A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

“Someone like Loveth. You seemed pretty hung up on her.” Sam said.

“I think it’s safe to say I’m not hung up on Loveth.”

“I can see why you’re attracted to her,” Sam said.

“Who?” Julian demanded sharply.

“Nina.”

Both men stared across the room to where Nina danced with Ross.

“She’s a beautiful woman. I bet she’s awesome in bed.” Sam said.

Julian rounded furiously on Sam .

“You shut the hell up. Don’t even breathe her name again. You got it?” he said.

Sam smiled and backed away, holding his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, I get it. You’re awfully touchy about her. Funny, you weren’t that pissed when you found out about Loveth.”

Sam sauntered off and Julian turned away, angry that he’d let him goad him.

“Julian, there you are.”

He sighed when his mom latched on to his arm and dragged him over to introduce him to people he had zero interest in and would never see again in his life. After several minutes of pleasantries, Julian grew restless. The song ended, and he turned in search of Nina.

His father was making his way through the crowd toward Julian and Elizabeth, but Nina was nowhere to be seen. Frowning, Julian scanned the room until finally he found her.

She was dancing with Sam. She didn’t look altogether thrilled, but Sam was smiling as he held Nina close.

Irrational anger exploded over Julian. All he could see was that it was Nina all over again, only this time it mattered. This was Nina. His Nina.

His brother was a slimy predator. Never mind that Nina was perfectly capable of fending off any advances. He didn’t even imagine she’d ever be receptive to an overture on Sam’s part. But the fact that his brother would behave this way at his own wedding celebration enraged Julian.

Nina was his woman. He let Loveth go because she was never his. Nina was his even if she hadn’t recognized that little fact.

Not stopping to think how it would look to others, he cut a path through the crowd that had people exclaiming on either side of him. When he got to Sam and Nina, he reached for his cousin’s arm and spun him around.

“What the-” Sam began.

His eyes narrowed angrily, but Julian stopped him with a look.

“You’ll excuse us, Sam. I find I’ve spent entirely too much time away from my fiancée.”

Nina stared at both men in shock but didn’t utter a single protest when Julian all but dragged her out of the ballroom and into the hallway.

The predator had been unleashed. No way he’d stand by and watch his brother move in on what he considered his. He stalked toward the elevator, his only thought to get Nina as far away from everyone else as possible.

He punched the button and hauled her inside. As soon as the door closed, he slammed her against the back wall and angled his mouth over hers. It was like a fuse igniting. Desire sizzled down his spine, frying every nerve ending in its path. He wasn’t gentle. He wasn’t sure he had it in him. He devoured her.

Claimed her.

She gasped for breath, and he stole it as soon as she could gain it back.

“Julian, what on earth are you …..” She began.

The question ended in a moan as his mouth slid down her jaw to her neck. He sucked hungrily at the soft skin just below her ear.

Behind him the doors opened and without taking his mouth from her skin, he maneuvered them down the hall toward their suite. He was on fire. He had no rational thought. His only instinct was to take her. To make her understand she belonged to him. Only to him.

Her eyes were dazed when he leaned her against the wall next to the door. His hands shook as he rummaged in his pocket for the key. It took two times before he inserted it correctly and as soon as the lock was released, he threw open the door, held it with his foot and reached for her again.

This time she did her share of grabbing. Amid the turmoil of his jumbled, raging lust, relief hit him hard. She was with him. She wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her.

He tore at her clothing. Then he tore at his. Shoes and shirts hit the floor, leaving a trail across the floor to his bedroom.

By the time the backs of her knees hit the edge of his bed, she was down to just her bra and panties. Not just underwear. Pink, delicate, frothy confections that accentuated every curve and swell. Her breasts bulged and plumped upward over the cups. He could see a hint of her aureole and it was driving him crazy.

His fingers fumbled with his pants. Her hands tangled with his as they both shoved downward.

“God, Red.” He said huskily. He couldn’t catch his breath long enough to say what he wanted. “I always swore when I made love to you I’d savor you for hours. I told myself I’d take my time touching and kissing every inch of your body. But I swear, if I don’t get inside you soon, I’m going to explode.”

“Fast is good,” she panted. “We can do slow later.”

“Thank God.”

He fell forward, taking her with him. They both hit the bed, and she absorbed the shock of his body melding to hers.

“I’ll savor you next time,” he promised between kisses.

“Savor is good. We can definitely savor it. But, God, Julian , make love to me now. Please.”

He chuckled and captured her mouth with his. “Sweet. So sweet. I’m going to take you, Red. I’m going to take everything you have to offer. If you don’t want this, tell me now. I’ll stop. It’ll kill me, hell, I might punch something, but I’ll stop.”

She pulled away and stared up at him with glowing, brilliant eyes. Her hands traced a line from his temples over his face and to his jaw.

“Take me then,” she whispered.

———————–

Ninalay underneath Julian’s big body. Every part of her was covered by him. His heat penetrated her, seeped into her flesh and whispered seductively through her veins.

She wanted him. God, she wanted this man. Her need for him frightened and exhilarated her in equal parts. She knew she shouldn’t-that she mustn’t-and yet she also knew she wouldn’t tell him no.

There would be no recriminations later. There would be no regret. She knew the potential pitfalls of making love with Julian, and she would face them with full acceptance.

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