Excerpt of A Hard Man to Love by Kathleen Lawless

“We haven’t renegotiated my contract,” Steele said.

“What did you have in mind?”

“How about a flat fee, renewable on a daily basis? That way if you don’t like what I’m doing, we simply walk away from each other, no hard feelings.”

“And if I like what you’re doing?” she asked with a husky catch in her voice. His nearness stirred something primal inside of her, something she’d feared had been forever extinguished by Charlie’s infidelity.

He trailed his fingers down the length of one arm, the light stimulation far more powerful and arousing than if he’d clutched her close. He linked his fingers through hers and raised their joined hands overhead, slowly leaning into her as he pressed her back against the rock. His eyes were on hers with deliberate intent as he pinned her in place.

Montana felt an internal jolt, as if he’d suddenly jump- started something deep within, something that threatened madly to ricochet out of control.

Her breathing quickened. She watched his eyes darken, the pupils dilating till the intriguing rim of blue all but disappeared into the smoldering darkness. He was fully aroused, his body brushing hers with slow and deliberate intent and she felt herself soften in response, every quivering nerve ending on full alert. She held her breath, wondering what he’d do next. How far would he push her? How intoxicating to yield the control for once.

He kneed her legs apart and pressed his kneecap against that tingling, throbbing central core in a move that both teased and further inflamed her, as he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his own.

Montana shimmied against him, her body suddenly, desperately in need of his touch. Everywhere. Fully aroused in a way she’d never been before. His tongue mated with hers, knowing deliberation in the way it challenged and stimulated. He swallowed her soft moan of pleasure, her plea for more as he deepened the kiss and his body molded itself to hers. His erect cock throbbed against the thin barrier of silk as he sought and found her inner heat.

She moaned in frustration, chafed her aching breasts against the crisp matting of damp hair on his chest, and swiveled her pelvis in tandem with his. He broke the kiss then immediately moved to the sensitive pulse point just below her earlobe, eliciting a low moan for more.

“Turn around,” he said, his voice a husky breath of warmth that found its way from her inner ear to her inner womanhood in less than a second.

She did as he said, hands still joined with his as she spun in a graceful arc reminiscent of her short career as a dancer.

He caught both her hands in one of his and anchored them against the rock, imprisoned in a way she found divinely thrilling. His other hand he ran freely, knowingly across her breasts, her belly, her hips and her buttocks, his touch urgent, yet leisurely in his exploration of her body.

How long since she’d been touched by a man? Felt sexy and desired? It was good for her soul, her emotional responses sending her physical reaction right off the Richter scale.