The Hotel Magnate's Demand. Jennifer Rae

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ drunker than I thought.’

      Amy wasn’t drunk at all. Not by her usual standards, anyway. She was sober enough to realise that having Luke take her home was safer than going alone. But she was also sober enough to realise that she was drunk enough to maybe throw herself at him, given half the chance. And she didn’t want to do that.

      And then he stood and rose up before her like a Viking, all tall and strong and broad…

      Where had that association come from? Maybe she was drunker than she’d thought. She let her eyes drop and they rested right on him. On the part of his body she was most curious about. Slowly she licked her lips. She’d fantasised so many times about sex with Luke. Would he be gentle and accommodating? Or would he throw her against the wall, make her shut up and have his dirty way with her? She couldn’t decide which one she wanted first, but she suspected that she wanted to try them all.

      Slowly Amy’s gaze rose to meet his eyes. ‘I don’t need a chaperon any more, Luke, I’ve managed to take care of myself quite well over the past eight years.’

      ‘Well, maybe I do.’

      Amy stilled. What did that mean? Luke hadn’t left her side all night, and she’d noticed him looking at her. She wasn’t an idiot. She knew there was something there. An attraction. The old Luke would have ignored it, but the new Luke seemed a little different. A little more aware of his feelings and more prepared to deal with them. She wondered what he’d do with his feelings for her…

      Ten seconds later she had her answer. ‘Get your coat, Amy—we’re going home. Together.’

      It didn’t take long to find a taxi. The night was hot, and people were careening noisily down the laneways of the inner city suburb, but the taxis were out in full force, picking up the Friday night revellers as they moved from bar to club.

      Amy slipped into the seat and Luke followed, sitting a little too close, pressing his big leg up against hers.

      The ride to Amy’s flat in Bondi was silent, but the air was filled with tension. Every movement, every sigh, every look put Amy on alert. The buildings sped past on the main roads, but as they got closer to the beachside suburb the taxi slowed down to navigate the twisty turns of the narrow streets and the plethora of speed bumps that littered the way.

      Luke wasn’t looking at her, but his leg was still pressed up against hers. She felt it, hard and definite. The rocking of the taxi was lulling her and letting the alcohol settle in her blood. She felt content. Safe. Safer than she had in months. Ever since she’d left Melbourne and Laurie.

      But sitting in the taxi with Luke was nothing like sitting with Laurie. Not even in the beginning. She and Laurie had met through their parents, and he had been just what she’d needed at the time. He’d adored her. He’d thought she was the most beautiful, wonderful person ever to grace the earth and had expressed to her constantly how lucky he was.

      He’d soothed her soul. He’d brought back her happiness. And she was grateful to him. But one day she’d realised she just wasn’t in love with him any more. And she’d wanted out.

      Laurie had bent over backwards, trying to get her to change her mind. And she’d tried to stay with him—she really had. She’d tried to convince herself that it was just a rough patch.

      But one night she’d gone out with some workmates and kissed someone else and it had been then that she’d realised staying wasn’t fair on either of them.

      So she’d left—decided on a fresh start in Sydney.

      Her parents had been upset. His parents had been angry. Laurie had called every day for the first three months. Amy had wanted to relent. She’d spent three months crying and talking and trying to explain why she’d needed to do what she had but they hadn’t listened.

      It had made being in Sydney even harder. She’d felt deserted. Judged. And all she’d been trying to do was be happy. But the people in her life who claimed to care about her the most had seemed to want the opposite of that. They’d wanted her to settle. Be happy with what she had because it made them happy.

      The only thing that had got her through was Jess and Willa and her work. Her parents had come round eventually too, but she still had to stay busy and high—otherwise she’d be reminded of how she’d let everyone down, and then all she’d want to do was go back home and make it up to them. Go back and make everyone happy.

      ‘You’re quiet, Amy. You’re never quiet. What’s wrong?’

      Luke’s voice broke gently into the silence.

      ‘Nothing. Just tired, I guess.’ She was tired. Tired of always trying not to think about the things that made her unhappy.

      ‘I’m tired too. So much for me being a massive party animal tonight.’

      He smiled and shoved his shoulder gently into hers. She shoved him back and he shoved her again. Their gentle shoves soon turned into pushing, and finally a little wrestling.

      Luke grabbed at the back of her head. ‘You always did think you were tough, Lollipop, but I know you’re not.’

      Amy pushed Luke’s hand away. ‘I’m tougher than you think, Boss.’

      Luke smiled, ‘You haven’t called me that in a long time. I think I like it.’

      The wrestling stopped. The air in the taxi turned a little thick. Amy stopped moving and stilled her hand where in rested, on his thigh. High on his thigh. His hand stilled on her head.

      ‘You like it when I call you Boss?’

      Amy’s eyes skated to Luke’s lips. They were slightly parted. She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to do bad, bad things to him.

      ‘I like having your hand there.’ Luke’s voice was deep, and he shifted his leg a little where her hand sat.

      There was no mistaking what he wanted and how he felt. It sent a thrilling ripple through her to think that she could finally have what she’d wanted all those years ago. Time alone with Luke. Luke wanting her. It was everything she’d wanted as an eighteen-year-old and she could finally take it—if she wanted.

      Carefully she shifted a little closer, her eyes still on his lips, her hand inching further up his thigh.

      ‘Like this?’

      A deep, low growl escaped from Luke’s lips and Amy felt herself heat from the sound of it. This was it.

      Quickly she pulled her hand away. ‘You wish,’ she said lightly, trying to clear the fog in her brain and the memory of his green eyes on her as she moved her hand up his leg.

      Luke didn’t answer. She couldn’t tell if he was angry or embarrassed.

      But then his hand moved and settled on her thigh. ‘Good move, Lollipop,’ he said quietly as the taxi finally came to a stop.

      The heat of his hand on her thigh seared through her clothing. Why had she chosen that night to become responsible and sensible? She didn’t want to be sensible. She wanted to be eighteen and reckless and to throw herself on Luke right here in the back seat of the taxi.

      But СКАЧАТЬ