Page 5 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

Dion wanted this woman, that was clear.But it wasn’t following any kind of pattern he was used to where if he found a woman attractive they would engage in a well-worn dance that both he and the woman understood tacitly.For him it was very much a physical thing to scratch a sexual itch.He never had any desire to prolong the experience beyond bed.

He liked sex.He didn’t like the strings that came with it.

And yet, he knew that this woman, this situation, was different.But he couldn’t seem to care.

He wanted to see her.He asked, ‘May I take off your mask?’

She swallowed and then nodded jerkily, turning around.Her skin was amazing, the most delicate translucent pale.Dotted with those freckles.He untied her mask and resisted the urge to bury his hands in the coppery silken strands of her hair and undo it.

She caught the mask and turned around again.Dion undid his mask and lifted it off.He saw her eyes widen on his face.He knew he was handsome but the knowledge came with no arrogance.He’d inherited his father’s looks—the looks that had seduced his feckless mother and so when he looked in the mirror he took no pleasure in his even features.They mocked him.

‘Wow,’ she breathed.‘You’re very handsome.’

Dion smiled.Her lack of guile surprised him and very little surprised him these days.She affected none of the cool nonchalance of the women he was used to.Of course, it probably was an act, but he was enjoying it.

Then she blushed, as if she’d just realised what she’d said.Adorable.He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had blushed in his company.They were as cynical as he was.Hardened.And that was fine because he didn’t want soft.

Except, maybe he did, in this instance.Because thiswoman exuded a kind of softness he’d never seen before.Soft curves and a self-effacing warmth that was truly novel.

‘You are beautiful,’ he said.And she was.In a very refreshingly unmanufactured way.Gorgeous skin.Huge blue-green eyes.Long lashes.Finely etched brows.A straight nose.And that mouth…that made him think of far more debauched things thansoft.

She made him hard.

He touched her chin with his finger, tipping it up a little.Her eyes widened.He felt her breath against his skin and got even harder.Theo mou.He’d barely touched her and he was primed to go off like a firecracker.

She said, ‘I don’t even know your name.’

He looked at her and suddenly realised that for the first time in a long time, a woman didn’t know who he was.He’d never courted the press, but in Greece everyone knew who he was.

She could be lying, of course, but again he found that he was prepared to go along with this fantasy and enjoy the moment of anonymity.

‘Names are overrated, don’t you think?’

He felt her breathing quicken a little.Maybe she liked the fantasy too.She said, ‘I think…you may be right.’

Dion’s gaze moved back to her mouth.She bit her lip and his blood spiked.He said in a rough tone, ‘I want to kiss you.’

He saw the glistening pink of her tongue.‘I… I think I’d like that.’

He put his hands on her arms, slender but strong, and tugged her towards him.Their bodies touched again andDion had to grit his jaw against the surge of desire.She was so soft.Her breasts were pressed against his chest.

He lowered his head and fitted his mouth over hers and it was like two jigsaw pieces slotting into place.It was as if they’d kissed before but of course they hadn’t.And he’d never ever felt this sensation of the ground shifting on its axis as all of that lushness softened against him and with the slightest encouragement she opened to him and any notions ofsoftorself-effacementorshywere blown to smithereens.

Dion’s hands tightened on her arms as he fell down and down into a cauldron of fiery need, barely even noticing how her hands came to his jacket and clung on as if she too were drowning in the fiery pit.

* * *

Tara wasn’t even sure if she was still standing.All she could feel was the intoxicating, drugging, electrifying sensation of this man’s mouth on hers and his tongue, touching hers, exploring her mouth, enticing her to open up…which she was doing with an eagerness that belied her lack of experience.

It was hands down the most uncharacteristic thing she’d ever done and the most exciting.Every part of her body was tingling, vibrating.Her breasts felt heavy and her nipples were tight.She wanted to press closer against his body, to create a friction that she felt instinctively would be good.

But then he was pulling back, taking his mouth from hers, and it was a struggle to open her eyes and focus on his face.It eventually realigned into its perfect lines.

His cheeks were flushed, some hair flopping forward onto his forehead.He asked, ‘Are you okay?’

Tara nodded.Her tongue felt heavy, thick, but she managed to get out, ‘I…um, think so.’

She realised she was clinging onto his jacket as if he were stopping her from collapsing.She couldn’t seem to unwrap her fingers from the material.He still had his hands on her arms.She heard the faint sounds of the party behind him.Tinkling glasses, laughter, music.