Christmas With The Billionaire (8 page)

She frowned now. “Is this you calling on the wallflower when there’s no one else to take the vacant slot in your bed?”

“No, it’s not. And I’ve had enough of this. You’re not a wallflower.” His face softened and he laughed as he tried to get comfortable, which, short of lying on top of Ms. Black, seemed unlikely. “And this isn’t my bed.”

“No.” She laughed in agreement. “This is the lumpy reject bed Lady Vallender’s housekeeper, or whoever is lucky enough to hold that grand title, gets to sleep on—if anyone can actually sleep on this ancient mattress.” She thumped it for emphasis with her tiny fist. “I bet you’ve never slept on a bed like this before.”

“You’d be surprised.”
 

“I probably would be,” she admitted, looking at him with renewed interest.

Who was Jason Kent and where did he come from? Kate wondered. His history was shrouded in mystery. Even the most avid reporters hadn’t managed to uncover his past. That was another benefit of having as much money as he did, she guessed. He could buy a whole new identity along with all the other accessories of life.
 

“You’d know if I didn’t want to be here,” he said as she stared at him thoughtfully. “Like you, I prefer to be upfront about things.”

“Do you, Jason?”

His eyes betrayed the fact that Jason chose what to be upfront about, but then he smiled and put his arms around her and she was lost. “I’m very glad to be here, Ms. Black.”

She wasn’t complaining either. Jason’s kisses were a drugging introduction to everything pleasure should be. He toyed with her bottom lip and then teased the seam of her mouth with his tongue until she yielded, then he flooded her senses, with emotion, with sensation, and with need. She had never kissed anyone like Jason before, a man so confident and strong. There was something so intimate about his kisses, the way he touched her, and the looks he gave her. He made her feel safe, which was insane. She had to remind herself that her defenses were well and truly down, and that even the safest haven might only be temporary.
 

“Hey...” Lifting his head, he stared down. “Where are you now?”

She exhaled and smiled into his eyes. “Do you seriously think I would want to be anywhere but here?”

He frowned. “I’m not sure I believe you. I’m never quite sure with you, Ms. Black. I guess that’s why you’ve got me hooked.”

“Hooked?” She started to say something more, but lost the ability to speak when Jason’s hands found her breasts.

“You have the most magnificent breasts I’ve ever seen,” he murmured.

“Not just big, then?”

“Not just big?” Jason frowned. “Who gave you that idea?”

She huffed a smile and said nothing. People could be cruel. Men could be cruel.
 

“Whoever tried to make you feel small, should meet me and I’ll soon put them right.”
 

“I don’t think small had much to do with it,” she admitted wryly, glancing down at her ample curves.

“Well, I think you’re perfect, and I’d tell them so.”

“You’d defend me?”

“Of course I would.”
 

For some reason she believed him. “You’re quite a man, Jason Kent.”

“And you’re a very beautiful woman.”

“And now you’ve gone too far,” she said with a shake of her head.
 

“I don’t think so.”
 

Jason spoke so quietly, staring into her eyes, that for once she was silenced. And then his firm mouth found her nipple through the fine lace of her bra, and she was done with talking for the foreseeable future. The sensation was so much, too much. She sucked in a shuddering breath on a cry of pleasure. His breath was hot. His lips were firm, and Jason was remorseless. She was glad. She loved the way he held her so firmly, pressing her down into the mattress like a man who knew what she wanted, and what he wanted too. But he was cruel, denying her the pressure she craved where she craved it.

“Monster,” she muttered when he moved up the bed.
 

He laughed softly. “Does that mean I’m doing something right?”

“Everything right,” she admitted against his mocking mouth. “But you’re a tormenting and impossible man.” She said this somewhere between a laugh and a whimper as his hands continued to tease.
 

“Just think how much better it’s going to be when I finally give you what you want.”
 

“Finally?” she complained. “I hope you’re joking?”

“Do you?” He turned her beneath him, leaving her to thrash her head on the pillows in an advanced state of frustration as he continued to tease.
 

“I’m not sure I can wait—”
 

“You’ll wait until I tell you.”
 

Her eyes widened at Jason’s instruction. Her heart beat faster. Her arousal grew to unsustainable levels. “Please—”

“What did I tell you?” he reprimanded quietly. “You’re overdressed. Do something about it.”

The authority in his voice was all it took to focus her mind. Sweet pulses gripped her. She moaned. Then rallied and frowned. “You’re overdressed too. Lose this...” She plucked at his shirt.
 

Jason’s eyes were amused as he raised a brow. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. In the next few seconds of blistering activity, he was stripped to the waist. “And now you,” he said. “And make it slow.”
 

“Lucky for you, I like your rules.”
 

If he only knew how much. The hunger inside her had turned into an unrelenting ache. Unbuttoning her shirt, she shrugged it off and let it drop.
 

“Magnificent,” Jason murmured, folding his arms beneath his head as he settled back to watch.

Freeing the catch on her bra, she slid the straps from her shoulders and then allowed that to drop too. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Kent—”

“Come here,” Jason whispered.

Her head rolled back with pleasure as he cupped her breasts. His hands were big. They needed to be, she reflected with amusement. They were such warm hands and slightly rough. She needed those hands on her. She needed this, needed him—
 

She needed to be needed, Kate reflected wryly in the one lucid moment before Jason’s touch wiped her mind clean. Even his thumbnails were expert at the task of torturing her nipples with a touch so light she never wanted it to end.
 

“Jeans off,” he whispered. “Let me,” he suggested as she knelt up on the bed.
 

He took his time undoing the button on the waistband of her jeans, and easing the zipper down, while she felt as if her hungry body was swelling in a vain attempt to benefit from his expert touch. She had never been so acutely aware before, or so sensitive, and now she was naked apart from her flimsy lace thong.

“No,” he reprimanded her when she went to take that off too. “What’s your rush?” he queried in a husky tone.

“There is no rush,” she agreed. “We’ve got all night.”
 

She lifted her hands away. More accurately, she raised them in surrender. This was so good—too good to start quibbling over details now.

“Take all the time you want,” she said.
 

“All the time you need,” he argued.
 

A cry of excitement escaped her throat when Jason brushed his hand lightly over her, then he pulled her down beside him.

“Now you’re beginning to understand the pleasures of waiting,” he said.

“I’m beginning to understand how infuriating you can be,” she argued. “And as far as waiting goes? I’m done waiting.”
 

Chapter Ten

Having removed her thong, Jason eased down the bed, kissing her all the way. Over her breasts and down over the swell of her belly, he only stopped when she exclaimed softly and opened her legs a little to urge him on, but he still wouldn’t take the hint. Moving on, he kept on kissing her.
 

“No,” he warned when she tensed. “I haven’t finished with you yet.”
 

“I won’t be responsible for my actions...” She laughed shakily as she teetered on the edge.

“Now,” he said softly.
 

Her world exploded in a starburst of pleasure. She cried out wordlessly over and over again. And then Jason’s hand finished what his mouth had started, and she was lost all over again.
 

“Greedy,” he murmured when she finally quieted. Smiling deep into her eyes, he protected them both and moved over her. She drew back her legs as he stroked, and then cried out as he took her deep. The sensation of being stretched and pleasured by him was like nothing she’d ever known before. He rested for a moment to allow her to get used to the sensation, and then rolled his hips until she was back on the edge again. Determined not to fall so easily this time, she tightened her muscles around him, and had the satisfaction of hearing him groan.
 

“What was that about holding on?” she taunted softly.
 

“Witch,” he murmured.

She felt him grow tense as he exerted his formidable self-control.
 

“Remind me to punish you for that,” he murmured.
 

“Punish me for having such strong muscles?” She smiled into his eyes.

“Perhaps you’re right,” he agreed. “They do have their advantages.”

With a growl, he pulled back and thrust deep. Not once. Many times. She didn’t care who won this battle. She only cared about this man, this sensation, this hunger, this moment. What more could there be?

They made love all night and slept fitfully. It only took one of them to move or stretch for their limbs to become entwined again. It seemed more natural to be one than apart, and there was so much pleasure available, they couldn’t deny themselves. Kate woke at some point around dawn to find Jason had moved behind her. No words were necessary. She arched her back, hungry for more, pressing into him in an unmistakable invitation, and exclaimed with relief when his big hands took hold of her and positioned her. This was what she wanted—Jason holding her and sinking deep.

Exhaling shakily, she clutched the pillow as if that could help her to withstand the extremes of pleasure he was dealing her. She gasped out, “More,” growing increasingly agitated when he began to move faster and with more intent. “Don’t stop—don’t ever stop—”

Thankfully, Jason had no intention of stopping. His hunger matched hers. He growled with pleasure and bit her neck when she reached back to nurse him as he worked. Having Jason was one of life’s outstanding events. Her feelings were fully engaged. She had to believe his were too. She was hot for him. She was insatiable. Her muscles gripped him until he cried out. And when they were both quiet again, he told her she was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman.
 

“And I want you for a lot longer than one night,” he grated out.
 

For now, she thought.

Dipping his head, he brushed Kate’s hair to one side so he could kiss her neck. Suggesting she become his mistress was about as realistic as trying to catch a cloud in his hand. Kate Black was her own woman in every way.
 

He distracted himself by sinking into her. It was like plunging into warm, sweet cream. She was so responsive, and she seemed to know instinctively what he liked.
 

“More,” she murmured, urging him on. “You know exactly what I like.”
 

He laughed. “The feeling’s mutual.”
 

She cried out excitedly after just a few strokes. “Yes... Oh, yes!”

They were extraordinary in bed together, but would this ever be enough for Kate? Somehow, he doubted it. She would want more from him. She would want everything.

“Trifle at midday?” Kate queried, finger on her bottom lip as she played stern to Jason’s bad-boy as he emerged triumphant with the pudding she’d made from the fridge.
 

“Why not?” he queried. “We missed supper, breakfast and lunch, and I’m hungry for something sweet.”
 

“I wasn’t sweet enough for you?”

He laughed as he lifted her onto the kitchen table. “Lie back and let’s see...”

“What?”

“Lie back,” he commanded.

She watched as he plunged his hand into the trifle. “Oh, no—get a bowl for that—”
 

“I already got a bowl—”

“Jason, I—”

“What?”
 

“You can’t use me as your— You can,” Kate conceded, writhing with pleasure as Jason covered her in cream.
 

Hot sex. Humor. Warmth. What more did she want from a man? Kate reflected later as they soaped each other down in the shower.
 

“I can’t believe where that cream got to,” Jason murmured as he kissed her neck.
 

“Believe it.” She laughed as she stared into his eyes. She knew deep down that what she wanted from Jason was more than he could give her. She was just an unexpected interlude in a Christmas he had expected to be uneventful.