Page 43 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

She couldn’t help her insides knotting a little at that provocative thought.That perhaps Dion could be persuaded to think ofheras part of that family.

And create an even bigger family?

A mixture of excitement and trepidation washed through Tara.Was she really ready to contemplate raising another family?

Yes, because this was vastly different.

This would be born out of love and commitment, not grief and pain.

‘Tara?’

Tara’s head swung around so fast she almost got whiplash.Dion had stopped talking on the phone and was looking at her.She went red.If he had any idea how far her thoughts had just strayed—love!She went cold at the thought.The man didn’t want a family.How many times had he told her that?And he certainly didn’t feel anything for her apart from this wild chemistry.He wanted rid of her as soon as that burnt out.She couldn’t afford to forget that.

She forced a smile.‘Yes?’

‘We’re here.’

Tara’s gaze moved beyond Dion to the name on the hotel where they’d stopped.Her eyes widened.It was an iconic and instantly recognisable name.

Dion was saying, ‘I have an apartment here.’He got out of the car and came around to her door.Tara felt very self-conscious now in the jeans she’d changed into.At least she was wearing a silk top and a smart jacket.And flat brogue-style shoes.And her hair was still relatively tidy from the event earlier.

Dion took her hand to lead her into the hotel.A distinctive scent teased her nostrils in the plush lobby and Tara realised it must be one of those signature scents.

A manager met them, bowing to Dion, and led them straight to an elevator, where they were whisked smoothly upwards to the top level and down a corridor to a room on the end.

Dion’s apartment was on a corner with views over whatseemed to be all of Paris.The Eiffel Tower in the distance.There was a terrace.The manager exchanged a few words with Dion and then left.

Tara turned around and around, taking it all in.Too stunned to speak.

‘It’s just an apartment.’

Tara stopped and looked at Dion.‘If you think this isjustan apartment then maybe you really have lost your soul.’

Dion stalked towards her.He’d changed too, into dark trousers and a long-sleeved polo shirt.Light leather jacket.He looked suave and dark and unbelievably sexy.

He backed her up against a door and put one hand over her head, and, with his other, he found her waist and hip.He bent his head and kissed her and she pressed her body against his.

He pulled back for a moment to say, ‘Don’t think you can save my soul, Tara.You’ll only get hurt.’

Tara looked up at him, and said bravely, ‘I have no intention of getting hurt, Dion.Don’t flatter yourself.’

He smiled.‘Good.’

Feeling a little overwhelmed with how many emotions Dion was evoking within her, Tara moved her hips against him suggestively, shamelessly focusing on the physical.

Dion arched a brow and smiled, and his smile made Tara’s heart turn over.He looked so much younger and less brooding when he smiled.She could catch a glimpse of the young boy and man that he could have been if given half a chance.The rush of emotion when she thought of that was so huge that she stretched up and put her mouth to his to try and defuse it.

Thankfully he seemed equally inclined to focus on thephysical and Tara felt herself getting weightless as Dion scooped her up into his arms and carried her through the apartment to the bedroom.

* * *

Dion had specifically initiated bringing Tara with him to Paris so they could indulge themselves and burn this thing out.It astounded him to think that they’d only met less than a week ago and yet he couldn’t seem to remember what his life had been like without her in it.

But as he sat here now in front of a boardroom of his employees, the last thing on his mind was work.He was remembering waking at dawn and how Tara’s arm and leg were flung over him and holding him down and how his first reaction to that hadn’t been one of rejection or claustrophobia.It had been to pull her closer.

When he’d realised that, he’d extricated himself so fast he’d been light-headed.She hadn’t woken, just moved slightly, giving him an even more tantalising view of her naked body.

Before he could stop himself or give into the urge to wake her and continue what they’d been doing hours before, he’d scooped her up and taken her over to the guest room.