He blew out his breath. “Let’s not talk about that, okay? Whatever happened in the past, the point is, I don’t want you to walk away now. I can’t stand the thought of it.”
“Okay,” she said so quietly he almost didn’t hear.
He reached out and nudged her chin up. “Okay?” he asked.
“I want to stay. I have no idea how we’ll work all this out, but I want to try.”
Satisfaction ripped through him, so savage that for a moment he couldn’t breathe. He had to temper his reaction because he wanted nothing more than to grab her, haul her into his arms and hold her so damn tight that she could never escape.
“We’ll do more than try,” he vowed. “We’re going to fix this, Savvie. We’re going to make it work this time.”
Savannah nodded, but she said nothing. At least she was sure of what he wanted from her now. What mattered now was if it was going to work out.
She swallowed hard as she stared up at him. She hadn’t been drinking, but just being in the same room with Matt made her dearly wish she had been. Every time she was anywhere near this man she felt the urge to rip the clothes from his body and have her way with him. Her very wicked way with him! She wanted him to sweep her into his arms, and make mad, passionate love to her.
Matt watched the emotions flicker across Savannah’s flushed and expressive face as she looked at him: tension, then desire, quickly followed by dismay.
“I would give a thousand dollars to know what your thoughts were just now,” he murmured throatily.
Her eyes widened in alarm before she quickly looked away. “You would be wasting your money.” She said.
“It’s my money to waste.”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t thinking about anything” she said.
Matt gave a casual glance down at Savannah’s left hand, knowing by the way it was clenched that she wasn’t telling the truth. Knowing by the way she instantly unclenched her hand that she knew he knew it too!
“Having a giveaway is annoying, isn’t it?” he murmured conversationally.
Her chin rose determinedly. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Sure you don‟t…” he drawled.
“I believe you now owe me a thousand dollars…” she said.
He gave a rueful shake of his head and smiled.” We both know you just lied and I don’t owe you a damn thing.”
He lifted his hand to her face and his thumb slid along her jawline. The simple gesture made her entire body ache with unbearable longing.
She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed. Every slight touch, every word that rumbled up from his chest, was stoking her desire.
A pulse fluttered in her throat. His thumb pressed gently on her jaw, urging her head up. She met his gaze, and the fire in his eyes sent a spear of yearning all the way through her, down to her sexual core.
She’d gotten a fleeting glimpse of that green fire before—the last time he kissed her. She knew he was going to kiss her now. And she wanted him to.
Savannah knew all she had to do was lift her head another millimeter and his lips would cover hers. After that, who knew what would happen? She didn’t know, nor did she care.
She was consumed with need. She throbbed with desire. And it was far too late for second guesses. So she threw caution to the wind and lifted her head.
Matt made a soft sound deep in his throat and kissed her. At first it was a soft, short pressing of lips on lips. Then he paused, he lifted his head and stared into her eyes. Savannah stared back at him. Whatever happened between them this time, she was going to meet it head-on.
So she tilted her head back a little more and reached for his mouth with hers. His mouth came down again, softly. But almost immediately, the pressure increased and his tongue traced the seam of her lips until she parted them. Then his hand on her nape slid up to cradle the back of her head and his mouth took hers, seeking her tongue with his.
When her heart was racing so fast that she thought she couldn’t breathe, and her entire body was pulsing with desire, he left her mouth and trailed his tongue down her jawline, down her neck, all the way to her collarbone, where he nibbled lightly.
His fingers slid down her neck to caress the skin he was kissing. Then further, until they trailed fire along the curve of her breast. When his hot, questing fingers brushed her nipple, she arched, pushing her breast into his hand as liquid fire burned all the way to her core.
He arched, too, and she felt the length of his erection through his pants. Tentatively, fearfully, she touched him.
Matt gasped as the touch of her hand sent shudders through his body. He strained, forcing his length more fully against her hand. The stiff fabric of his pants rubbed against his flesh, creating a nearly unbearable friction that only ratcheted his need higher.
“This is not the place,” Matt said. “And we have too many clothes on” he added with a teasing grin.
She gasped when suddenly he swept her up in his arms and he was carrying her to his bedroom. He shut the door with his foot and she was barely on her feet before his lips found hers again.
His dark head bent and his lips brushed across hers as he gathered her hard against him, and kissed her long and deep. So deep that when he suddenly eased her away from the heat of his great body, she was breathless, her legs felt like rubber and she could hardly stand. But she didn’t need to. He was holding her… Actually she was pressed against him.
Savannah’s breasts were barely covered by the thin cloth of the gown she wore. Her nipples puckered, perfectly visible through the gauzy fabric. Was she naked under the gown? Lust stabbed him at the thought.
He kissed her again, as his hand slid lower, lower, until he felt the swell of her hip. Her hand still stroking him through his clothes. Her breathing had changed, now coming in short, sharp bursts, just like his.