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“And you feel right to me, Olivia Valente,” he murmured, pulling her onto his lap, his intense gaze holding hers still, just like his warm hand was holding her waist still. “Very, very right.”
She licked her lips. “Alex, can we please—”
“Yes, we can,” he muttered, and lowered his head.
Chapter Four
Alex’s mouth covered hers and the room grew silent as he held her, absorbing the texture of her soft skin against his own. He’d only kissed her twice before, so he wanted to stay like this for a while and appreciate every inch of her mouth.
He did for several heartbeats.
But soon he couldn’t ignore his need to explore farther. He needed to delve into her luscious mouth, then uncover her bit by bit. He wanted to know the excitement, feel the intensity, learn the mystery of her body.
And he wanted it now.
He parted her lips with his own, and her sweet breath slid straight into him. He groaned and took a moment to savor it, before letting his tongue do a silent sweep.
He moved his mouth over hers slowly. And then she started to kiss him back, learning his taste, feeling his excitement as pleasure surged through him.
When he finally began to ease away, he scraped his teeth lightly across her bottom lip. “Third time’s the charm,” he murmured, noting the way her pupils had dilated.
She blinked. “Um…third time?”
“This is our third kiss.” He bent his head again. “And this…” he needed more “…is our fourth.”
He kissed her deeply again before drawing back to place kisses along her smooth jawline. His lips brushed against her earlobe and he lingered there, breathing in the light floral scent of her hair.
After taking his fill, he leaned back and ran a finger along the underside of her chin. Then he followed the column of her throat to where her quickened pulse drummed at its base, down to the first dainty button of her blue robe resting on her cleavage.
His libido climbed.
“Undo it for me,” he commanded.
She gasped, her blue eyes widening. “The button?”
“Yes.” He only had one hand free, the other was holding her by the waist. “Then undo the rest of them.”
Her eyes were hesitant beneath her long eyelashes, but after a moment she lifted her hands and began to do as he asked. The silk parted as button after button broke free, leaving behind the blue silk gown made to capture a man’s attention.
It did.
And there was nothing pure about the thoughts running through his mind. “You dazzle me,” he rasped, seeing the outline of two dark nipples peeking through the shiny material.
He felt her quiver as his thumb ran over the tip of one bud. He did it again, then held the nipple between his finger and thumb, squeezing lightly. Her quiver turned to a shudder.
Relishing the feel of her coming alive under his hands, he bent his head to that breast and began sucking through the material, flicking her with his tongue.
She gave a whimper and her head arced back against his shoulder. One of her arms came around his neck and she held on to him, burying her face in his nape and breathing deeply. Just as quickly, she pulled back, as if caught doing something she shouldn’t.
He felt heat explode inside him. “Do that again,” he muttered against her breast.
She froze for a split second, hesitated before she did it again, making him groan. They stayed like that for a short time, then finally he lifted his head and she moved her face back.
He looked into her eyes. “A man could lose himself in you and never want to be found,” he rasped.
Her eyes darkened. “Oh, Alex.”
His gaze slowly slid down her body to where the material pooled at the apex of her thighs. He looked up. “You don’t like me saying that?”
“Yes.” She swallowed. “I do.”
His palm slid downward, over her abdomen and her soft mound before resting between her legs. She gasped as he stroked her with his finger through the gown. “You don’t like me touching you?” he teased huskily.
“Yes…” her throat convulsed “…I do.”
He had to feel her naked body. He had to see all her creamy smooth skin. He pushed to his feet, with her in his arms, and stood her in front of him. Then he eased the silky robe off her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. The matching nightgown was next and he shuddered when he saw how perfect she was.
Their eyes locked.
“Alex,” she murmured, her eyes darkening, her cheeks coloring, though she made no attempt to cover herself.
Lifting her, he carried her to the bed. After laying her down he began stripping off his clothes.
Their eyes locked again before her gaze ran down his body and she gave a soft gasp. He knew if he didn’t touch her…didn’t taste her…wasn’t inside her soon…he’d explode.
He joined her on the bed and this time her mouth parted even before their lips touched. He gave a low sound of approval, and she answered his kiss, her hands coming up to cling to his shoulders. Willingly, he let her pull him closer, until his bare flesh was pressed against her soft skin, savoring the aching anticipation.
Breaking away, he heard her moan as he got to his knees and launched a trail of kisses over every inch of her body, marking her as his own. She was smooth all over, but never more velvety than between her thighs. He parted her with his tongue and loved her until she arched under him, her hands threading through his hair wildly until she trembled, then shook, then was hit by a shockwave that went on and on.
He reveled in her release but when her climax ebbed, he could wait no longer. He rose up over her and reached for a condom in the bedside drawer. There was no question on his part as to whether he would use one. And she didn’t ask.
With precision, he rolled it on himself while she lay watching. He was aware of nothing around them. He was tuned in solely to her.
And she was glorious.
He entered her slowly, sensation heightening as he sank deep into her warmth. Her gasp reverberated around the room and he took a moment to let her get used to him.
And then he began to move, to thrust in and out to the rhythm of their bodies. But, before too long, the rhythm wasn’t enough. Nothing was enough.
Until she clenched around him and like a flash of white heat he exploded with pleasure.
Olivia woke to find herself curled up against Alex. Her husband.
Her temporary husband, she reminded herself as her eyes flew open, knowing there was nothing temporary about the two of them right now. Her body seemed permanently attached to his, her mind now burned by memories of his lovemaking.
There was no escaping how Alex had made her feel last night. He’d been considerate, yet his need for her had surprised her. It had been so intense, so breathtaking.
It had taken a certain kind of man to do that, keeping it physical, but allowing her some sort of emotional connection that had nothing to do with love.
Her throat went dry. Why was she thinking about love just because she was in a man’s arms? Love belonged to other couples. Love was not part of her agreement with Alex, she reminded herself, as she tried to ease away from him and slide out of bed.
“Don’t move,” he murmured.
She froze.
He rolled to face her, and for a long moment his slate-gray eyes lingered on her face. “Where do you think you’re going?” His voice thickened, the heat of his arousal filling the space between them.
She tried to think. “Er…it’s time to get up,” she said, then immediately felt her cheeks warm.
His lips quirked with male humor. “Are you asking me or telling me?”
She resisted the urge to tease him back. “Telling you.”
He gave her a knowing look. “You were fantastic,” he said softly.
She blinked at him, her heart sinking. “I was?”
His gaze dropped to her naked breasts. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” he said in a husky tone.
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t. His words reminded her of Eric, who’d thought nothing of praising her just to take the suspicion away from his affairs.
“Don’t be embarrassed because you don’t sleep around,” Alex continued, his palm sliding over her hip. “I actually like that you don’t.”
“Double standards, Alex?”
His hand stilled, his gaze sharpened. “Not at all. I’ve never been one to sleep around.” He must have seen the disbelief in her eyes because he stiffened. “And I definitely won’t sleep around on my wife.”
An odd thrill raced through her, but she still couldn’t let her anxiety go. “Yes, but women must throw themselves at you all the time.”
His brows drew together, then understanding dawned. “I’m not like your ex-husband, Olivia. Just because women offer doesn’t mean I accept.”
Still, she couldn’t let it be. “Yes, but you must have accepted sometimes.”
Suddenly his eyes hardened. “There’s only room in this bed for two people. You and me. Not your ex. Whatever happened between you two shouldn’t be brought here.”
His words were the mental slap she needed. “Yes, you’re right.”
He held her gaze for a few heartbeats, then his eyes softened. “Let him go, Olivia. Don’t let him spoil what we have.”
Her stomach quivered. “I don’t know that we have anything.”
“You don’t?” He gave a throaty chuckle and the sound slithered down her spine like warm silk. “Maybe I need to refresh your memory.”
Without giving her a chance to argue he slid her across the sheet and pulled her under him. Their bodies touched and that’s all it took for flames to spark between them.
And then he took her higher and higher, out of control, until she went up in smoke, leaving an afterburn that continued to glow long after he’d brought her to fulfillment.
When she next awoke she found herself alone amongst the sheets, all that was left of their night together. Then she moved her legs and winced a little.
All?
No, there was this reminder, she thought, thankful Alex wasn’t there to see her blush. Her body was so pleasurably sore, so very conscious of their lovemaking. She’d used muscles she hadn’t used for years.
Remembering, she threw back the sheet and hurried to the bathroom. If she stayed in bed she’d be thinking about last night, and right now she didn’t need that. Alex might have made her forget all about Eric during their lovemaking, and he might have made her forget herself, but now it was time to keep moving. Otherwise she could be tempted to lie in bed and wait for Alex to come back and join her.
And if he saw her like this then he’d think he held her in the palm of his hands.
No way.
She’d given him a year of her life. She wasn’t giving him her soul, too.
After showering, she went downstairs and found her way to a huge sunroom which ran the full length of one side of the house. A table was set for a late breakfast, but there was still no sign of Alex.
Then Harriet appeared, clicking her tongue. “He’s in the study catching up on some paperwork, though what paperwork there is to do on the first day of his honeymoon is beyond me.” She showed Olivia her seat then started fussing around the table.
As a businesswoman herself, Olivia knew the paperwork never ended, honeymoon or not. And she was rather grateful that Alex was busy, even if she couldn’t say that to the other woman. She was supposed to be a blushing bride, after all.
Oh heck. She was a blushing bride. She just wasn’t a blushing bride in love with her husband.
“That’s okay, Harriet. I’m not feeling neglected.” She gave a smile. “Not with all the attention I’m getting from you.”
Harriet stopped her fussing and smiled at Olivia. “We’re so happy that you married Alex. He needs someone of his own.”
This was news to Olivia.Alex had family—a father, a mother, two brothers. He must have plenty of friends.
Of his own.
Yes, there was a difference, she silently admitted. Apart from her mother she had no one of her own. Oh, she’d thought she’d found that special person when she’d married Eric, and for a short while she’d believed it. She sighed. Ignorance was sometimes bliss.
Of course, she wasn’t ignorant about this marriage. This time she had gone into it with eyes wide open. This was a marriage of convenience. Their work came first and rightly so.
The housekeeper offered to cook up some eggs but Olivia declined and said that cereal was fine. Harriet nodded and left the room.
For the first time Olivia got to look at her surroundings. The room was decorated in soft yellows, pale greens and creamy whites. A fountain stood in one corner, close to wicker chairs and a sofa—a place to sit and relax. Potted plants and paintings filled the room. The large glass dining table she was sitting at was no doubt where Alex had enjoyed many a meal. The view of the ocean from here was unsurpassed.
Just as she finished eating and was drinking her coffee, Alex appeared. She ignored the fact that his sheer presence took her breath away as he walked straight over to her, cradled her face in his hands and brought his lips down to hers.
What a kiss!
Then he eased away, the look in his eyes filled with complete satisfaction before he walked around the other side of the table and sat down.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said casually, as if he hadn’t just made her tremble. “I got caught up on a telephone call.”
His casualness made her elation disappear. No doubt he was used to women being accommodating—to both his kisses and his work demands.
Couldn’t he be a little considerate of her sensibilities? What if she had really been in love with him? His treatment would crush her. It was just as well she was a working woman, and could give as good as she got.
She placed her napkin on the table and stood. “That’s okay, Alex. I’ve got a couple of business calls to make myself.” She started to leave the room.
