But his bare chest beckoned her and she reached out to touch him, her fingers tingling as she came into contact with the dark whorls of hair over hard muscle. He groaned and slammed his hand over hers, stopping it from moving.
“Not yet,” he repeated, putting her hand back down beside her.
And then with slow deliberation he began to undo her top button. She gasped as he undid another and slid her nightshirt off her shoulder a little. “I’ve wanted to do this since this morning,” he murmured, lowering his head and trailing a kiss from the curve of her shoulder to her throat, then down to the valley between her breasts.
He inhaled deeply, then lifted his face and undid another button, exposing her breasts. Soon he was leaning over her, using his mouth to possess the tip of one nipple before moving to the other, gliding his tongue back and forth over them, imprinting them with his taste.
“Oh, my God,” she muttered, shuddering at such an exquisite touch. “I…”
“Steady, my lovely.” He shifted back a little. Another button undone allowed him to drift kisses along the exposed skin to her belly button. She shuddered again when he stroked his palm over her stomach, before the rest of the buttons were unfastened and the material finally parted, falling away to her sides and revealing her near-nakedness to him.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, dipping his fingers under the waistband then peeling the panties down her body. By the time he’d finished, he’d moved to kneel between her thighs. She moaned faintly, suspecting a blush was rolling all the way down to her feet.
“So beautiful.” He slowly reached out and slipped a finger through the triangle of curls, making her gasp. “You like that?”
She moaned again. “Oh, yes.”
For long, heart-stopping moments he toyed with her dampening skin, sending tremors through her. And then he slid his hands under her, cupping the cheeks of her bottom and tilting her lower body up to him, the satin material of her nightshirt falling away fully as his head lowered to the dark V at her thighs.
But before he touched, he stopped and looked up again, his eyes catching hers, holding still. He didn’t speak or move a muscle, but there was a primitive look in his eyes that swept her breath away.
Slowly he lowered his head again and sought her out, his mouth beginning a slow worship of her femininity. She gasped as his tongue slid between her folds, teasing and tantalizing her, stroking her in erotic exploration, taking her to the brink, then bringing her back…once…twice…then finally he took her right over the edge, any remnants of her control disintegrating as she pulsed with the purest of pleasures.
Long moments later, she was still trying to recover when he rose to his feet and stripped off his trousers. She watched mesmerized as he put on a condom, thrilled that she had the power to make this man so hot and hard for her.
He was soon kneeling back down between her legs, and kissing his way right up the center of her until he found her mouth. He gave her one long kiss, then suddenly he was part of her. In her.
She held him deep inside, finally one with Blake Jarrod. She’d been waiting so long. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
He kissed her deeper as he began to thrust, long strokes time after time. Soon she began to tremble around him, toppling over the edge again, the flickering of the flames in the fireplace nothing compared to their own fire burning within.
Samantha lay amongst the cushions in front of the fire and watched Blake stride toward the downstairs bathroom. He’d covered her with the throw from the couch, and she enjoyed lying there watching his bare back and buttocks that were all firm muscle and arrestingly male.
She smiled to herself in the gentle glow from the fireplace. She couldn’t believe it. She’d made love with Blake. She felt marvelous. He’d been so generous and loving and…
All at once, she found herself blinking back sudden tears. Their lovemaking had been so much more than sex. She hadn’t admitted it to herself until now lest she back out, but when he’d said earlier they were having sex, something had gnawed at her as she’d gone up the stairs. It had sounded like they would merely be having sex for sex’s sake. And while that was somewhat true, that wasn’t what she was only about.
She’d known the same was true for Blake. He’d already proven that by not taking advantage this morning when he’d thought she was a virgin. She’d “made love” with Blake, despite love not being involved. There was respect between them and that was more important to her.
Right then she heard him coming back and she quickly blinked away any suggestion of tears. He wouldn’t want to know. Otherwise he’d think she hadn’t been able to handle it, when it was merely because she hadn’t expected to be quite so touched by all this.
He gave a sexy smile as he dropped down and leaned over to kiss her. “How do you feel?” he murmured, pulling back and looking into her eyes.
She was fully aware of his nakedness next to her. She could easily reach out and touch him. “Wonderful.”
He looked pleased as he lifted the throw and slid under it to lie on his back, pulling her against his chest and kissing the top of her head but being careful of her injury. “Is that better?”
She was glad he couldn’t look into her eyes. “Much.”
He chuckled, his breath stirring her hair. “Who knew, eh?”
“What?”
“That we’d be so good together.”
She’d never doubted it. “We work well together in business, so why not in bed?”
“True.”
After that, they lay in quiet. The fire crackled and the clock on the wall ticked the seconds by. Samantha began to feel sleepy. There was no place she’d rather be in the world right now, she thought, as her eyelids drifted shut and she listened to the tick tock…tick tock…tick…she loved him…tock.
Startled, she jumped. Dear God, she loved him.
“What’s wrong?”
Her brain stumbled. Panic whorled inside her. The ability to speak deserted her for a moment…and then somehow she pulled herself together. “What? Oh, nothing. I think I fell asleep too fast.”
“Don’t worry. There’s no chance of that happening again just yet.” He put his hand under her chin, lowering his head and lifting her mouth up to his. She quickly closed her eyes, hiding them from him, hiding her deepest secret. She’d betrayed him by falling in love with him. And she’d betrayed herself. She hadn’t wanted to love him. She had never intended for that to happen.
Then he kissed her and the slow, delicious process of making love to her started again. She prayed to God for the strength not to reveal her love for this man who was leaving his mark on her like no one had ever done before. She couldn’t afford to give her feelings away, or their relationship would be over before it had really begun. Wanting Blake had been hard enough.
Loving him was going to be intolerable.
Eight
Blake made love to her many times during the night, both downstairs and in his bed. Samantha had never known such bliss, but by the time the next morning rolled around and she’d gone back to her own room to get dressed for work, she had a thousand worries inside her head. She loved Blake and that presented so many problems. She’d virtually promised him she wouldn’t fall for him. Now it seemed like she’d gone back on her word.
Worse, somewhere along the line she hadn’t exactly “fallen” for him. No, she’d skipped that bit and had progressed straight to loving him. They’d worked together so closely these past two years, she already knew Blake was the type of man she admired and respected. And falling “in” love implied she could fall “out” of love with him—like she’d done with Carl. With Blake, she knew there would be no retracting her love for him.
If only she could.
Oh, God, loving Blake had taken her further with her emotions than she’d ever dared venture. And now she had to survive until she could leave for good. She had to remain tough. She would constantly have to keep something of herself back. Last night during their lovemaking, she’d only
managed to keep a lid on it through sheer terror—only by telling herself he would run in the other direction if he knew how deep her feelings went. Talk about emotional involvement on her part!
And now more than ever she had to leave at the end of her month’s contract. She couldn’t stay permanently. Blake had been honest enough to admit he couldn’t handle emotional involvement and she believed him. If he discovered she loved him, he’d be horrified. He’d probably have her on the next plane out of Aspen before she could blink. Even if he didn’t, she couldn’t risk giving him such a strong emotive power over her. A power he might use in and out of the bedroom to get her to stay.
For all the wrong reasons.
Yet would Blake manipulate her in such a way? He was, after all, the man she loved. An honorable man. Would he really do any of those things? Her heart remembered his generous lovemaking and said no. Her head remembered the hard businessman and said maybe.
Making love to a woman certainly changed things, Blake decided as he watched Samantha eat breakfast in the hotel restaurant. He’d sat opposite her like this many times in the last two years but it had always been about work. Now all he could think about was being inside her again.
She’d been so generously tight last night when he’d finally buried himself in her softness. It had almost sent him straight into orgasm. Only the need to give her more pleasure had held him back. Never before had that happened to him. He’d always made sure his partner had been fulfilled before taking his own pleasure, but this time her pleasure had been totally his. It had been the ultimate experience for him. How could that other man—that Carl—not have wanted her in his bed? Idiot!
“Tell me something, Blake,” she said, cutting into his thoughts as he buttered a slice of toast.
“Anything.” Well, not quite anything. He wasn’t up for a meaningful discussion this morning. He merely wanted to sit here and soak up this beautiful woman in front of him.
She tilted her brunette head to one side. “Did you tell Andy to add the candles last night at dinner?”
He was relieved at the simple question. “Sorry, no. I wasn’t planning on seduction. At least, not until I was sure you could handle becoming my lover.” He smiled. “I’ll light you some candles tonight, though.”
A feathery blush ran across her cheeks but she looked pleased. “I’ve just realized something. You’re a romantic, Blake Jarrod.”
“Sometimes.” He liked to romance a woman as much as the next guy. “But don’t get the wrong idea that I’m a softie.”
She nodded. “Got it. Hard in business. Good in bed.”
He gave a low laugh. “I like that assessment.” He also liked to think he was both things in and out of bed, but he wouldn’t embarrass her further. Not here.
But tonight…
“I keep forgetting to mention this,” she said, “but I haven’t thanked you for taking such good care of me the other night.”
“Oh, I think you did thank me,” he said pointedly. “And you can thank me again later.”
“Blake!” she hissed, but he could see she was enjoying this sexual interplay.
“What?” he drawled. “I’m just saying—”
A figure appeared at their table. “There you are, Sam,” Joel said, giving them both a smile but causing Blake’s mouth to clamp shut. “I’m glad I caught you. How are you this morning? How’s the head?”
“Fine, Joel. No aftereffects at all,” she assured the doctor.
“You’re taking things easy, I hope?”
Her eyes made a quick dart across the table then back up at the other man. “Yes.” Her cheeks had grown a little warm and that in itself appeased Blake.
“Good. Then how about we take in that movie tonight?”
She looked at Blake again. “Oh, Joel, I’m sorry, I can’t.”
“Tomorrow night, then?”
Blake held his tongue. He wanted to lay claim to Samantha and tell the other man to shove off, but he’d first give her the opportunity to do it.
“Um, Joel. Perhaps not.” She shifted in her seat. “I’m returning to Vegas in less than two weeks’ time and then I’m going home to Pasadena for good once I wrap things up there. So, you see, there’s a lot to be done here right now. I need to work full-on with Blake until then.”
Blake was dumbfounded.
“You’re leaving?” the other man said, sounding shocked, echoing Blake’s thoughts. “I can’t believe that.”
Another echo of his thoughts.
She looked slightly uncomfortable. “Yes, I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but it was something that hadn’t been finalized until now.”
Joel gave a small nod. “I understand. Maybe we can get together in Pasadena sometime in the future? We’ll at least have to get together for coffee before you leave.”
She slipped him a smile. “That would be lovely.”
Blake was vaguely aware of the other man walking away from the table, but he only had eyes for one person. “Samantha,” he growled. “What the hell is going on?”
Her look seemed cagey. “I didn’t want him knowing the truth. Our affair is our business and no one else’s.”
Anger stirred inside him. “I’m not talking about our affair, and you know it. Dammit, don’t tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
She lifted her chin. “You’re talking about me still leaving,” she clarified. “I’m sorry, Blake. Did you think that I would change my mind?”
“Yes, I damn well did.” He’d expected her to stay now, not because he’d enticed her into staying but because she wanted to. And hell, she didn’t seem to understand that he’d made a big concession in not seducing her in the bathroom yesterday morning. Now it felt like she’d slapped him in the face. He’d given. She’d taken. And now she was giving nothing back.
“But why, Blake? Our lovemaking hasn’t changed anything. We both decided it would only be physical and nothing more. No commitment, remember?”
Her words appeared to be reasonable, but for all that she had a peculiar look in her eyes he couldn’t decipher. “That’s still got nothing to do with you leaving.”
“Doesn’t it? I was leaving before we made love and I’m still leaving, so what’s changed?”
Damn her. She was right. Even so, he couldn’t explain it. He just knew something had changed and he didn’t want to decode it. He just wanted her to stay and enjoy what they had for a while. They could at least get a couple of months together. Why leave while the going was good?
She shot him an unexpected candid look. “Blake, you asked me if I could handle a sexual relationship, and I said I could. It sounds to me like you aren’t handling it.”
His mouth tightened. “I’m handling it.”
She shook her head. “No, I don’t—”
“Blake,” a male voice called out, and Blake instantly knew who it was. He stiffened. Damn the world! His twin brother was the last person he wanted to see. Guy had always understood him—sometimes more than he understood himself. Right now wasn’t a good time to put that to the test.
He shot to his feet, turned and headed for the private elevator. “It’ll have to wait until later, Guy,” he muttered, striding past his brother.
Guy’s steps faltered as he approached the table. Then as he came closer, he looked at Samantha with mild amusement. “Was it something I said?” he quipped in that easygoing way of his.
Samantha couldn’t smile if her life depended on it. “He’s got a lot on his mind.”
Guy sobered. “Yeah, I know.” He sent her a penetrating look that reminded her of Blake. “I hear you’re leaving.”
She nodded, still surprised word had gotten around the family so fast, and even more surprised that they were genuinely sorry to see her go. It wasn’t like she was a friend of the family…or marrying into it.
“I’m glad I saw you,” Guy said, drawing her back to the moment. “Avery and I would like to have you around for dinner before you go.”
Someh
ow she managed a faint smile. “That would be very nice.”
“Blake, too, of course.” Silence, then, “He’ll miss you when you leave.”
“Maybe.” Maybe not. “I’ll find him an excellent replacement.”
“It won’t be the same.”
Her throat constricted. “He’ll get over it.” She stood up. “You’ll have to excuse me, Guy. I need to start work. There’s a lot to do.”
Guy stepped back and let her pass, but he was frowning and she could feel his eyes on her all the way out the eatery. Thankfully she had a few moments of privacy as the elevator took her to the top floor.
If only Blake wanted her to stay because he loved her, then things would be perfect. But for him this was only about two things—the job and sex. It wasn’t about love. She sighed. She’d have to be crazy to think he would make a commitment. And she hadn’t wanted a commitment before anyway, so why the heck was she even considering it now?
She must have rocks in her head.
Or have been hit on the head with a rock. It must have caused more damage than she’d thought. Why else would she be unwise enough to love a man who wouldn’t let himself love in return? That bruise must have addled more than her brain. It had addled her heart.
Thankfully Blake’s door was shut when she entered her office so she sat at her desk. Come to think of it, she felt a little better knowing she had hoisted Blake with his own petard. That was rather clever of her. He’d sprouted all that talk about not getting emotionally involved, but clearly his emotions were involved, albeit not enough and not the ones that mattered most to her.
They didn’t entail love.
God was merciful just then, when not only did the phone start to ring but one of the staff who had a meeting with Blake walked into her office. Samantha got busy, putting on her professional persona as she placed the caller on hold, buzzing Blake on the intercom to tell him his first appointment was here. At his request, she ushered the staff member into his office, all the while keeping her face neutral whenever she looked at her boss. He seemed equally as disinterested in her, though she knew otherwise. What he was and what he seemed were two different things. She could recognize that in another person. After all, wasn’t she an expert at the same thing?
Taming Her Billionaire Boss Page 10
