by Marian Tee
“Of course we have.” Did she sound a little defensive there?
“I told him my family’s inviting us to stay with them for Halloween, and he told me his mother wants us to join her for Thanksgiving.” Yes, she totally sounded defensive.
“So...obviously...we talk.” And they did. They really did! Only...maybe not as much as they should, Jane thought guiltily. But then – was that really surprising? It was Christian’s fault, for teaching her of the other more interesting things they could do with their mouths.
“Obviously.” The CEO’s tone had suddenly become cool. “Évidemment.”
Oh, so that was what the word meant!
A moment later, she realized what was so obvious to Christian’s friend, and her face burned. “It’s just—-”
The CEO’s dark eyes bored through hers.
“Anyway...here we are!” She hurried to the vendo, relieved for a change of subject. “Do you want—-”
“Let me.” Jared took his wallet out. “Cappuccino?”
“Yes, Mr. – Jared.” She let her purse fall back into her cardigan’s pocket. After a few minutes, the CEO handed Jane her coffee, and she murmured her thanks.
Watching Jane take a sip of her cappuccino, Jared asked casually, “How is it?”
“Great.”
“And how are you and Christian since you’ve gotten engaged?”
“Great.”
“And how far have you and Christian gone in the bedroom?”
Lulled by the CEO’s tone, she answered without thinking, “Third base—-” She choked. What the hell had she just said? Jane glared down at her cup. Did coffee really serve as truth serum these days?
She took a deep breath, intending to tell Jared Westland off, CEO or not—-
He beat her to speaking, asking almost inaudibly, “Does it really have to be him?”
Jane ended up choking. Looking up, she asked faintly, “Are you really his friend?”
“Believe it or not,” the CEO murmured just as faintly, “but yes.”
“You don’t act like it.”
“Christian won’t take it personally.” A dry smile formed on the CEO’s lips. “We’re friends who also happen to be rivals. We’ve been competing with each other for years, and Christian understands you’re fair game until you make it to the altar.”
Jane started sipping her coffee again, trying not to fume at the way Jared Westland was talking about her like she was some piece of bone dogs could fight over.
“You’re mad.”
How observant, Jane thought sarcastically.
Jared laughed. “You’re really mad.”
“Shouldn’t I be?” she muttered. “You make me sound like some kind of helpless prey, with no say over what happens—-”
“Then why don’t you tell me,” Jared cut her off silkily.
She broke off. “Huh?”
Jared gazed at her with dark, inscrutable eyes. “What do you want to happen? Is marriage really the end goal?”
Her lips parted.
Shit.
She involuntarily took a step back.
What did she really want?
Something that strongly resembled anxiety started stirring inside her, and Jane’s head started to pound. There was something she wanted...something on the tip of her tongue.
When she took another involuntary step back, the CEO suddenly reached for her, his fingers circling her wrist, and she stilled, her eyes widening at the way the CEO’s fingers tightened. “Sir?”
Silence.
“Jared.”
Silence.
“I have to—-”
“No.”
The low, flat reply had Jane’s head jerking up, and she found Jared Westland’s dark eyes fixed sharply on her. And yet when he spoke—-
“If I let you go now...”
His voice was almost hurtfully gentle.
“I have a feeling the next time we meet, you’ll be a married woman.”
Oh.
“So tell me, Jane Cooper.” His fingers around her wrist tightened even more. “Why should I let you go?”
Chapter Eight
Shady Hills Towers
Penthouse: C. Ravenhearst
Jane’s knees had been shaking nonstop all throughout the cab ride, and they only got worse when she finally made it to Christian’s apartment building. Making her way to reception, she prepared herself for a battle royal just to get inside the elevator, but instead the concierge smiled politely at her.
“Good morning, Ms. Cooper. My warmest congratulations for your engagement.”
The words startled her, and she stammered, “Thank you.”
The man nodded at someone behind her, and when she looked around, she saw another guy holding the elevator doors open for her.
“Dave will take you to the penthouse, Ms. Cooper.”
Oh. Her head snapped back to the concierge. “You’re really letting me in just like that?” she asked dumbly.
“Mr. Ravenhearst added you to the list of authorized guests...” The concierge tapped on his keyboard. “Ever since...ah.”
Her eyes widened at the date the concierge supplied her. That was the first night Christian had brought her here. He had given her access that early?
When she made it to the penthouse, Christian himself opened the door. “Jane?” He was dressed in a striped V-necked shirt and loose trousers that fell an inch above his ankles. He looked very stylish, the way only an Englishman could be, it seemed.
Stylish...and stunned, she noted nervously, and Jane’s voice came out a croak as she asked, “May I come in?”
Christian seemed to recover himself. “Of course.” As he drew her in, his glance went over her shoulder, and he murmured absently, “Thanks, Dave.”
“It was my pleasure, sir.”
The door swung close as Dave walked back to the elevator, and Christian turned back to Jane. She flashed him an uncertain smile. “Umm...hi?”
He laughed, and he mimicked her, saying, “Umm, hi.” Then he hauled her to him, and before Jane could speak, he was already kissing her hard.
“This is a pleasant surprise.” And the kiss became deeper and rougher. “I thought you’d be at the trade show the whole day.” Christian pushed her against the door, his mouth moving hungrily down her jaw, all the way to her neck, her breasts—-
His name came out of her in a helpless moan.
It was so hard to think, to remember—-
But then she felt Christian’s hands pushing her skirt up.
Jane panicked, and her brain cells started functioning again. “No,” she managed to say. “Wait.”
The movement of Christian’s hands immediately stopped, and the heat of his touch began to burn the bare skin of her thighs. “What is it, pet?”
She gulped. “I have something to tell you.”
Christian pulled away at the tremulous note in her voice. “What is it?”
“Jared...”
A hard, possessive look entered Christian’s azure eyes. “Didn’t I tell you I don’t like it when you think about another man?”
“You did, but—-” Her voice caught. His hands had started moving again.
“So why the fuck are we still talking about him?” By now, her skirt was bunched up her waist, and his fingers had started skimming the edge of her panties.
“Because...” Oh God, she was halfway to losing her her mind now. “Because—-” Somehow, she managed to keep a portion of her brain functioning, enough to desperately grab his hand and prevent it from moving another inch.
His eyes swung to hers, demanding an explanation, and she gulped.
“We really have to talk about Jared one last time.” A part of her hated the fact that she even had to bring it up, and there was even a part of her that still had trouble accepting Jared’s feelings were for real.
She was just Jane Cooper. She was ordinary. She was more than lucky enough to have someone like Christian Ravenhearst desiring her, but to have an equally good
-looking and powerful man want her?
It didn’t make sense.
It wasn’t even supposed to happen.
But it did – and Jane knew she would never feel completely at ease until she spoke to Christian about it.
Jane took a deep breath. “About Jared—-”
“He’s made his move, and you finally realize he’s not fooling around?” Jane’s eyes widened in shock, and Christian smiled humorlessly. “I’ve known him far longer than you have, pet.”
And that’s what I’m afraid of, Jane thought miserably. Christian and Jared were friends far longer than she and Christian had been engaged. If push came to shove, or if Jared ever chose to lie about their interactions – who would Christian believe?
“He never disrespected me.” She suddenly felt a need to make that clear.
Christian nodded. “He wouldn’t be my friend if he did.”
Jane started gnawing on her lip. “I’m not even sure why...”
“He wants you for himself?”
The words made her fidget uncomfortably. She just wasn’t used to situations that made her seem so much more desirable than she really was.
Lowering her gaze to her feet, she mumbled, “You don’t think I’m to blame?” Jane chewed on her lip harder, asking haltingly, “You don’t think I led him on or anything?”
Silence.
Jane’s heart began to hammer against her chest. Oh no. What if—-
And then Christian said with a sigh, “How is it still not obvious that I trust you completely, pet?”
Jane’s body visibly shook with relief. “Thank God. I was so afraid—-” This time, she could afford to smile, albeit a little tremulously. “I thought if I talked to you about him, you’d suddenly flip out and think it’s my fault something like this happened.”
“Idiot,” Christian muttered under his breath. “Don’t you know how much you’ve come to mean to me?”
She shook her head. She didn’t think she was able to mean anything to him.
In response, Christian took her right hand and pressed it over his heart, and Jane’s lips parted in shock when she found it beating rather hard.
Her gaze flew up to him.
“You look incredulous,” Christian observed, amused.
“I am,” she confessed.
“So now you know.” He bent his head and brushed her mouth with his, saying against her lips, “You always excite me.”
His hands on her thighs suddenly tightened, and she squeaked in surprise.
“Anything else?
“Well...” Jane’s voice drifted off. He had started stroking the side of her thighs, and it was making her forget everything, even her name.
His hands stilled. “Just say it.” This time, his voice took on a commanding note, and a shiver of awareness ran down her spine.
When he spoke like this, she thought vaguely, he sounded a lot like Jared Westland. But the difference between the two was that while she followed the CEO’s orders because she needed to—-
She followed Christian Ravenhearst’s commands because she wanted to.
“Jane?” Christian tipped her chin up.
“I just...I just realized what I wanted from our marriage.” Or rather...Jared had helped her realize it, but she didn’t think Christian would welcome the knowledge.
“If it’s mine to give, it’s yours—-”
“It is.”
And that’s what scares me, Jane thought as she fought for composure.
Azure eyes narrowed.
“I want you to promise,” Jane whispered unsteadily, “to always let me be myself.”
Christian didn’t answer right away, and she held her breath, her heart hammering painfully against her chest. Oh no. Had she asked a really wrong question this time? Had she asked for too much? Or was Christian not the man she thought he was? Had she made a mist—-
Christian cupped her face, and she blurted out, “Well?”
His beautiful lips slowly curved...into a smirk.
“You never had to ask,” Christian said simply. “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than knowing you’re being yourself with me.”
Her eyes started to prick. “And you really mean that,” she asked shakily, “don’t you?”
“It’s why you felt right. Because I’m also myself when I’m with you.”
“Oh.” The words were completely unexpected and downright sweet, and she said again, “Oh.”
“Are you lost for words?” Christian teased huskily.
Instead of answering, she just twined her fingers with his, saying, “Let’s go.”
Christian blinked. “Go where?”
“Wherever it is you can fuck me?”
There was one second of silence.
“Please?”
And then Christian suddenly swept her up his arms. As he started walking, she told him warningly, “If you find me heavy, don’t tell me or I’ll lose the courage to get naked in front of you.”
Christian’s shoulders rocked with laughter. “You are heavy.”
Her gasp echoed inside his living room, and then she gasped again when he tossed her up in the air.
She fell back in his arms, shrieking, “Christian!” Oh my God, that had to be the most frightening moment of her life.
“Just to demonstrate how heavy you are,” he explained innocently.
And then he tossed her again.
She fell back in his arms, laughing this time. “Oh God, you’re crazy.” Jane’s eyes sparkled. “Do it again—-aah!”
Christian had tossed her with greater force this time, causing her to go up a lot higher.
When she fell back down, she quickly held on to him. “Don’t do it again!” Her arms tightened around his neck. “And thank God you’ve got high ceilings.”
She laid her head on his chest as he went up the stairs, and Christian chuckled, asking knowingly, “Are you actually checking if I’m about to run out of breath?”
Jane only grinned and burrowed her head closer. He was right, and he was not. It was sexy as hell.
When they made it to his bedroom, Jane started in his arms, gasping, “You had it renovated.”
Christian muttered something under his breath as he lowered her to the floor. It sounded distinctly like ‘fuck,’ but she was probably wrong.
She looked around her, the bedroom’s new design as enthralling as its owner. The walls were a glossy shade of white, the windows shuttered with metallic blinds, and the bed frame and all other pieces of furniture made of glass. The sleek entertainment system was outlined in glowing neon shades of red and blue, and—-
There wasn’t a single switch visible, Jane realized. Did that mean everything was voice or motion activated?
Overall, Christian’s bedroom was a galactic showcase – something like Town & Country meets Discovery Science – and she shook her head, beyond fascinated at what he had accomplished in a matter of days.
“Are you mad?” Christian asked guardedly when she turned to look at him.
Jane was puzzled. “Why would I be?”
“Because...if we marry—-”
Understanding dawned, and she finished cheekily, “I’ll have a say on how your bedroom looks like as mistress of the household?”
Christian only looked at her. “Are you mad?”
“And if I were?” she couldn’t help testing.
“I’ll have it redone,” Christian answered without hesitation. “Something like this isn’t worth any argument.”
Oh. It wasn’t at all what she expected him to say, and she doubted most men would have said the same thing. Or if they did, they wouldn’t be honest.
“I really don’t care what you do with your bedroom,” Jane began.
“Our bedroom,” Christian corrected flatly.
The words somehow made her blush, and she cleared her throat. “Anyway, it’s cool with me, however this place looks. But – and I’m asking this purely out of curiosity – why did you have your bedroom renovated?”
/> “Inspiration,” Christian answered, and again there was a guarded note in his voice.
“Inspiration?” she echoed blankly.
“For the next level in H.”
His tone was still guarded, and the distance between their bodies remained. Looking at him, she realized that this was probably something he had problems about with his ex-girlfriends.
And he had expected her to be the same, Jane thought.
What a wonderfully smart, silly man he was.
When she walked towards Christian, she couldn’t help noting the way his azure eyes took on a calculating look, as if trying to figure out her intentions with a mathematical formula.
Smart silly man—-
And she was engaged to him.
When Jane reached Christian, she locked her arms behind his neck, saying with mock seriousness, “If I marry you—-”
Christian’s gaze became even more calculating.
“You must promise to let me live in your spaceship.”
The tension left his form, and Christian’s eyes gleamed. “It’s a deal.”
She laughed. She just couldn’t help it.
“But only on one condition.”
“And what’s that?” Jane’s tone was breathless, Christian having hauled her close so he could start undressing her.
Taking her cardigan off, Christian said, “You need to wear a spacesuit...”
The sound of her giggle was slightly muffled by her blouse being whipped over her body.
“That lets your breasts hang out,” Christian finished, crouching down to work on her skirt.
“Kinky!” Laughter had her swaying, and she quickly held on to his shoulders as she stepped out of her skirt and then her shoes. “Makes me wonder how you’re able to keep your games PG,” she murmured as Christian made her turn around.
“Did I ever say I don’t develop any adult games?” Christian asked dulcetly as he unclasped her bra from behind.
“Oh!” Her gasp coincided with her bra falling to the floor, and she automatically covered her chest with her arms as she turned around, asking breathlessly, “Then that means you do?”
Instead of answering, Christian whipped her panties down her legs.
“Christian, does that mean—-”
He kissed her hard, muttering against her lips, “Enough talking, more fucking.” He tossed her onto the bed right after, and she giggled. “I thought you only swore when you’re pissed.” Her voice was faint, the sight of Christian swiftly undressing himself making Jane’s head whirl.