Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz Page B

of putting his hand over her lips. “That's enough. Let's stop right there with interesting. I like interesting.”

    “You do?” she mumbled into his palm.

    “Yes. It so happens I find you very interesting, too.”

    “Really?” Her eyes widened above the edge of his hand.

    “Yes. Really.” It was too soon, Oliver thought, but he was going to kiss her anyway. He couldn't seem to stop himself. He leaned back against the bench, widened his stance, and pulled Annie slowly and inexorably between his thighs.

    She resisted only briefly. The next thing Oliver knew Annie was leaning into him with a joyful abandon. Her hands splayed across his shoulders. Her eyes glittered with feminine anticipation. When he took his palm off her mouth he saw that her lips were slightly parted with sensual excitement.

    “You remind me of one of my ferns,” Oliver said.

    “I do?” She appeared delighted by that information.

    “Yes.”

    He bent his head. Slowly and deliberately he covered her mouth with his own. He felt the sexual electricity race through her, felt it add fuel to his already aroused senses.

    She tasted exactly as he had known she would—fresh and vibrant and full of promise, the most exotic fern in his garden.

    Annie's fingers tightened abruptly on the fabric of his shirt. She clung to him, greeting him with a deep, hungry curiosity that was sending small shivers through her.

    And through him, Oliver acknowledged with a small shock. His hands were trembling a little with the force of his need. Annie's immediate, completely undisguised response filled him with a thundering satisfaction.

    For a long moment he stood there, cradling her between his thighs, savoring the excitement and the anticipation. He could feel the softness of her breasts crushed against his chest. The curve of her hips pressed against his erection, making his blood run hot. She was just what he wanted, just what he needed. He had been right about her that night at Daniel's engagement party.

    Oliver forced himself to let his mouth move slowly across Annie's, testing the extent of her desire for him. She mumbled something that sounded urgent against lips.

    “What was that?” he muttered, not really caring. He took her earlobe between his teeth and bit carefully. Another shiver went through her. Once again he had a scalding vision of taking her right there in the greenhouse.

    “I said this kind of thing could really complicate matters,” Annie got out in a breathless little voice.

    “No, it will simplify them.” He was convinced of that. He knew for certain now that he could make her respond. Once he took her to bed, she would be his.

    Annie held herself slightly away from him so that she could look up into his face. “How can you say that?”

    “Annie, I want you. You want me. We're married. What could be less complicated than that?”

    He knew as soon as the words were out of his mouth that he'd made a serious mistake. The expression in Annie's eyes altered swiftly. She pushed against his shoulders and stepped back out of his arms.

    “Hold it right there.” She eyed him warily “Just how did you think our little business arrangement was going to work?”

    “Any way you want it to work,” he said gently.

    Some of the fizzy outrage went out of her. She wrinkled her nose. “I suppose I did sort of encourage you.”

    “Why don't we just say there seems to be a mutual attraction between us?”

    She slanted him an uncertain glance. “Do you mean that?”

    He smiled. “I don't think there's any doubt.”

    “Oh, God, I thought it was just me.”

    “And you thought I was a monk.”

    She glared at him. “Don't tease me about that. I've already apologized. Oliver, this is very awkward. What are we going to do?”

    “What do you want to do?” he countered softly.

    “I don't know.” Distraught, she ran a hand through her sherry-brown curls. “I never thought about what would happen if we got involved. Physically,