Desire (#3) (5 page)

“Mr. Easton. I hope you are fully recovered.”

He smirked. “Oh, yes. My bruises are almost gone would you like to see?”

Holy crap. It was working. He was flirting with me. I should say something witty and sexy … but I couldn’t think of anything. I looked up into those dark eyes and felt my insides melt with desire.

“Do you like my shoes?” I asked, keeping my tone light and innocent

His expression darkened, and his eyes glinted dangerously. “Very much.”

I tensed my leg, holding it up so he could get a better view. “A little uncomfortable, but the effect is worth it, I think.”

His mouth opened slightly, and I imagined feeling those soft lips on mine, pressing down, possessing me.

“I know what you are trying to do,” he said in a deep voice that triggered tremors deep inside me. “But you could do so much better than me, Kate.”

He raised a hand to stroke my cheek and smiled at me.

Then he turned on his heel and left the room.

I stared after him dumbstruck. No! That wasn’t part of the plan.

I blinked back tears. Why did this all have to be so complicated? I wished he was just the gardener I had mistaken him for the first time I met him. At least then I might have been in with a chance.

But I wasn’t going to let this end without a fight. I followed him out of the room.

It took me a little while to find him. He had left the house and entered the garden. When I found him, he was standing on a patio, gazing out into the darkness.

It was a chilly evening and the cold air triggered goosebumps on my arms and hardened my nipples. “Benjamin?” I called softly as I walked up to him.

He turned to me. “I’m not a saint, Kate. Don’t tempt me.”

I shook my head. “Why shouldn’t I tempt you? Because Colin told you he thought your enemies might use me to hurt you.”

He looked down at me and his jaw tightened. “He has a point. You should go inside. It’s cold tonight.”

I moved closer to him, pressing my breasts against his chest. I knew he could feel my hard nipples through the fabric of the shirt.

“I don’t want to go inside,” I whispered.

He rested his forehead against mine. “I won’t be able to keep my hands off you if you keep this up.”

I lowered my hand to run along the waistband of his pants. “Good,” I said. “I don’t want you to.”

His controlled, unreadable expression disappeared as he lowered his lips to mine.

“I say,” Lord Vastor said from behind us. “Dinner’s about to be served.”

I could have groaned with disappointment.

Benjamin clasped my hand in his and led me back inside.

I was seated opposite Benjamin for dinner. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I did my best to make a little small talk with the guests seated either side of me, but it was hard to concentrate. All I could think about was the things I would be doing after dinner.

Benjamin appeared to handle it a lot better than me. He chatted politely to the elderly woman on his right and listened far too attentively for my liking to the pretty blonde on his left.

Annoyed with his lack of attention, and feeling bold, I slid my foot up his leg, to gently stroke his calf.

There was a tiny flicker of a response. No one else would notice, but I definitely did. I slid my foot up his leg, a little further this time.

A moment later, he leaned across the table and said sweetly, “If you do that again, I’m going to take you upstairs right now.”

My jaw dropped open, and I quickly looked around, but it seemed no one else heard. I almost wanted to do it again just to see his reaction. But I didn’t dare.

Somehow I managed to make it through until after desert.

Before coffee was served, Benjamin shot me a suggestive look, and then apologised to the Vastors.

“It’s been a delightful evening,” he said, addressing Lady Vastor. “I hope you’ll forgive me if I retire early?”

“Oh, but of course,” Lady Vastor said, fawning over him. “We don’t want you to over-exert yourself.”

Benjamin smirked at me, and I flushed and lowered my eyes to the table.

After Benjamin left the room, I shuffled my chair back.

“I, um, excuse me. I want to make sure Benjamin is all right.”

I practically ran up the stairs. My cheeks were glowing, partly from embarrassment and partly from excitement.

I paused by Benjamin’s door and knocked lightly.

He opened the door and I stared up at him. I couldn’t get enough of him. I gazed at the sensual curve of his lips and imagined them hot and wet on my skin.

He smirked down at me. “You’re determined to seduce me then, Kate?”

He pulled me inside, his dark eyes blazing down into mine.

To my surprise he backed away from me and sat on the bed. “If I was a better man, I’d leave you alone.”

No! That was the last thing I wanted.

“I don’t want you to leave me alone,” I whispered.

He didn’t move but looked at me, with an emotion in his eyes I couldn’t read. He was clearly still conflicted. If I gave him any longer, he might strengthen his resolve and ask me to leave. I had to take my chance now.

I walked over to the bed and stood beside him and ran my fingers through his silky dark hair. He sighed and leaned his head against my breast. I tugged on his hair, pulling his head back. His dark gaze met mine.

Oh my! Those dark eyes made my insides melt. He was so impossibly gorgeous.

I kept my eyes locked on his as I lowered my mouth to his lips.

He stayed completely still.

I kissed him harder and deeper, feeling and tasting his mouth, and when he responded my heart pounded so hard I was sure he could hear it.

His hands ran down my back to my butt, and he squeezed my ass as he kissed me.

When he pulled away, his lips were parted and his eyes were dark with desire.

“If you’re going to seduce me, you should do it properly,” he said.

I licked my lips and swallowed. Hell, what did he want me to do?

He shifted back on the bed, folding his legs beneath him. “Take off all your clothes, except the shoes.”

Oh boy. Kinky. I felt hot desire uncoiling in my belly.

I turned my back to him and coyly looked over my shoulder. “Would you mind unzipping me?” I asked.

His dark eyes glinted dangerously. “My pleasure.”

His fingers felt hot against my skin as he slowly lowered the zipper on my dress. My mouth was dry, and I could already feel my panties were damp.

When he’d finished, I shrugged off the dress, leaving it in a heap at my feet as if it didn’t bother me in the slightest.

He reached down and picked my dress off the floor. Raising it to his face he breathed in.

“It smells of you, Kate,” he said.

The way he looked at me sent my mind into free-fall. I couldn’t think straight. Oh, God.

“Carry on,” he said, with a smirk on his lips.

He knew exactly how he affected me.

I was the one stripping in front of him. Yet it was me who was out of control with desire.

I took a deep breath. I’d show him distracting.

I let my hair fall forward, covering some of my face, so I couldn’t see him watching me. Then I raised my arms, pretending to stretch. My breasts strained against the lace of my bra.

I heard the sudden change in pace of his breathing and smiled. I was affecting him.

I peeled off the straps of my bra and unhooked the clasp. The black lace slid over my hard nipples and down my body.

Turning my back to him, I pulled my panties down then leaned over as I slipped them down to my ankles, giving him a shameless view of my ass.

He groaned, and the sound made my insides clench deliciously.

I turned to see his reaction.

He was leaning forward on the bed, studying every inch of my body.

“Walk around the room for me,” he said, his voice husky.

What? Naked? I shook my head. I couldn’t parade around naked, my body wasn’t that great.

He shifted to the edge of the bed then stood up. “Please.”

My heart was thundering in my chest. He was only asking me to walk around the room. It wasn’t that difficult.

I tried to overcome my shyness and strutted in front of him. The shoes made my butt stick out and sway side-to-side as I walked. I felt really self-conscious but incredibly turned on at the same time.

As I walked back towards him, his eyes widened slightly as they fixed on my jiggling breasts. His chest moved faster as his breathing increased.

Oh my. He was responding to me. I was turning him on and that made me feel good.

“I really want you, Kate,” he said.

God, yes!

My blood was on fire as I stood in front of him. My gaze travelled down to the huge bulge in his pants.

“Have you any idea how hot you look like that?”

I lowered my head shyly, and he grasped my chin, tilting my head up.

“Look,” he said, turning me to face a full-length mirror in the corner of the room.

I blinked. Holy crap, was that me? I looked so different … so raunchy. Those shoes … Wow.

He pressed his body against my back, so I could see him in the mirror too, and cupped my breasts with his hands.

My nipples hardened instantly, and I tried to turn around to face him.

“No, don’t turn around,” he said. “Watch in the mirror.”

I swallowed and watched as his thumb and forefinger played with my nipples, teasing and stroking them until they were hard nubs. The sensation shot tingles of desire deep inside me. I squirmed as I felt the wetness between my legs.

I gasped as I watched his hands move lower, over my belly, towards my sex. It felt so erotic, almost voyeuristic, watching his strong hands work their magic. His mouth was close to my ear and I heard his breathing quicken as he slipped his fingers between my wet folds.

It felt so gratifying. He wants me.

I spread my legs and gasped as his fingers slid deep inside me.

“Kate,” he breathed as his teeth grazed my neck. “You’re so wet for me.”

His fingers circled my sweet spot of pleasure, and I thrust my hips forward as the pressure began to build inside me. His fingers rubbed over the slippery wetness between my legs, and my body jerked in response.

His erection pressed hard against my hip. I moved my hand behind me to stroke it through the fabric. Benjamin moaned softly as his fingers kept up their delicious rhythm, slipping back and forth. I arched my back, and in the mirror, I saw my breasts thrust forward. Benjamin stared at our reflection too. His dark eyes locked on mine as he continued to rub and caress me. The sensation was unbelievable, and I couldn’t hold back. The muscles in my legs and buttocks clenched as I came with his finger inside me.

Trembling and still very sensitive, I leaned back against Benjamin, trying to catch my breath. But he didn’t give me any time.

He pushed me back on to the bed. “Open your legs,” he said.

I did as he asked.

“Wider.”

I felt blood heat my cheeks as he stared down at me, seeing everything.

“Wrap your legs around my waist.”

I closed my legs around him, the spiky red heels digging into the firm flesh on his back.

“I’m sorry,” I said, opening my legs.

I was about to suggest taking the shoes off when he grabbed my ankles and made me wrap my legs around him again.

I stared up into his eyes, which were hooded with lust. “I like it,” he said.

Oh my. He likes it. That’s kind of kinky.

I didn’t have a chance to respond, before his erection prodded the still sensitive flesh between my legs. A moan escaped my lips.

The sensation was sweet and sharp at the same time, and I gasped as he eased himself into me. He felt huge as he pushed his way in.

At first I tried to hold back and make sure the shoes didn’t hurt him too badly, but as he picked up the pace and slid in and out of me again and again, I began to lose control, gripping him tightly, trying to pull him in further and further.

“Oh, Kate, baby, that feel so good.”

As he whispered in my ear, I felt the familiar tightness in my belly. Oh God. I was going to come again. Please. Don’t stop.

He picked up the tempo as my heels dug into his back, grinding himself into me, thrusting harder and harder.

I whispered his name as I came for a second time. The orgasm engulfed me totally. Benjamin’s continued thrusts kept the waves riding through me as my insides clenched around him. Then Benjamin thrusts ended in a muffled cry as he jerked then stilled.

He rolled off me, breathing hard.

I lay still, wondering if my heart rate would ever slow down.

Benjamin turned on his side and gazed down at me. His finger lightly stroked my cheek. For a while we just laid there, saying nothing.

Then Benjamin gave me a wicked grin. “I think I quite enjoy being seduced by you, Kate.”

WE ONLY SPENT TWO more days at the Vastors’ estate. I finished the portrait and left Lady Vastor instructions not to frame the painting until it was completely dry, and Benjamin got the all-clear from the doctor.

We flew back to Boston first class. I enjoyed the luxury and the champagne they served before take-off, but even so, I felt nervous about my future.

I had no work lined up, and no idea where I stood with Benjamin. Did he expect me to stay in Rhode Island until he grew tired of me?

I studied his profile as he leaned over his iPad, working again no doubt. I supposed you didn’t get to be a billionaire by taking time off. His dark hair had grown a little long during our time in England, but it suited him. His bruises had faded and his gorgeous skin was now un-blemished.

He tilted his head and caught me staring. He smirked, and my heart raced. How did he do that? How could he affect me with one look?

I lowered my head and pretended to be absorbed in the in-flight magazine.

Benjamin’s new security detail met us at the terminal. Colin looked very pleased with himself.

“This is just temporary,” Benjamin snapped. “I don’t need full-time baby-sitters.”

“Yes, of course it’s just temporary,” Colin said, trying to appease Benjamin. “They’re professionals. You’ll hardly notice they are there.”