Wild Invitation

the game had only just begun. And that she was the prey.
    •   •   •
    ZACH wanted to groan in frustration as he watched Annie move about the kitchen. He’d come within an inch of kissing the life out of her when she’d licked her lips. Perfect, luscious, bitable lips. He’d resisted the temptation for two reasons. One, the cat liked the chase. And two, the man liked the idea of having Annie melt at his touch. He planned to seduce her until she purred for him.
    “Coffee.” She put a cup in front of him, and he took a sip, attempting to behave when what he really wanted to do was haul her close and just
take
. Patience, he told himself. The last thing he wanted to do was scare Annie with the wild fury of his hunger.
    “It’s good.” Sighing in appreciation, he passed her the muffin and a flaky croissant with a chocolate center. “The reason for your forfeit.”
    She scowled at the pain au chocolat. “So do the win and loss cancel each other out?”
    “No. I’ll collect my forfeit.” His eyes drifted to her lips and lingered there. “A kiss, Annie. You owe me a kiss.”
    Her lips parted, her breath whispering out in a soft gasp. “And”—she coughed—“my winnings?”
    “I’ll give them to you later today.” He wanted to drink up the scent of her, spiced as it was by the seduction of her growing arousal. However that arousal was nowhere near enough to satiate the savagery of his own need. But the cat was a patient hunter. By the time this day was through, he planned to have coaxed and tempted Annie Kildaire until she was as desperate for him as he was for her. “Now eat, or we’ll be late.”
    She nibbled at her croissant, shooting him quick glances ashe finished off the bagel he’d bought for himself. “When are you going to…collect?” she asked afterward, clearing away the cups with feminine efficiency that failed to mask her responsive awareness.
    “I’ve got all day.” He slid off the stool and smiled. “Ready?”
    “You look very much the cat when you smile that way,” she said. “You’re enjoying teasing me.”
    He walked over and took the basket she’d picked up from the small table in one corner. “What’s this?”
    “I packed a couple of things for the picnic, and some snacks for the ride.”
    He peeked in. “Chocolate cake?”
    “Chocolate
mud
cake,” she said, with an adorable note of pride that made him want to claim his forfeit then and there. “I made it last night, gave it time to settle.”
    “You’ll be Sascha’s new best friend.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips over her ear. “And yes, Teach, I like teasing you.”
    •   •   •
    ANNIE still hadn’t gotten over the sensation of his lips on her skin as Zach pulled away from her ground-floor apartment and out into the street. Open sexual heat laced his teasing, but she wasn’t sure quite how far he’d take it. If he pushed, would she surrender?
    The temptation was blindingly strong. Not only was he beautiful in the most masculine way, she flat out liked him. Being with Zach, if only for a night, would be, she already knew, a delight. He wouldn’t be the least bit selfish, she thought. His partner’s pleasure would matter to him. And, given his nature, he wasn’t likely to want any kind of a commitment.
    It was perfect.
    Yet Annie found herself hesitating. Already, she reacted to him more deeply than she had to any other man her entire life. What would it do to her to sleep with him, to know him that intimately…then watch him walk away? Her mind flicked to a slide show of images. They were all of one woman. A woman with years of disappointment in her eyes.
    “Look.”
    She jerked up at the sound of his voice. “What?”
    “There.” He pointed out the windshield.
    Her eyes widened at the parade of old-fashioned automobiles on the other side of the road, all huge bodies and gleaming paint. They were so old they had no hover capacity, but there was something very sexy about them. “They look amazing. I wonder where they’re going?”
    “I read something about a vintage-car show about a twenty-minute drive from here. We could swing by after the picnic today.”
    Despite her fear at how quickly he’d gotten under her skin, she couldn’t help but be delighted that he wanted to spend more time with her. Hard on its heels came disappointment. “I have to be back by six,” she said. “Family dinner.”
    Zach shot her a quick glance. “You don’t sound too