Ruby Red - A Romance (Now Published by Champagne Book Group)

Chapter 2

Hmm, he's a slow starter. Let's work on getting his engine going.

She placed a hand on the side of the stranger's face and drew him toward her. Without hesitation, he willingly obliged, leaning in. When her lips were a hairsbreadth away from his, she stopped. He'd have to put some work into this. Ali needed to feel his desire.

Steady fingers cupped her chin, angling her face so she would look at him, and after a moment's hesitation, he rested his lips on hers. She'd wanted fiery, rugged passion. Instead, she got velvet lips that gently teased her mouth, making her lean in for more. The room spun and her pulse quickened. To balance herself, she placed her hand on his shoulder. The taut muscles under her palm sent another electric charge through her. Her caress garnered a tiny, guttural noise from her kissing partner, and he shifted his hand from her chin to entwine his fingers in her hair.

A kiss wasn't usually something she enjoyed with her Romeos. Not many men were really any good at it. In fact, the ski instructor had nearly taken out her two front teeth. So, she tended to move on quickly from this stage of the seduction. This man was different somehow. He knew what he was doing. When they broke apart, a sense of loss stabbed at her stomach.

The sensation didn't last long, though. Follow-up kisses on her neck sent little shivers through her body. He continued toward her breasts, and Ali stirred with impatience. Aaah, here we go. He's finally getting to the good stuff.

Her insides clenched deliciously as he kissed the tender hollow just above her sternum. With the intent to get those lips closer to more sensitive skin, she tried to move, but he planted his other hand on her stomach and, with a gentle grasp, kept her in place. He didn't go any lower. Rather, he held her in suspended anticipation while he worked on this one sweet spot. The ache in her nipples burned, needing his hands, his touch. She squirmed, but he had her oddly pinned in his grip, the contact sending tingles up her spine. She let him have the illusion he was in control.

At last, he offered her some relief when he slid his palm off her stomach, his warm touch trailing around her waist and onto the small of her back. Their bodies crashed together, her skin flaming with his heat. The sweet kisses didn't relent, but rather traveled along her shoulder now. He used his teeth to deftly nudge the strap of her bikini out of the way.

Ali hovered in a state of acute awareness, unable to remember the last time anyone had cherished her body the way this man did. She melted into his arms, letting all the worries of the world outside wither away. Nothing existed except for the pool boy and her.

Until a shrill voice broke the moment with, "Well, what do we have here?"