what she had in store for him. Maybe she would shock him, maybe she would shock even herself, but tonight was the night that she felt like being daring.
Silken sank back down onto Max’s lap – she loved his lap, strong and firm and muscled – but this time, instead of her cheek it was her bottom that settled there. And it felt so good.
And now she was in the perfect position to do what she wanted. Sliding her hand up, Silken ran her palm across Max’s cotton-covered chest then moved her hand higher still to caress the deliciously rough skin just below his chin. Then slowly, deliberately, she slid her hand around to tickle the hair at his nape, just like he’d done to her. His groan of pleasure was all the reward she needed. But she didn’t plan to take it slow, not like he’d been doing. Tonight was the night to indulge her inner diva – she would take what she wanted when she wanted. And that ‘when’ was now.
Sliding her fingers up and into the smooth thickness of his hair, Silken gained hold on the back of Max’s head and, applying pressure, forced his head down toward hers.
She didn’t let up until his lips, those wonderfully firm lips, were touching hers. Then she took command.
She claimed possession of his lips, kissing him like he’d probably never been kissed by any woman before. Tilting his head to the perfect angle, she molded her mouth to his then, before he could even respond, she tickled his lower lip with her tongue then sucked it into her mouth.
Max drew in his breath but he did not resist. He let her have her way, nipping and teasing until a groan escaped his lips.
Emboldened by his response Silken’s exploration grew more intimate. Releasing his lips, she slipped her tongue in to taste him, to feel as one with the man whose touch made her body sing.
She knew she was doing something right when he moaned again and his arms went round her, pressing her against his chest. She deepened the kiss, taking from him all that she desired, feeding her hunger with the kiss.
His hand slid up as if he wanted to cup her head, probably take control, but Silken was having none of that. Just as he drew her closer she broke the kiss.
Max looked surprised then disappointment filled his eyes.
Silken smiled. She loved that. She’d made him want her and by the time she was done with him there would be no turning back.
Pulling back, she reached down and began to undo the buttons on his shirt and even when he fixed her with a questioning look she did not stop. When the shirt fell wide open she slid her hands up and shoved it off his shoulders, leaving his body bare to her gaze.
Still smiling, feeling as wicked as a witch, she lowered her head to capture a taut nipple between her teeth and then she began the torture she knew he loved. She worried the nipple, sucking then nipping the stiff bud till Max threw back his head and groaned. The other nipple suffered the same fate until she took pity and released him…for the moment.
Max must have thought her momentary pause was her signal for him to take over because his hands, which had clutched the comfy cushions, now reached for her. She slapped them away. “Don’t move,” she growled, “not until I say you can.”
Immediately, he dropped his hands. Good boy.
She reached up and cupped his chin in her hand then kissed him forcefully, almost savagely on the lips then before he could recover she pulled away, leaving him wanting more. She could see the desire in those eyes that bored into her but she said nothing. Let him stew in the broth of his passion for just a while longer. Then he’d really be ready for her.
She’d almost chuckled at that thought. If the hardness pressed against her hip was anything to go by, he was way past ready.
The perfect time to move in for the kill.
She slipped off his lap. “Lie down,” she ordered, jerking her head to indicate that he should stretch out on the sofa. As tall as he was, his feet would hang over the edge but there was nothing she could do about that. To move to stage two she needed him flat on his back.