LITMIR.BIZ

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shouldn’t be too late,’ Jessie said firmly. More for Kane’s ears than Dora’s. ‘Bye, sweetie.’ She gave Emily a kiss. ‘Love you. See you in the morning.’

      ‘At least two weeks, eh?’ Kane said as they walked together along the side-path. ‘In that case, we should be engaged by Christmas.’

      ‘Very funny,’ Jessie said.

      ‘Who says I’m joking?’

      ‘Kane, stop it.’

      ‘Stop what?’

      Jessie ground to a halt beside Dora’s prized hydrangeas, which were in full bloom. ‘Stop being ridiculous. You and I both know you would never marry me.’

      ‘Why not?’

      ‘For one thing I have Emily.’

      ‘I think Emily’s fantastic. Cutest kid I’ve ever met.’

      Jessie shook her head in exasperation. ‘This is a stupid conversation and I don’t want to continue it.’

      ‘Good, because I’m sick of talking, anyway.’ Before she could read his intention, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, right there and then.

      Jessie’s first instinct was to struggle. What if Dora came out and around the side of the house and saw them? She even opened her mouth to protest.

      Silly move.

      His tongue darted inside and she didn’t think about anything much after that for a full five minutes. By the time he let her come up for air, her head was swimming and her body was on the countdown to lift-off. She actually moaned in dismay when his mouth lifted. Her fingers tightened on what she thought was his back, but was actually her evening bag, resting against his back.

      ‘Now I know what to do with you,’ he said thickly as he stroked an erotic finger over her puffy lips. ‘Every time you start to get stroppy tonight, I’m going to kiss you. So be warned and try to behave yourself in the restaurant. Unless, of course, you’d rather we didn’t go out to eat. We could drive straight to my place if you prefer. I do have food there in my freezer and a perfectly good microwave. Wine too, and fresh fruit. I’m actually quite domesticated. I only turn into a wild beast around you.’

      ‘I like the wild beast,’ she heard herself saying in a low, husky voice. But that finger on her lips felt incredible. Before she could think better of it, her tongue-tip came out to meet it. He stared down at her mouth and then slowly, ever so slowly, inserted his finger inside.

      Her stomach somersaulted.

      ‘Suck it,’ he commanded. And she did, thinking all the while that she would do anything he told her to do tonight.

      The thought blew her away. This was dangerous territory she’d just entered. But more exciting than anything she’d ever experienced before. Lyall was kindergarten playtime compared to this man.

      His blue eyes narrowed as he watched her blindly obey him.

      His tortured groan shocked her, as did the way he reefed his finger out, as if she were a cobra, not a woman on the verge of becoming his sex slave.

      ‘Enough,’ he growled. ‘You are one contrary woman, Jessie Denton,’ he added. ‘You run hot and cold all the time. So what is it to be tonight? You decide. The restaurant, or my place?’

      Jessie was way beyond hypocrisy. She was as turned on as she knew he was. Any further delay would brand her a tease and she’d never been that.

      ‘Your place,’ she said, dropping her arms back to her sides as she took a step back from him.

      He didn’t reply, just grabbed her free hand and dragged her out to his car as if the hounds of hell were after them.

      ‘Belt up,’ he ordered as he fired the engine. ‘And no chit-chat. It’s not that far to my place at Balmoral but the traffic’s heavy going into the city. I need to concentrate.’

      Balmoral, she thought, her earlier dazed state slowly receding. An exclusive inner north-shore suburb with an equally exclusive beach. She’d been there once to a restaurant on its foreshores. Very up-market. Very pricy. After the recent housing boom, even the simplest apartment there would cost the earth.

      She couldn’t see Kane having a simple apartment. It would be a sleek bachelor pad with a view and jacuzzi. Or a penthouse, with a pool, leather furniture and a king-size animal-print-covered bed.

      She was wrong on both counts. First it was a house, not an apartment. Secondly, it wasn’t modern or overtly masculine. It was old—probably built in the thirties—with lots of art deco features and loads of antique furniture. The only thing she was right about was the water-view, which was magnificent from its site up on the side of a hill.

      ‘Did you live here with your wife?’ were Jessie’s first words after he had led her into the cosy front sitting room. Through the windows she could see the sea down below. And the lights of the restaurant she’d once visited.

      ‘No,’ he replied. ‘We had an apartment in town. I bought this when we separated. My parents live a couple of streets away. And my brother lives in the next suburb.’

      Jessie thought it was nice that he’d chosen to live so close to his family.

      ‘This is not what I expected,’ she said.

      He smiled. ‘I know. That’s one reason why I wanted to bring you here. Seeing for yourself is worth a thousand words. I keep telling you I’m not what you think, Jessie. Now, put that infernal bag down and come here…’

      Jessie sucked in sharply. She should have known he’d get right down to it, once they were alone. It was what she wanted too. Inside.

      But her earlier decision to come here and jump straight into bed with him had been easy when she was still in his arms, with his kisses still hot in her memory and his finger in her mouth. Not quite so easy standing here in his living room with the lights on and nothing but the sound of the sea in the background.

      He frowned at her when she didn’t move. ‘Don’t tell me you’re nervous. Or that you’ve changed your mind,’ he added darkly.

      ‘No. No, I haven’t changed my mind. But yes, I am nervous,’ she confessed shakily. ‘It’s been so long and I…’

      ‘How long?’ he broke in.

      Jessie was shocked when tears pricked at her eyes. Goodness, what was there to be crying about? ‘I…I haven’t been with a man since Lyall.’

      She was thankful that he didn’t act all surprised, or suspicious, over this statement of fact.

      ‘I see,’ he said simply, then smiled. A soft, almost loving smile. ‘That’s wonderful.’

      She was the one who was shocked. ‘Wonderful? What’s wonderful about it? I’ve probably forgotten how to do it!’

      He laughed. ‘You haven’t forgotten, sweetheart. You’re a natural. But if you have,’ he said as he walked forward and put her bag down for her, ‘you have me to show you how all over again. But my way. Not Lyall’s way, or any other man’s way.’

      ‘And what’s your way?’ she choked out as he took her hand and started leading her from the room.

      The look he threw over his shoulder sent shivers rippling down her spine. ‘The way which gives you the most pleasure, of course. I have a plan, as usual. But if at first I don’t succeed, then I’ll try, try again. You might be amazed at how many times I can make love in five hours.’

      ‘It…it’s already half past seven,’ Jessie blurted out, trying to stop herself from totally losing it. But dear heaven, he meant to make love to her for the whole five hours?

      ‘So I’ll be a little late getting you home,’ he said as he drew her through a doorway, switching on a light as he went. ‘I’m sure Dora will forgive me.’

      The

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