The From Paris With Love And Regency Season Of Secrets Ultimate Collection. Кэрол Мортимер

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СКАЧАТЬ watching her, cheek to his pillow. The drapes were flung apart, and sunlight spilled into the room, across the bed. With strong features and those amazing blue eyes, he was more gorgeous by morning light than he was by candlelight.

      “Hey there.” He smiled and laced their fingers, bringing hers to his lips.

      She smiled back. “If you’re always this cheerful in the morning, you might want to keep sharp objects under lock and key.”

      With a laugh, he tucked a curl of her hair behind her shoulder. “I’m not this cheerful ever. You have the unique effect of being a good influence.”

      Or the unique effect of breaking his dry spell with women. The sunlight had returned her cynicism, apparently.

      “Are you watching me for a reason or auditioning to be my stalker once the boyfriend job is over?”

      “For a reason. But you’ll think it’s weird.”

      Her eyes narrowed. “Weirder than watching me while I sleep?”

      “I like your face.” He shrugged. “It was covered most of the night, and I haven’t seen it nearly enough yet.”

      “There’s nothing special about my face.” Other than how famous it was. She sat up and threw off the covers, intending to flee before the discussion went in a direction she didn’t like.

      Besides, it was morning. She’d stayed long enough.

      His hand shot out from under the sheet to grab her wrist and tug her back. “I could look at you for hours.”

      “I’m naked. Of course you could.” Men. But his eyes weren’t on her uncovered body.

      She was trying so hard to assign typical male qualities to Matt, and he wasn’t letting her.

      “You still have feathers in your hair.”

      “I do?” Her hand flew to her hair and sure enough, a mess of pins still held part of her headpiece in place. Wonderful. Her hair must resemble a bird’s nest after a monsoon.

      “Let me.”

      He rose up from the cocoon of sheets, which fell from his body in a slow waterfall, and her belly contracted. There was very little typical about Matt, and his prime physique was no exception.

      He scooted up behind her, but not close enough to touch. It didn’t matter. His heat radiated outward, stroking her skin with delicious fingers of warmth. With aching gentleness, he plucked a pin from her hair, then another, his breath fanning her scalp as he worked.

      Awareness prickled her skin and ignited a slow burn in her center.

      “That was the last pin.”

      But his fingers stayed in her hair, combing it lightly, patiently untangling the snarls. Then his fingers drifted to her shoulders in a caress. He lifted her curls and touched the back of her neck with his warm, talented lips, unleashing an unexpected shiver.

      She shouldn’t stay. Her one magical night was over, and morning light put a damper of reality over everything. In fact, she should have left before he woke up. Why hadn’t she?

      “Matt.”

      The lips paused in their trek across her nape. “Are you about to tell me you have somewhere to be? Nice knowing you, but party’s over?”

      Was she that easy to read? “I don’t have anywhere to be.”

      Well, that was a stupid thing to admit. Now she had no exit strategy if she decided she needed one.

      “Then don’t go.”

      His hands gripped her arms, drawing her backward into him, supporting her with his chest as he ravished whatever he could reach with his mouth. Her insides erupted.

      She wasn’t going anywhere, not yet. But she also wasn’t doing this backward. Not this time.

      She spun in his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. The delight playing with the corners of his mouth sent a shaft of heat through her. “Just try and get rid of me, cowboy.”

      His laugh rumbled against her flesh. “Not everyone from Texas rides horses.”

      “Who’s talking about riding horses?” She shoved his chest and knocked him back against the comforter, moving onto her knees over him. “Giddyap.”

      Now there was a sight. Gorgeous, masculine magnificence spread underneath her thighs. Matt was hard all over, had a nicely defined torso and a wicked smile. She’d won the man sweepstakes and had been daft enough to miss out on watching him last night.

      Eyes stormy with dark desire, he lifted his chin. “Your turn to fetch the condoms.”

      She stretched to pull one off the bedside table and ripped it open with her teeth. “Done.”

      “Then saddle up, sweetheart.” He shoved his hands under his head with a mischievous wink. “You don’t have to tie me up this time.”

      Which she’d only done to ratchet down the emotion of the moment. It had failed miserably.

      “Liked that, did you?”

      The flippant response almost caught in her throat. Because she didn’t want to be flippant. Didn’t want fun and games. She wanted the tender, profound Matt of last night who made her feel cherished.

      When had she turned into such a girl? Five minutes ago, she was halfway out the door—mentally, at least—and here she was wishing for the opposite. Matt had her completely messed up.

      “I have yet to discover something about you I don’t like,” he said.

      “I’ve got you good and fooled then.”

      He pierced her with the force of all that depth behind his eyes. “I don’t think so.”

      She looked away, letting the condom fall to the bed. “You don’t know me. Not really.”

      No one did—by design. How much worse would rejection hurt if someone dug through all the protective layers and exposed her core? Well, she already knew. It would feel an awful lot like when her dad hadn’t wanted her.

      “That’s not true.” He sat up, resettled her against his thighs and cupped her chin. “I recognized you as soon as you took off your mask.”

      Her heart plunged to the floor and tried to keep going. “You did?”

      Why hadn’t he said anything? Duh. He hadn’t because he’d wanted to score with Eva. Of course. Disappointment nearly wrenched a sob from her frozen chest. He wasn’t special. Big surprise.

      “Something inside me did, as if I’d always known you.” He shook his head with a half laugh. “Sorry. I’m no good at this, and to top it off I sound like a starry-eyed teenager. They must put romance in the water here.”

      “What are you saying?”

      He huffed out a СКАЧАТЬ