Harlequin Desire January 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Maisey Yates (inspirational books .TXT) 📗

Julian shrugged out of his impeccable dinner jacket and started working on the buttons of his shirt. She watched as the layers came off, revealing the broad shoulders, the narrow waist, the ripples of his abdomen and the sculpted thighs. He worked hard at maintaining his body and ought to be lavished with praise and adulation for it. Only Nina was limited and could only offer sarcasm.

“Wow!” she exclaimed when his boxers joined the heap of clothing. “It doesn’t take much to get you naked, JL.”

“I believe the words you’re searching for are thank you.”

Nina wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered her thanks in his ear.

“Now,” he said. “One good turn deserves another.”

If she had one wish remaining, it would be for her dress to miraculously fall away. Caught up in his kiss, she fumbled with the mini buttons and searched around for the zipper. Julian broke away abruptly. “Oh, for God’s sake, woman!”

His hands went straight to a hidden zipper of the skirt. It was as if the man had studied the pattern of her dress all night. With a few adept moves, he had it rising over her head. Then he stood back, his gaze sweeping over her body. She was all but naked except for a pair of fine silk panties. The ocean breeze on her hot skin raised goose bumps. “So bloody beautiful,” he murmured before scooping her up and laying her on the banquette.

Somehow, in the tight space, they managed to remain intertwined, kissing, touching, exploring. Nina had never craved anyone’s touch as much as his. When she could not take a second longer, Nina took his face in her hands. Between harsh intakes of breaths, she said, “Let’s just…do this fast…and…take our time later…upstairs.”

He raised himself on an elbow and looked down at her, his eyes teasing. “A woman with a plan…”

“I plan, you execute… Sound good?”

“Not really.” He plucked the foil packet from her hand and sat up with his back against the cement wall. He got busy, ripping a corner of the packet and extracting the condom. “We do this together or not at all.”

“I love a man with principles,” Nina said, teasing, and inched closer to loosen his hair tie. She ran her fingers playfully through his thick waves. A lock of hair tumbled over his forehead. She leaned in and took his earlobe between her teeth and tugged.

He drew her onto his lap. “Come to me, baby.”

She loved how solid he felt in her arms, loved the steady drumming of his heart. Her own pulse was erratic, her heart skipping wildly. The kiss she gave him was just as wild. He tilted her backward to some degree and fit himself inside her. Nina went rigid at first. Then warmth spread through her, and she relaxed in his arms. She dug her fingers in his hair, breathed him in, tasted him and moved with him. And then they took off, driving faster, harder, until they reached a climax that left her shattered. Nina collapsed against him, certain that he would collect her scattered pieces and keep her safe.

Journal Entry

The sense of urgency is gone when we finally stumble into the suite and strip away our fussy dinner clothes once and for all. I fall into bed; the silky sheets feel delicious. Julian locks the door and joins me, kneeling at the foot of the bed. He takes hold of my hips and drags me to him. Aching with anticipation, I grab a pillow, anything to anchor me. “Hold on to me,” he says in a low voice that makes me shudder. I reach for him and dig my fingers into his shoulders. When our eyes meet, the mix of turmoil and tenderness in his scares me. I know this thing with Julian is going to undo me. It may well break me. I know it and want it anyway.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Julian assisted Nina down the stone steps leading to the sidewalk and for a while they stood still, fingers linked, in the flow of pedestrian traffic. He grinned down at her. He could not stop grinning. All day it was as if he were walking on clouds.

“Just us?” she said. “No driver or entourage?”

“Just us.”

“Are you sure you can get away with this?”

“I can get away with a whole lot. Haven’t you noticed?”

The bell tolled the hour, and all the memories of the night before came tumbling back, every wicked thing they’d done in the tower. By the look on Nina’s face, he was sure her thoughts mirrored his.

“Let’s go,” he said. “The sooner we’re done with dinner, the sooner we can revisit the tower. But if you need an entourage, I can get Pete to drive us.”

“No, thanks,” she said. “To be honest, I find Pete strange. Don’t you?”

“He’s all right. Only trying to get a day’s work in.”

Julian slipped an arm around her waist and got them moving in the direction of the restaurant.

“No…” She leaned into him. “My instincts aren’t wrong. You should be careful around him.”

He didn’t question her instincts, but everyone in his orbit was bound to act strange at some point. It was only one of the many downsides of fame. And one complaint to management could get the man fired.

“I should be careful around you,” he said. “You look dangerously good tonight.”

If he couldn’t address her concerns, the best he could do was lighten the mood. His strategy worked. She broke away. The straps of her short cotton sundress fell off her shoulders. “Then maybe you should keep your distance.”

That was the one thing Julian did not have the strength to do. He chased after her and pinned her to him. “I’ll keep my eye on Pete,” he said. “I promise.”

“Thanks,” she said. “Now feed me.”

The hotel concierge had recommended Ocra, a trendy Jamaican restaurant on Tenth Street well within walking distance from Sand Castle. There was no stuffy maître d’ to contend with, only a friendly hostess