She kissed the broad, flat head and then along his shaft before sliding her mouth over him again in a slow, loving movement that nearly had him on his knees. She sucked gently, the feel of her tight mouth sizzling along every nerve ending he had. Her mouth left him again so she could give the same treatment to his balls. He was already tight, boiling hot, and she nuzzled, kissed and licked him with that same purring vibration that nearly drove him wild.

He was melting, damn it, turning inside out. She was taking control of him again, making love to him. He felt the emotion wrapping around him like living silk, squeezing him, milking him, tightening around his heart the way her mouth tightened around his cock—strangling him until he couldn’t breathe for the pleasure.

He caught her long hair, wrapping it around his fists, startling her. His heart beat too fast, nearly exploding in his chest. His lungs burned for lack of air. He took back control the only way he knew how, taking over, forcing her compliance when she would have given it to him freely, because if he didn’t—if he didn’t—he would be lost for all time. Her mouth was tight as he slid deeper. Jake thrust his hips closer, his head thrown back in ecstasy.

“Come on, honey, you can do it. Breathe. Take me farther. I love the feel of your mouth and throat squeezing me like this. You want this as much as I do. This is one of those lessons that is very important. Relax your throat for me.” He didn’t want her to ever know that she had cut him off at the knees with her lovemaking. He couldn’t let that happen.

Emma wasn’t certain what happened. One moment she was thoroughly enjoying herself, loving him, feeling his response, and the next he was treating her objectively, as if her only reason for living was to service him. Was that his only way of receiving pleasure? She tried to please him, struggling to take his thickness, feeling the need in him, the pleasure bursting through him. Her throat was sore from his size and he controlled every move, which was just a little frightening, but also vaguely exciting to her. His fists were tight on either side of her head, as he slid in and out of her mouth, holding himself deep for a few moments and then pulling back just enough so she could breathe.

The phone rang and Emma froze. Jake released one hand from her hair and hit the speaker phone before gripping her hair again and thrusting more gently this time, urging Emma to continue.

“Yes?” His voice was gruff.

Emma smiled, relieved he wasn’t as casual and unaffected as he acted. Deliberately she swirled her tongue around the flared head, teasing the underside. If he could try to keep his mind on his business while she lay naked, sprawled out on his desk with his shaft sliding erotically down her throat, she was going to make certain it wasn’t going to be easy for him.

“They’ve come back with a counteroffer, Mr. Bannaconni, one I think is really exciting as well as advisable to take.” Dean Hopkins, the manager of his real estate business, once again called to persuade him to sell. “I took the liberty of beginning to draw up the papers so you would just have to sign them.”

“No.” The word was clipped, harsh. Jake threw back his head and moved his hips, so close to ecstasy his ears were ringing.

“But, Mr. Bannaconni, we’re losing money every month. It’s pouring out of here, covering the mortgages on all the property you’ve bought up, and nothing is coming in. We’re not going to get another offer like this.”

“No.” His voice was hoarse.

Emma flattened her tongue and stroked, humming softly as Jake slid deeper, increasing the vibration, going back to her way of making love to him. He gave a soft sigh of pleasure and she relaxed, focusing completely on his erection, making it her entire world, a playground of sensual pleasure where nothing else mattered to her. She used her lips and tongue and the gentle edge of her teeth, used her throat and her mouth, pouring her love into, around him, so that the world surrounding her receded and even the sound of his voice drifted far away.

She reached her head back farther and the position caused her to be aware of the stretch of her arms and legs, of her neck, and she moaned. She knew he felt it from his reaction. She felt him swell more.

“We’re done, Hopkins,” Jake hissed and abruptly leaned over to punch the button on the phone again, disconnecting. The action caused her muscles to squeeze him tightly. She didn’t fight, although it must have hurt, must have been frightening, the loss of breath and complete control. He hadn’t meant to do it. He withdrew, hardly able to breathe himself, let alone walk with his body full and hard and pulsing with desperate need. Her eyes watched him, sparkling emerald jewels, just watched and waited, never condemning, never hating, her body lying open and ready and willing to do anything for him. Not for money. Not for her pleasure. Simply because she loved him.

“Damn you, Emma,” he said softly, moving around to position himself between her spread thighs. “You’re killing me slowly.”

“Maybe I should give you a safe word, Jake,” she answered, her voice soft.

“What would it be?” He caught her foot and tugged it out of the loop, wrapping her leg around his waist and then repeating the action with the other one.

“Love.” She smiled at him, that slow, gentle smile that left him weak. “I know you won’t use it and we can go on like this forever. I want you to be inside me forever.”

“What the hell am I going to do with you?” There was soft despair in his voice, a strangled note of love that rasped over his skin like the caress of her fingers.