Murphy's Law Excerpt
Chapter 1
Excerpt 2
He stepped ahead of her to open the door to the building.
In her usual, long-legged march, Ashley went in past him. He had a feeling she'd keep walking until she left him far behind.
On a sigh, he said, "Ashley, wait."
She paused, and one slim brown eyebrow lifted. "For what?"
She looked... well, adorable. Her disheveled light brown hair draped her shoulders, partially concealing the ridiculous long sleeved Tee she wore. Ashley had the oddest fashion sense he'd ever witnessed, but somehow, it suited her spirit.
Tonight she wore a purple and pea green stripped T-shirt that would have made most women look bloated. On Ashley, it made a statement of individuality. For certain, he'd never seen anything like it on anyone else.
Droopy, broke-in jeans hung low on her slim hips, leaving a thin strip of pale, smooth belly to tantalize him. Her slip-on sneakers clashed in a glaring shade of pink with silver trim.
What was it about her?
She tried so hard to appear disinterested in him, but when they kissed, her body language told him otherwise. And thinking that...
Quinton narrowed his eyes. "If I kissed you right now, what would you do?"
Expression arrested, she asked, "Scream again?"
"You aren't certain?" He stepped closer. She didn't back away, but she did plant her feet as if preparing for a confrontation. He didn't want to rush her, or scare her off.
Without touching her, he suggested, "Maybe we should find out."
She stared at his mouth. Her lips parted on a shaky breath, then slowly curved in a sexy female smile that reeked of confidence. "Yeah," she whispered. Her gaze drifted to his. "I have a few minutes, so why not?"
Damn it, one little invitation from her, and his heart pounded as if he'd been jogging up three flights of stairs. Not waiting for her to change her mind, Quinton tunneled his fingers into the cool weight of her hair, tipped up her chin, and sealed his mouth over hers.
Being so close to rioted his senses.
He loved the feel of her hair against his palms, the warm scent of her skin, the way her heartbeat matched his. With only the touch of his tongue, her lips opened under his, so soft and sweet.
Just as he remembered, she intoxicated him.
They were in the building's basement, not exactly a place conducive to seduction.
She had to start work.
He needed to head home.
He knew all that - but at that moment, he didn't care.
Her hands on his shoulders, she snuggled into him, pelvis to pelvis, her breath coming fast and hard, her mouth moving with his.
Her breasts were small, but he could feel her stiffened nipples rasping against his chest and it made him nuts because he knew she was braless, that only a thin T-shirt kept her from him. Lost to the here and now, he ran his hand down her back all the way to her rounded bottom, spread his fingers wide over the softened, worn denim of her jeans, and pressed her tight against his erection.
With him every step of the way, she made a purring sound of excitement and dug her fingers hard into his shoulders. Her response pushed him over the edge and he started considering the possibility of taking her in the darkened hallway, against the wall, her long legs wrapped around his waist...
She freed her mouth. Breathing hard, her forehead to his chest, she half laughed, half moaned.
His own breathing was ragged. He felt primed, more than ready strip off her jeans and sink into her. But he had enough sense not to press her. Instead, he rubbed his hands over her back, soothing her, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. "God almighty, woman."
"Yeah." Her fingers fisted in his dress shirt. She swallowed twice, let out a long breath. "And now you see why you have to leave me alone."
He stiffened from his hairline to his toes. "You must be joking." She had to be. He couldn't remember the last time a mere kiss had affected him so strongly. And she wasn't immune either. He could feel her trembling.
"Sorry, no joke." Her forehead pressed hard into his sternum and her voice lowered in near desperation. "You have to stop waiting for me -"
He forgot his lie about work, and said, "I've only waited twice, damn it."
"- and you definitely have to stop kissing me."
Quinton caught her shoulders and held her back far enough to see her face. A pulse thrummed wildly in her throat. Her swollen and damp lips were open to accommodate her uneven breaths. Heat flushed her cheeks and lust shone in her big dark eyes.
She felt everything he felt.
Determined to understand her, he demanded quietly, "Tell me why."
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