Australian Millionaires: The Millionaire's Seductive Revenge. Maxine Sullivan

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СКАЧАТЬ that chaste peck. “Oh, but I did mean it like that,” she mocked, even as a thrill raced through her. This time she’d give him exactly what he wanted and more. Then she’d walk out that door, put everything back on a business level and hope to God she could cope with knowing she’d fallen in love with a man who thought woman was a synonym for sex.

      Her heart beating at full speed, she moved back toward him. In the split second before she put her lips to his, she saw his eyes darken and she realized she’d never once instigated a kiss with him. The other two Christmas kisses had been him coming to her, not the other way around. She felt thrillingly provocative.

      She placed her mouth to his and began a kiss that gave him all the love she had inside her. Her stomach quivered even as she let her tongue slide around his mouth, then briefly dip between his slightly parted lips. She heard his groan deep within his throat, so she repeated the action, this time her tongue sliding over the top of his, tasting him, loving him.

      The clean male scent of him exuded an attraction she found difficult to deny, and her arms slid up around his neck and cupped the back of his head, holding him to her, deepening the kiss. The sheet slipped down between them, and she felt the muscles of his chest tighten against her bare breasts. She rubbed herself against him, the feel of curly male hair teasing her nipples.

      Suddenly he broke off the kiss with a guttural sound that made her think he had almost reached his limit. Then he swung her up in his arms and strode toward the bathroom.

      “You’re heading the wrong way,” she murmured, not really caring right now that she was supposed to be leaving and not coming back.

      “No, I’m not. I know exactly where we’re going.”

      They made leisurely love in the spa surrounded by tropical plants that gave a dreamy quality to the setting. Kia responded to Brant’s instructions and sat on his lap facing him, with him inside her. It was an incredible experience. And the most brave. Face-to-face like that, she had to stop herself from crying out she loved him.

      Then they made their way back to the bed, and she reveled in taking her time to explore his male body before he growled her name, rolled on top of her and made love to her all over again. Exhausted, they fell into a deep sleep.

      The ringing of the telephone next to the bed woke them during the night. Kia groaned and pressed her cheek against Brant’s bare chest, wanting to hold on to the euphoria, hoping the noise would go away so she could go back to sleep.

      Vaguely she was aware of Brant reaching out an arm to pick it up. She heard the deep rumble of his voice as he answered it. Then, the next thing she knew, he’d jerked into a sitting position, throwing her off him.

      “What the hell?” she heard him say as she lay on her back and came fully awake. “My God! Julia?”

      There was silence for a moment as the person on the other end of the phone responded. Then Brant’s gaze skidded to Kia and darkened. “Yes, I have company,” he answered in clipped tones. He listened. “Now?” He looked at Kia again, then away. “Okay. Give me half an hour.” He hung up and turned back to her. “I’ve got to go out for a while. Something’s come up.”

      Yes, and her name is Julia.

      “Don’t worry, I understand. Totally.”

      His face hardened as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “I didn’t ask for your understanding.”

      That hurt. “Aren’t you lucky I gave it anyway?” she snapped, throwing back the bedclothes.

      “You don’t have to leave.”

      Did he think she would wait for him to go to this woman, then come back to bed and make love to her?

      “I don’t want to stay.”

      A long moment crept by as she gathered her clothes from the floor.

      “Then I’ll walk you down to your car.”

      “Don’t bother.” She looked up and caught his eyes going hungrily over her naked body. A quiver surged through her veins and she wondered if she could stop him going to this Julia.

      Then she realized what she was thinking and her lips tightened. Did she really want to compete with another woman? No, she’d had enough of watching her mother fight for her father’s love.

      Brant pulled on his trousers. “Nevertheless, I insist. It’s late.”

      Yes, far too late, she thought, glancing at the clock and seeing it was two in the morning. It had been a mistake to make love to him. A beautiful mistake at the time but a mistake nevertheless.

      In a damning silence they finished dressing, then he walked down with her to the underground car park.

      “Call me as soon as you get home,” he ordered, holding the car door open for her. “Use my cell phone number. I want to know you’re safe.”

      She squashed the spark of warmth at his concern. He was only protecting what he thought was temporarily his. “I’ll be fine.”

      “Call me,” he warned, his dark gaze holding hers. “If you don’t, I’ll call you.”

      She didn’t respond as she started the engine and drove out of the car park without looking back. Which is exactly what she’d have to do where he was concerned anyway. Walk away and not look back.

      She was halfway home when something occurred to her. Was this Julia the woman who had “mattered”? Without a doubt she knew that she was. And obviously Julia still mattered or Brant would still be in bed with her right now.

      Kia didn’t call him when she got home. Worse, he didn’t call her, and that made her heart sink more. Obviously she wasn’t as important to him as Julia.

      Kia got no sleep for the rest of the night and by morning she felt exhausted. Not even her usual shower, followed by a breakfast of sliced mango, nor a cup of coffee, could make her feel the slightest bit better.

      If only she didn’t love Brant. It would all be so much easier if he was the kind of man she thought might eventually love her in return. Only he wasn’t. And he never would be. A leopard didn’t change its spots. A womanizer didn’t become trustworthy. The word faithful wasn’t in his dictionary.

      Phillip rang as she headed out the door. She’d decided to go to work early and get some of the paperwork typed and on Brant’s desk before he came in. He was bound to be late, if he turned up at all.

      “What do you think you’re doing sending some woman to seduce me?” Phillip joked, his tone so heartbreakingly light that Kia had to smile.

      “And did Lynette succeed?”

      “Let’s just say she surpassed all expectations.” There was a slight hesitation. “How can we ever thank you for all you’ve done, Kia?” he said softly.

      “Just be happy. That’s all the thanks I want.”

      “We will. And we want you to come to the wedding in two months time. We would have scheduled it earlier, but I have to see one more doctor, then I’m all hers.”

      Kia knew СКАЧАТЬ