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He dropped his hands to the chains holding it up and her breath caught as his fingers slid beneath them, stroking her skin and making her shiver. ‘You’re wearing too many clothes.’
Her heartbeat was too loud, the touch of his fingers sending shudders through her. This was happening so fast, and she didn’t know how to slow it down. Then again, maybe that was a good thing. Fast didn’t give her time to think or to second-guess, or for him to latch onto that familiarity again.
‘Then maybe you should do something about it,’ she said breathlessly.
That hot blue gaze roamed over her face. ‘You like giving orders, hmm?’
‘You’re talking too much.’ She barely knew what she was saying, shifting on his rock-hard thighs, unable to keep still.
‘Is that so?’ A fleeting amusement glittered in his eyes, only to be replaced by something much more intense. ‘I am a king, silver girl. And kings do not obey orders. They give them.’
Then, without waiting for her to speak, he eased the chains off her shoulders.
She made no move to stop him, shivering as the fabric slipped down to her waist, baring her, and then shivering even harder as his gaze swept over her, flaring with hunger.
It sharpened her own, made it bloom inside her like a flower. She’d never thought she’d want a man’s attention, but he’d proved her wrong the last time and he proved her wrong now.
She did want a man’s attention,hisattention, so she made no effort to cover herself, even though she’d never been naked in front of anyone before. And when he took her wrists in a firm but gentle grip, guiding them to the small of her back and holding them there with one hand, she didn’t protest.
His gaze swept down her body once more and he made no effort to hide his appreciation. ‘You’re beautiful.’
Unexpectedly, her throat closed. This was different. When he’d had her against the wall in that deserted office, both of them had been too desperate to bother with words. She hadn’t known who he was. All she’d known was that his blue eyes seemed to see her soul and his touch had set her on fire.
But now she was half naked and there was time to speak, and she realised a part of her had been waiting for him to either recognise her or discover he’d made a mistake, that he didn’t want her after all. Yet apparently neither of those things were true.
No one had ever called her beautiful before.
She’d told herself many times over the years since Katherine had changed her mind about adopting her that she didn’t need or want anyone to care. She didn’t need their attention or their notice.
Except a part of her did, and that part was unfurling under his gaze like a snowdrop at the first hint of the sun.
As if he could read her mind, his gaze narrowed. ‘What is it?’
She turned her head away in an instinctive effort to hide the traitorous feeling, only for strong fingers to grip her chin and turn her back to face him.
‘You don’t like being called beautiful?’ That blue gaze of his sharp as a spear.
Great. The last thing she needed was an interrogation. This was supposed to be fast and frantic, sex with a nameless stranger he took home for a one-night stand. He was not supposed to be interested in her feelings.
But he was the last time.
Solace swallowed, remembering the horror as she’d stared at the broken glass and champagne covering the floor of the ballroom, knowing she’d be fired. And how she’d gone to her knees, trying to clean up the mess herself, only to hear a deep, calm voice giving orders. And when she’d looked up, those deep, mesmerising blue eyes had been on hers. ‘Come with me,’ he’d said quietly, holding out a hand. ‘This will all be cleaned up. I will see to it personally.’ Of all the people staring at her and the mess she’d created, he was the only one who’d helped her. Who’d taken her hand and led her off to the side of the ballroom so she could compose herself.
His gaze had been just as piercing then as it was now. Seeing into her. Seeingher.
He’ll recognise you if you’re not careful and then you’ll never see your baby again.
No.No.That wasn’t going to happen.
‘What did I say about talking too much?’ She shifted again, trying to distract him. ‘You’re ruining the mood.’
His eyes widened a fraction, but his grip on her chin firmed. ‘Oh? Am I indeed?’
Her breath caught. She didn’t know why that had snagged his interest or why he cared. What did her reaction matter? She needed to get him back on track.
She let her gaze drift to his mouth and back up again. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean it. I’m just...impatient.’
Whether he believed her or not, she didn’t know, the look on his face impossible to read. But his grip tightened, and he leaned in, his mouth brushing across hers in a feather-light kiss. ‘I think you did mean it. And I think you don’t like me calling you beautiful.’ He let go of her jaw and turned his hand over, running the backs of his fingers lightly over the curve of one bare breast. ‘I want to know why.’
