Mistress & a Million Dollars / Satin & A Scandalous Affair: Mistress & a Million Dollars. Jan Colley

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СКАЧАТЬ amusement flickered in his eyes. “You know something, Briana? I really like fighting with you.”

      She ignored that, even as she privately acknowledged enjoying a verbal victory with this man every now and then. “By the way, it’s part of my job as the face of Blackstone’s to maintain good public relations. I wouldn’t want to offend him.”

      “As long as they are only public relations.”

      “If they weren’t, it’s none of your business.”

      “Don’t bet on it, sweetheart.”

      So, she’d been right to be worried about his thinking he could boss her about. Her chin tilted in defiance. “You don’t own me, despite the million-dollar check.”

      His eyes grew cool. “No, but I do own three weeks of your time. And don’t forget you’re the one who suggested the million dollars. And you’re the one who took the money. I would have just been happy to go to bed with you.”

      “Yes, and I’m the one who’ll pay the price,” she said, suddenly feeling sickened by it all. “I think I’d like to leave.”

      Jarrod’s gaze swung across the room. “Won’t your number-one fan over there be offended if you don’t drink his wine?”

      “Oh, you’re so right.” She picked up the glass and drank it in one go. Thankfully it was only half-full. “There.” She put her empty glass back down on the table.

      Jarrod’s brow rose. “You can handle drinking it that fast, I presume?”

      “It was only half a glass.” She went to get to her feet but all at once he leaned across the table and put his hand over hers, his touch heating her skin.

      “Unless you want our little tiff in tomorrow’s papers, you’d better stay here and finish your lunch.”

      Her forehead creased. “What do you—”

      “Here we are, madam,” the waiter said, startling her as he slid a plate on the table in front of her. Not that she had much of an appetite by this time. Jarrod seemed to rob her of that once again.

      The waiter walked around to Jarrod and did the same. “If there’s anything else you would like—”

      “No,” Jarrod cut across him. “We’re fine.”

      “Very good, sir.” The younger man left them alone.

      Jarrod waited a moment before speaking. “I saw your fan talking to some guests at the table over there. They’ve been checking us out, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he said something about the bottle of wine. If you get up and storm out it’ll be in tomorrow’s paper.”

      “Maybe you shouldn’t have acted like a jealous husband, then,” she said without thinking.

      He actually looked surprised. “Is that what I sounded like?”

      “Either that or a jerk,” she said as the rush of wine made her feel a little light-headed.

      He grinned. “I think that wine’s gone straight to your head.”

      “No.”

      “Yes,” he insisted.

      “Okay, just a little,” she acknowledged, finding it easier to give in this time. “But I’m used to it.”

      “Really?” he mocked.

      “I don’t have a drinking problem, if that’s what you’re implying.” But somehow she couldn’t seem to summon up much anger. She was beginning to feel relaxed and mellow. And, oh my, Jarrod Hammond really was a hunk. And that slow smile…combined with his expert hands…

      “I think we’d better finish lunch,” he said, breaking into her thoughts, “then I’ll take you home.”

       Would he make love to her?

      “Come on, eat. It’ll soak up some of that wine. The media would have a field day if they heard the face of Blackstone’s was drunk off her face.”

      That brought her out of her trance. He was right. It could jeopardize her contract renewal. And then she wouldn’t have the money to repay Jarrod….

      She took a steadying breath, picked up her fork and started eating. Not long after, Jarrod began speaking of general things and she was glad to answer. Polite conversation she was used to. Personal, she was not.

      She refused dessert but as they drank their coffee, he sat there looking at her. “How do you feel now?”

      “Back to normal. The food helped.”

      “Good.” His eyes took on a sudden sensual warmth that made her heart start hammering. “Now that you’re no longer tipsy, I’m going to take you back to my apartment.”

      Her mouth turned dry. “Why?”

      “I want to make love to you. I want you in my bed. Today. Tonight. Right now.”

      She gave a soft gasp. “Don’t say things like that, Jarrod.”

      “Does it offend you?”

      Unfortunately, no.

      “It…unsettles me,” she admitted, not knowing why she was even admitting that to him.

      His gaze took on a piercing look. “I thought you’d be used to men saying they wanted you in their bed.”

      “Then you’d be wrong.”

      He gave her a sharp look, as if he had trouble believing that. Then he signaled to the waiter to bring over the check, and before too long they were walking back through the restaurant, through the diminishing crowd of people. The older gentleman had gone, and so had the other people, and that made her wonder if Jarrod had just made that up to keep her here.

      But why keep her here when he wanted to take her to his home and make love to her?

      And he proved that point as soon as they stepped inside his downtown apartment. She had a glimpse of luxurious surroundings before he swept her up in his arms and carried her into his bedroom.

      “I almost hate to take this dress off you,” he said in a gravelly voice, slipping it over her head anyway. “It’s so very sexy.” His gaze slid down over her bra and panties. “You’re very sexy.”

      And then he pulled her toward him and his lips found hers, his kiss flooding her with want and need and must haves. Before too long she was aware of a mattress giving way beneath her, of his hands cupping her breasts, touching her secret parts. Then he entered her in one swift movement. When he started to move inside her, hard muscle against soft satin, desire exploded inside her. Finally…finally…he consumed her.

      It was dark when she woke and she had to gather her bearings. Her job took her all over the place, so she was used to waking up in strange beds. Alone.

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ