Page 9 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

‘No, I wouldn’t lie.’

She believed him.The air between them was charged now.Electric.He lifted a hand and traced a finger down her cheek to her jaw, before continuing that line down her throat to the little hollow at the base.Her pulse was pounding, skin drawn tight as a drum.Nipples stinging with need.He took the glass out of her hand and put it down and put his down too.

He asked, ‘Okay?’

A sudden realisation of what she was doing gripped Tara and she said, ‘If I told you I wanted to leave now would you let me?’

He answered without hesitating.‘Of course, I could have Antonio back here with the helicopter within thirty minutes.’

Then he asked, ‘Do you want to leave?’

No.It beat through her.She really, really wanted this night out of her life to claim something for herself.

She shook her head and swallowed.‘No, I don’t want to go but it’s just good to know that… I could.’

‘At any time, no matter what’s happening.’

Tara nodded.‘Okay.’

He took her hand and led her out of the living space and through the moonlit villa to a doorway.He pushed it open and they stepped into a vast bedroom with a massive bed.

He let go of her hand to flick on some lights, then opened more sliding doors and the sea breeze, warm and fragrant, whispered over Tara’s skin.He turned to face her and walked across the room towards her, slowly.

Tara’s breathing became more and more constricted as her chest tightened and her skin prickled all over with anticipation.

He stopped in front of her and reached for her, putting his hands on her waist and tugging her into him.He lowered his head and his mouth covered hers and she sighed in relief to have him kissing her again, stopping her thoughts.She moved closer, wound her arms around his neck.

His hands moved to her back, one hand exploring her upper back and under her hair to cup her head.

This was the most decadently outrageous thing Tara had ever done and it didn’t remotely resemble the few fumbling kisses she’d shared with boys while doing her university course.

This was another league.This man was a master.Playing her as if she were a virtuoso’s violin.His hands were on the zip at the top of the back of her dress now and Tara broke the kiss to look at him.

Slowly, he pulled the zip down.Tara moved, dislodginghis hands but only doing so to turn around and give him her back.She pulled her hair over one shoulder.

He continued pulling the zip down to just above her buttocks.The dress loosened around her chest and Tara held it.She turned around again and he reached for her hands, gently pulling them away.

The dress fell down, exposing her bare breasts.Tara couldn’t look at him but she heard his indrawn breath and couldn’t quite believe it.Her breasts weren’t that amazing.They weren’t big and they weren’t small.They were just…average.

But he said, ‘Theé mou, you are stunning.’

She looked up.His dark golden gaze was fused to her body.A flush rose up, turning her skin pink.Her nipples were tight, aching.

He reached out and cupped one breast, testing its weight.He brushed a thumb across one nipple and Tara sucked in a breath.The feeling was so exquisite and connected directly to a point between her legs.

Half joking, she said, ‘I’m not sure if I can stand.’

He looked at her, cheeks slashed with colour.It made her feel less exposed.He took her over to the bed and said gruffly, ‘Lie down.’

She did.Her legs dangling over the edge.He reached for her dress and tugged it over her hips and off.Now all she wore was her underwear.Very plain.She put an arm across her eyes in mortification.

‘What are you doing?’

She felt the bed dip beside her.She took her arm down.‘I don’t think I’m like the women you are used to…’ She made a vague gesture to her underwear.

With seemingly no effort at all, he lifted her further upthe bed.He came down on one arm beside her and looked up and down her body.

‘You are the most exquisite creature I’ve ever seen.’