Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98566 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
I was walking into the arrivals hall when I saw him. He had four bodyguards with him, all of them tall and heavily muscled. But somehow, all that protection didn’t make him look small, or weak. He was bigger than any of them, both in size and in presence. A slate-gray suit set off the light gray of his eyes, the expensive fabric stretched tight over that broad, hard chest. He looked amazing.
And then he saw me. And instead of waiting for me to get to him, he marched straight towards me, against the flow of passengers. The crowd broke either side of him like a river hitting a rock. Then he reached me and when I saw the raw hunger and need in his eyes, I went weak. I only just had time to let go of the luggage trolley as those big hands closed around my waist and he lifted me off the ground—
And froze.
He stood there holding me, our faces less than a foot apart, and the sea of people around us forgotten. He studied my face, my eyes... and frowned.
He knows.
14
Hailey
IT WAS TOO LATE to run. He had me, those big hands holding me in the air like a toy. He could snap my neck in a heartbeat or bundle me into a car and take me off to interrogate me. The mission was over before it had begun. I stared back into those cold gray eyes, unable to breathe—
And then his eyes changed. That hard, glittering heat I’d seen in his hotel room. He did know something was different.
And he liked it.
His eyes narrowed. He dipped his head. Oh God! He’s going to—
And then the lips I’d been dreaming about for two years were coming down on mine.
The first kiss was quick... or it was meant to be. Just a taste, a teaser for the main event. But as soon as that hard upper lip brushed against my softness, something happened. It was as if a million pink butterflies took flight in my chest, diving and wheeling through my body. I melted. Then that soft lower lip was dragging across mine and a low moan escaped my throat. I clutched at his arms, my whole body thrashing in his hands.
He drew back and I opened my eyes. I felt drunk. I’d been expecting hard, brutal lust, not...that.
Those gorgeous gray eyes regarded me from six inches away. His head tilted suspiciously and he brushed a finger across his lips. Neither had he. His hands hardened on my hips. He glowered at me with sudden doubt and confusion….
... and then lust.
He made a sound I’ll never forget, a growl that came right from his chest like a beast who’s caught the scent of its prey. One hand shot up between my shoulder blades. The other slid round to my ass. Suddenly I was tipped backwards, my hair flying out and my dress flaring up. I came to rest almost lying across his thigh, looking up at him. I’d been swept off my feet, like some Russian countess in a historical romance, just before the hero—
I drew in my breath just as his lips found mine again.
This time, it was different. It was urgent, almost violent. He needed me, now, his lips searching and pressing, spreading me open. I melted in a whole different way, opening and responding, lost. The hand on my back roved up through my hair and held the back of my head, silken strands tangling in his fingers as we twisted and moved. His tongue traced the edge of my lips and then plunged inside, finding mine and leading it into a dance. I’d never been kissed like this before: he was so knowing and confident. And the more I weakened, the more I gave myself up to it, the more turned on he got. I could feel it in the way his hand kneaded my ass, the way he pulled me against his chest. I was his without question. He was utterly in control. And yet somehow, at the same time... I was making him lose control.
My hand slid up over his stubbled cheek, exploring him. My fingers slid into his hair, pushing it back from his forehead—
And I felt something there. The raised line of a scar, slashing diagonally across his forehead, hidden by his hair—
He grabbed my wrist and pulled my hand away. Something he doesn’t want to be reminded of. I explored his body, instead, running my hands over his back, his shoulders….
He finally broke the kiss and stood there panting, staring down at me. His eyes were hooded with lust, but there was anger there, too. Shock, at how he’d lost control. For a second, I thought he was going to hurl me aside, that I’d displeased him.
Then he pulled me upright and put an arm around my waist. “We’re leaving,” he told his bodyguards, and they fell smoothly into formation around us, two in front and two behind.