Rules of Negotiation Read Online Free PDF

took a deep breath. “Why don’t you start by telling me why you picked this restaurant?”
    His teeth glowed in the dark interior of the car. “Okay, if you’re determined to do some talking, how about this? I tell you about the restaurant, you let me kiss you again.”
    He settled his hand around hers. The warmth of it traveled down the length of her arm to her stomach, where it caused a smoldering ember of desire to burst into flame.
    “Deal.” Anything to get him to stop touching her long enough to regain her wits.
    “I used to live in this neighborhood,” he began. “When I was young, we didn’t have much money, and we only went out to eat once a year—for my mother’s birthday. Alessandro’s was her favorite. So now I celebrate here when I settle a deal.” He traced a lazy circle on the back of her hand. “My turn.” He inclined his head and covered her lips in a soft, feather-like kiss.
    She froze, almost panicked by the powerful response of her body. Gently, his mouth moved across hers, then slid down the side of her neck. His delicate touch left a waterfall of sensation along her skin. He moved up to the hollow behind her ear, and then nipped gently at her earlobe.
    His hand cupped the side of her face, holding her as he returned to her lips and deepened the kiss. They meshed perfectly, exploring mouths and tongues with increasing intensity. Tori arched her back, her breasts aching, needing more contact, more pressure. But he did not touch her anywhere else. Only his mouth ravaged hers, leaving her utterly defenseless. When he sucked gently on her tongue, she dug her nails into the soft leather seat and restrained the urge to drag his body against hers.
    Dimly, she felt the car slow, then stop. Brit placed one last kiss on her bruised, tender lips, and smoothed a curl back behind her ear. “Thank you,” he murmured, “for the appetizer.”
    …
     
    Brit waited in the car while his driver opened the door and helped Tori out. It had taken all of his will to keep his voice soft and controlled. His entire body ached with frustration. One kiss, one incredible kiss, had gotten him so hard he had seriously considered flipping up the hem of her soft skirt and taking her right there, in the back seat of his car.
    This was not how the evening was supposed to go. He was not supposed to be reacting to her like this. He should be cool and controlled, sailing past her defenses with his charm and wit while remaining focused on the prize—Solen’s number. But nothing had gone as expected. Her defensiveness and suspicion forced him to kiss her well before he had planned, and instead of disarming her, he’d been the one dizzy and incoherent, forced to pull away before he lost control. And now he was teetering on the edge of insanity, wanting nothing more than to forget about Solen, take Tori home, and make love to her all night long.
    To make matters worse, he was already feeling guilty about misleading her about the reason for dinner. For all her toughness, when he kissed her at the hotel he’d seen a vulnerability in Tori’s eyes that hit him like a punch to the gut. The thought of abusing that innocence left him sick.
    Remember Melissa , he told himself. This is about Melissa .
    He forced himself to jump out and lead Tori into the restaurant. Her skin was flushed and rosy, her full lips slightly parted. She had a bemused, almost glassy look to her eyes that made him want to kiss her insensible all over again.
    He’d discovered Tori’s name while researching Solen. People said she was young, driven, and Solen’s primary link to the outer world. She also happened to be negotiating a deal with his company. For once, Brit thought, his silly reputation with women would come in handy. He’d take her out to dinner, turn on a little charm, and feed her Melissa’s story. She’d be sympathetic—what woman wouldn’t be?—and hand over the number before dessert. He’d even sweetened the deal for her