Face to Face Read Online Free PDF Page A

skin. Her
pulse raced and her breathing quickened to match the
rhythm he’d set when he took command of body and soul.
    She
slipped her arms around his neck, running her hands up his neck to his hair.
The ponytail holder was easy to pull out as she gripped the soft strands in her
hand. The fantasy had finally become reality. His hai r was as lush as she imagined when she ran her fingers through the long
locks, letting them spill out around them. A moan rumbled through him as she grasped a handful near his scalp.
Thinking she could get the upper hand, she pushed the
kiss a little further. He had a different plan. He slid his tongue into her
mouth. No hesitation, no sen se of insecurity, it was a full- on, sensual attack on her senses.
    The
spicy scent of his cologne stirred her hunger while his tongue dancing with he rs had her clenching her thighs together. God,
I need him, need this.
    Pulling
back, she caught his bottom lip between her teeth and caressed it with a glide
of her tongue. After a small suck she released him, leaned her forehead against
his, asking, “Why d id we wait so long?”
    “Because I’m an insecure jackass.”
    She
pul led back to look him
in the eye .
“I can’t find an argument for that one at the moment.” She couldn’t completely
hide the small laugh that worked its way out.
    His
hand flew up to cover his heart . “Ouch, so much for being good for my ego. I don’t blame you, I screwed up, but
you should have told me the whole truth. Seeing you the other night floored me.
I should be beyond pissed at you for not telling me everything.”
    Suddenly
serious again, she cl asped the hand over his heart.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to think I was pushing myself on you. The move,
the new job, and your rejection when I first asked about meeting all left me
struggling to find the right words to tel l you.” Her eyes burned with forming
tears.
    Ash
wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. With her head resting on his
shoulder, his scent and cologne once again overwhelmed her. He smelled fresh,
like rain mixed with newly ground spices. The knot that had grown in her
stomach s ince she moved loosened the more he rubbed
her back and whispered several apologies for his behavior in her ear.
    “You
need to stop apologizing. We are both at fault here. I should have come right
out and told you instead of testing the waters, so to speak. ”
    “I
don’t think I gave you much choice with the way I’ve handled—or not
handled—things in the past.”
    Hugging
him tightly, she said, “No more talk of the past. This is a new beginning, we
need to grab the chance and run.” She gaz ed
into his eyes. “Don’t lo ok back or we’ll make the
same mistakes we always have.”
    Ash
released a breath he’ d
apparently been holding, leaned down, and captured her lips in a slow,
leisurely kiss, nothing like the one before. This one was more relaxed,
enabling them to simply enjoy each other.
    As
her need to get closer rose, she found herself pressed up against his chest. If
she could have become his second skin, she would have at that moment. The flex
of his muscles as he moved against her sent her desire spiraling higher. She
turn ed the tables this time by sliding her tongue
into his mouth to circle his. The muscles in his back beneath her palms
twitched.
    Ash
pulled back enough to break their connection and took a breath. “Damn, you make
it hard for a guy to be a gentleman.”
    “Who
s aid I needed a gentleman right now? I asked you to
be yourself.” She managed to find the strength to not beg him to fuck her hard
and fast.
    “My
mother raised a gentleman, Jess. You have no idea how bad I want to throw you
down and ravish you, but I was tau ght to treat women
with respect.”
    “ Aw, the idea of letting you have your way with me sounded pretty good.”
She got a smile out of him with an exaggerated pout. “But ravishing someone isn’t always disrespectful.
Sometimes a woman wants a man to