If he’d been waiting for her to lust for him in equal measure she was sending out all the right signals—every last one of them. He pulled her onto his lap and she felt his erection already hard under her thighs, as his lips and tongue and caressing hands brought her to the point where she was almost ready to do anything he wanted—but not quite.
Abruptly Avery broke free and backed into her corner of the sofa. Jonas sat very still, jaw clenched. Their laboured breathing was so loud in the tense silence that Avery jumped out of her skin when a log crashed from the fire and sparks flew up. She got up, surprised that her legs were willing to support her. She added more logs, fiddled with the fire, and played for time by brushing the hearth. But at last she turned to find Jonas on his feet, arms outstretched, and without hesitation she walked into their embrace.
‘Why did you change your mind, Avery?’
‘You’ll laugh if I tell you.’
He smoothed the tumbled curls back from her forehead. ‘Try me.’
She leaned closer, her voice muffled against his shoulder. ‘I’ve lived a very low-key life since I came back here. Socially, you’re the only man to make it through my door— let alone into my bedroom.’
He tipped her face up to his. ‘Then why did you ask me back that first night?’
‘I trusted my instincts. I was sure you wouldn’t misunderstand the invitation.’
‘I didn’t at the time, but we got our wires badly crossed just now,’ he said ruefully.
‘Not really.’ She met his eyes squarely. ‘As once before in our short acquaintance, Mr Mercer, I was the one who started it.’
‘Why did you stop?’
Her eyes fell. ‘I’m out of practice at this kind of thing. I suddenly got cold feet. Besides, my bedroom’s a disaster area and the bathroom’s even worse— It may sound silly,’ she said crossly, as he threw back his head and laughed, ‘but you did ask.’
Jonas drew her down on the sofa beside him and took her hand. ‘Avery, there isn’t a man alive who would care a damn about your bedroom so long as it had a bed and he could make love to you in it. And it wouldn’t have to be a bed, or even a bedroom. The floor right here would do.’
‘A bit dangerous with a log fire!’
‘True. And since the last thing I need right now is added heat we’ll keep to the sofa and talk.’ He lifted her hand to his lips, his eyes utterly serious. ‘First, there are one or two things you need to know.’
Avery’s heart sank. ‘Don’t tell me—you’re married.’
‘For God’s sake,’ he snapped, flinging her hand away. ‘That’s a damned offensive remark, Avery Crawford. If I had a wife this situation would never have arisen.’
‘All right, all right,’ she said hastily. ‘I apologise—again. What were you going to confess?’
‘Explain, not confess.’
Avery moved away to curl up in the other corner of the sofa. ‘So explain.’
‘A plate on my office door back at base reads “Deputy Chief Executive”. This rather grand title means that normally I wouldn’t be involved in a small undertaking like the cinema complex here. Mercom employs other people to do that.’
‘So why are you here?’
He shrugged. ‘My father handed over his responsibilities a damn sight too soon for my liking. Don’t get me wrong— I enjoy what I do. But sometimes I get the urge to go walk-about. This particular project came up during one of my restless spells, so I insisted on coming myself.’ He smiled crookedly. ‘But I was bored rigid that first evening at the Angel, cursing myself for not sending someone else. Then a beautiful woman asked to share my table…’
‘I looked anything but beautiful,’ she said dryly. ‘I was trying to fade into the background, remember?’
‘Impossible the way you look now!’ He eyed her flushed face and tumbled hair. ‘There were raised eyebrows when I said I was coming here again today. Someone else was supposed to inspect the fire damage and sort everything, including the offer of extra premises.’
‘So why did you come?’
His eyes held hers. ‘You know the answer to that. I wanted to see you again, to make sure everything was done for you that could be done. But it took some juggling to get away, and I may not make it back here again for a while.’
‘I realise that.’
Jonas pulled her back onto his lap and looked down into her eyes. ‘But I will be back—believe me. So in the meantime don’t get any other man’s hopes up, Avery. We started something tonight, and sooner rather than later I intend to go on with it.’ He kissed her, sliding his hands through her hair to hold her still.
Her heart raced as his tongue slid between her lips, and suddenly it was simple. She murmured something and he raised his head in disbelief.
‘What did you say?’
‘Let’s go on with it now.’
He leapt up, pulling her to her feet to rush her to the door, and Avery gave a husky, breathless little laugh to hide nerves which were back in full force. Idiotic! One didn’t forget how to make love.
Jonas paused outside in the hall to kiss her very thoroughly, then gave her a little push towards the stairs. Heart thumping, Avery hurried up ahead of him to open her bedroom door.
‘At least the bed is made,’ she said huskily, kicking off her shoes, and he laughed and swung her up in his arms to lay her against the pillows.
‘I like a woman with the right priorities,’ he said as he hung over her. ‘Darling, you’re shivering.’
‘Stage fright,’ she said gruffly. ‘It’s been a long time.’
He dropped a kiss on her lips, then stretched out beside her and took her in his arms, rubbing his cheek against hers. ‘You’ll soon pick it up again. It’s like riding a bike.’
She gave an unsteady little chuckle. ‘And they said romance was dead!’
Jonas stroked a finger down her cheek. ‘You don’t have to do this, Avery.’
‘Do you want to?’
‘What kind of damn fool question is that?’
He held her hand against his erection as tangible proof, but touching him was no antidote to her shivering. I am a grown woman, she told herself. I have done this before. But this time, with this man, she knew beyond doubt it would be different.
Jonas turned her in his arms. And as she smiled into the intent, searching eyes Avery relaxed, her nerves suddenly gone. ‘I do too,’ she whispered.
He traced the curve of her parted mouth with the tip of his tongue and bit gently on the bottom lip. Then kissed it better, and went on kissing her until they were both breathing raggedly. He sat up to strip off his shirt, and slid to his feet to get rid of the rest, but when Avery rolled away to take off her sweater he dived across the bed.
‘No. This part is mine.’
He pulled her back against him, his hands roving under her sweater as he whispered a question into the nape of her neck. Avery shook her head and pushed her bottom hard against him. Jonas growled and flipped her over on her back, taking her sweater over her head almost in the same movement. He peeled her bra away, and bent his head to graze his mouth over her breasts, but she tensed as he undid her jeans.
‘I’ve got a scar,’ she said huskily.
He slid the jeans away and looked down at the line of red above the remaining triangle of lace. Very gently he put his lips to it, and she shivered as he dispensed with the lace to bury his face against her satiny warmth. Avery felt his hair brush against her skin and arched like a bow as his invading, caressing fingers sent waves of sensation rushing through her body. Jonas surged up to cover her, his hands fisted in her tumbled mass of hair as he crushed her mouth with devouring kisses which she returned feverishly, her thighs parted in urgent welcome to the entire velvet length of him as he thrust hard and deep inside her.
Her eyes snapped shut, but he growled, ‘Look at me!’ and she obeyed, her eyes locked with his as their bodies moved in urgent rhythm. Her breath tore through her chest, her hair tossed back and forth on the pillows and he
r hips ground against his, flesh on flesh, as they surged together in such frenzy it took superhuman effort for Jonas to hold himself back until she gasped, arching against him in climax. Then he buried his face in her hair, abandoning himself to the same engulfing pleasure.
Afterwards, still held close in his arms, Avery realised why making love with Jonas Mercer had been different from anything experienced before. In the past some part of her had always been looking on, watching the proceedings with a kind of detached amusement that she was involved in something so outrageously intimate. But with Jonas all conscious thought had been blotted out—right from ravishing beginning to heart-stopping, orgasmic end.
At last Avery stirred a little, and Jonas rolled on his back, holding her prone on top of him as he drew the covers up. ‘You see? You hadn’t forgotten.’
‘No.’ She smiled down into his eyes and stretched against him. ‘But it was nothing like riding a bike.’
‘Is that a compliment?’
‘If you want marks out of ten—eleven, at least,’ she assured him.
Jonas brought her head down to his and kissed her very thoroughly. ‘A man likes to know he’s appreciated.’
Avery sighed as she turned to look at the clock. ‘You’d better go, or you might get locked out at the Fleece.’
He shook his head smugly, his hands tightening on her hips. ‘I’m in the annexe at the back. Or do you want me to go now you’ve had your wicked way with me?’
She tapped him on the nose, laughing. ‘Is that what I’ve done?’
‘What do you do on weekends?’
Avery blinked at the abrupt change of subject. ‘I man the shop alone on Saturdays, and Sundays I do my chores.’ She looked over her shoulder at the underwear spilling from half closed drawers, and the chaos on her dressing table. ‘Much needed ones,’ she said with a shudder.
‘Was it really just your housekeeping that made you put on the brakes downstairs?’
‘Not entirely.’ Her eyes fell. ‘My scar was part of it, too.’
‘Were you afraid I’d hurt you?’
‘No. I thought it might put you off,’ she said, flushing.
‘You soon discovered your mistake,’ he said, in a tone which sent delicious shivers down the naked spine he was caressing. ‘I want to see you again. Soon. Would your friend take over for you if you have a Saturday off?’
‘Probably,’ she said, pleased he’d changed the subject.
‘I’ll make sure I’m free the weekend after next. Does that work for you?’
‘Yes,’ she said doubtfully. ‘But—’
‘But you’d rather not socialise with me on your home turf?’
She nodded ruefully. ‘It was sheer bravado on my part to say I might not be free when you come, because I go to most events in the town alone or with Frances. The few— very few—eligible men around here gave up on me long ago.’
Jonas twined a lock of her hair round a finger. ‘So if you were seen with me on a regular basis it would be taken for granted that I’m your lover,’ he said with satisfaction.
‘You bet it would. And if you were anyone else that wouldn’t matter in the slightest. We’re both free agents. But you’re the man from Mercom and my landlord, and you’re even going to let me have extra premises. I’ve worked too hard to make Avery Alterations a success to risk gossip that could be bad for business.’
‘Why should there be gossip?’ he said, surprised.
‘It’s the lifeblood of a small town like this.’
‘Then run away with me to the country.’
‘I’d love to, but I don’t even know where you live.’
‘I bought a house last year in the green depths of Herefordshire.’
‘That’s a long haul for a commute!’
‘My main home is in London. The country place is a weekend retreat, but I haven’t retreated there very often lately.’ Jonas held her closer. ‘I could get there the weekend after next. So come with me. Or meet me there.’
Avery liked the idea a lot. ‘All right, I will. But just as an experiment. We might be at each other’s throats by the time we leave.’
‘I seriously doubt that! Come in time for Saturday lunch, and stay over Sunday night.’ He smiled into her eyes as he flattened his hand at the base of her spine, and heat rushed through Avery as she found he was ready to make love again. ‘But that’s two weeks away,’ he said, as he brought her mouth down to his. ‘Let’s concentrate on the here and now.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘SOMETHING very erotic about sneaking out of your house in the small hours,’ Jonas whispered when he finally kissed her goodbye. ‘I’ll ring you tonight.’
Avery staggered out of bed after only a couple of hours’ sleep, stood under the shower until she woke up a little, then reluctantly set to work. The kitchen had to be immaculate and all signs of her turbulent night erased from both bedroom and bathroom before she could get dressed and slap on some war paint.
‘You look a bit tired this morning, boss.’ Frances, always the first to arrive, smiled conspiratorially. ‘So how did it go? Did our new landlord enjoy his taste of home cooking?’
‘He certainly did.’ Avery flushed as she met a knowing blue eye.
‘So the evening was a success?’
‘Yes.’
‘Are you seeing him again?’
‘He’s going back this morning.’
‘That’s not what I asked.’
Avery held up her hands in surrender. ‘All right, all right. I’m seeing him the weekend after next—but only if you’ll do my Saturday for me.’
‘Of course I will,’ said Frances impatiently. ‘Is he coming back here?’
‘No. I’m meeting him at his weekend cottage.’
‘Are you, indeed? Where is it?’
‘I’m not sure, exactly—somewhere in Herefordshire.’
The arrival of the others put an end to further catechism. The phone started ringing and Avery Alterations—temporary relocation or not—was up and running on a normal working day.
Avery spent part of it in the car, driving to fittings, but on the way back she went to Stow Street to meet the owner of a firm of builders she’d used in the past—one of a list of tradesmen she’d given Jonas. She was impressed to find that Frank Crowley had already received instructions from Mercom to submit an estimate for the alterations required, and after some in-depth discussion with him on the renovation she left for Gresham Road, reassured that with Mercom—and Jonas—in the driving seat Avery Alterations would soon be back in town.
Avery smiled in triumph as she showed her team a rough sketch of the plans for the new premises. ‘Complete with a fair-sized fitting room, plus space for me to do my restoration jobs on site, instead of here at home.’
‘Brilliant. How long will it take, boss?’ asked Helen, impressed.
‘According to Frank Crowley we should be in fairly soon. The Mercom name worked like a charm.’
‘God bless them!’ Louise beamed. ‘I love the idea of a cinema. No more driving for miles to take my little dears to watch the latest Disney offering.’
‘Talking of little dears,’ said Avery, tapping her watch. ‘Time you two were off.’
‘I assume Jonas is wielding the magic wand?’ said Frances after they’d gone.
‘Yes.’ Avery shot her a look. ‘But I’d rather no one knows I’m seeing him socially.’
‘I shan’t say a word.’ Frances crossed her heart. ‘Not even to Philip.’
‘Thank you.’ Avery smiled wryly. ‘As I told Jonas, the local grapevine would probably say I’d acquired the new premises by sleeping with my landlord. According to some I only wangled the lease in the first place by sleeping with Paul Morrell.’
‘Look on the bright side,’ said Frances, rinsing cups. ‘They could have said you wangled it by sleeping with his father!’
Later, after Frances had left to keep her date with Philip Lester, Avery took her coffee into the study after supper, intending to tack
le some paperwork when she found the energy. Ignoring the computer, she curled up on the sofa, knowing that before she could settle to any work she needed to hear from Jonas.
This was a bit worrying. Their night together had been wonderful, and the lovemaking so sublime she shivered every time she thought of it. But falling in love with him— or any other man—was not on her agenda. She’d been there, done that, and had no intention of risking the same kind of heartache again.
But when she answered her phone her heart leapt at the sound of Jonas Mercer’s deep, lazy tones.
‘How are things with you this evening, Avery?’
‘Fair. And you?’
‘Weary. The motorway was practically gridlocked at one stage on my drive to London, which left me in no mood for a day of endless meetings.’ He chuckled. ‘My obvious fatigue won me a suggestion that in future I delegate tiring routine trips to those I employ to take care of them.’
‘How did you respond to that?’
‘I drew myself up to my full height—always a good move—and informed the speaker and everyone else in earshot that if I feel the need to oversee any project personally I shall do so whenever I think fit.’
‘Very masterful! Did he shrivel?’
‘You bet. People will be treading very warily in my vicinity tomorrow.’
‘Despot!’
‘No harm in the occasional crack of the whip. My father was deeply impressed. Now, tell me your news. Did you meet your builder?’
‘I certainly did. The Mercom name kick-started Frank Crowley into instant action. He’s obviously after future work for you.’
‘A strong possibility if he comes up to scratch. Tell him to send his estimate asap.’
‘It’s on its way as we speak. Ditto from his brother-in-law, the electrician.’
Jonas laughed. ‘Nothing like keeping it in the family. What are you doing right now?’ he added.
‘Considering an early night.’ She chuckled. ‘You should do the same. Otherwise you might alienate your entire workforce tomorrow.’
‘My workforce is not on my mind right now, Avery.’ His voice deepened to an intimacy that quickened her pulse. ‘Last night was such a ravishing experience it’s going to seem like a very long time until our weekend together. Not that I shall rush you to bed the moment you set foot in my house,’ he assured her.
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