Good Girls Don't Read online

  Unable to stop from touching her, James set his hand along the small of her back and led her through the sparsely decorated space to another set of doors.

  He pushed through the doors, and Lyssa let out a gasp when they stepped out onto the roof.

  “What is this place?”

  “Rooftop bar. A little known extension of the Dubliner.”

  Her eyes grew wide as she glanced around, and he tried to see it through her eyes. Teak wood flooring had been laid onto the rooftop, and a long, rectangular bar was set up in one corner. Lights were strung up everywhere, lending a soft glow to the night sky. Round patio tables and conversation sets lined the rest of the space.

  The retractable canopy was rolled back tonight, giving a clear view of the skyscrapers surrounding them. It was quite lovely, actually. How jaded he’d become that he hadn’t even noticed until now.

  The bar was all but empty tonight, something he’d counted on when he'd decided to bring her up here. Besides the bored-looking bartender, who gave James a respectful nod when he glanced his way, there was only one other couple engaged in deep conversation at one of the patio tables.

  “Come on. I want to show you something.” He led the way to the railing and they leaned against it. Several stories below, people milled back and forth along the street. Even though it was nighttime, in typical Manhattan fashion the street was still pretty crowded. Up here it was a different world, however. Their own little oasis right in the heart of the city.

  “Whoa.” Lyssa gave a nervous laugh and pulled backward, stumbling slightly.

  James reached out to steady her. His arm enclosed her waist, bringing her flush with his body. It felt good.

  Damn good.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  When she looked vaguely embarrassed, he put two and two together. “Scared of heights?”

  “Just a little.” She lifted her thumb and forefinger and placed them close together for emphasis.

  “Sorry. Didn’t consider that. You want to move away?”

  He started to move, but she grabbed onto his arm with her free hand and shook her head. “No. It’s okay. I like it here.”

  She took a breath and, still clutching onto his arm, looked down again. “Wow, everything looks sort of surreal from up here.”

  “Doesn’t it?” They stood there in silence for a few minutes. “Whenever the madness of the city or the stress of the job starts to close in on me, I like to come someplace like this. Look down on it all. Sort of puts everything in perspective.”

  “I get that. I do.” Lyssa turned to give him an appraising look. “Your work is very important to you, isn’t it?”

  Her words startled him into taking a long sip of his whiskey. “It can be all-consuming at times.”

  “So,” she looked at him through her lashes, “no wife at home? No girlfriend?”

  “No.” He looked at her askance. “You really think I’d be up here with you if there were?”

  She shrugged. “You never know.”

  That much was true.

  “What about you? No husband or boyfriend, I assume.” When she shook her head in confirmation, he asked, “Does your work take up most of your time, too?”

  She heaved a sigh and turned to give him a steady gaze. “I don’t want to talk about work right now.”

  Whether she meant them to or not, her words sounded like an invitation. So he stepped just a little closer to her. Close enough that only inches separated them now, the night air bringing the slightest hint of her scent. Not vanilla, as he’d expected, but some luscious, intoxicating scent, like wild cherry blossoms.

  Her eyes darkened to black pools of liquid heat. Though she didn’t look one hundred percent certain of his proximity, she didn’t move away.

  A sudden stiff breeze blew back the lapels of her jacket and she gave an almost imperceptible shiver.

  “Too cold?” he asked.

  “No.”

  She licked her lips, and the sight of her pink tongue almost made him groan. The lust that had struck him at the first sight of her returned with a vengeance. He wanted her.

  Even though it was unlike him to be so forward with a woman he’d just met, suddenly he couldn’t think of anything but tasting her. “Can I kiss you?”

  Her breath hitched, as if she hadn’t expected him to flat-out ask. She paused for a beat, then nodded. “Yes.”

  ***

  Oh god, this was crazy. What was she doing?

  Lyssa’s heart beat madly against her ribcage and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Not only had she allowed a complete stranger to lure her off to parts unknown, but now she was letting him kiss her. Even worse, contemplating doing more than that.

  Her actions were so unlike her that she was partly in shock. She should call this off right away. Turn on her heels and race out of there as fast as she could.

  But when James’s gorgeous eyes darkened to a shimmering blue and his head lowered, all reason fled.

  She had to know what he tasted like. Girls like her didn’t get the chance to kiss an Adonis every day. Her last boyfriend, Mike, had been an overweight policeman with a receding hairline and a wardrobe that consisted solely of jeans and New York Knicks t-shirts.

  Once she knew what it was like, she could leave. No doubt just the memory of his lips on hers would carry her through many a restless night.

  Then his supple lips met hers, molding to her mouth. He moved them in a whisper-soft caress, and her lips parted on a gasp. When his tongue flicked inside, the flavors of mint and whiskey landed on her tongue. The arousing combination made her moan.

  An appreciative noise sounded in James’s throat and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her flush to his body as he deepened the kiss. A solid weight pressed against her stomach, bringing heat even through the heavy fabric of her knit sweater. When she realized what it was, her whole body caught fire.

  He was hard. For her. She’d done that.

  The heady knowledge that he wanted her prompted her to press herself into his front, then slowly shift from side to side. It was more instinctive than anything, but when he hissed into her mouth, she knew her actions had had the desired effect.

  Heat and lust coalesced between her thighs, making her instantly wet. She’d been with Mike for three years, and not once had he inspired the mind-blowing lust this stranger had managed to arouse with just one kiss.

  She wanted more of it. More of him. So much more.

  She wanted it all.

  When he let out a soft groan and forcibly pulled himself away from her, Lyssa grasped onto James’s arms and rose to her toes, trying to catch his lips with hers once more.

  “Sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice tortured. “This isn’t the place.”

  His words penetrated the lusty haze that had overtaken her. Startled, she rocked back onto her heels and examined James’s face. His pupils were dilated and he breathed hard and heavy like he’d just run a marathon. Something in his gaze told her it had taken a Herculean amount of effort to stop.

  Then she remembered exactly where they were.

  On a rooftop. Not alone.

  Her body flushed with humiliation as she swiveled her head to find the couple at the patio table unabashedly staring at the two of them.

  Oh god.

  Not only had she just made out with a complete stranger, she’d done it in full view of even more strangers. What the hell was wrong with her?

  “I’m sorry,” James whispered. Regret flashed in his eyes as he lifted a hand to her lips, gently brushing away a stray lock of hair that had caught there. “The last thing I wanted to do was stop. I’m sure you realize that.”

  She felt the same way.

  I don’t want to stop either. I want more. I want him.

  When she realized what she was thinking, her stomach did a quick, anxious flip. Was she seriously considering having a one-night stand? That was definitely on the list of things good girls didn’t do. Somewhere
near the top of that list, in fact.

  Out of nowhere, she remembered a conversation she and her best friend Nadia had shared over martinis at her place last weekend.

  “You work too hard, Lyssa,” Nadia had commented.

  “You know why. Someone has to support my family.”

  “I know, but…” Nadia hesitated and knocked back the rest of her glass. She’d then set it down with a shrug. “You should live a little, too. Loosen up every now and again. You’re only twenty-seven years old, chica. Enjoy your youth, before it’s gone.”

  Nadia was right. How many opportunities would she have to spend an amazing night with a virtual Adonis?

  You’re lucky to get one.

  James’s hand caressed her cheek, feeding her warmth over the chill of the fall breeze. “Lyssa—”

  She took a breath and said the one thing she never would have thought she’d say to a man she’d just met.

  “Do you want to come back to my hotel room with me?”

  Chapter Two

  Tense silence filled the air as James rode the elevator up with Lyssa to her floor. After her shyly whispered invitation, which he would have been crazy to turn down, he’d escorted her out of the Dubliner and down the street to her hotel. They made idle chitchat as they walked side by side without touching. But her eyes had held a crazed look that practically screamed, How did I get myself into this?

  He was wondering the same thing himself. Other than a single drunken, barely memorable night in college, he’d never had a one-night stand before. In fact, he’d always thought the whole concept to be sort of vulgar, considering the wealth of casual acquaintances eager to engage in a little harmless fun should he be so inclined.

  It seemed crazy to indulge in this itch now, especially when he needed to be in top form for tomorrow. The future of his family’s company rode on his ability to convince one particular investor to take a chance on Everly Publications. But then he glanced over at Lyssa, whose luscious lower lip was caught between her teeth as she pretended to study the elevator wall, and realized he couldn’t walk away. Whatever mysterious force had made her catch his eye still controlled him.

  What was it about her, specifically, that drew him to her? Sure, she was sexy, in a fresh-faced, unassuming sort of way. But there were a multitude of other sexy women in this city. Maybe it was because she wasn’t one of the stick-thin model types he normally dated…but that wasn’t entirely it either.

  Perhaps he should just chalk it up to plain chemistry.

  The elevator door opened and Lyssa visibly tensed. The sight of it made his conscience give a worried twinge. Was she having second thoughts?

  Her lips formed a trembling smile and she started to step off, but he caught her arm before she could do so. “Lyssa…we don’t have to do this.”

  Uncertainty shone in her eyes as she hesitated, appearing to consider his words. Her hand lifted to tuck a strand of her wavy hair behind her ear and her eyes lowered to his lips, then shifted back up to his eyes. Something in her gaze grew wild, and the heat that had simmered between them back on the roof of the Dubliner flared to life once again.

  “I know.” She closed the distance between them, rising to her toes while tugging on his sweater to lower his head to hers.

  Her brazen attempt to become the sexual aggressor shattered the last bit of his self-control. A rough groan tumbled from his lips as he caught her head between his hands and kissed her hard and deep. When her mouth parted beneath the pressure of his kiss, his tongue plundered inside, drinking in her cinnamon and oat taste.

  She shuddered and pressed herself into his front, just as she had back on the roof. And like then, it had the effect of instantaneously driving him crazy. He wound his arms around her back and lifted her feet off the ground, doing his best to fit his aching cock to the juncture of her thighs.

  “Oh,” she gasped, tearing her lips from his. “That feels good.”

  He caught her mouth with his again. Only when the door let out a ding did he realize it was about to shut on them. His hand shot out at the last moment, and the door slid back open. With her still tangled in his arms, he staggered them both out into the hallway.

  It wasn’t until she gasped and drew back, pushing against his shoulders, that James realized he hadn’t even checked to see whether anyone else was in the corridor. He reluctantly set her feet back onto the ground and let her go.

  Self-consciously smoothing her hair into place, she looked around. They were blessedly alone. An adorable flush tainted her cheeks and she motioned to a door a few down from where they stood. “It’s right there.”

  As she walked toward the door, she dug her keycard out of her back pocket. But that only served to draw his eyes and accentuate how lush and ripe the curves of her ass looked in those jeans. It made him even harder, and he forcibly fought back a groan.

  Damn, what was wrong with him? He wasn’t usually this horny. Something about her brought out the worst in him.

  Like now.

  Instead of behaving like a gentleman while she slid the card into the door lock, he stepped up behind her, placing one hand on the doorframe and using the other to lift the curtain of hair from her neck. Then he slid his tongue down the tendon that ran from her neck to her shoulder, stopping for a moment to savor the pulse that beat erratically in her throat.

  “Delicious,” he whispered.

  A noise that sounded almost like a whimper tore from her lips and she yanked on the handle, opening the door so they both stumbled into the dimly lit room. Her body turned to his before the door had even closed, and he caught her in his arms, easily lifting her so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

  Ah, there. Much better.

  The door slammed shut, and a moment later he thumped her back against it, grasping her hips so he could fit his hard-as-steel erection to that sweet spot between her thighs.

  “Oh.” Her head fell back and she wriggled her delectable hips in a move that made his cock strain against the fabric of his slacks. “Oh god. That feels so good.”

  She had no fucking idea.

  His hands lowered to her thighs and he spread her legs wider, rocking into her with sensual abandon. Their mouths met again, this time in a furious exchange of lips and tongue. On and on the kiss went, each flick of his tongue punctuated by the erotic slide of his body against hers.

  Damn the barrier of their clothes. He needed to feel her naked against him.

  When he broke away with a barely muffled groan, she clutched his arms and panted into his neck. “You feel incredible. Don’t stop.”

  “Can’t,” he growled. How could he, when the tantalizing heat of her pussy seeped through the fabric of not only her jeans but his slacks, threatening to drive him to the brink of insanity.

  Suddenly, he couldn’t wait another second. He had to feel the wet heat that even now seeped through the thick denim of her jeans. Had to taste it.

  He released her thighs, letting her legs lower to the floor. Her eyes were wild. Out of control. Just like he felt.

  James drew back to lift his sweater over his head, carelessly tossing it to the side. Lyssa’s gaze grew hazier as she took in the sight of his bare chest.

  Fighting back his impatience, he gave her a second to look before he all but ripped her jacket and sweater off her. She wore a black lace bra beneath it.

  This time he couldn’t conceal his moan.

  “You have beautiful breasts.” He punctuated his statement by cupping them in his hands, testing their luscious weight.

  Her head fell back against the door and her eyes fluttered. “I-I always thought they were too small for my body.”

  He let out a harsh laugh. “You’re crazy then.”

  And if he were a patient man, he would take his time so he could sear the memory of this luscious beauty wearing nothing more than black lace and jeans into his brain. But he wasn’t, so instead, he reached behind her and fumbled with the clasp of her bra until it came undone.

  Worr
ying her bottom lip between her teeth, she lowered the straps, letting the bra fall to the ground.

  “Oh Jesus, Lyssa.” He reached out to reverently rub his hands over her breasts. “They’re perfect.”

  When she looked dubious about that, he decided to show her. He lowered his head and took one of the delicious mounds into his mouth. He rolled his tongue around the nipple, playfully nipping and tugging at it while his hand kneaded her other breast.

  She moaned and arched into his touch, running her hands through his short hair. He rewarded her by blazing a trail to the other breast with his tongue and lavishing the same attention on that one.

  “Oh god. Yes, James.”

  His name sounded like heaven on her lips. Like she was already on the verge of coming. Much as he wanted that, he also wanted to taste her. For his tongue to be buried deep inside her when she came that first time.

  “Lyssa,” he whispered reverently. “You’re beautiful.”

  When she gasped and undulated against him, he gave in to the urge to drop to his knees. Her sharp intake of breath betrayed her surprise and excitement. Little did she know how much he wanted this.

  His fingers fumbled with the button of her jeans and then he drew the zipper down. When he started to slide the denim down her legs, the heady musk of her arousal invaded his senses, making him groan with desire.

  “You smell delicious.”

  She sighed and rolled her hips, encouraging him to continue.

  His eagerness to bury his face between her legs made him clumsy. Her jeans caught in her boot and he bit back a curse as he worked to untangle them.

  “Here. Let me help.” She expertly kicked off her boots and tugged her jeans down, taking her underwear and socks along with them. Then, at last, she was gloriously naked.

  James sat back onto his heels, taking a moment to just study her. She was spectacular: beautiful breasts, a slightly rounded stomach, full hips, and an ass that made his mouth water.

  “Wow, Lyssa…”

  A glimmer of uncertainty crept into her expression and she let out an uneasy laugh. “Are you just going to sit there—”

  He was on her before she could finish, parting her legs and throwing one over his shoulder. Just as her back hit the door again, he probed her flesh with a slow, hot lick.