ã€ŠMAKE YOU MINEã€‹


 1

    ¡°Remind me why we are here again?¡± Dimitri Collins scoffed as he got out of the passenger side of the car and mmed the door shut.

    ¡°You really gotta ask again?¡± David replied, stepping out of the car with Spencer, ¡°We are here, my friend, because it¡¯s my birthday. I get to have whatever I want, and this is what want¡±

    Dimitri pped his left hand on his face and groaned. Sometimes he just didn¡¯t understand David¡¯s way of thinking, and this was one of those times.

    It was a cool and breezy evening. A strong gust of wind blew against Dimitri¡¯s face, teased his hair and ruffled it. Dimitri smoothed his hair back in ce with his fingers and gave David a bored look.

    The salty breeze had begun to drain away. The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The nting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky, and the trees swayed in the gentle breeze.

    ¡°And you couldn¡¯t think of anything else¡± Dimitri asked David, ¡°This is really what you want for your birthday? You brought us to a fucking Theater? Look, I know we are getting old and shit like that, but we¡¯re in our thirties, not Fifty Eight. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re really serious about this shit right now¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± David said, cing his hand around Dimitri¡¯s shoulder and urging him towards the entrance of the building. ¡°A friend told me toe and I promised I would. Give it a chance, it might be fun¡±

    Dimitri highly doubted that. ¡°I feel like you¡¯re doing this to torture me. You know I would have preferred it if we just stayed indoors and yed some video games while drinking beer¡± he protested, releasing himself from David¡¯s grip, but he continued to walk with them.

    Spencerughed then. And the sound made Dimitri want to turn around and go home that instant. But this was David¡¯s birthday, and he couldn¡¯t do that to his buddy. It wasn¡¯t that he had a problem with Theatre¡¯s, dancers or performances, he didn¡¯t. It just wasn¡¯t his thing. He could think of a million things he¡¯d rather be doing right now. And he had a feeling that the guys were on another stupid mission to find him a girlfriend or whatever.

    Ever since David and Spencer got married, they somehow got the idea in their heads that he should be too. And they started this hopeless mission of finding someone for him. Well, they had failed three times now, and if this was another attempt and they thought they could find someone for him in a ce like this, then they were sadly mistaken.

    It wasn¡¯t that Dimitri didn¡¯t like women either. He did. He loved women in fact, and they loved him right back. How could they not?

    Dimitri was very attractive. As a man over six feet in height, stoutly built, and muscr, he had amanding presence. A striking face, an exquisite voice, lustrous and thick hair that he had a habit of running his hands through, and dark, intense eyes.

    With each movement he made, his shoulders flexed, disying well-defined muscles and sinew. His backside was trim and taut. And his thighs, so long and well-sculpted, looked like the legs of an athlete.

    His face was beautiful, almost too beautiful. It was the kind of face that should make innocent women wary of losing their virtue. The dark eyes, framed by deliciously long darkshes and thick eyebrows, held cynical humor and were painfully direct and probing when he chose to use them that way. His nose was straight and narrow, his jaw firm. He was attractive alright, and he could get a girlfriend if he wanted one, except he didn¡¯t want one.

    He just didn¡¯t do rtionships. David and Spencer would just have to realize that even if what they had with their wives was wonderful, not everyone was cut out for that kind of life. Not everyone wanted a rtionship. Not everyone wanted a wife and a family. Some people just preferred to live in the moment. People like him.

    Dimitri Collins had never been in a long term rtionship and he had never tried to have one. His rtionships were always brief¡­ Something he always made clear to his sexual partners as he didn¡¯t want anyone expecting things he knew he couldn¡¯t give.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Rx man¡± Spencer said, ¡°Just sit down and watch the performance¡­ At least just the first one. We won¡¯t stay long, I promise. And we have good seats ¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and maybe after this we can go to a strip club and get one of the girls there to give you ap dance so you can unwind¡± David cut in grinning at Spencer while thetterughed, clearly enjoying Dimitri¡¯s difort and patting him on the shoulder.

    Dimitri gave him a look as he pushed the door open so David and Spencer could go in first  ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be getting ap dance?¡± he asked, referring to David. ¡°Isn¡¯t this supposed to be your birthday, birthday boy? We are out this evening because of you. By the way, what does your wife think of you going to a strip club? Does she even know your ns for tonight?¡±

    David gripped Dimitri¡¯s shirt. Not too hard, but hard enough for him to know that he meant business. ¡°Sandra doesn¡¯t know, and it¡¯s going to stay that way¡± he said, before releasing him.

    Spencer supported David¡¯sments with a series of nods, while Dimitriughed at the looks on their faces.

    ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure how Josie would feel about me being at a strip club. I usually keep it from her¡± Spencer said, ¡°and I don¡¯t think I want to find out how she would react. Right now, she thinks we¡¯re at some bar, sharing drinks and telling stories to celebrate David. I don¡¯t want her thinking I¡¯m a liar¡±

    ¡°But you are a liar,¡± Dimitri said,ughing as they made their way to their seats, loving the way the tables had turned and now he was the one teasing them.

    ¡°Yes I know I am, but it doesn¡¯t mean that I want her to know too¡± Spencer replied with gritted teeth. ¡°So let¡¯s try to keep it that way, shall we?¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Dimitri agreed, still recovering from theughter. ¡°Now everyone better be on their best behavior if they don¡¯t want to get busted to their wives. We are here to celebrate our friend David, so let¡¯s focus on that¡­ Have our seats¡­. And watch¡­. Whatever it is we¡¯re about to watch¡±

 2

    Kelly Darcy, only child of Raymond Darcy, had spent all her life running from the one thing she knew she couldn¡¯t escape¡­. Taking over her father¡¯spany, Darcy Enterprises.

    As her father¡¯s only child, and with her mother dead since she was a baby, Kelly always knew that one day thepany would be hers.

    ¡®That day isn¡¯t here yet¡¯, ¡®The time hadn¡¯te yet¡¯, Kelly had told herself so many times, but now it was time, and she wasn¡¯t anywhere near ready for such a huge responsibility. A few months ago, her father had forced her return to San Francisco, insisting that it was time for her toe home so she could get acquainted with thepany before he stepped down.

    And so she¡¯de. She had left her life¡­ Not that she had much of a life over there. It was mostly just work. She didn¡¯t have a boyfriend or a best friend. Just a few people she hung out with once in a while, so it wasn¡¯t so hard leaving.

    Kelly had been in San Francisco for a while now. Insisting that she didn¡¯t want to move back home with her father, she¡¯d gotten herself a house and was already settling in. Making a few friends and so on. And now, four months after her return, everything was ready, her father would be introducing her to thepany staff the following week. She would finally be learning the ropes. Preparing to seed her father.

    It was such a big responsibility, and Kelly was very anxious and nervous. Her father¡¯s shoes would be a big one to fill and she had no idea where to begin. She didn¡¯t tell him that though, out of fear that he would be disappointed in her, and she didn¡¯t want to risk that. She already knew that she hadn¡¯t done much to impress him.

    Kelly put on her knee high boots, trying to block out the thought of her father¡¯spany and the responsibilities that came with it. She shouldn¡¯t be worrying tonight, she reminded herself. This was the reason why she was here tonight¡­ To do something that could help her rx a little. Something she loved doing¡­. Maybe for thest time.

    Dancing.

    Kelly Darcy loved to dance. Actually she loved to perform¡­. Pole dancing included. It was one of the things she had never mentioned to her father because she knew it wasn¡¯t something that was expected of her as Raymond Darcy¡¯s daughter¡­ Or maybe because a part of her knew that her father would disapprove of it.

    The bottom line was that it was something she did for fun. Something that made her happy. And so when her friend Elizabeth, who she called Lizzie, told her that the main dancer for her fashion show had suddenly fallen ill and that she needed a recement asap, Kelly had volunteered to rece the dancer.

    She had done a lot of dancing and performing in college, without her father¡¯s knowledge of course, so she knew she would be able to handle it with ease.

    For Kelly, the feeling of being on stage was like some kind of adrenaline rush, a high if you will¡­. on endorphins. It felt like being at home, it felt safe, it felt like a space to be who she really was. When she performed on stage she experienced a flow. She got lost in herself. She let the flow take over her body and mind. She got lost, both physically and mentally on the stage, in the music, with the show, and with the audience. She felt like she developed a ¡°spiritual link to the audience¡± and when she performed she didn¡¯t have to think about her worries. She didn¡¯t have to think about anything.

    She loved the tease too. When she danced she felt sexy and powerful, like she was in control. Like she could get the audience to do whatever she wanted.

    Maybe this was a way to escape reality even for a short time. To do something she liked once again. Tonight was going to be about having a little fun, she thought as she sat down to have her make up retouched. She would go out there and give this her best.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Dimitri Collins sat in the Theatre, the palm of his left hand cradling his head, a bored expression on his face. He looked at his friends. They looked like they were having a great time and they should be, because the performances so far were all good. The problem was with him, for some reason he just wasn¡¯t feeling it. He was contemting telling David and Spencer that he would be taking his leave soon, when suddenly the lights on the stage went off.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Wow, what a dramatic entrance. I wonder what¡¯s about to happen now¡± he said sarcastically in the darkness and then he felt David nudge him in the arm with his elbow.

    ¡°Damn. What the hell man¡± he grumbled, rubbing the spot David hit.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± David replied simply.

    Dimitri was about to reply with a snarkyment of his own, but the spotlight on the stage came back on, revealing a ck door. The door opened just as the song began and ady stepped out, followed by a group of both male and female dancers.

    The other choreographers on the stage didn¡¯t matter, not to Dimitri, because thisdy, whoever she was, stood out. Like a red rose in the midst of a hundred ck roses.

    Dimitri of course expected to see models since this was a fashion show, but, even so, her entrance, made even more dramatic by the use of the spotlights and pumping music, took him by surprise.

    The others wore ck. She wore a red swimming costume and sexy, ck, knee high boots. The costume was bare at the back, designed to seduce and tease, and it worked, judging from the cheers and collective murmur of appreciationing from the crowd.

    Her auburn hair flowed long and loose over her shoulders and was the only thing that kept the dramatic swimming costume even vaguely decent. The swimsuit was cleverly cut to expose her long, long legs, her narrow waist and the tempting thrust of her breasts. A diaphanous wrap floated around her body, giving the illusion that she was walking through mist.

 3

    It wasn¡¯t just about what thisdy was wearing. It was her. Something to do with the way she moved. Like she was one with the music and with the stage. The music pounded in a hypnotic rhythm that was unashamedly sexual, and she moved and danced in time to the beat, her movements graceful and seductive. So much confidence and bnce. Bnce that should have been nearly possible with the length of the heel shoes that she was putting on, but she made it look so natural¡­ So easy, like she¡¯d been born with high, slender spikes attached to her feet.

    There was something captivating¡­ Almost hypnotizing about this woman, and Dimitri found himself leaning closer to watch. To take in every sight of this beautiful goddess.

    She was a vision of feminine perfection, every man¡¯s fantasy and Dimitri felt sharp ws of lust drag through his loins. On the opposite side, Dimitri saw a man half rise to his feet, a look of naked longing in his eyes. He didn¡¯t me the man. What man wouldn¡¯t be captivated by such beauty?

    She moved gracefully, with smooth, well controlled movements, her hips moving to the beat. He could tell she felt at home on the stage, and subconsciously, Dimitri moved with her. Nodding his head slowly to the beat of the song , his eyes following her intently.

    As if realizing she was being watched, she suddenly nced in his direction, turning her head enough to cast her face in a bit of light spilling off the now dimly lit stage. Enough to highlight the creamy skin, the curve of her cheek, the fullness of her lips and the dark sh of her eyes.

    Beautiful. Dimitri thought, and he silently thanked David for having their seats this close to the stage. He was now thoroughly enjoying himself.

    Dimitri¡¯s hands clenched into fists at his sides. And although there was no way she was mirroring his reaction, he noticed her hands did the same.

    She probably did it for a reason entirely different from his. He clenched out of pure lust. He hadn¡¯t had sex in a while-not since breaking up with a woman he¡¯d been dating briefly four months ago. And nobody had as much as given him a quickened pulse rate since then. Not the women at work. Not the women at the gym. Not the hot girl who¡¯d moved upstairs from him, the one who¡¯d already locked herself out three times just so she¡¯d have an excuse to ask for his help to open her door.

    This stranger? She¡¯d given him a hard-on from ten feet away. This attraction didn¡¯t make sense at first, but as he continued to watch her hips swing, the more asymmetric movements of her thighs, and intermediate levels of asymmetric movements of her arms, it made more and more sense. If his body could react as it did when she was several feet away from him, he wondered how he would react when he was close to her¡­. pressed against her¡­. Inside her. He felt his groin tighten at the thought.

    Her eyes found his then, and she surprised him even further by not looking away. She didn¡¯t look as though she could. Her eyes were evenrger now, huge and luminous and filled with something he could really decipher. He held her gaze, refusing to look away either.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨CCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Kelly watched the man. There was this look on his face, he had very intense eyes, and wide shoulders. From the stage, without even being close to him, she saw that he was very attractive. And he was watching her, looking  her straight in the eye, hardly blinking and Kelly swallowed hard, careful not to lose her bnce.

    His intent expression, of innocence mixed with curious wonder,¡­.. and something else, annoyed her, making her feel more exposed than she ever had while performing. That she could feel his face heat angered her. She was too old, and too cynical, to actually blush. Damn him.

    She had two options now. She could either look away and concentrate on her performance, or continue to keep eye contact with his strange man and turn this into some kind of weird mating dance.

    Kelly knew the right thing to do, but for some reason, she chose to do theter. She probably wouldn¡¯t see the man ever again, so why not have a little more fun, she thought. Who would it hurt?

    She made her decision. Purposefully holding his gaze, determined to make him look away, she kept up with her performance, but it was more of a sexual dance now. And Dimitri alone knew exactly what she was doing, because she never looked away from him, and it was written all over her face, in her eyes. She let her fingers graze her bare thigh seductively, eyeing him suggestively. She let the wrap around her fall slowly to the group, teasing him more, teasing her audience.

    Still he watched her. She watched him sit up and lean even closer. He looked distressed. He looked shocked¡­. But he didn¡¯t look away.

    The song finally ended, and Kelly returned backstage, her cheeks were flushed, and she knew that her nipples had tightened and that there was a tiny pool between her legs. She couldn¡¯t believe she had basically flirted with a stranger in the auditorium¡­ While she was on stage¡­ And that somehow, she had enjoyed it¡­. A little too much.

    Elizabeth rushed to meet her, and she couldn¡¯t stop talking about how much of a sess the performance was and how she couldn¡¯t thank Kelly enough for helping her out. Kelly went with Elizabeth to have her costume taken off, and soon she and the other girls were talking and taking shots.

    But the man¡¯s face remained imprinted on her mind.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Having done something very crazy and totally unlike her, Kelly hurried out of the green room. She had changed into her regr clothes. A high waisted Jean trouser and a crop top. She had done her job, and had a little fun while at it, but now it was time to return to the real world. After saying goodbye to Lizzy, she headed for the exit, hoping never to see the man from the auditorium again¡­. That would be very embarrassing.

    She almost made it. She was mere feet from the closest exit when she was stopped by a movable wall disguised as a  shirt. Her heart leaped in her chest when she looked up, thudding in excitement, even as she mentally cursed the bad luck. The man from the audience had tracked her down.

    ¡°Hello,¡± the wall murmured. ¡°I¡¯m Dimitri Collins¡±

 4

    Kelly growled a little, annoyed at herself for feeling an immediate tingle at the warmth emanating off the solid man now blocking her path. And for leaning forward the tiniest bit and breathing a bit deeper to catch a better whiff of his warm, spicy scent.

    ¡°Oh you¡­. you shouldn¡¯t be back here. How did you get here?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I know I¡¯m not supposed to follow you¡­ Or track you down like this,¡± he replied, ¡°I just had to. Somehow I knew I wouldn¡¯t be happy with myself if I left without speaking to you.¡±

    Her costume was gone, Dimitri noticed, and he missed it. Not that he had a problem with what she was wearing now. The jean trousers she was wearing hugged her waist and hips perfectly, making her curves stand out, and when his eyes caught a glimpse of skin, peeking out from underneath her crop top, he felt his heart rate quicken. Her long hair wasn¡¯t let down any more, now it was pulled back from the face, twisted, and wrapped in a circr coil around itself on top of her head.

    Dimitri wanted to reach out and undo that bun with his hands, but that would be very inappropriate, so he kept his itchy hands to himself. At least he could appreciate the fact that with her hair packed like that, he had a good view of her slender neck, and he wondered how it would feel to kiss her there, probably run his tongue across the carotid artery where he could feel her pulse.

    Her make up was still intact though, and the make up artist had done something amazing with her eyes, giving her a sexy, sultry look.

    She had big, beautiful brown eyes, Dimitri observed. Wonderfully intoxicating, and he thought he would dly get lost in them and stay lost all night long.

    ¡°You are leaving so early. I know because my friends are still in there and are nowhere ready to leave. Yours was the only performance I enjoyed tonight, so I decided to use the opportunity toe find you. And I¡¯m d I did, if I had hesitated for a few, I would have missed you. You weren¡¯t trying to avoid talking to me¡­.¡± Dimitri added.

    It wasn¡¯t a question and his tone held a hint ofughter. She didn¡¯t think his amusement was caused by conceit, but rather the incongruity of a woman flirting openly with a man on stage and then walking out the door without ever meeting him. It was kind of crazy.

    ¡°I, uh¡­thedies¡¯ room,¡± she mumbled, hating herself for letting the inane excuse cross her lips the very moment she uttered it. Ladies¡¯ room indeed, she thought. The lie didn¡¯t sound believable¡­ Even to her.

    He cleared his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about this ce, but I¡¯m sure that thedies room should be that way.¡± His arm moved, the hand gesturing back the way Kelly had juste. That hand was darkly tanned, strong, with neat blunt fingernails and not a hint of kept-man elegance. They looked like a worker¡¯s hands. And suddenly several parts of Kelly¡¯s body went a little spastic at the thought of being worked by them.

    Not being the tallest woman in the world, Kelly had been able to keep her attention squarely focused straight ahead, as if minutely interested in the design of the buttons on his shirt.

    Since she¡¯d been sucked in by his hands, though, she figured she might as well muster up the courage to confront the rest of him. She could do it. She was a woman. Hear her roar.

    All she could manage as she lifted her gaze, however, was a helpless whimper. The chest was, as she already knew, huge and strong. The throat tanned, the neck corded with muscle. She had seen that he was strongly built from the stage, but she¡¯d not imagined they would be anything like those shoulders in front of her now. She hadn¡¯t imagined this width, or the bulked-up chest straining against the fabric of his shirt. Nor the thick dark hair, cut short enough to tempt a woman to do some finger tangling while not drawing one bit of attention away from the shing brows, the prominent cheekbones, the stubborn chin.

    He was all man. Nothing like what she¡¯d expected. His strong jaw jutted in ssic male determination. His face was shaved, but already disyed a hint of swarthiness that would provide the tiniest frisson of roughness if their cheeks met.

    They won¡¯t. She told herself. They shouldn¡¯t actually.

    Even if she acknowledged how physically attractive he was, she wasn¡¯t the type of girl that would take up with a man she barely knew. And she was sure that was what he expected her to do, especially after the way she had flirted with him.

    Still¡­ she couldn¡¯t deny the fact that the man was extremely handsome. His thick hair was cut short, and had looked a bit lighter when she was up on stage. Now, up close, she realized it was a dark brown, but shot with hints of gold here and there that said he likely spent a lot of time outside.

    Probably sailing around in yachts, hitting the clubs in or cruising around the world. Doing the types of things people in her social circle took for granted. None of which interested her. Except, maybe, lounging under the sun on a clear blue sea.

    She might not like the ennui and shallowness that often came with wealth, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. She enjoyed an asional luxury as much as the next silver spoon girl. And a summer day spent sailing on a cutter was one of her few genuine indulgences.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you let me escort you?¡± he added, finally breaking the silence.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I was just leaving,¡± she admitted, knowing she needed to end this now, before he offered to lead her to the closestdies¡¯ room. Maybe even escort her inside¡­and do her in thevish vestibule.

    Oh, God, what a fantasy.

    She cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s a work night.¡± she said, and a voice didn¡¯t sound like hers. Finally allowing herself to meet his gaze directly, all remaining words dried up in Kelly¡¯s mouth. Because those eyes, which she hadn¡¯t been able to see clearly from the stage, were a dark, warm brown, so friendly and approachable, open and engaging.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 5

    There was merriment in those eyes, and warmth and friendliness. Not jaded awareness, not arrogance. Just¡­niceness. And pureid-back sex appeal.

    ¡°Work?¡± he asked, sounding as though he¡¯d never heard the word.

    Well, maybe he hadn¡¯t. Kelly lifted her chin, ignoring those eyes, that half smile on his sensual mouth, and forced herself to act unaffected by this brown-eyed, kind-looking hottie.

    ¡°Yes. Work,¡± she snapped. ¡°I came here to help my friend. I¡¯ve done it, and now I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    He put a hand out, touching her elbow lightly, though not trying to restrain her. But all the same, the touch was binding, rooting her where she stood.

    ¡°Look, I have the feeling we¡¯ve gotten off on the wrong foot¡­. somehow. I don¡¯t know how. But I¡¯d really like for us to go sit down somewhere, and just talk. Maybe get to know you a little more.¡±

    He shook his head, smiled slightly and rubbed a hand across his strong jaw, the slide of his fingers rasping the tiniest bit across his very faint five-o¡¯clock shadow.

    ¡°You saved me from having a terrible, boring time tonight,¡± he added.

    ¡°As if that¡¯s even remotely true.¡± Kelly replied.

    ¡°You never know,¡± he said, as he shrugged his shoulders.

    ¡°Well, if you weren¡¯t enjoying the shows, then why are you here?¡± she asked, only out of curiosity. Not out of genuine interest. Definitely not, she told herself.

    Shrugging again, he admitted, ¡°Because my friends made me. It¡¯s his birthday so we have to do what he wants¡­ However crazy it is¡±

    Kelly almost smiled.

    ¡°But then if I had known that I was going to meet you, I wouldn¡¯t have protested using here so much, ¡± he added. ¡°Honestly, if they find out that the reason why I left my seat was to go find a certain redhead, and not go to rest room like I told them, they are gonna tease the fuck out of me months¡±

    She couldn¡¯t prevent a trill of amusedughter from escaping her lips at the very thought of this man getting out of here to find her. But she stopped herself immediately, what did she expect him to do? She had given the man the green light when she had openly flirted with him on stage. He was reacting the way any red blooded man would¡­ He¡¯de to take what she¡¯d offered him.

    What exactly was she offering anyways? Kelly wasn¡¯t a virgin, but she wasn¡¯t the crazy kind either. She had never had a one night stand, and the idea had never appealed to her.

    Except tonight.

    What was it about this man that made every moral and principle fly right out of her head. He hadn¡¯t even made a move on her yet, but just as the idea of flirting with him on stage had seemed appealing to her, so did the idea of spending the night with him began to form in her head¡­ and she weed it. Would it really be such a bad thing? She liked hispany and she had to admit she was enjoying talking to him now. Enjoying that she had his attention, even for a short time. Would it be such a bad thing if she had one night stand with him? One night of steamy, wild, mind blowing sex¡­. She didn¡¯t even have to see him again after tonight.

    Dimitri watched herugh, those soft, dreamy eyes resting on her lips, his own curling up at the edges in response.

    ¡°Your eyes,¡± he said, his voice low.

    She looked at feet, feeling very shy suddenly.

    ¡°They¡¯re beautiful,¡± he added.

    Kelly quivered at that. Though she knew the man was probably an expert at suche-ons, and he probably made a practice of making every woman he wanted feel beautiful and desirable, she couldn¡¯t help the warm flow of pleasure surging through her veins.

    Because he made her believe it.

    His lips quirked. ¡°You really are stunning,¡± he murmured, not handing her a line, not at all sleazy. Just confident of what he said. ¡°You stood out¡­ Like a dark and vibrant me next to all those dancers.¡±

    Kelly swallowed. He was using his lines, she thought, telling her what he thought she wanted to hear. Because she was far from being a ¡®vibrant me,¡¯ whatever he meant by that. Did he really see her that way?

    ¡°You looked entirely alive on that stage¡­the only person who did.¡±

    Okay, the man was good at getting around a woman¡¯s defenses with that sexy-smooth delivery. Too good. Especially since she knew there was no way she could have him. She had to leave before she gave in to another crazy thing tonight, and the shots she had taken with the girls backstage was making it harder for her to think clearly. Just the thought of what could happen between them if she stayed made her legs feel weak.

    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m d you liked my performance, but I really have to go.¡± she said.

    ¡°Oh,e on,¡± he urged, ¡°Please don¡¯t leave. You¡¯ve got to at least let me buy you a drink for¡­. I don¡¯t know¡­. I just¡­ Want to spend some time with you I guess¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Her eyebrows lifted.

    ¡°And maybe I want to get away from my friends too¡­.¡± he added. His tone said he didn¡¯t care, but she could see there was a genuine fondness between him and friends.

    Well, Kelly understood that. She understood the concept of loving someone even if you didn¡¯tpletely understand or agree with them. It was the kind of rtionship she had with her father.

    She couldn¡¯t help chuckling again, unable to keep a smile off her face. The movement brought his attention to her breasts and he nced down at her chest.

    His gaze lingered before it rose to her face, but not so quickly that she didn¡¯t see the way his jaw flexed and his eyes narrowed, shining with dark intensity and appreciation, all traces of that easygoing good humor disappearing.

    He smelled delicious, of warm, male flesh, though she tried her best not to notice. But his body was too fine to ignore for long, despite her resolve not to give in to udylike tendencies¨Csuch as overwhelming lust.

    She licked her dry lips, then met his eyes. His gaze lingered on her mouth, then slowly coasted over the rest of her body.

    She cleared her throat. Stiffening her spine, which already felt close to snapping. He didn¡¯t say anything, but she got the message all right. And for the second time that night, she made another wild decision. All rules be damned.

 6

    She stared right back at him. The roam of his stare over her body affected her just as thoroughly as a real touch from anyone else would have. She should insist on going home, but right now, at this moment, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to care about anything. And it was all because of the heat in this sexy man¡¯s eyes and the almost audible quality of his next, slowly indrawn breath. That was lust she saw there. Pure and undisguised, unhidden by social demands or proper breeding that insisted it wasn¡¯t polite to visibly covet a woman.

    He was coveting. She was being coveted. They were both caught in the tension of it.

    Though her mind knew better, her body couldn¡¯t help responding. Beneath the silky top, her skin puckered, tiny goose bumps rising on the deep V of her cleavage, her nipples tightening to jut against thece of her bra. Her pulse fluttered in her throat, and the breaths she managed to inhale were shallow. Each was filled with the warmth of him and the dark, masculine scent of his body, which had edged to within inches of her own. All from a look. What in God¡¯s name might happen to her if he everid a hand on her?

    ¡°Please say yes,¡± he murmured. ¡°I feel like you and I would have a lot of fun together¡± His tone remained light, not demanding, not intense, despite the look in his eyes and the static in the air between them. As if he knew thating on too strong might scare her off.

    And suddenly, it was working. Her verbal defenses had been firmly in ce at the start, but now¡­well, now all that was out the door.

    If he¡¯d yed the lothario, Kelly would already have been out of here. But he hadn¡¯t. He¡¯d merely sounded friendly, en-gaging, and oh so tempting. His eyes did all the more intimate talking. He wanted her, yet managed to remain genuine and self-deprecating.

    She watched him, searching for something in his expression, a hint that a predator lurked beneath his oh-so-sexy,id-back, nice-guy appearance. There must be something- malice, greed, orsciviousness-behind the open, honest interest in his stare. Just because she hadn¡¯t seen it, didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t there. There had to be more to him than she was seeing. And she almost wished she had time to find it.

    But she didn¡¯t. For the second time tonight she had two options. Say no to his offer and go home, or she could y along and see where this little adventure would take her. She chose thetter. And a secondter, she found herself saying in a voice that sounded like sin:

    ¡°Just a drink?¡± she said.

    The look was back on her face. The one she had had on that stage, Dimitri observed, at first he was surprised, but hey, he was never one to back down from a challenge, and he took that look on her face as one. He inched closer to her.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°Do you have something else in mind?¡± he asked, his voice suggesting that he was willing to y along, with anything she wanted. ¡°Because if you do, please tell me, I¡¯m sure I¡¯d be more than d to oblige¡±

    Kelly¡¯s heart stuttered in excitement as he took another step. Almost losing her nerve, she took a step back, he grinned and followed. She took one more step and felt her back pressed against the wall.

    Dimitri grinned at her, like a predator who had finally gotten his prey cornered. It was toote for her to back down, and God, he hoped she wouldn¡¯t, because her bold approach had turned him on so badly. He ced his left hand on the wall above her head, the other on the wall closer to her waist. He didn¡¯t touch her, but she could feel the heat radiating from his body, warming her skin. He watched her like a hawk, and she saw that his eyes had darkened.

    Kelly looked quickly around the dimly lit hallway, no one was in sight. Thank God for that. She returned her attention to him.

    His words and bodynguage told her everything she needed to know: he wanted her. He was on the hook and honestly so was she. Things were gradually getting out of hand, and she needed a diversion so she could think straight about what she was about to do, But the only worthwhile diversion she could think of right now was thinking about the way the man looked, felt, and smelled. And imagining what he would feel like when he was underneath her, naked, panting, and begging for release as she rode him. Her hands ached to touch him and pleasure him.

    ¡°Tell me what you would like us to do,¡± he whispered, his breath tickling hair and neck as he leaned even closer, like a sorcerer trying to draw her in with his enchanted spell. And maybe that was what he was doing: using some witch power on her. She hadn¡¯t considered it up till now. But it was the only exnation. It had to be, because never had she be so weak and patheticallypliant to anyone¡¯s presence. But with his words in her ear and his body and scent so close, so tempting, she couldn¡¯t concentrate on why this was probably a bad idea and why she shouldn¡¯t do it. She could only think of how good it would feel to be touched and pleasured by him. She wanted to kiss him, and dear Lord he had an erotic mouth.

    She longed to brace against the well-developed ball of his shoulder. Touch the heat of his neck. He smelled of something woodsy and spicy, fine wool and the barest hint of brandy. The look in those eyes, the sexy twist to his lips, the suggestive tone of his conversation¡­none of those things had indicated anything but exciting, intriguing male.

    She was going to do this, she finally decided and once she did, she put on her ¡®game on¡¯ face, and locked eyes with him. She pushed her body from the wall, crushing her soft breasts against his chest, and Dimitri suppressed a groan.

    ¡°Listen¡­. Dimitri,¡± she began, dragging his name, making Dimitri wonder if it would sound better if she said while moaning. He wanted to find out so bad. He would find out.

    ¡°We both know why you¡¯re here,¡± she continued.

    ¡°We do?¡± he asked, his voice husky and thick with lust.

 7

    She nodded. ¡°Yeah. So why don¡¯t we just skip the whole drink thing and go straight to whatever has been building up between us since I was on that stage?¡± she asked. ¡°We are both adults. We know what we want. So why beat around the bush?¡±

    Kelly had no idea where this bold, slutty part of her wasing from. Probably the alcohol. Or maybe it was the man¡­. Definitely something about him that made her go wild. But she¡¯d gone too far to back away now.

    ¡°No attachments. Nomitments¡± she added, dragging a finger slowly across his chest. ¡°Just two adults¡­. Taking what they want¡­ An adventure if you will¡±

    Dimitri¡¯s eyes followed her hands and a tiny groan escaped his lips when she moved against him again. The idea of heaving aside all responsibility for a little while, of grabbing on to a good thing and enjoying the hell out of it just because he could, was incredibly appealing. She felt so good crushed against him like that, so slight of build, but so feminine. She had the finest skin he¡¯d ever seen, warm and smooth and pale. That top of hers¡­ so feminine, so deceiving. Dimitri¡¯s highs clenched and his heart raced.

    He didn¡¯t give it any more thought. She wanted this. Who was he to say no to such a tempting offer? The look on her face said it all. The tiny hitch in her breath just now, and the sudden tension that had her curvy body grinding against his was enough to obliterate any thought and reason from his mind.

    An adventure. Sounded like a good idea to him.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°Then your wish is mymand¡± he whispered, then he lowered his lips to hers.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Kelly¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and the next second, his arms wrapped around her body, pulling her up so his lips covered hers hotly. She sighed against his kiss as it deepened, his tongue demanding entrance, and all she could do was allow him in. His arms held her close until her breasts were pushed against his chest. She wanted him desperately, needed to feel his naked skin beneath her hands.

    ¡°Dimitri,¡± she whispered when she came up for air, her whole body crying out for his touch.

    ¡°Yes?¡± he growled, and that fierce gaze pierced hers as he nced down. His eyes slid lower to her cleavage, and his erection pressed hard against her stomach.

    She shivered when she felt him through the thin fabric of her clothes, and her hands dug into his back. The words wouldn¡¯te so she told him the best she could, with her eyes and her kiss, exactly what she wanted. When his lips imed hers again, she knew he understood the message loud and clear.

    He allowed no space between their bodies, and hers molded to his in a perfect fit. She closed her eyes and let her fingers sy across the expanse of his broad back. She pulled her lips away from his and her face found the hollow of his neck and she rubbed her cheek against the smooth, sexy, scented skin.

    She was intensely aware of the press of her breasts against his chest, his thighs intimately close to hers, and the undeniable evidence of his surging desire.  Somece in the back of her mind she knew she should step back, gain some distance, reim rationality. But she didn¡¯t want to distance herself from him in any way. She wanted to lose herself in him.

    His hands caressed her spine, gliding tantalizingly across the center, then dipping low to the top of her buttocks. She felt her heartbeat mirroring Dimitri¡¯s in quickened pace, speaking of the passion that red between them like a sh fire out of control.

    She tilted her head and looked at him. He gazed back at her, his eyes lit with the same desire that pulsed in her veins. He lowered his head and captured her lips with his again, like he couldn¡¯t stop wanting to kiss her. Tentatively at first, his mouth yed over hers. He deepened the kiss, his tongue touching first the tip of hers, then swirling deeper, more intimately.

    He stilled his feet as the kiss continued¨Csweet, hot, deep. His lips possessed herpletely and she returned the kiss with a growing fervor.

    ¡°Fuck¡± he whispered when finally his mouth left hers.   ¡°God help me, but I want you.¡±

    She stared at him, dimly realized that now was the time to stop this madness, now was the time to remind him of all the reasons this was wrong. But words of sanity wouldn¡¯te. As she gazed into his eyes, saw the desire there, she knew that for tonight she was a lost soul¨Clost to madness, lost to the sweet heat of him.

    ¡°God help me, Dimitri. I want you, too,¡± she replied, then moaned when he rubbed the hard ridge in his pants against her stomach. ¡°My car¡± she whispered, her voice husky, ¡°In the parking lot¡±

    He didn¡¯t need further invitation. ¡°Lead the way then¡± he replied.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Outside in the cool dark night, Dimitri took her hand and they walked hurriedly to the parking lot. Whatever doubts remained were like tiny shoots, withered by the warmth of his hand in hers and, she had to admit it, by the fact that she just in liked him and wanted to be with him right now.

    ¡°Here we are,¡± she said when they got to her car in the darkened parking lot, before she could find her keys to open the car, he grabbed her and pulled her to him, crushing her body against his once again.

    ¡°I actually miss feeling your body against mine¡± he said thickly, ¡°You are so damn hot¡±

    She giggled, ¡°So are you¡± she replied

    And then he kissed her again and it was so magical, to be standing in the cool air, his arms around her and the breeze ying with her hair, that nothing else really mattered. And they kept on kissing, trading ces after a while so that she was leaning back across the car with Dimitri almost lying on top of her, kissing her so hard she felt his teeth against her lips.

    ¡°You have far too many clothes on,¡± he whispered,¡±I¡¯m convinced there¡¯s a body under these clothes and I¡¯m determined to find it¡±

    ¡°You are definitely headed in the right direction,¡± she replied.

 8

    He had found the skin beneath her top now, and worked his way up to her left breast. With the thumb and forefinger, he very gently squeezed her nipple. There both felt the spasm that shuddered through her body.

    He smiled at her.

    ¡°You are very wicked,¡± Kelly said. Arms locked around his neck. Jelly legs, her heart a drum gone berserk, then she added, ¡°I like wicked¡±

    ¡°Good¡± he ttened his palm into the waistband of her jeans and down over her stomach. A tight squeeze, but easier once he had unfastened the top button and easier still with the zipper down.

    ¡°Dimitri, what if someone sees us?¡± she asked, yet hoping that he wouldn¡¯t stop.

    ¡°It¡¯s dark and quieter than a tomb¡± came his reply.

    ¡°I guess¡­¡± Kelly said. Her brain wasn¡¯t thrilled with the metaphor, but her body was indisputably in charge and doing all it could do to help his fingers slide under the crotch of her panties and up inside her and¡­.. ¡°Oh my God¡± she moaned. She dug her chin harder into his shoulder, felt his shirt against her face. ¡°Oh my God¡± she said again.

    ¡°More?¡± he asked her

    ¡°Yeah¡± she gasped, barely able to recognize her own voice. ¡°Dimitri,¡­. that light over there is reflecting here a bit¡±

    He removed his hand, made a half hearted attempt at zipping up her jeans and kissed her on the nose. ¡°I have had enough of all these clothes¡±

    Kelly chuckled, ¡°You were the one who grabbed me¡± she said, ¡°I thought we were gonna get in the back seat¡±

    ¡°The back seat. I like the way you think.¡± he said, as he kissed her forehead and withdrew a little so she could turn around and open the car.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Immediately they both got in the car and Kelly shut the door, Dimitri grabbed her waist to steady her in front of him, prac-tically on hisp. His strength was undeniable, but what froze her in ce was the impact of his touch.

    For a moment, they were eye to eye, nose tip to nose tip, practically about to kiss. It was dark, but not too dark that they couldn¡¯t see each other¡¯s faces. She could feel him too, feel how fast their hearts were beating and his breath tickled her face her neck. He must have noticed that she was tense, because he asked softly,

    ¡°Having second thoughts?¡±

    She shook her head, ¡°No,¡± she whispered, and smiled at him, mentally scolding herself for almost ruining the moment.

    She wasn¡¯t having second thoughts. Just amazed at what was happening, and she wanted to soak up every moment. She cupped his face in her hands, then brought her lips to his.

    She felt his body move even closer as his hands reached for the hem of her top, her breath caught and she lifted her lips from his and raised her arms with a grin as he quickly relieved her of her top. The air in the was chilly against her bare body, and Kelly opened her eyes to gaze down at him. The intensity in his eyes grew as he stared at her half naked body. ¡°Damn. The things I want to do to you.¡± he said, his voice thick with lust.

    Her bra went next, and the moment his hands cupped her bare breasts, rough palms against her sensitive nipples, Kelly¡¯s head fell back on a moan until he swallowed it. He kissed her hard and deep while his tongue moved like a fire against hers.

    In a brief moment of rity, she realized he probably needed this almost as much as she did. The release, an escape from the burden of her life and mind. And she would make sure she got exactly what she wanted.

    His mouth released hers only to fall to her nipple and suck on it as she squirmed in his arms. Her hands drove through his hair, and Kelly knew then no man would ever touch her like this and set her body on fire so easily. Her back arched, and when his free hand slid beneath her jeans andce panties, a cry escaped her lips. Dimitri¡¯s palm was warm, but pressed against her soft, wet folds it felt even hotter. He cursed against her cleavage.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°So wet for me,¡± he whispered raggedly against her.

    ¡°Been wet for you since I saw you while I was on that stage,¡± she replied, barely able to get the words out when his palm rubbed her clit without mercy. ¡°I pictured you doing this and more to me.¡±

    He groaned at her words, and his fingers spread her folds, gliding along their slickness, but didn¡¯t enter. She bit her lip and shifted her hips, begging him to pierce her, but he didn¡¯t, and then she heard him chuckle. The sound was deep, reverberating through his chest and into her body, sending more ripples of pleasure through her nerves.

    Dimitri¡¯s hand pressed against her, her knees felt weak, and she almost sagged against him, his arm was her only support. Kelly was d they had gone into the car, because she was sure if they were still standing out there, she would have slipped to the ground.

    ¡°I had the same line of thought while watching you dance. I wanted to do this immediately I saw you. Do you like this?¡± he asked and moved his hand hard and fast between her legs.

    Kelly trembled against him as she nodded. ¡°God, yes. Dimitri! Yes!¡±

    His fingers slipped inside her a secondter, and her hands gripped his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin through his shirt, desperate to hold onto something, anything. Her eyes closed as his thumb pressed against her clit and his fingers moved within her, stretching her beautifully as she never had been before.

    His mouth found her nipple again and suckled at her chest while his hand built a steady rhythm, sliding in and out of her wetness as her inner muscles clenched, wanting to keep his finger there inside her. Each touch sent her closer to falling apart in his arms. His fingers thrust hard up into her, a preview of what was toe. Just the thought of having him-all of him-sent her tumbling over the edge into oblivion.

    A cry tore from her throat, but he covered her mouth with his. The orgasm spread through her limbs, stronger than any she had ever had, and Dimitri didn¡¯t stop, he let her ride it up against his hands, kissing her until she stopped spasming. Only then did he slowly withdraw his hand.

 9

    Her chest heaving, she ced her head in his shoulder, being sure to press herself against every inch of him, and smirked when he growled. His eyes darkened and then her hands fumbled for his shirt.

    Her fingers fiddled with the buttons of his shirt, and slowly, she pulled it off his body. His hands twitched at his sides when her gaze roved over his chest, tensed in the small light pouring into her car. Gently, her fingers moved across that skin, marveling at the dark sprinkling of hair trailing down to his trousers.

    Dimitri¡¯s hands twitched again, and he grabbed her waist suddenly, and tossed her lightly onto the chair. ¡°All I want right now is to hear you scream my name as I take you.¡± he muttered darkly, his lips twitching in a smirk.

    He yanked her jeans off, and Kelly propped up on her elbows to watch as he moved back in the seat and removed his trousers. When all of him was revealed, she licked her lips at his erection standing proudly between his legs.

    He didn¡¯t move for a minute, they just sat, while he let her stare at his naked body. The sinews and hollows showed her just how much muscle he hid beneath his clothes

    Dimitri¡¯s jaw clenched, and as his eyes caressed her body. Kelly¡¯s heart pounded and her mouth fell open with want. Her hands itched to touch him, touch herself, anything to ease the building lust burning in her lower half. When her hands moved to her breasts, Dimitri¡¯s eyes narrowed on them and his hands curled into fists at his sides, but he made no move toe closer to her.

    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± she whispered as her fingers tugged at her nipples.

    ¡°Just taking in¡­ The moment. Committing it to my memory,¡± he said hoarsely.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she said, and gave him a naughty smile.

    She let her hands wander further down her body. Slowly, she spread her legs, and when his gazended between them, she struggled to maintain control. The damn man didn¡¯t even have to touch her to make her explode with desire.

    Unable to resist and curious about what he would do, she slipped her hand between her legs and pinched her clit. He shifted, and his lips parted. Kelly smirked, and let her fingers trail over her soft folds, slick from hisst touch and begging for more.

    The second her fingers moved to fill her, Dimitri cursed and reached forward. His hands closed around her hips and dragged her toward him. His head disappeared immediately between her legs, and when his mouth closed around her clit, Kelly¡¯s hips bucked hard. As her eyes crossed from the intense jolt of pleasure, his tongue slipped down and inside her, thrusting in and out quickly, his hands massaging her hips and thighs.

    Dimitri couldn¡¯t think of anything else. He devoured her. Ate her out like he was starving. Tonguing her clit and her entrance and she kept moaning, louder and louder until she¡¯s almost screaming. Her hips bucked against his face as he thrust his tongue inside her over and over again, no matter how tightly he gripped her ass cheeks and press her to him, she fucked him back, the way he thought she would if he had her pinned down underneath him.

    The parking lot disappeared-the entire town-and all that remained was this moment with Dimitri and Kelly. She wed at the car seat and her body writhed against his mouth, needing to be closer and at the same time unable to handle the pressure building deep within her. Just when she was ready to let go, Dimitri pulled back, and she whimpered at the loss of his touch.

    Shey there, her hair falling inrge pieces from the messy bun that was piled on top of her head but was now sliding to the side. Her chest rose and fell as she panted, trying to catch her breath.

    He scooted her back and moved forward. His strong hands pulled her up and towards him until she straddled hisp, her legs in keeling position on either sides of him, and he held her, hovering over his throbbing length.

    As the crown pressed against her swollen lips, she shivered and tried to force herself down faster, but he held her steady.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Easy, Red¡± he whispered roughly close to her ear. ¡°Easy¡­ Baby¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± she replied. ¡°Please, I need you.¡±

    He gritted his teeth, and the second his dark eyes met hers, he plunged deep within her.

    He restedfortably, buried deep within her wetness, and she was more than ready to ept his dick. He cursed vividly and bucked his hips up.

    ¡°Fuck¡­ baby,¡± he muttered and pressed their bodies closer together.

    She couldn¡¯t find words and moved her hips instead, loving the full feeling. As one, they moved against each other, and Kelly let her body shift and glide against his with a mindpletely its own. The way he touched her, held her in the warmth of his arms, was just so amazing.

    Kelly plunged down on Dimitri¡¯s rigid cock over and over again, the tip hitting her cervix with a push of pleasure. She needed more. More, more, more. Dimitri obliged, pulling her to himself for another kiss, her own taste more evident now, her lips spreading in a grin at the mixing of their juices, their bodies, the ease of so much sensual abandon.  She changed the angle of her hips, now in control of the thrusts, her ass lifting up, pussy lips encasing him, her shifts giving her clit more friction, making her so, so close.

    ¡°God, I love your body,¡± he gasped, hands full of her breasts, throat tight as she milked him, plunging down as hard as possible to feel so full, so real.

    The dim light continued to spill into the car and she took in the scene, Dimitri¡¯s gaze of enjoyment, his body filling hers, his chest pressing against hers, eyes concentrating on her, absorbing their lovemaking.

    She inhaled slowly, primally as she pulled up, the room filled with moist heat and scent of the both of them, the thoughtbining with her faster movements, her body fucking him now, the one who maintained the pace, who took the rising ball of lust inside her, which expanded and grew.

    ¡°Oh damn it. Fuck¡± Dimitri groaned, his face twisted in torque and thrust as she raked her fingernails over his shoulders, his hands kneading her hips and ass, fingertips pressed hard into her luscious curves.

 10

    Dimitri¡¯s movements mirrored hers, and together, they set a fast pace, growing more frantic with each passing moment. The head of his cock pushed against her G-spot, sending her higher with every thrust. He groaned against her neck and lowered his mouth to her breasts, pulling hard on one nipple followed quickly by the other. Her insides twisted until her body faltered, and suddenly, Dimitri pulled back and Kelly found herself on her back on the chair again, but this time with him covering her with his massive build.

    She felt his weight pressing her down onto the chair, his movements increasingly urgent as he repositioned her and parted her legs with his hand. The rough hairs on his thighs brushed against her skin and then she briefly felt the sensation of his smooth erection brushing against her before he lifted her hips and entered her with a purposeful thrust.

    She parted her lips in a gasp but his mouth silenced her and he kissed her, capturing every cry and every breath as he drove deep into her body, sending waves of frantic excitement rippling through her as he introduced her to an intimacy that was as alien as it was intoxicating. She was aware of throbbing masculinity, delicious sensations, an electrifying pleasure, and a burning fire that bloomed white-hot.

    She felt something delicious build inside her, driven by the pulsing heat of masculine thrusts. He moved in a seemingly perfect rhythm, his body urging hers to respond, and she did.

    She found herself wrapping her thighs around his body, offering herself. And he took what she offered with an almost violent hunger, his sexual demands so great that she felt the room spinning and her heart pounding. It was electrifying, rousing and totally all-consuming and she held on.

    Sensation devoured her like a greedy animal and she felt her body throb and sing until she was blind with need.

    And he took her higher still, winding her body tighter and tighter until she teetered on the edge of something deliciously dangerous from which there was no going back.

    ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ can¡¯t hold back much longer, honey. You feel so damn good¡± he grunted.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t,¡± she breathed against his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    His eyes captured hers as he moved faster within her, going deeper with each thrust, until she couldn¡¯t handle any more. And with a sudden increase in tempo he sent her over the edge into a thrilling and terrifying vortex that consumed her body and threatened to engulf her forever. Her body contracted around his and she saw shes of light, heard him mutter something in harsh tones.

    His body tensed over hers, and when he shuddered within her depths, she cried out, her inner muscles clenching to hold him as they came together in a flurry of blinding heat and emotions Kelly couldn¡¯t even begin to sort through. They thrashed and vibrated, her pussy climaxing from the deep pushing, the perfect pitch of flesh against flesh, of the supernova of juicy sex and then felt the hot liquid burst of his own release. And then there was nothing but sensation, so agonisingly prolonged that if he hadn¡¯t been holding her she would have been terrified.

    She clung to his shoulders and eventually the world around her calmed. She felt the pounding of his heart and the slick warmth of his skin against hers as they both struggled to recover sufficiently to move.

    Her hips ached. He remained inside her, then pulled his head from her shoulder where he had rested it, and kissed her gently, nipping her lips and soothing them with a lick of his tongue, his arms quaking while her entire body went blissfully limp.

    ¡°I can¡¯t move,¡± she whispered,ughing when he smiled

    ¡°Good,¡± he growled, ¡°That¡¯s how you know you have been well fucked.¡±

    She raised her brow at his choice of words and he grinned at her.

    He moved then, but he didn¡¯t move far. Instead he just rolled onto his back, pulling her with him so that she was still wrapped around him.

    Still dazed and shocked by the intensity of the experience, Kellyy unsure what to say. And it soon became clear that speech wasn¡¯t necessary because he clearly had no desire to indulge in conversation.

    Instead he closed his hands over her hips and moved her so that she straddled him. Her hair, the bun loose now, flowed onto his chest and he gave a slow smile and lifted his hands to her face.

    ¡°That was amazing¡± she said, and he responded by pulling her down to him so her head was against his chest. He had spent not more than two hours with her, and he knew that when he left he was going to miss her. That was weird.

    He kissed her forehead and bucked his hips, and Kelly gasped when she felt his hardness inside her again. He hadn¡¯t even pulled out yet. She rode him, slowly at first, wanting to simply feel how he swelled within her. Every inch was filled with Dimitri. His hands glided up her sides and hers gripped  his shoulders tightly.

    She loved the sensual breach of him filling her as she settled into hisp, inner thighs burning at the stretch, the rest of her arching in sensual luxury. His hands skimmed over her and they kissed long and deep.

    She took up a smooth, controlled rhythm, one that made their hearts seem to beat in unison. It was sweaty and glorious and earthy and all consuming.

    She couldn¡¯t have held back if she wanted to. They were too intimately positioned, eye to eye, mouth to mouth, a light friction between their chests, hands free to roam and grasp and steal intimate caresses.

    Rather than let her grow frantic as her pitch of arousal neared breaking point, he set firm hands on her hips.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± he whispered, nipping at her chin, then sucking hard enough on her neck to sting. The tip of his tongue circled to soothe, driving her crazy. ¡°Feel it. Let itst a bit¡±

    She wanted to cry, but she slowed to savor each dazzling retreat and return. It was such an exhrating but profound state, she wanted to tell him, but didn¡¯t have to say a word.

 11

    She read the same ze of abandonment to passion in his eyes. Could hear his control hanging by a thread in the way his breath caught and his tense hand pressed into her tailbone. They undted in this state of bliss together, each brought here by the other.

    The quivering shock waves of climax gathered with a final, irresistible twist, releasing in a flourish of pleasurable contractions that turned her vision to white light.

    She would have mourned her loss of control if she hadn¡¯t felt his arms tighten around her, drawing her deep onto him as he pulsed heat within her. His ragged sounds of anguished joy came to her from a distance as the storm of convulsive ecstasy held them in its grip.

    Her hips faltered and she moaned his name. Dimitri gripped her hips and held her steady, driving into her hard as they cried out together, their bodies shaking in each other¡¯s arms as pleasure surrounded them. Her body copsed onto his hard chest, and he held her securely in his grasp.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    A minuteter, fully recovered from the mind blowing orgasm, Kelly withdrew her body from his and shifted to the other end of the seat, and then she began to search for her clothes frantically, unable to meet his gaze.

    Dimitri sat up too, but he didn¡¯t make any move to get dressed. Only sat there and watched her, amazed at her sudden shyness. He watched the way she grabbed her clothes and held them in front of her, pressing them to her chest, shielding her nakedness from his gaze. He almostughed then, but he stopped himself, that would be a terrible thing to do right now.

    Still he hated the turn things had taken. Hell, the woman was just wriggling and cumming all over his dick a minute ago, now she wouldn¡¯t even look him in the face. What the hell.

    Kelly made for the front seat, but she stopped and then said in a low voice, ¡°Could you please grab the wipes in the glovepartment and hand it to me?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± he said simply.

    Dimitri moved to the front and got it. Then he handed it to her and turned away, understanding that she needed a little time to clean up, and maybe get herself together. He busied himself with finding his own clothes, and by the time he finished with his shirt buttons, she was fully clothed again, and he missed the sight of her beautiful body.

    He had never been so careless before. As someone who wasn¡¯t ready for any kind ofmitment to anyone, he never forgot protection. But tonight he had totally lost it. Hadn¡¯t even given it a second thought. He hadn¡¯t thought about the consequences, all that had mattered was touching her. He felt his dick twitch at the thought of being inside her sweet, tight, little body. He wanted to do it again, and he marveled at how responsive his body was to hers, but this wasn¡¯t the time to be having thoughts like that. And the look on her face told him that it definitely wasn¡¯t going to happen again. She wasn¡¯t so flirty anymore.

    ¡°You okay?¡± he asked her, his voice low.

    Voiceless, she merely nodded.

    The stupid awkward silence was back again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly. ¡°I don¡¯t usually forget protection like that. I¡¯m not careless about stuff like this. And I can assure you that I¡¯m clean. What I¡¯m more worried about is¡­ you know¡­ Possible long term consequences¡±

    Long term consequences? What the hell did that even mean¡­.. Kelly thought, then her eyes widened when she finally got it. He meant pregnancy.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine¡± she said hurriedly, still not meeting his gaze, and twisting her fingers. ¡°It¡¯s not even the right time of the month and I¡¯m going to take a morning after pill just to be safe, so you have no reason to be concerned¡±

    He didn¡¯t have to worry about that. Thest thing she wanted was a child. She didn¡¯t even have her own life figured out yet. Right now, all she wanted was to hurry home. She¡¯d had her fun¡­ A little too much fun than she intended. But now her little adventure was over¡­. and she¡¯d enjoyed every single moment of it.

    He wanted to see her again, Dimitri was thinking. This thing between them was too good, and he knew that he wasn¡¯t going to be satisfied with just this one time. It would be crazy for them to just part like this. He should ask her for her number, he decided.

    And he was about to, but he paused when he heard her say, ¡°This was fun Dimitri, but I really have to go now.¡±

    She still wasn¡¯t looking at him, and she was kicking him out of her car, even if she was doing it so politely, he got the message loud and clear. He was usually the one who did the walking away after sex, and although he was taken aback, he understood her quite alright. He understood just needing a release and not wanting something toe out of it.

    ¡°Yeah sure¡± he said, he paused for a second before opening the door, ¡°Take care¡± he added, and off he went¡­. Out into the night.

    He had to fight the urge not to turn back and ask for her number. To ask that they see each other again¡­ Maybe on a date this time. But he stopped himself.  From the look on her face, there was no point. He had been in that position before, and he knew and it could get annoying and a bit creepy if he insisted. She had said it from the beginning¡­ No attachments¡­ Nomitments. He had to at least respect that the woman knew exactly what she wanted and went for it. He admired that. At least he had the memory of this amazing night with her.

    And so he walked on without looking back. He had to find a cab since they hade in David¡¯s car. There was no way he was going back into the Theatre now, he thought as he pulled out his phone, seeing a bunch of missed calls from David and Spencer. They were both going to be so mad, he thought, and he grinned when he realized that he wasn¡¯t even sorry.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    It was worth it.

 12

    He would call them when he got home, he thought. David wouldn¡¯t be able to punch him if he was in the safety of his home. He gged down a cab and got in. He would take a long shower when got home, and then try to forget all about¡­..

    It was then he realized¡­. That he didn¡¯t even know this redhead¡¯s name.

    He hadn¡¯t asked.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Dimitri drummed his finger tips noiselessly on the conference table as he watched Raymond Darcy list out the strategies Darcy Enterprises intended to implement to increase thepany¡¯s revenue.

    He had a look on his face that said he was tired of listening to this crap, but deep down, he knew that a part of him admired Raymond Darcy. The man had built hispany Thirty years ago, but now thepany was in debt and could go bankrupt, and Raymond Darcy wasn¡¯t having any of that.

    Of course Dimitri loved and admired Darcy¡¯s determination to keep hispany running, but the man had to realize sometime that this was a lost cause. Dimitri owned ten million shares, and to ensure that he didn¡¯t lose everything, he intended to buy the entirepany, break it down and sell the pieces. He would make even more money that way.

    Raymond Darcy didn¡¯t want that, and was fighting tooth and nail to keep hispany. Dimitri had to admit that the new ns could actually work, along with the two hundred and Fifty million contract Raymond was expecting, but he wasn¡¯t willing to take that risk¡­. And he wanted to get more money out of this deal. The man would just have toe to terms with the fact that Darcy Enterprises¡¯ existence would soon be a thing of the past. It wasn¡¯t personal. Just business. Raymond had to know that.  He wasn¡¯t new to the game.

    He forced himself to concentrate on what Raymond was saying now.

    ¡°¡­.. As you all know, my daughter would be assuming control of thepany after my resignation¡­¡± Raymond was saying.

    Dimitri scoffed. The man was actually talking about ownership of apany that would soon cease to exist. He almostughed out loud. Raymond Darcy was in denial and indeed a tough old bird. But hey, having stubborn people like him in the game made the whole thing even more interesting. Especially the moment before the kill when thepany was finally his.

    He was looking forward to it in fact.

    Raymond continued speaking, ¡°¡­. She was actually supposed to join us for the meeting this morning, but I guess she got held up¡­..¡±

    ¡®Of course she did,¡¯ Dimitri thought sarcastically.

    ¡°¡­.. But that¡¯s fine¡­. She will be working with us from today¡­. And I¡¯m sure that even if she isn¡¯t here now, I will be able to formally introduce her to all of you at the fund raiser for members of thepany next weekend¡­ ¡±

    Raymond¡¯s speech was interrupted when ady walked hurriedly into the room, ¡°¡­.. I¡¯m so sorry¡­. Here I am. Here I am¡± she said, rushing in with an apologetic smile on her face.

    Dimitri¡¯s head whipped up, and his heart did a little somersault when he saw the woman who had just stepped in. He almost couldn¡¯t believe it, but it was her. He would recognize that voice anywhere,¡­ that voice that sounded like sin¡­ that had moaned over and over in his ear two nights ago. And that face,¡­. The one that had haunted his dreams for two days now.

    He had thought he wouldn¡¯t see her again, but here she was. Walking into therge conference room like she owned it. Well, technically, she did¡­ Or her father did¡­ At least until he bought it. Buying thepany would give him control of the business.

    It dawned on him then¡­. She was Raymond Darcy¡¯s daughter.

    And suddenly, the look of surprise on his face vanished, and it was reced by a devilish grin. Suddenly this whole thing with Darcy Enterprises had gotten even more interesting, and he couldn¡¯t wait to see how things yed out.

    The adventure wasn¡¯t over after all.

    The slutty, smokey eye makeup was gone, reced by a simple one with pink lip gloss. The dangling earrings, ne and Maang Tikka she had worn on stage were all gone too. Her  auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail, to get it out of her face, he supposed, but there were locks falling into her eyes, and she tucked them behind her ears to get them out of her way. Dimitri had to stop himself from thinking about tucking those locks of hair behind her ears for her¡­ They reminded him of how they had fallen over her face and shoulders when they had sex. Dang! The woman was gorgeous, and Dimitri knew that he was in deep.

    Her beautiful face looked more pronounced, and she looked even hotter with the sses she was wearing. It gave her a hot, nerdy look. Her shirt, which showed a tiny portion of her cleavage, was tucked into a ck skirt that fitted her nicely, hugging her hips and bottom perfectly, while showing off a pair of smooth creamy legs. Her sexy ck heels clicked on the floor as she walked past him.

    The woman looked so amazingly different, so¡­. professional. Nothing like thedy who had put on a sexy swimsuit costume, knee high boots and seduced the hell out of him. Not that he had a problem with her look that night or right now. She was still very hot¡­.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    A waft of her perfume drifted into his nostrils as she walked past him, and he felt his groin tighten in response. She moved to the front of the conference room where she stood with her father.

    As if her scent released a floodgate, the memories from two nights ago poured forward. Watching her dance. Talking with her. Kissing her. Being inside her. Her soft skin, brushing against his chest.

    In response, his body stirred, hardening as image after image of her twisting and arching beneath him, taking him, shed across his mind¡¯s screen like an HD movie.

    He had thought about her a lot¡­. Way too much for someone he met once and had no hope of seeing again. And he felt his pants tighten a little from the blood that rushed to his cock. It was something he had observed that happened anytime he thought about her.

 13

    And now she was here. He had regretted not asking for her number. He had regretted not trying at least to ask her on a date¡­. Maybe see if they could make their one night stand adventure a little longer, and now it was like he had been given another chance with her. He wouldn¡¯t screw it up, he decided. And he had a feeling that this was going to fun.

    He waited for her to see him.

    Would she even remember him? He suddenly wondered, Or was this something she usually did? Sleep with a random guy she had no ns to see again?

    Raymond Darcy was speaking again, and Dimitri forced himself to concentrate.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°¡­.. I would like to introduce you all to my daughter, Kelly Darcy. Who will be joining us from today. She¡¯s an amazing human with a wonderful personality and I know you are all going to enjoy working with her¡±

    Dimitri smiled at thatstment. Oh, he nned to enjoy working with her alright, he thought.

    Kelly smiled at her father, before turning to the people seated at the conference table. ¡°I¡¯m so excited¡­. and nervous, I have to admit, to be here. But I assure you all that I have thepany¡¯s best interests at heart and I look forward to working with you all¡­ ¡± she said, with a huge smile stered on her face.

    A smile that died when she dared to look at the faces of the people she was addressing, and her eyes fell on a particr one.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Kelly had been nervous about the meeting

    ¡­. Nervous about joining thepany and taking control when she knew nothing about it. She wasn¡¯t quite sure what she expected, but it definitely wasn¡¯t to see the man she had a one night stand with seated in the room.

    Her eyebrows raised slightly and her brown eyes widened in surprise. She almost gasped, but stopped herself immediately, reminding herself that she was standing In front of thepany¡¯s staff. Her voice and breath crowded into her throat like an angry mob, strangling her for a long, panicked moment, and horizontal lines formed on her forehead.

    Still, she didn¡¯t look away as a parade of vivid, explicit images of the evening she had spent with the man flooded her brain. Her belly clenched, a dark swirl of desire eddying far south of her navel. shes of those lust-drenched hours burst in her head like fire-works across a dark July night.

    Dimitri kneeling before her legs In her car, his lips glistening with the evidence of the desire he¡¯d coaxed out of her with that same talented mouth. Dimitri leaning over her,  his hands gripping her waist, his big body moving over hers¡­in hers. The sharp angles and nes of his face as she rode him the second time. The way his cock felt and swelled when he came inside her.

    Heat rushed up her chest and throat and poured into her face. She looked away from him and swallowed hard, trying to conceal the flush that surely stained her cheekbones.

    But he saw.

    Dimitri saw because he had been watching her closely. Saw her reaction to him¡­. Every expression on her face. And he knew exactly what she was thinking about. He knew that she remembered¡­. She remembered him alright. The realization excited him. Why, he wasn¡¯t quite sure.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right Kelly?¡±

    Kelly heard her father say, and she realized that he was still talking and she hadn¡¯t heard a word he said or what he had asked her, so she simply nodded her head in agreement.

    From the corner of her eyes, she saw Dimitri grin. The bastard, she thought. She wanted to kill him.

    She was ufortable throughout the meeting, mostly because Dimitri Collins wouldn¡¯t stop staring at her with those piercing eyes of his. Everytime she looked in his direction, he was watching like a hawk.

    And he knew. She knew that he knew that he was making her ufortable with his gaze, and that he was enjoying her difort. She couldn¡¯t wait for the meeting to be over, so she could find out what business he had with Darcy Enterprises, and probably find a way to put an end to it.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    The meeting was finally over, and as soon as she had a small talk with some of thepany staff, Kelly was already to go. She had already grabbed her bag, ready to avoid the embarrassing and awkward situation that she knew would be created if she spoke to Dimitri Collins.

    She wasn¡¯t able to execute her n though and she groaned inwardly when her father suggested that she and Dimitri stayed in the conference room after the others left.

    ¡°Honey,¡± her father began when there was no one else in the room except the three of them, ¡°I would like you to meet Dimitri Collins, he¡¯s an investor and shareholder and I have known him for four years¡± he turned to Dimitri, ¡°And Dimitri, this is my daughter, Kelly Darcy. Kelly is, as you will soon find out for yourself, a very smart youngdy and is great at everything she does¡±

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m sure she is,¡± Dimitri drawled, recalling her epic performance on stage, and she knew that he was being obnoxious enough for her to notice. He stood, and extended his hand to her.

    ¡°It¡¯s really nice to meet you¡­. Kelly¡± he said, like they hadn¡¯t met before, savoring her name as if it were some rich chocte dessert. ¡°Such a lovely name. And it fits you.¡±

    That voice¡­ she thought, and a current of something dark and sultry sted through her as she shook his hand.

    Her eyes widened, an emotion he would¡¯vebeled panic ring in their depths before she lowered hershes, hiding her gaze from him. Again.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr Collins. it¡¯s nice to meet you too,¡± she replied stiffly. He still hadn¡¯t let go of her hand and Kelly slid her hand out of his with more force than necessary, like it burned to keep her hand in his, and she saw him grin. She wanted to p that smug smile off his face, but she decided to ignore him and they all took their seats. He could grin all he wanted, she thought.

 14

    ¡°I wanted Kelly here from now on because as you know, she will be taking control of thepany soon and I want her to be ready.¡± Raymond began, referring to Dimitri. ¡°Now that she is here, and you have heard what I said during the meeting, will you reconsider and stop your n to buy mypany?¡±

    ¡°No I will not,¡± Dimitri replied simply, his mouth set in a grim line as he returned Raymond Darcy¡¯s cold stare.

    If you could burn a hole in someone¡¯s head with a stare, Kelly was sure Dimitri would have a big hole in his forehead by now, judging by the way her father was ring at Dimitri, his jaw tense and jutting forward slightly. But she needed to understand this well first.

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± she began, and the two men turned their attention to her, as if they had just remembered that she was in the room. She turned to Dimitri, ¡°I just want to get one thing straight. You want to buy my father¡¯spany?¡± she repeated, almost as if she couldn¡¯t believe her ears.

    Dimitri said nothing, but he simply nodded his head.

    Her gaze moved from Dimitri to her father. He was still ring at Dimitri, his eyes shooting daggers at him.

    She shook her head and returned her attention to Dimitri, ¡°Why would you want to do that? If you buy thepany, doesn¡¯t that give you control over it?¡± she asked.

    ¡°You are damn right it does¡±  Dimitri replied.

    ¡°That is not going to happen, Dimitri,¡± Raymond thundered. His lips tightened and his nostrils red outwards. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, Collins, or I wille after you with everything I have, and trust me it will not be pleasant.¡±

    ¡°And I look forward to it¡± Dimitri replied calmly, an unconcerned expression on his face, like Raymond Darcy¡¯s threat meant nothing to him.

    ¡°Mr Collins,¡± Kelly began, and Dimitri lifted an eyebrow. Seriously? She was seriously going to continue referring to him as Mr Collins? They were way past thest name basis, she had to know that. He almostughed then. Kelly noticed the look and decided to ignore that too. Being in the same room with him was distracting enough, and she definitely wasn¡¯t going to add to her difort by getting distracted.

    ¡°What do you intend to do with my father¡¯spany, if you do get control of it?¡± she asked Dimitri.

    ¡°I intend to break it up into pieces before I sell it, it¡¯s worth more that way¡± he said truthfully.

    Raymond Darcy jumped to his feet. Anger zed in his eyes and Kelly put a hand on his arm to calm him down, but he wasn¡¯t listening. His eyebrows lowered and pulled closer together, and vertical wrinkles appeared between them.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite a n, Dimitri, but if you think for one second that I¡¯m going to just sit back and watch you turn Thirty years of my life into scrap or some kind of garage sale, then you are sadly mistaken. I have told you, I can get mypany out of this mess, I just need to get that contract¡±

    ¡°Damm it, for God sake, Darcy ¡± Dimitri red up, pushing his chair backwards so suddenly Kelly flinched, he rose to his feet, and stabbed a finger in Raymond¡¯s direction. ¡°You said that months ago, damn it. I gave you a chance months ago and you didn¡¯t deliver. This is the best thing to do to avoid losing millions. I don¡¯t know what to say to you anymore. What the fuck do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°I want you to leave mypany the hell alone¡± Raymond thundered.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do that. I own ten million shares¡± Dimitri replied, his voice a bit calmer now, but he still sounded really pissed.

    Kelly sat in her chair, aware that none of them were in the mood to listen to her at the moment. She would have to talk to them individually, get to the bottom of this once and for all. She didn¡¯t want her father to lose hispany. She knew how much time and money he had invested into it. He wanted her to have it, and even if she was nervous, she wanted it. Growing up without a mother, she¡¯d wanted her father¡¯s attention, but most times, he was always too busy, and at a point she¡¯d stopped trying. She had moved from the house to a boarding school and then off to college.

    But now he wanted her¡­ Needed her around. She could see in his eyes how much he wanted hispany to stay running¡­. How worried he was about it. Thispany could bring them together. It belonged to her father¡­ It belonged to her¡­ To their family, and she couldn¡¯t just let anyone take it away.

    ¡°I will buy your stock back¡±  she heard her father say.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do that, thepany is going bankrupt. You don¡¯t have the money¡± came Dimitri¡¯s reply.

    Raymond sighed deeply, obviously losing his temper again, ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem as soon as I get this contract¡­.¡±

    ¡°If¡­¡± Dimitri cut in, ¡°Don¡¯t talk as if you are sure about it¡­. You can only buy back the stock If you get the contract. And I just told you, I¡¯m not willing to bet on that¡­. Not anymore. Besides, I don¡¯t know why you are making such a big deal out of this, you are going to benefit greatly from what I want to do. You will get a lot of money from this too¡­. ¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. I¡¯m rich enough. All that matters to me is mypany. I want my daughter to have it¡±

    Dimitri¡¯s gaze dropped to Kelly¡¯s, but he looked away immediately his eyes met hers. He knew that he was very attracted to her¡­ Maybe even had a soft spot for her, but he wasn¡¯t going to let that get in the way of his business. Nothing and no one came between him and money, and it wouldn¡¯t start now.

    ¡°Well if she¡¯s going to be taking over thepany, don¡¯t you think the first thing she should learn is being punctual to meetings?¡± he asked.

    Kelly wanted to kill him that instant. ¡°I was busy looking at some papers my father wanted me to go through. I was busy¡± she said, ring angrily at him.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

 15

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you were,¡± Dimitri said to her before he turned back to Raymond. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but there is nothing you can say that will make me change my mind about this. The n is already in motion. I¡¯m going to get that loan from the bank and buy thepany. Majority of the shareholders agree with me. Darcy Enterprises is going down and that¡¯s something you are going to have toe to terms with for you own good and for your own peace of mind¡±

    Raymond Darcy¡¯s hands balled into fists and his voice became dangerously quiet. ¡°Fine¡± he said thickly, his lips drawn in tightly, then he gave a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°Go ahead, Dimitri, but watch your back. I swear, I¡¯m going to tear you apart¡±

    Dimitri smirked and leaned closer, epting the challenge, ¡°And like I said before, Raymond Darcy, I¡¯m looking forward to it¡±

    Raymond Darcy marched angrily out of the conference room, and knowing her father, Kelly knew it would be useless to follow him. Dimitri followed immediately, and Kelly fumed. If he thought this discussion was over then he was sadly mistaken.

    So she followed him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Kelly tried to m the door shut when she entered Dimitri¡¯s office, but it was air tight and wouldn¡¯t bang shut, instead it just closed softly. It made her even angrier, and Dimitri had to try very hard not tough at the expression on her face

    He said nothing and gestured an arm towards a chair, but she refused to sit, as if she thought she would look more intimidating if she was looking down at him. He sat on the chair she had refused and looked up at her, waiting for her to speak.

    He didn¡¯t have to wait for long.

    ¡°What the hell is your problem?¡± she asked, ring at him, and standing arms akimbo in front of him. All Dimitri could think of was the effect the movement caused on her chest. A little gold cross on her ne spun on its chain as she leaned forward, and when she straightened, it settled in the shadow of her cleavage. It was driving him crazy. She was so hot, he thought, then shook his head and returned his attention to her pretty, angry face.

    He stood too, and stuffed his hands in his pockets, ¡°Well, hello, it¡¯s very nice to see you again, gorgeous¡± he said sarcastically in his deep, baritone voice, sending chills down her spine. She had to admit to herself that she loved his voice. She found his smooth, melodious tones both exotic and seductive.

    Kelly struggled to look unaffected by it. Determined to behave as if his presence in thepany meant nothing more than an unwarranted disturbance. ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said, and raised her eyebrow.

    ¡°I honestly thought that I wouldn¡¯t see you again¡± he continued, like she hadn¡¯t spoken, ¡°And I gotta tell you, you have no idea how d I am to meet you again¡­. I love the sses too by the way¡±

    Kelly decided to ignore that and go straight to the point. Having sex with him and then meeting him here was bad enough, she wasn¡¯t going to worsen the situation by talking about it. And his littlepliment about her sses shouldn¡¯t have made her heart flutter but it did. She hated that. She jutted her chin up and hoped she looked tough and intimidating enough.

    ¡°What are you doing here, Mr Collins?¡± she asked, ¡°And why the hell are you after my father¡¯spany?¡±

    With an economy of movement that was so much a part of the man, he stepped closer and panic shot through her, his hands still shoved in his pockets. ¡°Mr Collins?¡± he asked, and lifted an eyebrow, ¡°You are really going to keep calling me that? I can understand that you probably put up the act for the benefit of your father, but we are alone now¡­ There¡¯s no need for that¡±

    This damn attraction.

    It was the reason why she had made such a total fool of herself. She had been blinded by the physical attraction so powerful and shattering that it transcended hermon sense.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    For a moment she stood, frozen into stillness by the strength of his presence. There was something intensely sexual about him. Something raw and untamed. Something primitively male. She had sensed it from the first moment she met him and now she was feeling it again as she stood, trapped by her own uncontroble response to him. She felt her nipples harden and thrust against her bra and something dark and dangerous uncurled low in her stomach and spread through her body. Bad nipples, she thought.

    Her throat dried and her fingers tightened around her bag, although why, she had no idea. The man was hardly likely to be nning to steal her possessions. He loomed over her, and Kelly breathed in that amazing scent of him.

    But she wasn¡¯t going to let him push her around. This was her turf, and she called the shots here.

    ¡°Please answer the question,¡­. Mr Collins¡± she repeated, cing emphasis on his name, and she was proud of herself for keeping her voice steady. For behaving with restraint.

    She switched position, taking the opportunity to move slightly away from him, so she was now standing with her hands folded around her body, her right foot was pushed forward and the posture made her hips jut out. Hot indeed, he thought, and grinned.

    Kelly frowned. He looked spectacr in that suit, she thought absently. As spectacr as he did that night, and she envied the ease and confidence in which he moved. He still wouldn¡¯t answer her question, instead he said,

    ¡°Wow, look at you¡­ Defending and fighting for daddy¡¯spany like a good little girl. Let me ask you, sugar, because I¡¯m honestly curious. Does your dad know about your extracurricr activities?¡± he asked and grinned when she looked away. ¡°I know him well enough to know that he wouldn¡¯t approve of your¡­ Dancing¡­. Not that I¡¯mining though¡­. I would honestly love to watch you dance again¡­ And maybe this next time, it will be a special, private show just for me ¡±

    ¡°Then you are going to be waiting for the rest of your life, Mr Collins, because that is not going to happen ¡± Kelly retorted, then she added hastily, ¡°And you better don¡¯t mention a word about it to my father or I swear I¡¯m going to kill you¡±

 16

    Dimitri grinned, and his eyes scanned her from head to toe. She wouldn¡¯t be able to hurt him, he knew that, but he would honestly love to see her try. Maybe he would get close enough to kiss her again. And God, he wanted to kiss her again. She did look really hot when she was pissed.

    ¡°Now why would I tell him about it when it¡¯s something I love so much?¡± he asked, with a smirk on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will be our little secret¡±

    He was even more handsome when he smiled, Kelly thought. But now wasn¡¯t the time to admire the man¡¯s physical attributes. She had to stay focused.

    ¡°I asked you why you want my dad¡¯spany¡± she said, dismissing the topic.

    ¡°You know already. I want to buy it, break it down, and then sell it¡± he said simplyContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°You will do no such thing¡± she snapped. Her eyes shed a challenge and anger rose inside her.

    ¡°Oh you have no idea how wrong you are, hun.¡± he said, and Kelly hated how he managed to remain so calm when she was trying so hard to keep her true feelings contained.

    ¡°That¡¯s one thing you should know about me¡± he continued, and leaned even closer ¡°I can do anything I want, baby¡±

    ¡°I will not let you,¡± she said adamantly.

    Dimitri¡¯s proud head lifted and there was a sh in his eyes. He smiled and took another step closer, till he was a few inches away from her. Gosh, did the man even know how close he was standing? She wondered.

    ¡°Careful, or I¡¯m going to take that as a challenge¡± he said smugly.

    She wasn¡¯t going to back down, so she stood her ground. But he was standing so close to her that she could feel the heat of his body, burning through her clothes and, even as she fought against it, she felt her limbs weaken in an instinctive feminine response to his tant masculinity. Even though she was wearing high heels, his height and the width of his shoulders assured that he dominated her physically. Being this close was both torment and temptation and she felt a helpless rush of wild excitement that she was powerless to quash. And she knew, from the sudden harshness of his breathing, that he was feeling it too.

    Just like it had been two nights ago.

    She hated that she wanted to touch him.

    ¡°Take it any way you want, but I will not sit back and let you do whatever you want with my father¡¯spany. I will not let you. You better rethink your decision. Have a nice day, Mr Collins.¡±

    Deciding that she had made her point, she made to step past him but he caught her arm, long strong fingers closing over her hand in a silentmand.

    ¡°Oh cut the crap, ¡± Dimitri thundered, ¡°Will you stop that?¡± he said, ¡°You and I both know it¡¯s useless to pretend that we haven¡¯t met before now. So will you please cut the ¡®Mr Collins¡¯ crap? I hate when you do that¡­. It¡¯s just too formal. Call me Dimitri for fucks sake¡±

    With his hard masculine body blocking her escape, she felt the hot, hot sizzle of excitement re inside her¡­. And ignored it. She struggled to control the throb in her heart and the slow, delicious curl of awareness in her stomach. These feelings weren¡¯t real. They didn¡¯t matter. It was just physical, she told herself.

    As if he hadn¡¯t wrecked enough havoc on her senses, he leaned closer to her, his breath warm on her cheek, towards her ear, where he whispered softly, ¡°You didn¡¯t have a problem calling me that two nights ago¡±

    His voice was a soft, seductive purr, making her heart thump with rhythmic force against her chest.

    She snatched her hand away from his. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare tell me what I should or should not call you. You didn¡¯t even know my name until Thirty minutes ago¡± she said smoothly, stepping aside so that she could walk past him, ¡°And now I need to go and¡­.¡±

    ¡°You are not going anywhere,¡± he said. He caught her round the waist and jerked her towards him.

    Standing here with her, frustration and anger a hum in his blood, Dimitri couldn¡¯t deny the presence of the third emotion swirling in his body. Lust. For the plush mouth set in a firm, unsmiling line. For the full breasts that had filled his palms to overflowing that night. For the long, thick legs that fitted perfectly in her skirt. For the sex that had clutched him like a lover¡¯s embrace.

    She lifted a hand in an instinctive gesture of defense, but it was toote. Her body had felt the hard brush of his thighs and responded instantly

    She shook her head and cleared the clouds of dizziness and sucked in a lungful of air but even that was a mistake because the air contained the delicious, erotic scent of him and the clouds around her brain just grew denser.

    ¡°Now it¡¯s really not fair for you to say that.¡± he said silky. His mouth only a breath away from hers, and Kelly wondered if he was going to kiss her¡­. was she going to let him if he tried to?

    He cocked his head, studying her impassive face through narrowed eyes.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me. I told you mine¡±

    The tension between them was overwhelming. Struggling to control herself, she held herself rigid in his arms, ¡°You didn¡¯t ask¡± she said, and pushed with all her strength until he released her, ¡°Probably because you are using to having one night stands with strangers every night¡±

    ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t have time to ask, since you practically kicked me out of your car immediately we were done and yet I¡¯m not fighting you about it¡± he scoffed, then added, ¡°Wow, people think I¡¯m mean, they should meet you. If there¡¯s anyone here who should be using anyone of using people for one night stands, it¡¯s me ¡±

    Kelly realized how rude she must have seemed that night. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to embarrass him, but the truth was that she¡¯d been ashamed that night¡­. Ashamed that she had let go of herself sopletely, with a stranger for that matter. But that was not a good excuse to make him leave the way she did. She knew she would have been very upset if he had done that to her.

 17

    ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry but I didn¡¯t mean to do that. I have been really worried abouting here today because I don¡¯t know much about thepany. I needed some kind of distraction and there you were¡­. I mean¡­. You understand what I mean¡­ I don¡¯t mean that I just used you as a distraction¡­. I just mean that¡­. I don¡¯t even know. I¡¯m rambling, I know. I tend to keep on rambling when I¡¯m nervous till someone stops me¡­. and I feel like I¡¯m saying the word ¡®mean¡¯ a lot¡±

    ¡°Okay okay. Stop please¡± Dimitri said, and watched as she breathed deeply and buried her face in her hands. There was a brief silence while he studied her beneath distractingly thick darkshes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry too¡± he said finally, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t ask. I guess we both just got caught up in the moment. That night with you¡­. It was beautiful¡­.¡± he paused, and then added, ¡°And I would dly be there for you if you need me to distract you anytime¡±

    She lifted her head, suddenly shy again, trying to avoid his gaze, and also trying not to smile at hisst statement. She had seen the heat that had suddenly entered those dark, caressing eyes as he spoke of that night. Instantly making her aware of how tingly her breasts felt, the nipples were pebble-hard and aching, and she hoped he couldn¡¯t see the outline through her bra and shirt.

    Dimitri closed in on her, the width of his shoulders ensuring that he was the focus of her gaze. She could no longer see the desk behind him.

    All she could see was glittering, dark eyes and a hard sensual mouth that knew how to drive a woman to distraction. Slowly, he lifted a hand and brushed her cheek gently with his fingers.

    ¡°You said something about being nervous. Tell me, Do I make you nervous, Kelly?¡± he asked thickly.

    She had forgotten about everything else from the moment he touched her, ¡°Dimitri¡­¡± she began. She wanted to tell him to move away, that they shouldn¡¯t be doing this, that he shouldn¡¯t be touching her like this, but his name sounded like a plea on her lips and she watched his mouth curve slightly in acknowledgement of that plea. He could see everything, she thought desperately. He knew she wanted him again. Knew her thoughts. Her feelings. The strange buzz in her body. He had ess to all of it.

    ¡°Yes¡­. Kelly¡± he drawled, the smile on his face hovered somewhere between self satisfaction and amusement, urging her to continue speaking.

    She moistened her lips. ¡°I should go back to my office now-Dimitri?¡± Her gaze was raised to his in rm as his hand moved to curve around the nape of her neck.

    ¡°Dimitri¡± she said again, But she could only protest half-heartedly as that hand tightened and he began to draw her inexorably closer to him.

    Kelly couldn¡¯t move. She couldn¡¯t move away¡­.. She didn¡¯t want to. She wanted to taste his lips again. Only for a little while, they didn¡¯t have to go overboard, she told herself.  She felt totally captivated by the intensity of his eyes as his gaze so easily held hers. Her lips were already moist and parted as his mouth imed hers. First gently, searchingly. Then hungrily as he opened her lips even further at the same time as he pulled her into his heat and curved her body into his much harder one.

    Her response was instant. Spectacrly out of control, and her hands moved up his chest and she clung to those wide muscled shoulders as Dimitri¡¯s lips continued to devour and im hers.

    She didn¡¯t have the will-power to protest, was too lost in pleasure as they kissed with lips, tongues and teeth. Fiercely. Hungrily. Memories of that night urging them on.

    Dimitri moved backward so she was pressed against his desk, and then in one swift movement, he lifted her so she was seated on the desk and he stood between her legs. Kelly pulled her lips from his.

    ¡°Dimitri, the door¡± she said, but she still held on to him.

    ¡°It¡¯s locked. And nobody is going toe in unless I ask them to¡± Dimitri replied hastily, and crushed his lips back on hers.

    Kelly¡¯s hands moved restlessly across Dimitri s back, tracing and caressing each and every part in a way that seemed to increase the hunger of his mouth as it moved passionately over hers.

    When she tried to take off her sses, he stopped her, ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°leave them on Kelly¡±

    She did as he asked and his hands moved to curve about the firm thrust of her breasts, the soft pad of his thumbs tracing the outline of her hardened nipples, the elusiveness of those near caresses sending rivers of expectation, pleasure, pooling between Kelly¡¯s thighs.

    She wanted-Oh, God, she wanted¡­!

    She broke the kiss to gasp. ¡°Please, Dimitri¡­!¡± And that gasp became a shuddering cry as he pushed her shirt and bra, exposing her hardened nipple and then lowered his head to im the fiery tip, drawing the nipple into the heat of his mouth andving it with the rasp of his tongue¡­

    But it was still not enough as far as Dimitri was concerned. He wanted to see, to touch, to kiss every silken inch of Kelly¡¯s bare flesh.

    He moved his mouth reluctantly from her breast so that he could move back slightly, his dark gaze resting briefly on her flushed face before he nced down to watch as he undid her buttons, pulling the shirt down even further so that he could bare her breasts, full and lush, the nipples a deep rose-pink, perfect in their arousal.

    The skin of his hands looked dark against the pale creaminess of her flesh as he cupped the fullness of both breasts, iming those nipples to roll them, gently squeeze them between thumb and finger. Dimitri felt his thighs throb in the same pleasurable rhythm as Kelly thrust her breasts forward in silent offering.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Dimitri groaned his satisfaction as he moved between her parted legs, and then bent his head to take one delicious-tasting nipple into his mouth even while his hand continued tovish attention on its twin.

    She was so responsive, and Dimitri couldn¡¯t get enough of her as he turned his head to pay attention to her other nipple, licking, biting, sucking, pleasuring her until Kelly writhed against him, her breasts jutting higher so that he could draw her even further into his mouth.

 18

    His erection was thick and hard, pulsing with need, and Dimitri was almost losing control just at the thought of having Kelly¡¯s lips on him, about him, in that intimate way.

    He was breathing hard as he finally raised his head.

    ¡°Touch me, Kelly. For God¡¯s sake, touch me!¡± he said hoarsely

    Kelly immediately obeyed his plea, moving a caressing hand down the tautness of his muscled abdomen until she could cup the hardness between his thighs, instantly feeling the way his arousal, so long and thick, leapt eagerly, hotly, against her hand.

    Dimitri reached between them to open his belt and push his trousers down his hips, his arousal jutting forward eagerly as Kelly¡¯s fingers closed about him and the soft pad of her thumb touched and stroked him until he hardened even further.

    Kelly moaned softly at this physical evidence of Dimitri¡¯s arousal. He was steel encased in velvet, the blood pulsing fiercely, hotly, as he swelled beneath her questing hand.

    Her own body was wound so tight she felt as if there was a coiled spring inside waiting for release, and she offered no resistance when Dimitri reached between them once again, this time to pull her shirt down even further and to push her skirt upward so it formed a ring around her waist. With he swift movement he reached out and slid hercy panties out of the way.

    Kelly¡¯s legs parted invitingly and she continued to touch and caress Dimitri as he thrust rhythmically into her encircling fingers.

    ¡°Baby, I¡¯m going to make a mess if you don¡¯t stop now!¡± he groaned, and he reached down to remove her hand, instead pushing her so she would lie on the desk, nudging her legs apart so that he go down onto his knees between them to look down at her nakedness.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    A burst of self-consciousness red inside her chest, and she fought not to edge backward, away from his hot gaze. But as if he¡¯d read her intentions, Dimitri cupped her hip, preempting any movement she might¡¯ve made to hide.

    ¡°You are so beautiful. When a man stands before beauty like yours, there¡¯s only one position he¡¯s supposed to be in,¡± he murmured. Slowly, he lowered himself to his knees, tipping his head back to continue to meet her gaze.

    ¡°You deserve to be worshiped.¡± He swept his lips across her stomach. ¡°And pleasured.¡± Another sweep, but over the top of her sex. Heat coiled tight, and her core clenched at the tantalizing caress. ¡°Give me permission to give you that.¡±

    It might¡¯ve emerged as an order, but he wouldn¡¯t continue without her go-ahead. She somehow knew that. She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, her hips rising in invitation.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she breathed, tunneling her fingers through his hair. Holding on tight. Big, elegant hands brushed up her calves and thighs, and she wondered at the calluses adding a hint of roughness to the caress. But then she ceased thinking at all.

    She cried out, her startled gaze rising to Dimitri as she felt his hand glide smoothly along her inner thigh. She could see the dark passion in his eyes as he looked down at her bared thighs, knowing by the wild gleam in them, and the flush beneath his hard cheekbones, how aroused that made him feel.

    Kelly cried out again as he touched lightly between her thighs. She was so swollen there, so aching and aroused that she knew herself to be bnced on the very edge of climax.

    Dimitri¡¯s gaze was hot, scorching, as he felt Kelly¡¯s instant response when he slowly parted the silky curls, baring that pulsing nub. He used one finger to lightly stroke around, above and below that arousal, without quite touching it, drawing out Kelly¡¯s pleasure as she groaned and whimpered and writhed her hips in search of that caressing finger.

    Dimitri pushed her legs even wider apart so that he might caress her lower still, instantly feeling how she opened for him as he stroked the swollen entrance and found her hot and slick with need, her hips  arching upwards in a plea for release.

    A soft scream escaped her parted lips as he dipped the tip of his finger inside her wet and creamy tightness, her muscles convulsing greedily about him, the soft panting of her breath telling him how very close she was to exploding.

    ¡°Not yet, sugar!¡± Dimitri said as he slowly withdrew his finger to resume his yful caresses.

    Around.  Above. Below. Never quite touching¡­ He continued those tantalizing caresses even as he stood and lowered his head to her bare breast, once again drawing hungrily on her nipple, groaning low in his throat as he felt Kelly¡¯s hands be entangled in his hair as she held him to her.

    ¡°Please, Dimitri!? she cried out restlessly, desperately, as her fingers tightened painfully in his hair.¡± Please¡­!¡±

    ¡°Say it again, Kelly¡± Dimitri groaned against the moist heat of her nipple. ¡°Say my name, damn it!¡±

    ¡°Dimitri¡­?¡± she breathed raggedly.

    ¡°Yes!¡± he rasped, ¡°Say it, Kelly. Say it!¡±

    ¡°Dimitri¡­ Oh!¡±

    Her cries became a gasping litany as Dimitri kissed his way slowly down the tness of her stomach, over the smoothness of her hips, until he reached those damp, fiery curls between her legs, when that cry became another scream as he ced his lips about her and then stroked his skilled tongue against the throbbing center of her desire.

    His lips¡­ His tongue¡­ They were voracious. Feasting on her, leaving no part of her unexplored, untouched. Long, luxurious swirls, decadent and wickedps and sucks¡­ He drove her insane with pleasure.

    He spread her wider, hooking her leg over one of his wide shoulders, granting himself easier ess.

    Like a ravenous beast, he growled against her sensitive, wet sex, and the vibration shoved her closer to the edge of release. Kelly arched up to that stroking tongue as ecstasy ripped through every part of her, threatening to shatter her into a million pieces.

    ¡°You¡¯re so fucking sweet,¡± he rasped, nuzzling her. He uttered the words almost as if to himself, and with one palm molded to her behind, he dragged the other up the inside of her spread thighs.

    Then he was filling her. Two fingers plunged inside her, and like a match struck to dry kindling, she sparked, red, exploded into mes. Dimly, she caught his rough encouragement of ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. That¡¯s it.¡±

 19

    She loosened a hand from his hair and pped it over her lips, muffling her cries as she came against his mouth, her hips rolling and jerking. Her muscles convulsed in an endless release as Dimitri continued to pleasure her, until Kelly finally copsed back weakly,pletely sated.

    The moment she came down from her high, Kelly became aware of the coldness and hardness of the desk against her back. She was immediately brought back to the reality of where she was, who she was with, and what had just happened.

    ¡°I have always found regret to be a wasted emotion,¡± Dimitri murmured dryly some minutester, when Kelly made no effort to lower the hand she had draped over the top of her face. She was so embarrassed.

    As if not being able to see him would make all that had just happened go away! Which was pretty ridiculous when they were both still half naked¡­ Dimitri leaned over her, looking down at her. Her breasts were slightly red, the nipples still engorged and dusky pink from the ministration of his lips and tongue, and those fiery curls between her legs were damp from her recent release.

    He drew in a shaky breath.  ¡°Kelly¡­¡± he began to say.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this now!¡± Kelly snapped fiercely, lowering her hand so that she could re up at him.

    ¡°Or ever?¡± he guessed ruefully.

    ¡°Or ever!¡± Kelly echoed as she sat up to adjust her clothes.

    Dear God¡­!

    What had happened to her just now? How could she have allowed herself topletely unravel in Dimitri¡¯s arms like that?  Especially after she knew who he was. Something was definitely wrong with her. The man was after her father¡¯spany. Imagine sleeping with the enemy! How could she have been so foolish!

    ¡°I like your hair all soft like this-¡±  Dimitri said

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Kelly flinched back as Dimitri would have reached out and touched the silkiness of her hair.

    Dimitri¡¯s eyes darkened angrily as his arm dropped back to his side. ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to object a few minutes ago when I touched you!¡± he said as he began to fix his clothes too.

    Colour burned Kelly¡¯s cheeks as she remembered all too clearly the shameful way she had pleaded for his touch. She had been so aroused, so aching, so desperate for release as she urged Dimitri to give her what she needed¡­ Something he had done beyond her wildest imaginings! Just like he had that night¡­. and she had spent the whole weekend thinking about him.

    She swallowed hard, her gaze no longer meeting his. ¡°I must have been out of my mind.¡± she said finally.

    ¡°Oh, you were,¡± Dimitri said pointedly. ¡°Completely and wildly out of your mind.¡±

    Her eyes shot furious sparks at him. ¡°Do you have to sound so-so damned triumphant about it?¡±

    He gave an unrepentant shrug. ¡°It¡¯s a natural reaction in a man when he knows he has just given his woman pleasure.¡±

    What the hell did he just say?

    ¡°I¡¯m not your woman,¡± Kelly gasped incredulously.

    ¡°Just say the word and you could be,¡± Dimitri drawled softly, having no idea how he would handle having someone like Kelly in his life, especially with all this drama with her father, but knowing that giving this woman pleasure twice hadn¡¯t been nearly enough to satisfy his own appetite for her.

    He wanted to make love to her again. And again. And have her make love to him, too¡­ The throb of his thighs ached all over again just at the thought of having the fullness of her lips about him, her tiny tonguepping the length of him¡­

    ¡°For how long?¡± She came back challengingly.

    Dimitri shrugged. ¡°For as long as itsted,¡± he replied.

    ¡°¡®It¡¯ being a purely sexual rtionship?¡± she asked again.

    ¡°Of course.¡± came his reply.

    Kelly gave a disgusted shake of her head. ¡°I have absolutely no wish to be thetest woman in what I have no doubt is the very long line of your conquests!¡± She spat the words at him as though he had just mortally insulted her.

    The coldness of her rejection was like a p in the face. ¡°It¡¯s funny how you insinuate that I¡¯m some kind of guy who just goes around and sleeps with people when you are doing exactly the same thing I¡¯m doing. You were the one who was just moaning half naked on my office desk two minutes ago.¡± he taunted sarcastically.

    Colour heated Kelly¡¯s cheeks at this, knowing he was right, and the smart thing to do right now was leave. She had already embarrassed herself enough.

    ¡°I¡¯m going back to my office now,¡± she bit out abruptly as she rose to her feet, pulling her skirt down and smoothening it while Dimitri made no effort to hide his admiring nce.

    When she was decent again, she returned her attention to Dimitri. Hating that they hadpletely diverted from the issue that had brought her to his office. But they had to talk. She had to find a way to keep her father¡¯spany.

    ¡°Leave my father¡¯spany alone, Dimitri,¡± she said.

    He frowned instantly, then turned away from her, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that¡± he said stiffly.

    ¡°You can¡¯t or you won¡¯t?¡± Kelly asked behind him and Dimitri groaned inwardly. He never let his personal life affect his business and he wasn¡¯t going to start now. He turned to face her.

    ¡°Kelly, I¡¯m not going to deny the fact that I have a thing for you¡± he began, and Kelly had to stop her silly heart from doing a stupid dance when she heard those words.

    ¡°Hell, I have a soft spot for you because I¡¯m attracted to you¡± he continued, ¡°But I don¡¯t get sentimental when ites to work. I understand that you might be upset, but your father will be getting a lot of money when this is over¡­.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°It¡¯s not about the money Dimitri¡± Kelly yelled, and stomped her feet on the floor. ¡°My dad just wants thepany to continue running¡­. This is something he has spent his entire life building and you can¡¯t just tear it down¡±

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m sure your father will understand that it¡¯s just work and nothing personal. He will get over it eventually¡± Dimitri said casually as he walked past her to go behind his desk. He took his seat and looked up at her and Kelly hated it. She looked like a student being scolded in the principal¡¯s office, she thought.

 20

    ¡°Besides, he didn¡¯t have a big problem with it when he did the same thing to a fewpanies back in the day.¡±  Dimitri added

    That wasn¡¯t true, Kelly thought and shook her head. Her father wouldn¡¯t do such a thing to anyone.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying,¡± she said adamantly.

    ¡°Oh am I?¡± Dimitri asked, and pulled a bottle of wine and sses from his drawer. After he had poured them both a drink, he offered her one, which she refused to ept.

    Kelly needed a drink, but she shook her head. She wasn¡¯t here to share a drink with him. Unspeakable things seemed to happen whenever she was around this man¡­ Amazing things that made her body tingle all over, she thought, remembering the minutes she had just spent in his arms.

    Whenever she was with him she was wild, crazy and all her inhibitions seemed to be lowered. She didn¡¯t want to find out what she would do if she was drunk in a room with him¡­

    ¡°Your father has helped to bring down otherpanies for his own personal gain¡± Dimitri continued, ¡°You can ask him about it. He¡¯s just cranky because this time, it¡¯s hispany on the line¡±

    Kelly thought for a while, but she wasn¡¯t going to side against her own father, especially when she hadn¡¯t talked to him. And it still didn¡¯t change the fact that thispany belonged to her family. It belonged to her. It was a way for her to finally get some time to get closer to her father¡­ And she wasn¡¯t going to let anyone ruin that. No matter how hot they were, or how much she wanted them.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t care¡± she replied finally, ¡°But you have to stop what you are doing, Dimitri. My dad isn¡¯t someone you can just mess with¡­. And neither am I¡±

    She had no idea what she was going to do, Kelly thought. And she was actually very worried, but there was no way in hell that she was going to let him know that. Thest thing she wanted was to see him gloat. So she turned and began to walk out of his office.

    Dimitri had no chance to make any reply as he watched Kelly walk away. He sighed heavily as he rxed in his chair and looked up at the ceiling.

    As much as he liked thatdy, his mind was made up about Darcy Enterprises. He had been nning this for a while now, and he wasn¡¯t going to stupidcancel everything for her. No matter how much he wanted her, or how much he enjoyed being around her.

    Kelly obviously wanted to forget what had happened between them, but there was no way Dimitri would ever be able to forget the way she had caught fire in his arms just now. Her ready response to the caress of his mouth and hands on her body. The tremors of her shuddering release.

    Even if he wanted to, there was no way Dimitri could ever forget any of that¡­

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªContent ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Four dayster, Kelly sat in her office, going through some files when her assistant, Nicole knocked on her door.

    ¡°Come in,¡± Kelly replied without lifting her head.

    Nicole walked in, carrying a thin file which she handed to Kelly. Kelly took it and opened it. It contained a single paper¡­.

    Kelly frowned. She had a lot to do and didn¡¯t have time for unnecessary distractions. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked Nicole, who was still standing in front of her desk.

    ¡°It¡¯s a statement from Edward Franklin¡± Nicole replied, a worried expression on her face, ¡°He is withdrawing.

    He¡¯s no longer investing in Darcy Enterprises. Apparently, he got a tip that thepany is gonna fold up soon, and so he is no longerfortable with investing because he doesn¡¯t want to lose his money¡±

    Kelly gasped as she looked from file to Nicole and then back to the file. She and her father had been counting on Edward¡¯s investing in thepany. It would have been a big help for them.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we need anyone to tell us where that so-called tip came from,¡± Nicole said.

    Kelly nodded. She agreed with Nicole and she didn¡¯t need anyone to tell her who the culprit was. After Nicole left she grabbed her suit jacket which she had draped on the head rest of her chair and put it on, then she marched out of her office, file in hand, and headed straight for Dimitri¡¯s office.

    His assistant, Cynthia saw hering and tried to stop her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Darcy, but Mr Collins doesn¡¯t want to be disturbed¡­¡± she began, but Kelly was too angry to listen. She walked past Cynthia, and marched into Dimitri¡¯s office without knocking, while Cynthia followed.

    Dimitri¡¯s head whipped up as soon as they came in. There was a huge frown on his face showing that he didn¡¯t like that he had been interrupted, but Kelly didn¡¯t mind one bit, and she returned his angry gaze.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I tried to tell her, Mr Collins¡± Cynthia said apologetically.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mrs Scott,¡± Dimitri said and waved his hands, signaling Cynthia to leave. When the door shut firmly behind her, he staredzily at Kelly, waiting for her to speak.

    ¡°What the fuck, Dimitri¡± Kelly hissed, throwing all manners out the window in her anger.

    Dimitri rxed in his chair and grinned up at her, ¡°I gotta say that I love hearing you use words like that. You¡¯re always so¡­ Contained. It¡¯s good to see you let go once in a while¡± he said absently, watching with amusement as she red at him and when he saw that he was making her angrier, so he stopped.

    ¡°Okay, what did I do this time Kelly?¡± he asked calmly.

    Kelly threw the file she was holding on his desk. ¡°Oh you know what you did all right, Dimitri, so you better don¡¯t insult me by trying to deny it because you will only end up making me even angrier¡± she replied. ¡°What the hell is that?¡±

    She watched as Dimitri opened the file and scanned the content. He stared at it for a few seconds, and then he dropped the file carelessly on the table. When he lifted his eyes back to hers there was an unreadable expression on his face. Kelly waited for his reply.

    ¡°Looks like a statement from Edward Frank¡± he said simply.

 21

    ¡°Yes it is¡± Kelly snapped, and took a step closer, one hand bnced on her hips, ¡°You are not surprised, are you? And I don¡¯t need anyone to tell me that it was you who told him about thepany¡¯s financial problems. You are the one who wants to bring it down, and so told him to withdraw his funding so you can get what you want. What kind of a person does something like that?¡±

    ¡°A man who knows exactly what he wants¡± Dimitri interrupted, watching her through hooded eyes, but he remained in his chair, calm as always. ¡°And for the record, I didn¡¯t make Edward do anything. I told him what he needed to know and he did what any responsible person would do if they found out that they were about to invest their money in the wrong ce¡±

    He wasn¡¯t even going to deny it. Kelly thought. She had known he was the one, but for some reason she¡¯d somehow hoped that he wasn¡¯t such a horrible person. Why she thought he wouldn¡¯t be able to do something like this, she didn¡¯t know. Even from the expression on his face, she could see that he wasn¡¯t even sorry. She fought the urge to pick the file from the desk and fling it at his head.

    ¡°Why did you do that? You don¡¯t see us trying to stop you from getting your loan from the bank, Dimitri. Don¡¯t push me and make me do something I don¡¯t want to do¡± she threatened.

    ¡°Go ahead baby¡± Dimitri said, grinning as he stood up and began to walk slowly towards her, like a tiger stalking its prey. She refused to move and let hime stand in front of her.

    ¡°Stuff like this makes the game even more interesting and honestly it¡¯s been a long long time since I have had a worthy opponent. It¡¯s been very boring heretely¡­ Until you came along. So bring it on, Kelly Darcy, don¡¯t hold back. I¡¯m sure that whatever it is you dish out, I can take it. I¡¯m doing whatever needs to be done to get what I want and I will not apologize for that. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten to the ce I am today if I was worried about people¡¯s feelings. I don¡¯t understand why this is such a big problem¡­. You guys will benefit from this too¡±

    ¡°My dad and I are not interested in that,¡± she replied. ¡°And I¡¯m so sorry my

    response to you ruining thispany didn¡¯t meet your standards. Should I throw myself at you and squeal with glee? Or maybe get down on my knees in gratitude.¡± She asked sarcastically.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Something dark and¡­hungry flickered in his eyes immediately she said that, and she stiffened against the spark of need igniting deep inside her, tingling in the tips of breasts, clenching between her legs. Damn, even when she was so angry at the man, her body responded to him. Like it had a mind of it¡¯s own.

    He shifted forward until inches separated them. Then he lifted a hand and stroked her chin slowly.

    ¡°When you get down on your knees for me, Kelly, it won¡¯t be out of gratitude,¡± he said in a silken tone that caressed her flesh even as it triggered every feminine warning in her body. This wasn¡¯t a threat.

    It was a promise.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me,¡± she breathed, moving slightly away from him.

    For a heart-stopping moment, he didn¡¯t drop his hand, and in that same moment, she didn¡¯t want him to. She wanted him to drag her closer, consume her mouth like he had in that shadowed hallway at the theater and possess her, im her. Mark her.

    But at the same time, she was very angry with him, and now she didn¡¯t care anymore about words she should or shouldn¡¯t use in the work ce. And she wasn¡¯t one bit sorry when she told him to fuck off.

    He grinned and let her go then, and she exhaled. Relieved. Or at least that¡¯s what she tried to convince herself as she stormed out of his office.

    Relief.

    Not disappointment.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Kelly straightened her shoulders and met Lizzy¡¯s gaze. ¡°This is really nice, but not necessary.¡± She said,

    ¡°Wait, before you toss me out of your house-which you¡¯re well within your rights to do,¡± Lizzy said, holding up a hand. ¡°I know that you are not the kind of person who goes crazy about clothes and makeup. But you called me tonight for a reason, because you want to lookfortable and confident tonight¡­ So let me do my job and do it right. You are so beautiful, and that¡¯s why that Dimitri guy has a thing for you. A gorgeous dress never hurts. Besides¡­ You are paying me well for this¡­. And you haven¡¯t seen the shoes I bought, Kelly.¡±

    Lizzy smiled, an almost avaricious glint in her gaze. ¡°The. Shoes.¡±

 22

    In spite of the lingering embarrassment, Kellyughed.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say he had a thing for me, point of correction¡± she said. ¡°We just had a moment¡­. Some moments actually¡­ But I don¡¯t think he has a thing for me, it¡¯s just sexual attraction¡­ Doesn¡¯t mean anything¡±

    Lizze cleared her throat in a funny way that made Kelly give her a look. ¡°He definitely has a thing for you,¡± she insisted.

    Kelly didn¡¯t want to think about that right now, especially since she was still angry with Dimitri over what he did with Edward Franklin. Capitting, she waved toward the living room. ¡°These better be some shoes,¡± she muttered.

    Lizzie walked ahead of her carrying the small pile of luggage, ¡°One thing you should know about me. I don¡¯t kid about stocks, world peace or footwear. Just let me do this for you, as a thank you for what you did for me at the fashion show¡±

    Chuckling, Kelly let herself be led forward. An hourter, she stood in front of the cheval mirror in her bedroom. And stared.

    This can¡¯t be me, she thought. She knew Lizzie was good with makeup and clothes, and that was why she had asked for her help getting dressed for the party, but Lizze had outdone herself this time.

    She lifted her arm, about to press trembling fingers to the ss, but at thest minute, she aborted the gesture. Sheepish, she nced over her shoulder to see if Lizzy had seen the foolish move, but the other woman was busy packing up her makeup case. Returning her attention to the mirror, Kelly again gaped at the woman gazing back at her.

    Oh hell, she felt like freaking Cindere.

    Instead of hiding her abundant curves, the deep silver dress entuated them. The boat neck flowed into a form fitting top that glided over her breasts and stomach. The rich satin skirt gathered at her waist before falling in stunning draping to the floor.

    Lizzy had parted her hair down the middle and then gathered the thick strands into a bun low in the back. The pointed toe of stilettoes sprinkled with twinkling rhinestones peeked out from under the dress¡¯s hem. Diamond studs that¡¯d had Kelly nearly hyperventting graced her ears and an impossibly thin silver ne with a diamond nestled in the dip of her throat encircled her neck.

    Forget Cindere. She looked like a goddess.

    It both delighted and terrified her.

    ¡°Thank you so much for all your help. I can¡¯t believe you worked that much magic in an hour.¡± She said,

    ¡°Please,¡± Lizzy scoffed, squeezing Kelly¡¯s shoulder before releasing her. ¡°Like I had to do much. You¡¯re gorgeous, Kelly.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Kelly murmured.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your wrap.¡± Lizzie said as sheid a matching length of satin over Kelly¡¯s arm. ¡°Now make sure you have fun¡± Squeezing Kelly¡¯s hand, Lizzie disappeared out of the room.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Kelly Darcy didn¡¯t give a damn. She walked into the ballroom knowing she was the best-dressed woman in the room.

    She crossed the room, smiling and waving at people she knew. She stopped for a quick double-cheek air kiss with an international textile associate, and after a small talk with him, she continued to move around the ballroom. Hopefully, most of the people present would decide to invest in Darcy Enterprises, she thought. She and her father were gradually running out of time to save theirpany, and after his speech and introducing her to everyone present, she was taking her time to talk to people individually, especially those who could be potential investors.

    There had to be at least one hundred people in the massive ballroom. A band yed while staff weaved in and out of the guests with trays of hors d¡¯oeuvres and flutes filled with champagne.

    Glitz and mor were the theme of this party, with some of the top names in business wearing signature gowns and tuxedos.

    She made her way towards up anding business man, Felix Smith. She had vowed to make her father proud by convincing Felix to invest in thepany. She¡¯d practiced her pitch at least a hundred times as she¡¯d dressed for tonight. Now was the moment of truth.

    ¡°Felix Smith, I¡¯m so d that you came,¡± she said,ing to a stop in front of the wealthy businessman. Although this was the first time she was meeting Felix in person, she knew a lot about him and she had personally sent him an invite.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    He was a slim man with a head of sandy-brown curls that fell to his shoulders. His signature ck frame sses and dimples were on full disy as he grinned back at her.

    ¡°The impable Kelly Darcy, so very lovely to finally meet you¡± he replied. He snagged two sses from the tray that was being carried past and offered her one.

    Kelly epted the ss andunched into her pitch. Ten minutes and another ss of champaer, Felix was grinning as he said, ¡°All you had to do was ask. I¡¯d be honored to talk about the possibility of investing in Darcy Enterprises. Thepany sounds promising.¡±

    He had a nice smile, Kelly supposed. She was more concerned with the answer he¡¯d just given her. It earned him a genuine smile from her, even as she began thinking of how fast she could be done with this and go home. She had talked to various people, and things looked promising. The job she¡¯de to do was done, and more than anything else, she was ready for some time alone. To unwind and just be herself. Some-thing, she thought as her fingers moved over the stem of the empty ss she held, that she really loved to do.

    ¡°You won¡¯t regret it,¡± Kelly told him. ¡°Darcy Enterprises is more than its reputation. We pride ourselves on keeping a family oriented work environment. If you were to officially join us, you wouldn¡¯t be just another investor or shareholder-you¡¯d be family.¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to continue to sell me on the offer, Kelly. I¡¯ve been following Darcy Enterprises¡¯ sess for a long time. And I¡¯m honored that you came to speak to me about it. There¡¯s no way I would turn down this opportunity.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m really d to hear you say that,¡± Kelly said.

    ¡°Come on, Kelly let¡¯s dance,¡± Felix said.

    He plucked the ss from her fingers and ced it, with his own, on the next tray to pass them. He was taking her hand before Kelly could cordially turn down his offer and in seconds she found herself on the dance floor.

 23

    The song wasn¡¯t a slow tune, which meant he really didn¡¯t need to hold her so closely. Yet Kelly didn¡¯t pull away. She was certain any one of the media staff that were present would snap a picture on their phone and immediately text it to their editor. The picture of her dancing with Felix would no doubt grace the cover of at least one tabloid first thing tomorrow morning.

    Any otherpany looking to snag Felix would see that Darcy Enterprises had beaten them to the punch. With that thought, Kelly moved easily to the rhythm of the music. She smiled and eased out of Felix¡¯s embrace so she could spin around beforeing back to join him. The move gave anyone aiming for a photo op an unfettered view of her smiling¡­and wearing such a beautiful dress¡­. Thanks to Lizzy.

    Another minute and the song was over. The band would probably continue to y until midnight when the DJ, who was set up in the far corner of the ballroom, would take over. Kelly still hoped to be home early. Her work here was done, and she decided it was time to conclude this meeting.

    ¡°Well, I certainly don¡¯t wish to stop your celebration,¡± she said and dropped her hands from his shoulders. ¡°I appreciate you taking the time to speak to me.¡±

    Felix let his hands slip from her waist. ¡°Surely you¡¯re not leaving the party. We still have an hour to go until midnight. There¡¯s champagne to drink and more dancing to be done!¡±

    Kelly smiled at the joy in his green eyes. ¡°Oh no, I think I¡¯ve had enough partying for one evening,¡± she told him.

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± a deep voice said from behind her. ¡°You have to make time for just one more dance.¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Kelly¡¯s shoulders instantly stiffened at the familiar voice.

    ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you, Felix?¡± he asked as he shook Felix¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Felix replied. ¡°As long as she continues to have a good time. I¡¯ll be talking to you soon, Kelly.¡±

    She managed a quiet good night to Felix, her genuine smile already shifting to a cool, aloof one.

    This time, the band did begin ying a slower tune, and to her dismay, Dimitri Collins stepped closer and asked, ¡°Shall we dance?¡±

    Kelly was still mad at him, and she didn¡¯t like how close he was. Nor did she like how well he wore that suit. Dimitri was too tall, his face was too chiseled, eyebrows too thick and beard cut too precisely. There were waves in his cropped ebony hair, too many of them, and he smelled¡­ Well, the cologne he wore smelled too damn good.

    Dimitri stood with his hands in the pockets of his pants. And God, did he look amazing.

    The perfect man in a tapered ck suit that practically worshiped his tall frame. A stark white shirt emphasized the tones of his skin, while a light blue-and-gray pinstriped tie that appeared to be silk even to her untrained eye, drew attention to the hard wall of his chest. A pocket square of the same pattern and color as the tie peeped out of his jacket and a gold, ck-faced watch adorned his right wrist.

    She¡¯d encircled her fingers around that strong wrist as his full mouth had sexed hers. She¡¯d stroked that chest. Brushed her lips across it while he¡¯d plunged into her over and over again. Faint twinges of pleasure echoed deep and high in her body.

    Drawing in a breath, she frowned at him.

    She wanted so badly to act unaffected by him, but then she ran her palms down her thighs in a nervous gesture she regretted revealing. She raised her gaze to Dimitri¡¯s and resisted the urge to fidget. She waited as his hooded, dark inspection swept over her from the middle part of her hair to the jeweled toe of her shoe. After an insurmountable amount of time- okay, seconds-his scrutiny returned to her face.

    His expression remained as neutral as ever, but his eyes¡­ The minimal amount of air left in her lungs made a break for it. Driven away by the gleam lighting his stare like shes of dry heat. This was not good for her¡­ This attraction to the man, she thought.

    When he looked at her like that-she nervously fingered the small diamond pendant at her throat. When he looked at her like that, he almost made her feel things she didn¡¯t want to feel. And that was dangerous.

    ¡°Dance with me,¡± he stated, and the flinty tone contradicted the ze in his eyes that had mes dancing along all her exposed skin. He withdrew his hands from his pocket and approached her. She almost dipped her head.

    There was no way Kelly would ever let on that she was bothered by any of the above. She nodded and took the final step to close the distance between them.

    ¡°You look stunning tonight,¡± he said the moment his arms slipped around her waist, his hands ttening at the small of her back.

    For the second time tonight, Kelly lifted her arms to let her hands rest on a man¡¯s shoulders. The first time was for business. This time, she prayed, would not overshadow the work she¡¯d justpleted.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she replied, noticing that the color of the tux also added to the intense look in his deep brown eyes, then she added. ¡°Your suit looks great on you too¡±

    He chuckled. ¡°Thank you, Kelly¡±

    For a split second Kelly thought she could be lost in his soulful eyes. She wanted  to run her fingers over his rich skin. That was ridiculous. She didn¡¯t shake her head to clear the thoughts and remind herself of who and what he was, but she did shift her gaze to a woman across the room wearing a blue sequin gown. Again, they were most certainly surrounded by reporters, and photographers, so Kelly¡¯s smile stayed in ce as she concentrated on moving with the music, instead of the fact that she was dancing with the enemy.

    ¡°You look¡­. Distracted,¡± Dimitri said after a few moments of silence.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really like to attend social gatherings like this,¡± she responded before snapping her lips shut. He did not need to know anything personal about her.

    Dimitri looked down at her seriously.

    ¡°You don¡¯t like parties?¡± he asked, as if he couldn¡¯t believe her.

 24

    Kelly frowned. Yes, She did not enjoy gatherings like this¡­. Most wealthy people did, but she wasn¡¯t one of them. Whatever events Kelly attended were carefully selected and always rted to business in some way. She would not admit that thest thing she¡¯d wanted to do tonight was attend this party. If she¡¯d been able to do exactly as she¡¯d wanted, Kelly would be at home, in her bedroom with a cup of hot chocte and a tray of Oreo cookies-her favorite guilty pleasure. She would be in bed wearing her pajamas and watching some movie.

    And if she¡¯d been able to do that, instead of attending this party, she would have missed seeing Dimitri. Kelly was definitely okay with that. She was still mad at him for what he did with Edward Franklin, but the longer he stayed so close to her, she felt that anger slowly slipping away¡­. Reced by a desire to forget everything and throw herself into his arms. She hated feeling like this.

    ¡°I had toe¡­. We need the investors,¡± she told him, and took a step back, letting her hands slide down his chest and torso until they were once again at her sides.

    He looked at her quizzically this time. ¡°The song¡¯s not over.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m done,¡± she replied.

    He released his hold on her and gave a slight nod.

    ¡°Like Cindere running from the ball before the stroke of midnight,¡± he said.

    Kelly lifted her chin. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in fairy tales.¡± she replied, and walked away from him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Damn.

    That woman could wear a bedsheet and she¡¯d still be the sexiestdy he¡¯d ever set eyes on, Dimitri thought. Too bad she was Raymond Darcy¡¯s daughter. Dimitri knew that it was a bad idea to go after her. He didn¡¯t like getting personal when it came to business, but he couldn¡¯t help the attraction to the woman.

    The thought made Dimitri smile, even when his body had already begun to react to seeing her in that silver dress. She looked dangerous, desirable and just a little bit frightening. Like a badass goddess in five-inch heels.

    Dimitri brought the ss to his lips and took a sip of aged whiskey while keeping his gaze leveled on her. She stood across the room, near a highboy table decorated to match the room¡¯s gold-and-ck decor.

    Her hair, which Dimitri preferred loose and dancing over her shoulders, was pulled up so that the slender line of her neck was visible. Diamonds sparkled at her ears and matched the triple-tier bracelet on her left wrist. The dress she wore was absolutely stunning, its tight fit outlining the perfection of her curves. Dimitri took another swallow from his ss and convinced himself that the fixation he¡¯d had on Kelly Darcy, wasn¡¯t at all foolish or immature.

    The man she was speaking to offered her a drink and she epted, but she didn¡¯t sip from the ss. The fact that he was watching her so closely was probably a little obsessive, but nobody had to know that but him.

    ¡°See something you like?¡± a voice said.

    Dimitri didn¡¯t blink at the voice. He did spare a nce to his right though, where Peter Jackson now stood.

    ¡°I see several things of interest,¡± Dimitri replied.

    Peter chuckled. ¡°Kelly Darcy. She is the one you are looking at right? Don¡¯t bother, she would not give you the time of day. Tried to ask her out on a date earlier and she wouldn¡¯t even give me a chance. Just letting you know, she said she¡¯s not interested in anyone¡±

    ¡°Not my concern,¡± Dimitri told him. He was interested alright, but he wasn¡¯t looking to get attached to her. Dimitri had a general affection for women and gave them his time as the need arose. Kelly, on the other hand, upied a space in his mind. She responded to him quite well, and he wanted to explore this thing between them.

    ¡°Yeah, whatever,¡± Peter continued. ¡°Listen, there are dozens of models at my ce. They could note here as they were not invited. You, my friend, are invited to join uster tonight at my ce for another party, if you are interested¡±

    Dimitri managed a nd grin in Peter¡¯s direction. He¡¯d known the guy for years, as he was a wealthy businessman as well.

    ¡°Thanks, but I think I¡¯m good with just this party tonight,¡± Dimitri said.

    Peter shrugged his slim shoulders. ¡°Suit yourself, man.¡± he replied, and walked away.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Alone once again, Dimitri looked across the room only to be disappointed. Kelly was gone. It was just as well. At least he¡¯d had a partial dance with her.

    There could never be anything between them, anyway¡­. Or maybe just sex. He didn¡¯t want more than a physical rtionship, but with the way she had avoided him throughout the night, it was beginning to look like nothing was ever going to happen between them again.

    That meant Dimitri had better things to do than to nurse thoughts about Kelly Darcy. He could save those for when he was alone in bed, as he¡¯d been far too often to admit.

    Finishing his drink, Dimitri decided he had time for one more business connection before he left. He was heading toward a well-known CEO when he caught a glimpse of that infamous silver dress and one long, sexy leg peeking out of the slit in her dress.

    Dimitri knew he shouldn¡¯t do it. He should continue his trek toward the man, share a drink and small talk with him. He should ignore Kelly Darcy the same way she had  ignored him tonight.

    But he didn¡¯t.

    He couldn¡¯t. Which made no sense at all. Dimitri never chased a woman. They were always the ones who came for him¡­ To flirt with him.

    To be fair, he wasn¡¯t actually chasing one now. He was just walking toward the balcony. There was no rule against a man deciding to get some air¡­in a ce that a beautiful woman was doing the same.

    And it wasn¡¯t because each time he¡¯d seen her tonight she¡¯d been with another man-two other men-who had been standing very close to her. That definitely wasn¡¯t the reason he stepped onto the balcony, because Dimitri was not inclined to be jealous of anyone.

 25

    She was on the phone with her back to him.

    He should walk away now. It was tempting as he stood there and thrust his hands into the front pockets of his pants. There were still plenty of women in the ballroom who he could dance with, have drinks with while talking, and maybe even take back home for the night. He also hadn¡¯t forgotten  Peter¡¯s offer to attend his private party. Again, plenty of willing women.

    Dimitri did not have to stand here and deal with Kelly Darcy especially with everything going on with her father, who had red angrily at him throughout the entire night.

    But the moment he heard the small hitch in her voice as she spoke to whoever she was speaking to, he knew he wasn¡¯t going up to any private party.

    And he wasn¡¯t going to snag some other woman from the ballroom. He was going to stay right here until he knew Kelly was okay.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she continued. ¡°I told him that.¡±

    She was nodding while holding the cell phone to her ear, as if the person she was speaking to could somehow see her.

    ¡°I said that, too. Look, Chris, I just want to speak with him. Just find a way for me so I can meet him in person, I¡¯m sure that if I talk to him, he will be willing to invest. Right now, I just need him to give me his attention¡±

    So this was about business, Dimitri thought. She was talking to Chris, trying to get him to fix a meeting for her and Chandler Thompson, another wealthy businessman. Dimitri almost turned back at that point. He had already stopped her from getting Edward Franklin to invest. And now that he had heard her, he could do the same with Chandler Thompson. That was what he would do normally, but for some reason this time, he found himself hesitating.

    ¡°Yes. Thank you. I really appreciate you helping me out with this¡± she finished before pulling the phone away from her ear and disconnecting the call.

    Dimitri watched as she leaned over, resting her elbows on the railing. Straight ahead were the lights that were glittering. A gorgeous sight to behold. But Kelly lowered her head and sighed.

    Dimitri realized how worried she was about thepany then. He had worked with her for only a short time, buy he had already seen that Kelly was a fierce, intelligent woman and was already proving herself as one of the most talented and shrewd business woman he¡¯d ever met.

    And she was gorgeous and on point every second of every day.

    His first instinct was to walk right up, wrap his arms around her waist and revel in the feel of her back pressed against him. He would remind her that there was a time for business and a time for pleasure. Then he would drop a soft kiss on her temple and continue to hold her until she cuddled into his embrace. Then he would¡­ Dimitri cleared his throat and pushed those ridiculous thoughts out of his mind.

    ¡°How can you enjoy the party if all you care about is work?¡± he asked, still standing a short distance away from her.

    She jumped, her elbows slipping on the railing so that it appeared she might fall. Dimitri didn¡¯t hesitate.

    He hurried over, wrapping his arm around her waist in the same way he¡¯d just been contemting, and pulled her back against him.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he whispered against her temple. ¡°I¡¯ve got you now.¡±

    For a split second Kelly enjoyed thefortable warmth that engulfed her. But when his breath whispered over her skin and the reality of who he was and where they were hit her, she quickly moved out of his grasp.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked as she spun around to face him. ¡°Were you eavesdropping on my conversation? Is that why you came to this party? You have no interest in saving thepany so why exactly are you here?¡±

    Kelly was mad at him. She was sure that he had followed her out here for a reason.

    ¡°I was concerned when you left the party and I wanted to make sure you were all right,¡± he said and casually folded his arms across his chest.

    His legs were slightly spread, so that he looked formidable and enticing all at once. It appeared to be a practiced move-no doubt it was intended to make women swoon, and she hated that Dimitri looked so good standing there. It made it harder for her to stay mad at him. And she wanted to stay mad.

    Kelly cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said evenly. ¡°Thank you for your concern, but you can leave now.¡±

    He smiled. A slow and potent action that had her clenching the phone and her purse just a little tighter.

    Kelly had no idea why this was always her reaction to him. He was just a man, after all. She interacted with a lot of men on a daily basis. Even when she used to dance, she met a lot of attractive men. There was nothing about Dimitri Collins that made him any different from the others.

    Still, that never stopped her from reacting to his presence, no matter how hard she tried not to.

    Even now, the heat that always suffused every part of her when he was around was creeping to the surface. She felt it in her cheeks, in the way her breasts grew fuller and her center began that slow, needy pulsating.

    ¡°Not until I¡¯m satisfied you¡¯re not going to jump over the railing because you are worried about work,¡± he replied.

    ¡°What? Oh, so you were eavesdropping,¡± she said and frowned.

    ¡°You weren¡¯t exactly whispering,¡± he replied.

    ¡°It was nothing. And as I stated before, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said evenly.

    Kelly took another step back, but not in retreat. She told herself it was self preservation, something she was very good at.

    ¡°Are you afraid of me, Kelly?¡± he asked her

    Her response was an immediate chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± she replied and attempted to walk around him.

    He blocked her path. He didn¡¯t touch but stood directly in front of her. His gaze was dark and intense, deep brown eyes and thick neat brows staring down at her.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 26

    Kelly didn¡¯t look away.

    ¡°You¡¯ve no ce to run,¡± he said, his voice going lower. Sexier.

    She remained unfazed, at least on the outside. ¡°I don¡¯t run from anything,¡± she told him. ¡°And I¡¯m not easily intimidated.¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    He tilted his head curiously and arched a brow. ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± he said.

    He took another step and leaned in before pausing to look down at her hands. Kelly had not moved a muscle. She held eye contact with him. A part of her wanted to take another step around him, while an-other part-the stubborn and inquisitive part-stood still and waited. For what, she wasn¡¯t quite sure. All she knew for certain was that she wanted to know what he was going to do next.

    ¡°I feel like you are avoiding me, Kelly. Why is that?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything like that to you,¡± she replied. ¡°And yes, I don¡¯t want to see or speak to you, but it doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m afraid of you or avoiding you¡±

    ¡°This is about that thing with Edward Franklin, huh?¡± he asked, nodding his head.

    That thing?

    Kelly couldn¡¯t believe how annoying the man was. Talking like she shouldn¡¯t be worried about what he did. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to apologize for it.

    ¡°You know you are such an insufferable asshole, Dimitri¡± she snapped at him, and his eyes widened a little. She couldn¡¯t really read the expression on his face and she honestly didn¡¯t care at the moment.

    ¡°Yeah I said what I said. You are an asshole. You screw people over to get what you want and that is so fucking selfish. And the worst part is that you show no atom of remorse after acting like this. I don¡¯t even know what to say to you anymore¡± she lifted a hand to her forehead and rubbed it, shaking her head. When she looked back at him, Dimitri hated the look on her face.

    Dimitri had never really cared about what people said or thought about him. He was ruthless and he knew it, and when it came to work he liked to bepletely focused. He had been that way¡­ And fine with it¡­ Until Kelly came along.

    And now as he stared at her, he knew that a part of him cared about what this beautifuldy thought about him. She was ring at him right now, like she hated him, and Dimitri didn¡¯t want her to hate him. It baffled him that he cared to this extent, and he didn¡¯t even know a lot about her, but he couldn¡¯t change how he felt.

    She moved to walk past him, but he didn¡¯t let her. Long fingers caught her wrist in a steely grip. ¡°I wish to talk to you properly, Kelly¡­.. In private¡± he said, ¡°This balcony isn¡¯t the best ce to have this conversation¡±

    ¡°But I don¡¯t wish to talk to you in private, Dimitri, or in publice to think of it. This short time I have known you is enough for me to know exactly what kind of person you are, so take my advice and quit while you are only slightly behind.¡±

    His nce reflected barely contained frustration,¡± Let¡¯s talk about this, Kelly ¡°he said.

    ¡°Why? Because that¡¯s what you want and you will do anything to get what you want? I don¡¯t want to talk to you. What are you going to do now, force me? kidnap me?¡±

    His dark eyes were suddenly veiled. ¡°I hardly think such extreme measures will be required,¡± he replied. ¡°I want to talk to you, and If you are honest about your feelings, you will admit to yourself that you want the same thing. I know you are mad at me right now, but you can feel this and so can I. So please just¡­. let¡¯s just talk¡±

    Kelly didn¡¯t let him finish the sentence. ¡°You are insufferably arrogant¡± she gasped, trying to ignore the tiny shock waves that gripped her body. ¡°What ever happened between us was a mistake that I don¡¯t intend to make again¡±

    She was lying. She knew it and so did he.

    Far from being disconcerted, his eyes gleamed and she remembered toote that Dimitri thrived on challenge. He was a man who hunted for obstacles just so he could smash them down and prove his superiority.

    ¡°Do you really mean that, Kelly?¡± he asked her, his voice going lower. His face was just inches from hers as he stood in what should have been an ufortable stance.

    But he wasn¡¯t trying to move. He just stayed there waiting¡­for her.

    ¡°Fuck you, Dimitri¡± she said as she twisted her arm free of his grip.

    He didn¡¯t touch her again, but as she tried to walk past him and out of the balcony, she heard him say something she wasn¡¯t expecting him to say.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kelly,¡± he said softly.

    She halted and stared at him. She almost couldn¡¯t believe he had said that. She didn¡¯t know much about Dimitri Collins, but she knew that the man didn¡¯t apologize often.  She wasn¡¯t even sure if he meant it, but she wasn¡¯t going to let him off the hook that easily.

    ¡°What exactly are you sorry for, Dimitri?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Thest time we talked, there was a lot of tension between us and I just wanted to clear the air,¡± he replied.

    Kelly couldn¡¯t believe the man. ¡°Oh that¡¯s it?¡± she asked, ¡°That¡¯s your apology?¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course not. What I meant was that I¡¯m sorry that I was a little -¡±

    ¡°¡­. Obnoxious? Over the top? Opinionated?¡± Kelly cut in.

    He grinned, ¡°Did you want me to pick one?¡± he asked.

    Kelly sighed. She should have known. The man was just too annoying and proud to actually apologize for anything.  She moved to walk away again, but he spoke hurriedly.

    ¡°Okay. Okay. Yes, all of the above. Can I get a do over? I¡¯m sorry, Kelly¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened at my office the other day. I was rude and I¡¯m truly sorry that I upset you¡±

    The apology softened her a bit, and she stopped giving him the murderous look. She sighed and stepped away from him, back to the railings where she had been standing when he came to meet her.

    ¡°Why are you even here, Dimitri?¡± she asked, her back turned to him. Again he was tempted to hold her, to pull and press her body against his, feel her warmth and breath in that amazing scent of her that had already filled the balcony and was driving him crazy.

 27

    But he didn¡¯t. Knowing that it was a bad time and he would only end up pushing her further away from him. So all he did was to step closer and stand beside her.

    ¡°This party was organized so we could find potential investors. Your aim is to bring down thepany, so why exactly are you here, Dimitri? To talk them out of it just like you did with Edward Franklin?¡± she asked.

    He didn¡¯t look at her. He couldn¡¯t. Maybe because he was a little embarrassed about what he had to say, and he didn¡¯t even know why, but he wanted to be honest with her.

    ¡°I guess I came because I wanted to see you¡± he said simply, still staring out the balcony, refusing to face her.

    She turned to face him then, and he knew that she was surprised by his answer. Hell, he was surprised that he had admitted it, so he didn¡¯t me her when she gave him that look and said, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Yeah I know¡± he said, nodding his head, ¡°It¡¯s crazy I know. I didn¡¯t have toe here tonight. But I wanted to spend some time with you¡­. Outside of work¡­ You know¡­. Without all the drama about thepany. Just two people who are attrac¡­. Urhmmm¡­. People who want to hang out, or something¡­. I don¡¯t know¡±

    He swept his hand over his hair, ruffling it a bit, still not facing her, and Kelly almost smiled. For some stupid reason she liked seeing him like that¡­. She liked knowing that she had some kind of effect on him, and that she wasn¡¯t the only one feeling this way.

    She knew she shouldn¡¯t believe him. Maybe this was another strategy he was employing in order to get his way with thepany. The wise thing to do now was to walk away from him. As long as this thing was going on, she couldn¡¯t be friends with him¡­. Or anything else for that matter

    She knew all that, but when she opened her mouth, she found herself asking, ¡°So why didn¡¯t you just ask me if you wanted us to hang out so bad?¡±

    He turned to face her then, and she shivered, not from the gentle breeze there in the balcony, but at the intense look in his eyes.

    ¡°If I had asked you out, knowing everything that¡¯s happening now and how angry you were thest time we talked, would you have said yes?¡± he asked.

    She wouldn¡¯t have, she knew that. She would have said no, not because she wouldn¡¯t want to go out with him, hell, she would, but things wereplicated right now.

    She gave him a small smile and shook her head,¡±I guess you¡¯re right¡± she replied, ¡°I would have said no¡±

    There was a glint in his eyes that moment, ¡°What if I asked you now, Kelly?¡± he asked softly.

    Kelly didn¡¯t reply. She wanted to say yes. Dear God, she wanted to be with the man. Why the hell did this have to be soplicated? She felt as if she would be betraying her father if she agreed to go out with him.

    ¡°Is that a yes?¡± he asked, when she didn¡¯t say anything for a while.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± he said. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me to get the hell away from you, nor did you try to walk away again¡­. Or mention calling security. So I¡¯m asking, is your silence a yes?¡±

    Kelly licked her now dry lips. ¡°My silence?¡± she asked stupidly.

    He closed in on her, and once again, Kelly was enveloped in that amazing smell of him. She inhaled deeply. ¡°This isn¡¯t new, Kelly. We both know that we want each other, and that those times we had would never be enough. It¡¯s been brewing between us since we met. Are you going to keep brushing it off? Just tonight, Kelly,¡± he said.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired of these quickies,¡± he continued. ¡°We both want to explore this thing between us¡­ Whatever it is, so let¡¯s do it right¡±

    ¡°There is no ¡®thing¡¯ between us to explore,¡± she whispered.

    He eased closer, brushing his lips lightly against hers before pulling back. ¡°Are you sure?¡± he asked softly.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Kelly replied, breathing a little hard

    Dimitri stood up straight. ¡°You¡¯re sure there¡¯s no ¡®thing¡¯ between us? Or you¡¯re sure you won¡¯t give us one more night?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re trying to push my buttons and I¡¯m not in the mood,¡± she replied.

    ¡°And yet, you¡¯re still standing right here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in my way,¡± she countered.

    Dimitri stepped to the side ¡°Now I¡¯m not,¡± he said. ¡°And you¡¯re still here contemting whether or not you¡¯re up for one night with me. You want it but you won¡¯t do it. You are running because that¡¯s what suits you.¡±

    No. He did not just make this a dare. But as Kelly continued to stare at him, she knew that was exactly what he was doing. He was a very attractive man who made her body respond every time she saw him, regardless of what her brain warned. He was the man who had just teased the hell out of her with his kisses and Kelly knew that she wanted more.

    ¡°I have to go say goodbye to the guests before I leave,¡± she said, trying to change the topic. The earlier she got away from him, the better for her.

    Dimitri shook his head and grinned. ¡°You¡¯re killing me here, Kelly. Do you really want to brush this off?¡± he asked.

    Tired of this verbal sparring, Kelly shook her head, a little scared of what she would do if she didn¡¯t get away from him

    ¡°I have to go home, Dimitri¡± she said

    ¡°All right¡± he said softly, ¡°Then at least, let me take you home¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    She shook her head, ¡°My driver is here

    He can take me home¡±

    ¡°I know that Kelly¡± Dimitri replied, ¡°But I want to take you home. Please don¡¯t say no to me for the second time tonight¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Kelly nced at Dimitri, the shadows from passing streemps whispering over his sharp features like ebbing waves. Somehow he had managed to convince her to let him take her home, and after the party, she sent away her driver.

    And now they were in the back seat of his car. Kelly noticed that something had changed in his demeanor. Oh, he was still polite and charming, the yboy and charismatic businessman both making appearances, but hadn¡¯t made a move on her again.

    Tension seemed to vibrate within him, and it set her on edge. Turning from him, she gazed sightlessly out the window. She was still thinking about what he had said on the balcony.

 28

    She knew that Dimitri was right. She wanted him all right, but she was seriously overthinking the consequences that this decision could have on her.

    It was different when she didn¡¯t know who he was, but now, even when she knew, her feelings didn¡¯t change one bit. She wanted to be with him, and she was considering his suggestion that they spend the night together.

    The car sped through the night, smooth and silent, the darkness of the interior ensuring their privacy and increasing the intimacy. And again, Kelly made a wild decision.

    Dimitri was staring out the window too, and he had one hand on the car seat. Kelly watched him for a few seconds and then slowly, she let her hand slide to his. Gently she stroked his wrist with her fingers, and she felt Dimitri tense immediately.

    Dimitri didn¡¯t turn to look at her, because he wasn¡¯t really sure she was touching him on purpose. And he was almost sure the touch had been a mistake, But then, she slid her palm into his. And when an electrical charge sizzled up his arm and straight to his cock, he knew he was a goner. Only pride kept him from jerking his hand away from hers.

    He shifted his gaze from the window to their sped hands, and then to her eyes, expecting to see the same shock. Instead he saw want¡­. Need¡­ Lust.

    ¡°Yes¡± she whispered.

    ¡°What?¡± Dimitri asked, his voice hoarse and thick with lust. He knew exactly what she was saying yes to, but he wanted to hear her say it. That she wanted him too¡­ As much as he wanted her. ¡°What are you saying yes to, Kelly?¡±

    She sucked in a shaky breath, letting go of her pride, because she wanted to be honest to herself. This was what she wanted, and she couldn¡¯t change it, no matter how much she wanted to.

    ¡°I want to spend the night with you¡± she said, then she added quickly, ¡°But just for tonight. We get it all out tonight¡±

    Dimitri¡¯s gaze dipped to her hand once again, then slowly he lifted their hands and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. His gaze lifted until it met her eyes. A shiver rippled through her, and he didn¡¯t miss it.

    ¡°My heart isn¡¯t good, Kelly. I¡¯m selfish. Greedy. Spoiled. And if you knew the thoughts in my head right now, about you, you would remove your hand from mine. You said no before¡­ But now¡­ You have to be certain that you want this too¡± he warned.

    She didn¡¯t remove her hand. Even though her heart thudded against her sternum, she didn¡¯t heed his warning.

    ¡°Go on and ask me,¡± he murmured, and her breath caught in her lungs at the sin in his voice. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about it. I can see that in those pretty brown eyes. Ask me what thoughts are in my head.¡±

    Here in the darkened car, the caution that ruled her life started to unravel. That small, low whisper encouraging her to take grew in volume, in strength. In this car, cut off from the real world, with only the man she fantasized about, she was Eve reaching for the apple even knowing she shouldn¡¯t. Knowing that traveling down this path with him would be one of the biggest mistakes of her life¡­ She bit the apple.

    ¡°What are your thoughts about me?¡± she asked the question barely there.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± he pressed. When she nodded, he did, as well. ¡°I think you are so fucking sexy. At the party I couldn¡¯t stop watching you¡­ I didn¡¯t want to stop. There is something about you that¡¯s so captivating. Watching you walk is pure sex. The confident stride of those legs that mesmerize a man. Give him thoughts of how they would sp him in their strong embrace. The sensual sway of hips I want to dig my fingers into while I press you close and take your mouth that was created to be imed, corrupted. I have been with you twice, but it¡¯s hardly enough¡­. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m ever going to have enough. Corruption. Sin. Desire in flesh. And I want to kneel in front of you and beg you to consign me to your hell. Because I want to burn in you. With you.¡±

    Oh God.

    Desire, scorching hot and out of control, zed a path from her belly, up her chest and to every limb of her body. Consuming her. With just words, he caused her nipples to tighten, her sex to spasm in need. Thank God she was sitting, because her trembling legs wouldn¡¯t have supported her. Not when the blood in her veins had be liquid lust. Not when the breath in her lungs had evaporated into smoke.

    I want to kneel in front of you¡­ Because I want to burn in you. With you.

    Memories came flooding back. Now, she could do nothing but picture him on his knees in front of her, that proud head tilted back, his amazing eyes fixed on her. His fingers sping the tab of her zipper and steadily lowering¡­ She closed her eyes, not to block out the image but to dwell on it.

    ¡°Kelly¡± Gentle but firm fingers pinched her chin and lifted her head. ¡°Look at me,¡± Dimitri ordered, and she did. When she stared into his amazing eyes, he nodded. ¡°Your turn. Tell me something nobody knows. Something that will stay here in this car,¡± he said.

    Could she do this only for tonight? p the time-out button and live brashly, without a thought for the consequences? Who would she hurt?

    Maybe just herself once morning dawned. But she was prepared to walk out of here epting that when she returned to work, he would go back to the guy she was trying to stop from ruining her father¡¯spany. If she could have this slice of time with Dimitri, then she¡¯d deal with whatever happenedter.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°I like tequ shots,¡± she whispered. ¡°What no one knows is you¡¯re like that hit of tequ. Potent as hell, hot and strong like the first punch of alcohol to the stomach-and I¡¯ll dly get drunk on it, on you, even knowing I¡¯ll be hungover and remorseful in the morning.¡±

    The silence between them thickened and heated. His grip on her chin tightened, and the slight pressure drew a gasp from her. His eyes. They seemed to glow with the same need that snapped inside of her. His skin tautened across his cheekbones, his sensual, full mouth ttening into a firm line.

 29

    ¡°Do you understand what you do to a man like me when you say that?¡± he growled.

    ¡°A man like you?¡± she rasped.

    ¡°I told you,¡± he said, voice rough, harsh. His hand shifted from her face and up into her hair, loosening the bun and gripping the strands. ¡°I¡¯m greedy. Selfish. And will take without conscience what you¡¯re offering me.¡± He tugged on her hair, and pinpricks of pleasure danced across her scalp. She sank her teeth in her bottom lip to trap a moan. ¡°What are you offering me, Kelly?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Me,¡± she breathed. ¡°For tonight. All of me.¡±

    As if those words snapped a fraying leash on his control, Dimitri swooped down and crushed his mouth to hers. Oh God. She hadn¡¯t been prepared. Maybe she¡¯d believed she was. But foolish, foolish her-she wasn¡¯t. One hand rose to his wrist, the slender fingers wrapping around and hanging on to him. The other slipped inside his jacket and settled on his chest before sliding up to his neck, her thumb resting on his pulse.

    Not prepared for the intensity, the hunger, the ravishing. She felt silly even thinking that antiquated word, but no other could describe how he consumed her. Dragged her under with the thrust of his tongue, the hard but sensual molding of his lips to hers.

    His holds in her hair and on her chin tightened. He tugged her head back farther, and his thumb pressed  firmer just under her bottom lip. Both helplessly and willingly, she opened wider for him, for the plunging and tangling of his tongue. For his possession. A possession she not only weed but craved like her next breath.

    He had be that vital.

    His mouth abandoned hers, and with a disappointed whimper, she followed him. But he shifted his grip to her jaw and held her still. He trailed a sizzling path from her lips, down her throat and to the crook between neck and shoulder. There, he nuzzled her, and she gasped as a jolt leaped from that spot to her taut nipples, through her knotted belly and down to the already damp and spasming flesh between her thighs.

    Reaching for steady purchase to cling to in the erotic maelstrom, she dug her fingernails into his shoulder.

    And held on.

    ¡°Come here,¡± he murmured, his hands dropping to her hips and drawing her toward him. Over him. In breathless seconds, she straddled his rock-hard thighs.

    Slowly lowered herself until the long, thick length of his erection pressed against herce covered sex.

    A low, shaky gust pushed out of her lungs. Damn. He was¡­ Screw it. He was big. Maybe bigger than before¡­ That wasn¡¯t possible¡­ But that was how it felt.

    Rolling her hips, she stroked her sex over him. A full body shiver worked its way through her, and she groaned at the stunning pleasure. Layers of clothes separated them, but they didn¡¯t prevent her from feeling him. His width, his hardness, his strength.

    Sinking her teeth into her bottom lip, she ground against him, rubbing, rocking over his flesh, getting lost in the swells of desire that threatened to quickly drown her in the release that already loomed wonderfully close. Jeez. She was going to embarrass herself bying quickly just from some fully clothed dry humping, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to care.

    ¡°I like that you¡¯re using me for your pleasure, baby,¡± he praised in a silk-and-gravel voice that both slid over and abraded her skin¡­her nerve endings. ¡°But don¡¯t hide from me.¡± He pressed his thumb to her lip and gently tugged it free from her teeth. ¡°I want to hear every sound, every word of your need for me. Don¡¯t keep anything from me.¡±

    Oh God. He was temptation, a sinful lure enticing her to fall in the most spectacr of ways¡­. And he was going to destroy her.

    His hand stroked her hip before he slipped it between her legs, touching her through the fabric of her panties. She sighed involuntarily. His touch wasn¡¯t rough as she¡¯d expected, but gentle, teasing.

    ¡°I was so fucking hard for youst night¡­. Actually It¡¯s been that way since I met you. I have been thinking about you a lot,¡± he continued whispering into her ear while his finger ran along her folds. ¡°I was in agony wanting to be inside you.¡±

    Her breath hitched at the thought of it. He was? It was good to know that she wasn¡¯t the only one feeling this way. The thought ted her.

    Dimitri¡¯s hand drew up and briefly slipped over her clit, before he let it slide into her panties. Kelly held her breath as he traveled through her curly mound of hair, then stroked lower. The heat shooting through her core made her exhale sharply. When his finger touched her naked sex, she realized she was wet and yearning to be taken by him.

    ¡°I want my cock in you tonight. To fill you, again and again. I want to eat your pussy and make youe with my mouth.¡± he said hoarsely.

    The images he was projecting, together with his probing finger at her core, made her break out in an instant hot sh. His mouth nipped at her earlobe, not helping either. Instead of trying to stop him, she tilted her pelvis toward his hand. This was madness. But she didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°I want to taste you again¡­ And again¡­.. And I won¡¯t let you leave until you have been thoroughly fucked,¡± he said and dipped his finger into her. Her hips bucked toward him, wanting more, but Dimitri instantly pulled his hand out and away from her. She looked at him and saw how his finger came to his lips, and how he sucked it into his mouth, licking it clean.

    ¡°Delicious,¡± he murmured.

    Kelly gasped and felt her knees buckle. This man! He was seducing her, in and simple, and she had no defenses. They had all crumbled, and once again she had lost all control.

    ¡°Dimitri, please . . . ¡± She said. She had no idea what she wanted to ask him or tell him. Her brain was mush. His scent was all around her, enveloping her in a cocoon of desire.

    Maybe he had understood what she was unable to tell him, because his hand came back, and again he slipped it into her panties. He prated her once more, then withdrew instantly and pulled his finger up and over her clit, circling it slowly.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

 30

    ¡°And I want to feel you cum for me, I want your muscles clenched around my cock, milking me, making me spill inside you.¡± Dimitri spoke slowly, his voice husky and calm at the same time. He was tempting her to surrender to him.

    Her hand had a mind of its own as it suddenly reached for him, finding his swollen shaft hidden behind the fabric of his pants. She felt how hard he was for her. Before she could enjoy the heat under her palm, he gripped her hand and pulled it away.

    ¡°No touching¡­.. at least not yet.¡±

    Her gaze darted to the side, toward the front of the car and his driver. ¡°The divide is soundproof,¡± he assured her.

    Kelly looked into his eyes and was drawn into them, their depth, their beauty. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him, touch him, feel him inside her.

    ¡°Kiss me.¡± She said,

    He shook his head and continued touching her. His thumb stroked over her center of pleasure, first very lightly, almost as if by ident. But she knew nothing he did was an ident. While his lips kissed alongside her neck, a neck she offered him without hesitation, his finger slipped into her tight sheath. Slowly and steadily he drove deep, then withdrew. Every time he plunged deeper she tried to hold onto his finger by tightening her muscles, but every time he withdrew, leaving her wanting.

    ¡°More.¡± She didn¡¯t care that she begged. She was beyond foolish pride.

    ¡°You like that?¡± His voice hummed against the indentation at the base of her neck. ¡°Tell me what you want, Kelly.¡±

    She moistened her dry lips. Finally he¡¯d give her what she needed. ¡°More.¡±

    ¡°More of what?¡± Dimitri withdrew his fingerpletely.

    ¡°Please. More. More fingers. Deeper.¡± She was unable to form a coherent sentence. All she could think of was the pleasure gave her with his touch.

    ¡°Like this, Kelly?¡± He drove two fingers into her channel.

    Kelly bucked against him. ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Her muscles pulsated around him as she tried to stop him from withdrawing. But she couldn¡¯t prevent him from his intent to leave her bereft.

    ¡°How about your clit? Do you want me to touch it?¡± His hand hovered and she tilted her pelvis toward him. But he pulled back. ¡°You have to ask for it.¡±

    ¡°Dimitri,¡­. please, touch me.¡± She would say anything to have his touch back, to have him finish what he¡¯d started.

    He didn¡¯t make it easy. ¡°Where?¡± he asked, clearly enjoying watching her ask him to pleasure her

    ¡°Touch my clit.¡± Her breath was ragged, her voice low.

    A secondter, Kelly felt his thumb stroke her where she needed it most. She leaned her head against his shoulder, inhaling his male scent. She needed this man. There was no reason to deny it. He awoke everything female in her. When she was near him she felt like a bitch in heat. She was disgusted with herself for her weakness, but she couldn¡¯t fight against it any longer.

    Dimitri knew exactly how to touch her, how to create all those delicious sensations that rendered her nearly delirious with pleasure. Without a doubt she wanted him, couldn¡¯t wait to feel his strong body, im her, brand her. And she knew it was how it would be: a fierce im, a powerful possession. Because he had the power over her body to make her surrender to him¡­. Just like before.

    And surrender she would, not caring what he would do once she did, as long as his body was there to soothe her need, to fill that gaping void, to quell her thirst for more.

    ¡°Make love to me,¡± she heard her own voice beg.

    Dimitri¡¯s eyes darkened, then he made another offer that night, ¡°Thene home with me¡± he said.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    The garage was private and the elevator he had built in led directly into his apartment.

    As soon as he¡¯d pulled Kelly into the elevator and pushed the button to the top floor, he pressed her t against the wall and sank his hungry lips onto hers.

    He meant it when he said he wouldn¡¯t let her go until he¡¯d thoroughly fucked her. And he wasn¡¯t going to waste another damn minute. The elevator was as good a ce to start as any. The housekeeper hade by the day before, so he knew even the floor of the elevator was spotless, just in case he decided to make use of it. Maybe he would.

    Dimitri crushed her lips with his and dipped into her delicious mouth, searching out her talented tongue. Her response was hard and determined, drawing him into her tantalizing depths. Inviting him, pulling him in, then withdrawing so he woulde after her. ying not hard to get, but hard to keep. A challenge he only too dly epted.

    He released a sigh and foraged deeper, barely able to breathe, yet unable to stop the kiss. She tasted too sweet, too innocent, when he knew she wasn¡¯t innocent, not by a long shot. Not the way she¡¯d made love to him the night they met or the way she kissed him now.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Kelly¡¯s hands eagerly tugged at his jacket, pushing it off his shoulders with ease. She seemed to like undressing him, and he weed it since his body was heating up fast. The eight-by-four-foot space would turn into a sauna shortly, given the body heat they were generating. Just as well, since he was nning on stripping her naked in seconds.

    Dimitri liberated her from the dress she still wore, dropping it unceremoniously onto the clean floor. When he pulled her against his chest, he felt her soft breasts mold to him.

    His hand found its way underneath her bra, instantly relishing the softness and warmth of her skin. He let the moment sink in, enjoyed the first contact of skin on skin, before he allowed himself to move to take the bra offpletely, so he could give all his attention to  her twin globes.

    His fingertips reached her first, touched the underside of her breast, then slid farther north, searching and then finding the hardened little bud which already stood erect as if greeting his arrival. So he returned the gesture by stroking his thumb over it, applying just enough pressure to elicit a soft moan from its owner. A moan he¡¯d anticipated and now captured with his hungry mouth. A moan which now reverberated through his body, awakening cells and sensations.

 31

    ¡°Somebody will see us,¡± Kelly whispered against his lips. He curled the ends of his mouth upwards. Her concern was unwarranted, but she couldn¡¯t know that, and he wouldn¡¯t tell her. She seemed like the kind of woman who liked the added risk of being discovered. And he wanted her just as horny as he was right now.

    ¡°So what? I promise you, I won¡¯t let anybody join in.¡± Dimitri said. Not that he had any objections to threesomes, but when it came to Kelly, he didn¡¯t want to share her. This was just between the two of them. Private. Intimate.

    Dimitri reached for her beautiful round breasts, taking them into his hands, letting their weight be supported by his palms. As he squeezed lightly, he saw hershes drop to half mast, partially hiding the desire in her eyes. Her gaze locked with his. Again he kneaded the soft flesh in his hands, and she reacted by pulling her lower lip between her teeth.

    ¡°You¡¯re bad.¡± Her voice was breathless, but not using, as she reached for his pants and jerked the button jeans open, then she pulled the zipper down. Her small hands slipped inside his briefs and grabbed his cock, making him groan.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t started yet,¡± he replied.

    His cock tilted toward her, and he did himself a favor and pressed his groin against her sex. She answered by slinging one arm around his neck and pulling his face to her, while her other hand continued to stroke him slowly.

    ¡°Kiss me like you mean it.¡± It was her demand, not his. Her wish, her choice.

    Dimitri¡¯s hand snaked around her back, while the other one slid to the back of her neck. He took her mouth hard and without mercy, forcing her lips open, driving his tongue into her like the spear of an ancient warrior, and he conquered. There was no resistance. She was his.

    She needed both her hands to nudge his pants down his hips.

    ¡°Help me.¡± she said.

    His hands joined in, and secondster his pants and briefs fell to the ground, followed by his tie, then his shirt. He didn¡¯t have the patience to let her take off her panties, so he ripped them off her. He¡¯d buy her new ones. Actually, on second thought, if she let him, he would make sure she¡¯d never again wear any underwear.

    Naked, they stood in front of each other. The elevator had long since stopped on the top floor, but the door hadn¡¯t opened. It would only do so if he used his key which was buried somewhere in the pile of clothes on the floor.

    Dimitri¡¯s gaze swept over her nude form. Without a word he dropped to his knees and buried his face in her thatch of hair, taking in her scent. His tongue darted out, taking a taste. Onep was confirmation enough that he¡¯d be lost from tonight. Her juices coated his tongue and spread in his mouth.

    His nostrils red. She was so delicious and tasted so good. He let out a deep sigh and dug his hands into her backside to pull her closer to him.

    Kelly¡¯s breathing appeared more uneven now, and her heart beat faster. He looked up and found her watching him.

    ¡°Come down here.¡± He pulled her to the floor with him and ced her t down before him, spreading her over the clothes.

    Kelly was just about to lift her leg to remove her shoes when he said, ¡°Leave them.¡±

    She shivered, this time from a chill and the way he was staring at her with such raw hunger. For a moment Kelly thought she might have gone too far.

    Was she really going to do this? Wasn¡¯t she making a big mistake?

    ¡°You are so perfect¡± He said. He sounded as if he were in awe, his voice running like warm oil along every nerve in her body. With deliberate movements he opened her legs and let his eyes devour her where his mouth would follow.

    Her pink folds glistened with her desire, teasing his senses. Dimitri sank his mouth onto her without hesitation and explored her most intimate center. He realized instantly that he¡¯d been wrong-his life would never go back to normal again, it hadn¡¯t been since he met her. And now he knew that he would always want her¡­. And he had been wrong one more thing too¡­. Tonight wasn¡¯t going to be enough.

    Kelly watched Dimitri¡¯s head dip between her legs, his dark mane obscuring his face. But she had caught a glimpse of his eyes just before she felt his mouth on her. Unbridled lust was etched into them. She¡¯d never seen a man so determined.

    God help her if somebody came into the elevator now, for she was certain nothing would distract him from his task, and she¡¯d never felt so vulnerable in her entire life. And so intent on allowing him anything he wanted as long as it meant he would pleasure her.

    She was surprised by the gentleness with which this big man, this powerful man, worshiped her body. She didn¡¯t expect the kind of finesse his tongue was exerting on her, not from Dimitri, who could have easily crushed her with his weight. He was always so gentle with her¡­.. Gentle¡­. Yet fierce.

    Right now, the way his tonguepped against her eager petals was almost reverent. His movements were so slow, so mindful, as if he wasmitting every detail to memory. Like a cartographer who drew a map of a newly discovered continent so he could find his way back.

    Dimitri murmured something against her skin, which she couldn¡¯t understand. But the reverberations echoed within her body, sending shivers through her cells. Kelly arched her hips to force him to increase the pressure on her sensitive organ.

    His response was a greedy moan. ¡°Patience, sugar¡± was all he said before the tip of his tongue sparred with the sensitive peak of her desire. He circled it like a warrior, a wagon, then snatched the engorged nub between his lips and tugged. Like a lightning bolt, a more delicious sensation shot through her.

    A desperate moan escaped her lips. ¡°Oh, Dimitri, oh, God!¡± Her reaction seemed to spur him on, giving him a new purpose. Again hepped over her sensitive clit, tantalizing her even more with but a ghost of a touch. She needed more.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Kelly shoved her hands into his hair and pulled his face from her sex. His eyes punctuated hers. ¡°Harder!¡± she whispered.

 32

    He shook his head, a wicked grin forming on his lips. Was he going to leave her frustrated? Was he ying with her? She¡¯d kill him if he was.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want this to be over so soon. You taste too good.¡± he said.

    She breathed a sigh of relief when she read his desire not only in his words but also in his eyes. His mouth dropped back to her moist center, but this time he spread her legs wider and parted her folds with his fingers. His tongue a spear, he drove into her, and she weed him.

    His hot breath fired her center like the inside of a boiler. And then he added more fuel. Was he intent on this boiler exploding?

    She felt his finger invade her, and he withdrew his tongue to allow it to travel back to her neglected little nub. With determined strokes he coaxed it back to attention.

    Kelly had never been with a man who was this talented and this determined to please her, and seemed intent on showing her that a man could be selfless enough to make a woman feel good. At least for a little while.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    When he suddenly looked up at her, she realized she¡¯d spoken out loud. ¡°Why what?¡± he asked.

    ¡°This.¡± She replied.

    He seemed to understand instantly. ¡°Because you need this¡­. I do too. And because I can¡¯t think of anything I¡¯d rather do right now than make youe with my mouth.¡±

    Hearing his in words, something constricted in her belly, sending a wave akin to an electrical shock through her body. Hot and pleasant. Was it the knowledge that he wanted to do this, which created her excitement? Or was it simply the way he¡¯d said it: as if it was the only answer possible?

    Before she could say anything else, his tongue was back,pping at her moist folds, parting them, probing, teasing. His tongue where she was most vulnerable, yet her defenses didn¡¯t kick in. No warning came that should have told her not to allow what he was doing¡­. that she shouldn¡¯t be doing this with him¡­. That this was wrong.

    Because right now he seemed to be just a man in lust, not a rival at work, not someone trying to ruin herpany. She could let go. He would catch her, Dimitri, the man she was attracted to.

    ¡°Yes, Dimitri.¡± She spoke more to herself than to him, telling her body that he was safe, that being with him was good.

    He scooped his hands under her backside and lifted her. His tongue drove deep and his moans echoed her own. Kelly buried her hands in his dark, silken hair and felt him shudder. Her muscles tensed at the sensations he sent through her body, driving her ever higher. She pushed against his mouth, feeling his tongue increase its pressure on her clit, but not enough.

    ¡°Bite it.¡± she said greedily.

    A low growl was his response to her shouted demand. A momentter she felt his teeth graze her sensitive skin, then his lips tug at it, gently, then a little firmer.

    ¡°Please.¡± She moaned.

    His teeth closed around her engorged button and pressed into her skin, not breaking it, but it was exactly what she needed. With a breathless moan she greeted the waves that crashed over her and swept her away. Dimitri¡¯s tongue smoothed over the spot he¡¯d so gingerly bitten, only intensifying her climax.

    Kelly¡¯s body shook in his arms, her muscles contracting and releasing in quick session. Dimitripped up her arousal,  addicted to her taste. By the time her body had stilled and her orgasm had subsided, he was already cradling her in his arms, pressing her against his naked body.

    He¡¯d never seen a sweeter sight than Kelly¡¯s satisfied body. It filled him with an unknown sense of pride. His palm smoothed over her hair before it traveled over her back and settled on the soft cheeks of her derri¨¨re. And what a cute little ass it was, just like the rest of her. When she was curled up against him, her cheek leaning on his chest, her arms wrapped around his body, she didn¡¯t look angry anymore. She was all soft now and he grinned to himself, proud of the effect he had on her.

    He felt a shiver go through her body.

    ¡°You¡¯re cold. Let¡¯s get you off this floor.¡± he said.

    ¡°Before somebody walks in on us.¡± Kelly agreed.

    ¡°No chance of that happening,¡± Dimitri announced.

    Effortlessly he lifted her from the floor, found his key in his pants and let them into the apartment.

    He didn¡¯t bother picking up the clothes they had shed. Carrying Kelly in his arms was a much more important task.

    She looked at the apartment, then back at the elevator, obviously finally realizing that it was private.

    ¡°You rat! You had me thinking we could get surprised there!¡± she said.

    He shrugged his shoulders, but inwardly heughed. ¡°It didn¡¯t stop you from getting naked,¡± he replied.

    Her p against his shoulder didn¡¯t even register. It was virtually a caress.

    ¡°You can set me down now,¡± said Kelly.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    No way. Her body felt too good and his shaft had its own ideas of how to continue the night. And his cock and he were in perfect agreement.

    ¡°Would you rather make love on the couch or in bed?¡± Dimitri asked her. Personally he¡¯d prefer taking her to his bed, but if she was morefortable on the other, he¡¯d have no problems going with her choice.

    Instead of an answer her cheeks colored a beautiful shade of pink. Could he make her blush even more?

    ¡°In the kitchen or the bathroom maybe? On the roof terrace?¡± he added.

    Yes, her blush could go even a shade deeper. And make her look even sexier. How she could possibly still blush after what she¡¯d allowed him to do in the elevator, and what she¡¯d done to him that night and in his office, was absolutely beyond him.

    He lowered his face close to hers, looking into her beautiful brown eyes. ¡°It¡¯s okay to admit that you enjoyed what we just did. I won¡¯t tell anybody that this fierce woman has a soft side.¡±

    Kelly met his eyes and didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Then I guess I won¡¯t tell you that you are not as tough and mean as you make yourself out to be.¡± She retorted.

 33

    Of course he was tough! And mean! At least that was the way most people saw him. He wasn¡¯t sure he wanted her to know that she had such a great effect on him¡­ He didn¡¯t know if that was a good idea. He let out a dark growl.

    ¡°Yes, yes. You can growl all you want, big bad man.¡± Kelly added yfully.

    Mocking him, was she?

    ¡°You want big and bad? I¡¯ll give you big and bad.¡± he said, like she had challenged him.

    With a determined gait, Dimitri carried her into his bedroom and dropped her onto the bed. She propped herself up on her elbows and dragged her legs onto the bed slowly until the spiked heel of her shoe dug into the cream-colored silk duvet, and then she licked her lips at the delectable specimen standing before her.

    For a moment he just stood there, looking down at her. Then he touched his erection, stroking it suggestively.

    ¡°How big do you want?¡± he said seductively.

    Kelly appeared fascinated as she stared at him, her eyes glued to where his cock stood upright. He was eager to fill her with it, ready to plung his throbbing shaft into her until she couldn¡¯t take any more.

    Her mouth formed just one word. ¡°Big.¡±

    With her eyes locked on his, Kelly let her knees fall apart and reveled in the quick hiss of breath he expelled before the guttural curse that followed.

    ¡°Damm it. Fuck, baby¡± he said hoarsely.

    If nothing else, Dimitri Collins was damn good for her ego. He looked at her as if she were the only woman in the world-no, as if she were the only woman in the world he wanted. That want was apparent in his eyes, which had grown darker than their usual brown color. His lips thinned as his tongue snaked out to ease over them. He looked hungry and she felt as if she were sitting on a sterling-silver tray, offering herself to him.

    ¡°I have been wanting to do this again since the first time I saw you at the office. Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?¡± he asked.

    Why did his voice arouse her this way? He was just a man talking as men sometimes did during sex. It should not have sent shivers down her spine or caused her thighs to tremble. But it did.

    Her arms pulled him down to her, and he fitted his body to hers. She felt right, pinned underneath him. And she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape unless he allowed it. Luckily, escape seemed to be the furthest thing from her mind. Why else would she wrap her legs around him and pull him into her center?

    Dimitri weed her open invitation, and so did his cock which already pressed against her thigh. The skin-on-skin contact was enough to shoot a wave of heat through him.

    In the background, he heard a faint ringing noise¡­ His phone, but he blocked it out. For once, he didn¡¯t care about work¡­ He didn¡¯t care about anything else. He didn¡¯t want to be distracted from the pliable body in his arms, the soft fingers exploring him, the sweet scent engulfing him.

    Kelly deserved his full attention. And she would have it. For a moment, he closed his eyes and blocked out everything else. And he realized that no emotions bombarded him. His mind was clear. Peace. This woman¡­ She felt so right in his arms. Like she belonged to him.  When he opened his eyes, his gaze collided with hers.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked.

    He sensed a twinge of rm in her voice and shook his head, smiling. ¡°Nothing! Absolutely nothing.¡± he replied, realizing that for the first time, he truly cared. He cared about this woman.

    ¡°Are you waiting for something?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Yes, for you to shut up, sugar.¡± he replied.

    Dimitri muffled her protest with his lips. His erection settled against her soft core, and he nudged forward, forgetting about protection again and not caring, finding her wetness. Tight-oh her entrance felt so fucking tight. He loved how she took him in, and right now, he was close to bursting, and he wasn¡¯t even in yet.

    Her pelvis tilted toward him, silently asking for pration.

    The loud ring again from his phone startled him, but a momentter his attention was diverted when Kelly¡¯s hands mped over his ass, trying to force him to plunge into her. She was certainly impatient, and satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, and he settled more firmly over and against her, every rock-hard, unforgiving ne of his body pressed to her softer, rounded curves.

    ¡°What did you say you were willing to give me, Kelly?¡± he growled, his erection at the entrance to her body.

    ¡°All of me,¡± she rasped, then gasped as he surged inside in one long, smooth, powerful thrust. ¡°Take all of me.¡± She added.

    And he did.

    Not holding back. Not allowing her to hold back.

    He slid his hands under her ass, angled her up and, withdrawing in a slow drag that lit up nerve endings like fireworks, he then plunged back inside her. Stealing her breath. Words. Sanity.

    Circling her arms and legs around his neck and hips, she clung to him, let him hurl her into the storm he created with each flex, each parry and thrust, each branding kiss.

    The man was a sexual act of God.

    ¡°Fast and hot,¡± he groaned. ¡°You¡¯re so fucking hot, Kelly! You are scorching hot, baby!¡±

    He powered into her, taking her body, giving her pleasure¡­breaking every notion of what sex really was. Because she¡¯d had sex with other men before, but as he buried himself in her again and again, riding her until her thighs trembled and her breath stuttered, she could admit to herself that this¡­he exceeded all of it.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    This kind of intense sex, she¡¯d never experienced¡­ Except when she was with him.

    And already, even though she¡¯d promised herself there couldn¡¯t be a repeat, she craved it again. She would never get enough of him.

    She arched off the bed, her thighs trembling as her release stormed through her body. ¡°Dimitri,¡± she cried out, fearing and weing the end that swelled dangerously near.

    ¡°Yes! Give it all to me, Kelly! Let it go, baby,¡± he ordered, his voice harsh with the same need that wed at her. ¡°Let go and give it to me. Give me what¡¯s mine¡±

 34

    Dimitri lost himself in the moment. Glorious sensations rippled over every muscle in his body as he continued moving in and out of her. There¡¯d never been a ce that felt like this. The perfect fit, the deep thrusts, the mind-boggling feeling that pulsed through him as he gritted his teeth and held on tightly to her.

    As if all she needed was his permission, she did as hemanded. She let go. And ecstasy whipped through her like lightning. Illuminating her, searing her, sending her flying.

    Above her, his hoarse shout dimly filled her ears, but she was already falling into the darkness, embracing it. Knowing in the morning, she would have only memories to hold on to instead of Dimitri Collins.

    When he could take a breath without feeling as if he were going to pass out, Dimitri kissed both her ankles and smiled at those sexy-as-hell heels she was still wearing. He was just about to ease her legs down to the bed, pull out of her and lie beside her, when Kelly moved first.

    She lowered her legs, ignoring his grip that instantly loosened. She was away from him and off the bed in seconds. Dimitri was still on his knees blinking as she grabbed his ck robe from a chair and carried it into the bathroom, where she immediately closed and locked the door.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Okay, that was done.

    It was good. Damn good.

    But it was done.

    So why were her thighs still trembling and her body already missing the warmth of his?

    Kelly kicked off her shoes, dropped the robe onto the closed toilet and rested her palms on the cool marble top of the sink. She lowered her head and took a deep breath. When she looked up, the woman staring back at her through the mirror was only slightly foreign. Her eyes were bright with remnants of desire. Her cheeks were flushed, lips plump from his kisses. Delicious kisses that had served as the appetizer to a greater entr¨¦e she couldn¡¯t have imagined if she¡¯d tried.

    She wanted him again. Dammit!

    Kelly turned on the water, hoping the noise would take the foolish thoughts from her mind, but then realized they¡¯d agreed to spending the entire night together.

    She had only been there an hour and a half, which meant she still had plenty of time to indulge in Dimitri¡¯s scrumptious body. She leaned forward and sshed water on her face. It was cool and her body shivered with the contact.

    She started to wash up. She intended to take some time to clean up and then return to his bedroom, to face the music so to speak. Instead Kelly pushed her arms into the sleeves of his robe and tied it tightly around her waist before moving to sit on the lip of the soaker tub, and closed her eyes.

    She¡¯d had sex with Dimitri Collins¡­. AGAIN.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    And she loved it so much. Her orgasm hade like a full-blown explosion of sensation that still had her body quaking.

    With her shoes in hand, Kelly walked out of the bathroom and into the empty bedroom. Dimitri was gone, and a quick punch of disappointmentnded in the pit of her stomach. She looked around again, confirming that the room was empty.

    ¡°I thought you might be thirsty.¡±

    She startled at the sound of his voice and nced in the direction of the door to see Dimitri standing there with two sses of champagne. He was wearing his boxers and nothing else and her body instantly responded with disappointment shifting to the slow burn of arousal.

    ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± She replied

    Forck of anything better to say, Kelly met him as he came into the room and epted a ss. Her bare feet moved across the plush beige carpet until she could sit on the side of the bed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be nervous, Kelly,¡± he said.

    She finished the sip of champagne and looked toward the end of the bed where Dimitri now sat.

    ¡°Why would you think I¡¯m nervous?¡± she asked

    ¡°You¡¯re not talking.¡±

    ¡°I was drinking.¡± She replied.

    He shrugged and took a gulp of champagne.

    ¡°Guess what I mean is that this doesn¡¯t have to be ufortable. We can just take things as theye.¡±

    ¡°Right. For the next few hours.¡± Kelly nced at the clock. It was almost two in the morning. ¡°I¡¯ve had a really long day.¡±

    ¡°Me, too.¡± Dimitri said. He finished his champagne and walked around to the other side of the bed. ¡°I was hoping you weren¡¯t going to expect sex all night long.

    I mean, not that I wouldn¡¯t be d to oblige. I¡¯m pretty sure I wouldn¡¯t fall asleep on you. But it might be a good idea to get some rest.¡±

    He was lying, but she didn¡¯t have to know that, especially now that she was acting like she regretted it.

    She didn¡¯t want to, but Kelly smiled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting sex all night long.¡± she said.

    ¡°Great. We agree.¡± He proceeded to arrange the pillows before pulling back the duvet and sheet.

    Kelly had been watching over her shoulder and set her ss on the nightstand before easing off the bed to pull the bedcovers down on her side. The robe would do just fine for a night gown tonight. The pillows didn¡¯t require a lot of adjustment and shey easily on her side of the bed.

    Dimitriy on his side. He pulled the covers midway up his chest. The chest that was still bare and undeniably enticing. He leaned over and hit the button that turned off both bedsidemps simultaneously.

    The room went dark and Kelly¡¯s heart began to pound a different rhythm. It wasn¡¯t a totally unfamiliar feeling but one that she didn¡¯t wee now. She pulled the covers up, tucking them tight beneath her armpits, and closed her eyes. She could do this.

    She was a strong, educated, independent woman who was going to be in control of her father¡¯spany soon, their legacy. There was nothing she couldn¡¯t do.

    Except, at the moment, she was having a hard time regting her breathing knowing that if she just extended her arm she would touch a man. Dimitri Collins, her father¡¯s rival¡­. Thepany¡¯s rival¡­ Her rival.

    Thatst thought probably wasn¡¯t the smartest one she¡¯d had tonight since it only increased her breathing and had her clenching the sheets.

 35

    Kelly was counting down from one hundred when something moved beneath the sheet. It could have been her imagination since her mind was going at a rapid pace, but no, it wasn¡¯t. His foot touched hers and she jumped.

    ¡°Shh. It¡¯s just me.¡± he said softly.

    Well, of course it was him, who else would be in bed with her?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Kelly¡¯s eyes were wide-open and staring into the darkness. And she didn¡¯t want him shhing her. She wasn¡¯t a child and she didn¡¯t like it.

    ¡°I figured you weren¡¯t in the mood to cuddle, but I wanted to reassure you that you weren¡¯t alone.¡± She heard him say. Did his voice sound richer, huskier in the dark?

    ¡°I¡¯m definitely not in the mood to cuddle.¡± She replied. It was an honest reply even if she didn¡¯t exactly like how it sounded. ¡°And I know I¡¯m not alone.¡± Because when she was alone at night she could breathe.

    ¡°Do you normally cuddle the women you sleep with?¡± she asked him.

    ¡°Whoa, I have a strict rule about no discussion of prior lovers while in bed with the current lover.¡± Dimitri replied.

    ¡°We¡¯re not lovers.¡±

    Her response was quick. He moved over, not close enough to touch her, but close enough that she no longer had to stretch out her arm to touch him.

    ¡°For the next few hours tonight, we are.¡± he said.

    His feet brushed against hers again, but she didn¡¯t jump this time. ¡°So we won¡¯t cuddle,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll just lie here and go to sleep.¡±

    ¡°And y footsie?¡± Kelly added.

    ¡°Well, since you asked.¡± Dimitri turned on his side and extended his legs so that both of his feet tangled between hers.

    They were warm, and focusing so much on this simple yet very different touch had managed to calm the anxiety that was steadily building inside of her. And she found herself smiling into the darkness.

    After a while, Dimitri said, ¡°Can we talk about this, Kelly? I mean¡­ About us¡­ whatever this is. I know it¡¯s a sensitive topic, but I can¡¯t take it anymore, and we both know that we have to talk about it sometime.¡±

    Kelly continued to stare into the darkness. She knew he was right. No matter how awkward this topic was, they had to talk about it.

    ¡°Okay¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯m listening¡±

    He cleared his throat, like he was nervous about what he had to say, and Kelly waited for him to speak.

    ¡°I know that things areplicated right now¡± he began, ¡°With thepany and stuff like that. And I also know that what I¡¯m about to say right now might sound crazy to you, but I have to say it, because I know that it¡¯s something that we both want, and it would be stupid if we both denied ourselves because we could separate our personal lives from business¡±

    He stopped speaking and took in a deep breath, knowing that he was rambling. Damn, Dimitri never found himself in this situation¡­. Never found himself short of words except with Kelly.

    Kelly on the other hand didn¡¯t try to rush him. A part of her already knew what he was going to say, and she was scared, worried and excited all at the same time, but she didn¡¯t move. Shey quite still and listened to him.

    ¡°I guess what I am trying to say is, I would really like for us to continue seeing each other¡± Dimitri managed to say, ¡°If I¡¯m being honest with myself, I admit that contrary to what we agreed before, tonight isn¡¯t going to be enough. And I want to spend more time with you. We don¡¯t have to let it affect work. I know I won¡¯t¡­. I never let anything affect my work. So what do you say? I want us to keep seeing each other, Kelly¡±

    Kelly continued to stare at the ceiling in the dark room, but she said, ¡°So you want us to continue everything the way it is now¡­ Nothing changes¡­. Except that we continue sleeping together¡­.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡± came Dimitri¡¯s reply. He held his breath, waiting for her to turn him down and he wouldn¡¯t me her if he did. He knew this was crazy.

    Kelly said nothing, but she was thinking hard. If she was being honest with herself too, she would admit that she wanted to keep seeing him. She felt like she was doing something wrong, but still, it kind of gave her a thrill¡­ Some kind of excitement. She had never done anything this crazy before¡­. Never been attracted to anyone this way before, and she wanted to explore whatever this was. As long as she didn¡¯t let this affect work, she¡¯d be fine. It wasn¡¯t like she had feelings for him or anything¡­ This was going to be a purely sexual rtionship.

    She felt Dimitri¡¯s legs brush hers again and she jumped, realizing that she had been quiet for a while.

    ¡°You are thinking so hard and I¡¯m getting worried that you might say no¡± he said, ¡°Look, I understand if you want to refuse, I know it¡¯s ridiculous, but I can¡¯t help it¡­. I just¡­.¡±

    ¡°Okay¡± she said softly, interrupting him. ¡°It¡¯s a crazy thing to do, I know, but I want this too. But I would like for us to keep it a secret¡­ this is just between us, and it would be much better if we kept it that way¡±

    Dimitri was happy, and he suddenly moved from his side of the bed to hers, screw the no cuddling thing. He crushed her body against his and kissed her deeply. She responded instantly and kissed him back.

    Dimitri eased his hand around her waist and untied the belt of her robe. He pushed the silky material off her arm and pressed his lips lightly to her shoulder. Then he extended his hand until he could touch the warm lips of her pussy. She was already wet for him. He groaned and stroked her again.

    ¡°I love that you¡¯re already bare for me.¡± he said huskily and Kelly moaned.

    He removed her robe. When that was done, he returned her to the position on her side, with her plump ass facing him. His dick was already poking out from the slit in his boxers, and he had no patience to take it offpletely.

    ¡°I¡¯m so fucking d that you said yes,¡± he whispered and lifted her top leg so that he could slide between her thighs.

 36

    ¡°I¡¯m d you want me too, Kelly. And you can have me. You can have anything, baby. Any damn thing you want.¡± He clenched his teeth as he slid deep into her with one long stroke. He was buried inside, and still, Dimitri felt the burning desire for more. He began stroking in and out, loving the feel of her heated moisture gliding seamlessly along his rigid dick. He closed his eyes and let the pleasure overtake him while one word echoed in his mind repeatedly: damn.

    In one night, Kelly Darcy might havepletely damned him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°Seriously, are we going to be going out together like this now?¡± Kelly asked Dimitri, ¡°I thought we were supposed to be keeping this thing between us a secret¡±

    They were at a baseball game, and it was everything Kelly had dreamed it would be. Dimitri had bought them nosebleed seats at a game the Cubs were about to lose. And even if she was a little worried about them being together outside like this, it didn¡¯t really matter.

    She was so excited to be in the crowd, experiencing live Major League Baseball the way she¡¯d always imagined it would be, that she simply didn¡¯t care.

    It had been three weeks since they had decided to go into their ¡®purely sexual rtionship¡¯, and Kelly had to admit that she was having a great time with Dimitri. He was funny, charming, caring and it seemed like they had this thing under control. Sometimes it felt so real that she had to remind herself that this wasn¡¯t permanent.

    ¡°Rx Kelly,¡± Dimitri replied, ¡°I¡¯m sure no one is going to recognize us in this crowd, and even if they did, what¡¯s wrong with the both of us seeing a game together?¡±

    Kelly shrugged, but a part still thought that they were getting a little toofortable and a little careless, but she didn¡¯t want to worry about that right now.

    ¡°Want some peanuts?¡± he asked, already gging down a vendor.

    ¡°I think that was on my list of requirements for today,¡± she admitted.

    Dimitri grinned, put an icy-cold beer in her hand, and red down at anyone around them who got too close with their wildly gesticting arms and elbows.

    He also kept up a runningmentary on the game, exining all the ys. She let him. It seemed such an innate man thing-the need to exin sports to the little woman-that she didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him she¡¯d been a star of her high school¡¯s fast-pitch softball team. She¡¯d even thought about going further with it, but her father hadn¡¯t liked the idea, so she¡¯d quit and forgotten about the whole thing.

    She was wearing cute-knee length pants, a hot pink tank top and a ball cap with her ponytail hanging out the hole in the back. She looked simple. Simple¡­but very sexy.

    ¡°You look very cute.¡± Dimitri found himself telling her. Her lips twisted the tiniest bit.

    ¡°I mean, very pretty.¡± he added, and she grinned at him.

    Seeing a tiny price tag still hanging from the side of her brightly colored ball cap, he reached up and tugged it free. ¡°Went shopping, huh?¡± he asked her.

    She snagged the corner of that full bottom lip between her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s my first professional game,¡± she whispered. ¡°I wanted to look the part.¡±

    ¡°Your first ball game? Are you kidding?¡± Suddenly realizing something, he murmured, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, if you¡¯re really not interested, we could leave and go do something else.¡±

    ¡°No way! I love baseball. But I never got the chance to go see a game in person.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Then I¡¯m d to be the first person to take you to one¡± Dimitri said smiling at her.

    She did look very sexy right now, Dimitri thought. Her boobs prominent enough to draw the gawking attention of a few guys around her.

    Kelly had heard thements from a creep sitting behind her for thest half hour, but was quite adept at ignoring them. She¡¯d had lots of practice in that area and so it didn¡¯t really bother her.

    After the slurred voice behind her got loud enough for Dimitri to hear it over the crowd, he leaped to his feet, turned around and thrust an angry finger into the drunk man¡¯s face. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother ever teach you to keep your eyes to your own damn self and your fat mouth closed?¡± he snapped.

    The foulmouthed fan, a heavyset, sweaty guy with red cheeks and beer-scented breath, rose, too, swaying on his feet. ¡°Hey man, she¡¯s hot.¡± he said.

    ¡°She¡¯s also not deaf,¡± Kelly murmured, turning in her seat to watch. She¡¯d be damned if she would rise to her feet to prevent the jackass from leering down her shirt some more. It wasn¡¯t low-cut. And she didn¡¯t have a single thing to be ashamed of.

    ¡°You¡¯re hot,¡± the guy repeated as he gaped from above.

    ¡°So you said.¡± Despite the crudeness she¡¯d heard from the stranger before Dimitri had caught on andunched at him, she remained more annoyed than offended. Leave it to a breast-obsessed little boy wearing men¡¯s triple-X sized clothing to ruin her lovely afternoon.

    It wasn¡¯t as though she¡¯d never experienced it before. So stuff like that didn¡¯t annoy her any more. Still, it didn¡¯t mean she would take shit from anyone.

    He gave Kelly a bleary smile, still oblivious to the depth of Dimitri¡¯s anger. ¡°Bet if you sh ¡¯em, the camera¡¯ll focus in on ya and put ya up on the big screen.¡± he added stupidly.

    ¡°Oh, and I live for just such a moment.¡± Kelly retorted.

    ¡°You must not like your teeth very much, buddy,¡± Dimitri snapped. ¡°Keep talking and you¡¯re going to be saying goodbye to quite a few of them.¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    Kelly was adept at retaliating against offensive men, even if, quite often, her put-downs went right over their imbecilic heads. ¡°Please, Dimitri, let it go,¡± she added. ¡°I¡¯m quite sure that in the world of this gentleman¡¯s favorite show, he¡¯s behaving with absolutely perfect gentility.¡±

    She almostughed-until she realized that Dimitri was not merely angry, he was downright furious. Rage shed behind his eyes and his tightly clenched body seemed ready tosh out. He appeared capable of real violence, all because some stupid drunk had opened his mouth.

    The stupid drunk was apparently too far gone to realize he was about two inches from death-by-enraged-gigolo. ¡°They¡¯re real, ain¡¯t they?¡± he said.

 37

    ¡°Sit down,¡± Kelly snapped, finally starting to lose her patience. She grabbed Dimitri¡¯s arm, stopping him mid growl as he began to climb over the back of his seat. ¡°You, too. Before you get us all thrown out.¡± She said to him

    ¡°Kelly¡­¡± he began.

    She kept her hand on his arm, her nails digging in tight, determined to handle this situation herself. Without violence.

    Though, she had to admit, a teeny, tiny part of her liked how protective Dimitri was, even if she usually had absolutely no use for such tant disys of testosterone.

    ¡°You. Sit. I mean it,¡± she ordered the intoxicated stranger, pointing to his seat. The man sat.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯m quite certain that somewhere in your beer-sodden brain, you believe I¡¯m ttered by your eloquently worded¡­pliments.¡± Kelly didn¡¯t have to raise her voice to make sure she was being heard. All around them, conversations had quieted, and she didn¡¯t think a single spectator in their section was watching what was going on down in the field. The showdown here was apparently much more interesting.

    ¡°However, while I¡¯m sure you are a man who possesses many admirable porcine qualities, as you can see, I am here in thepany of another gentleman. And neither of us appreciates your attentions. Will you please, therefore, refrain frommenting further and allow us to get back to the game?¡± she continued.

    The man¡¯s mouth fell open. ¡°What¡¯d she say?¡± he asked foolishly

    The embarrassed-looking man next to him-his friend who¡¯d made no effort to provide backup to the drunk-muttered, ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure she told you to shut the hell up.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± someone else said. ¡°So please do us all a favor and do it!¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± the drunk said, finally ncing around and realizing what a spectacle he¡¯d made of himself. If Kelly had railed at him, he probably wouldn¡¯t have backed down. As it was, though, her calm, courteous reply made him look an absolute fool. And he wasn¡¯t too drunk to realize it.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± he mumbled.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± Kelly smiled and nodded politely, then turned back around to face the field, putting a definite end to the interaction. It was the top of the ninth and things were getting interesting. She wasn¡¯t going to waste another moment of the beautiful day on a blithering fool.

    She didn¡¯t even nce over as Dimitri slowly dropped back into his seat beside her. ¡°I can take care of myself, you know,¡± she murmured, watching the field.

    ¡°Yeah, I noticed.¡± Dimitri leaned closer, near enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath on her hair. Not to mention the way his shoulders shook withughter. His anger had disappeared as quickly as steam off a bathroom mirror. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong¡­did you just call him a pig?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m certain I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± She replied.

    ¡°Uh-huh. Sure you don¡¯t.¡± Still chuckling, Dimitri casually dropped his big, solid hand onto her thigh, above her knee, and squeezed it. Not exactly the most erogenous zone on her body, but still, every molecule inside her leaped to attention. Her blood roared in her veins at the feel of that strong, warm touch, and she waspletely incapable of stopping the visual images that flooded her mind.

    Kelly¡¯s skin tingled beneath the soft fabric of her capris at the thought of him sliding that touch higher, caressing her all the way up her thigh as he kissed her.

    Slow, sweet¡­then deeper, harder. Wetter and faster.

    She wanted him to kiss her in every way a man could kiss a woman. And in every ce on her body.

    God, she was a wreck. She was beginning to like him way too much. Yet he seemedpletely unaffected, still smiling that easygoing smile. ¡°Remind me never to get on your bad side. I¡¯m slightly more literate than our friend back there. And I do believe that tongue of yours could draw blood if the person actually understood what the hell you were saying. You are so bad ass and I love it.¡±

    Kelly tried to force her heart to slow its rapid pace, striving for the same nonchnce Dimitri obviously felt about his casually possessive touch on her leg.

    She didn¡¯t seed. Her pulse still raced, her breaths grew fast and uneven. She couldn¡¯t tear her gaze away from the strong, deeply tanned fingers starkly outlined against her clothing.

    Then, thank heaven, she was saved. Because with the bases loaded, the next yer at bat hit one out of the park. The entire stadium roared, rising to its feet as if one huge, sinuous being, Kelly and Dimitri among them.

    Whoever that yer was, she could kiss him, she really could.

    Because somehow, during the euphoric celebrations of the home team¡¯s victory, she managed to calm down and put all her protective gear firmly back in ce.

    Almost through, she reminded herself. This wasn¡¯t real. It was purely sexual. She should find a way to control her feelings.

    Seeing the way he¡¯d beenpletely unaffected by a simple touch that had left her breathless had reminded her of just who she was dealing with here. This man dealt in intimate touches and waspletely unaffected by them.

    She, however, was not like that, and maybe she would never be. Which meant she needed to put an end to this ridiculous feeling. Soon they would get tired of this, and their lives would go back to the way it was before.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    On the way back to her ce, Dimitri said : ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would love the game so much. I¡¯m d you did. A part of me was worried that you wouldn¡¯t¡­ Mostdies don¡¯t¡±

    Kelly didn¡¯t miss that part of hisment¡­ ¡®Mostdies¡¯. Just how many women did he bring to these games with him? She wondered. But she didn¡¯t ask, it wasn¡¯t her business to question him about his other activities.

    ¡°Oh I have always loved baseball¡­. Especially in high school¡± she said, ¡°But my dad wasn¡¯t crazy about the idea so he made me quit and then I just forgot about the whole thing.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah¡­. Your dad¡± Dimitri replied, nodding his head, ¡°He has his own ideas about everything. I have worked with him for a while and I know that he can be really¡­.¡±

    ¡°Annoying¡­¡± Kellypleted for him.

 38

    Dimitriughed, ¡°Actually I was going to say tough, but annoying works too.¡± he said, and Kellyughed. ¡°So he made you quit dancing too I guess¡± he added.

    Kelly shot him a nce, ¡°How do you know that?¡±

    ¡°Well, I remember the first time you were in my office, and I mentioned something about telling your dad about you dancing at the theater, and then you threatened to kill me¡­. That was my first que¡± he replied.

    Kelly blushed and looked out the window and Dimitri grinned.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said, ¡°I know you didn¡¯t mean that, and I don¡¯t me you either, even I can admit that I was really annoying that day. But I¡¯m not too sorry though. I kinda enjoyed it. You are very cute when you are angry. Kinda fun to watch¡±

    ¡°You are annoying all the time,¡± Kelly said teasingly.

    ¡°And you love me for it¡± Dimitri cut in, and then realizing what he had just said, he focused his attention on the road. Love. That was a strong word, and he didn¡¯t know how she felt about him saying that. There was a brief silence before he asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you dance anymore Kelly? You are amazing at it. I gotta tell you, that image of you dancing that night we met lives rent free in my head, and it¡¯s not going away anytime soon.¡±

    Kelly blushed a little. She could remember every detail of that night too. It had been a wild crazy night. One she wouldn¡¯t forget in a hurry either.

    ¡°I still do¡­ Sometimes¡­ Once in a while¡­ when I¡¯m alone. I don¡¯t really perform anymore¡± she replied, ¡°That night we met, I was just helping out my friend because her lead dancer wasn¡¯t avable¡­.¡± she paused, then added, ¡°My father didn¡¯t approve of it, so I stopped¡­ I guess there¡¯s a lot of stuff I quit because my dad didn¡¯t approve of it. So many things I wanted¡­.. He¡¯s a little¡­ Ermmm¡±  she realized she didn¡¯t know what word to describe him with. She knew her father didn¡¯t approve of a lot of things, but she knew that he loved her¡­ In his own way. She had spent most of her life trying to please him¡­ To get his attention. None had really worked though.

    Dimitri understood her. He had worked with Raymond Darcy long enough to know what kind of man he was. Raymond could be annoying and pig headed, but he was efficient and good at what he did. Dimitri knew that he admired the man despite their disagreementstely.

    ¡°Do you want to continue?¡± he asked her, ¡°Because if you do, you should. You are good at it, and you shouldn¡¯t let anyone stop you¡±

    Kelly smiled, ¡°Thanks¡± she said, ¡°I am not sure if I want to pursue that anymore though. I want to focus on thepany. I know that I haven¡¯t been here for a long time, but I¡¯m beginning to love it, plus I get to be a lot closer to my dad. It¡¯s something that I have always wanted. It¡¯s more than just apany to me¡­ It¡¯s a legacy, and I want to protect it¡±

    Dimitri kept his eyes on the road and said nothing. The way she talked about thepany¡­ The way her eyes lit up¡­ She had some emotional attachment to it. And if he was being honest with himself, he¡¯d admit that he had be emotionally attached to her¡­. Somehow, he didn¡¯t know how, but it had happened.

    Why then did he suddenly feel bad? Why then did he have doubts? Two months ago, he had been sure that nothing would stop him from buying and selling off Darcy Enterprises, but now¡­. Now he wasn¡¯t so sure anymore.

    And he knew the reason why he felt that way.

    Kelly Darcy¡­. She was the reason why.

    He pulled up in front of her house, and she turned to him, ¡°Thanks for taking me to the game, Dimitri¡± she said, ¡°I had a great time¡±

    He smiled at her, ¡°I had a great time too, Kelly. I¡¯m d you came with me¡± he replied. He couldn¡¯t kiss her out here where anyone could see them, but God help him, he wanted to. These feelings developing inside him both scared and excited the shit out of him. He realized that she was saying something, but he hadn¡¯t heard her because he was lost in thought.

    ¡°Huh?¡± he asked, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t get you¡±

    ¡°What are you doing tomorrow?¡± she repeated.

    ¡°Ermmm¡­. nothing I can think of right now. Tomorrow is Saturday¡± he replied, ¡°Why? What do you have in mind?¡±

    Kelly gave him a smile. One that almost made him lose what little self control he had left, and he gripped the steering wheel tighter to keep himself from grabbing her and kissing her hard.

    ¡°It¡¯s a surprise¡± she said in that sexy voice of hers, ¡°I will call you¡±

    And with that, she opened the door and went out of the car.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    ¡°I have a surprise for you,¡± Kelly said the next day as she killed the car engine.

    Dimitri peered out the passenger window and saw that they¡¯d stopped in front of the Pink Pussycat, an upscale strip club that catered to men with money to burn. He had been to a few strip clubs, mostly because David and Spencer made hime. Strip clubs really weren¡¯t his thing¡­ Not that he had a problem with them, because he didn¡¯t. But surely this could not be their final destination. This just happened to be where she could find parking.

    ¡°What did I do to deserve a surprise?¡± Dimitri asked.

    ¡°You said something about watching me dance yesterday, remember?¡± she asked, then she grinned as she remembered the time at his office when she told him that he would be waiting for the rest of his life to see her dance for him. Guess she had been wrong then.

    ¡°But¡­how-¡± he began.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    She leaned over the emergency brake and kissed him, ending his question. No one was around to see them kiss so she did so without worrying about prying eyes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask how. I¡¯ve got connections¡­ I mean, my friend Lizzy has connections.¡±

    Dimitri cast a nce at the Pink Pussycat again. ¡°You mean, we¡¯re going in there¡­ Together?¡±

    Kelly almostughed at the expression on his face. ¡°They¡¯ve got peep show rooms.¡± she said.

 39

    For once, Dimitri found himself stunned speechless. This woman was calm and collected, but also wild¡­ And he loved it so damn much.

    ¡°We really don¡¯t need to do this, you know. I mean, I love the idea. But do you really want to do it? I kinda find it hard to believe.¡±

    ¡°Hush,¡± she said. ¡°Just get out of the car.¡±

    She got out, and Dimitri followed suit, trying to imagine just what she had nned. He walked with her to the entrance of the club and followed her inside, where dark corridors were lit with blue lights. After following a velvet-roped walkway, they emerged in the main club.

    Arge, U-shaped bar dominated one side of the club, and a stage dominated the other side. Dance music red from speakers overhead, and on stage, a lone blonde did a pole dance for an audience of eight or ten guys.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    He watched Kelly¡¯s gaze slide over the whole scene without reacting. While he, on the other hand, found his natural guy instincts having a hard time looking away from the near-naked female in the room. He forced himself to keep his eyes on Kelly.

    She shed a mysterious smile and took his hand. ¡°I think the peep show is this way,¡± she said as she led him toward the back of the club.

    God help him. After this woman was done with him-he was pretty sure the rest of his life was going to be damn dull inparison. But he followed Kelly anyway.

    If this was going to be the most exciting weekend of his life, he might as well take full advantage, peep show and all.

    Kelly stopped at a door bearing a sign that read Private and opened it.

    ¡°Have a seat in here,¡± she said.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be in soon. No more questions.¡± Her eyes full of mischief, Dimitri felt himself growing hard in his pants. So damn predictable.

    ¡°Okay, but hurry,¡± he said as she urged him inside the small room and closed the door.

    Alone, he found himself with afortable recliner chair, a side table bearing a drink, and nothing else. He sat and saw the sliding panel on the wall, right at his viewing level.

    For a peep show. His erection grew. He leaned back in his chair and picked up the perspiring ss of amber liquid.

    A sip confirmed that it was whiskey and Coke, and he tried to focus on the burning sweet taste of it, trying not to think too much about what may or may not be about to happen on the other side of the peep show panel.

    Kelly was full of surprises, and today was no exception. But he didn¡¯t want to get his hopes up, or imagine the wrong thing, or¡­ He heard footsteps on the other side of the panel, and he set the drink aside, then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. The position put him inches from the peep show panel. A sultry dance song began to y over the speakers, and the panel slid open.

    He peered through and saw a woman dancing, rocking her hips to the beat. It only took a second for his brain to register that the woman was Kelly.

    Damn.

    Her arms lifted overhead, she moved her hips back and forth, around and around, in a dance that was tantly erotic without being raunchy. She wore a cktex bra and panties, with thigh-high ck boots, and she didn¡¯t look at him. Rather, she danced as if no one was there, as if no one was watching.

    She twirled slowly around, giving him a view of her firm, perfect ass d in thong panties, and the air left his lungs. He reminded himself to breathe-in, out, in, out.

    Sweet heaven, she was hot. So damn fucking hot.

    Kelly trailed her hands down her torso as she danced, then up again, cupping her breasts, lingering over her nipples, and then slowly unsping her bra in front. When it fell down over her shoulders, she let it drop to the floor, then continued to fondle her breasts without the hindrance of fabric.

    Dimitri¡¯s cock strained against his pants, and he wondered if it was eptable to jack off in a situation like this. Or was he supposed to wait until she¡¯d finished her dance and came to him?

    When she pushed her breasts up and together, then dipped her head and licked herself, first one nipple, then the other, he didn¡¯t have any will left to hold out. He unfastened his pants in a hurry and started stroking his cock.

    Abandoning her breasts, she slid her hands back down her torso, and as her hips gyrated, she hooked her thumbs in the sides of her panties and slid them slowly down her hips, turning as she did so. She bent over, giving him a full view of her pussy, and stepped out of the panties, then kicked them aside.

    Another gyrating turn put her face forward again, and still, she made no eye contact with him. She seemed totally into herself, into the dance,pletely focused on her own body, and the effect was seriously hot. He slowed the stroking of his cock to keep froming too soon, and watched enthralled as she dipped her fingers between her legs and started stroking herself.

    Oh, hell. He wanted her like crazy. He¡¯d broken out in a sweat. Could feel it dripping down the insides of his arms, felt it on his brow and upper lip. His entire body was heating up, tensing, ovee with that same trembling desire he¡¯de to associate with Kelly.

    Still stroking herself, she spread her legs and started working her way downward into a squat, ending with her legs spread wide in front of the peep show panel. She reclined on one arm and continued to stroke. Dimitri¡¯s mouth went dry as he watched her fingers glide between her lips, inside her opening, out again, in again.

    She was moaning now, her eyes closed, her showpletely convincing, outrageously erotic. The music changed from the mid tempo dance beat to something slower, and he couldn¡¯t take it anymore.

    ¡°Get your hot little ass in here,¡± he said.

    She opened her eyes and looked at him for the first time. Stopped stroking herself and leaned forward. ¡°No talking allowed,¡± she said in a breathy little voice.

 40

    ¡°This was fun and all, but I¡¯m going toe in my pants if you don¡¯t get over here, and I¡¯d much rathere in you.¡± Dimitri replied hoarsely.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir. We¡¯re not allowed to interact with the customers.¡± She gave him a look that was pure steam. ¡°Now please, sit back and enjoy the show.¡±

    From somewhere he couldn¡¯t see, she produced a shiny ck dildo. Crawling back away from the window again, she held the dildo to her mouth and licked it, and, on her knees now, her legs spread wide, she gyrated her body slowly to the beat as she brought the dildo down between her legs and stroked it against her clit.

    Dimitri¡¯s breath grew quick and shallow, and he all but abandoned his own pleasure as he found his attentionpletely focused on watching hers. Her eyes were closed again, her face softened with pleasure, her mouth open as she moaned and gasped. When she pushed the dildo inside herself, he nearly came.

    A few more strokes, and he¡¯d be there. But he couldn¡¯t. Couldn¡¯t miss a second of this show. She moved the rubber cock inside herself, clearly lost in her own pleasure, seemingly oblivious to the sweet, delicious pain she was causing him.

    And then she brought it back out, caressing her breast with one hand and stroking the dildo against her clit with the other, rocking her hips against it, gasping hard¡­. He could see the tension building in her body, could see the moment before her release, so when she gave that final cry of pleasure, he knew it as if it were his own body.

    Wanted to be there as if it were his own body. Felt weak and spent as if it was him and not her.

    She recovered, and for the second time, made eye contact with him. She crawled to the small window. ¡°I hope you enjoyed the show,¡± she said in a sex-kitten voice, right before shutting the panel in his face.

    Dimitri looked down at his forlorn cock resting outside his pants. Surely she didn¡¯t mean to leave him hanging. That definitely wasn¡¯t part of the fantasy. Because damn, he wanted to cum so bad.

    But just in case, he eased his boxers and pants back over his erection and did his best to zip up. Suddenly the small ck room with the dim lights appeared to him as the airless box it was, and he wondered if he was supposed to leave now or stay put.

    Unsure, hot and frustrated, he downed his drink in a few swallows and then rubbed the damp ss over his forehead to cool himself off.

    A secondter the door opened, and Kelly stepped in and closed it behind her. She was wearing a white robe and the ck boots, and when she let the robe fall open, he saw that she was still naked beneath it.

    He opened his mouth tomend her performance, but she shushed him before he could get a word out.

    ¡°I¡¯m not supposed to consort with the customers.¡± Still with the sex kitten voice.

    ¡°But this once, I can make an exception.¡± She added.

    She shrugged off the robe and crossed the small space between them, then swiveled the recliner so that it faced away from the wall. Then she bent down and tugged the lever on the side of the chair so that it reclined all the way. That done, she climbed on and straddled him.

    ¡°There¡¯s an extra charge for¡­personal services,¡± she said as she unzipped his pants and took out his cock.

    ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯ll pay it.¡± Dimitri said, almost losing it. He would do anything to be inside her right now.

    He saw now that she held a condom packet in her hand. She really had prepared for this, he thought. She opened it and slid the rubber on him. ¡°What sort of services would you like?¡± she asked.

    This was just so fucking hot, so much better than anything he could have ever imagined, he couldn¡¯t think of anything but burying himself inside her at that moment.

    ¡°I want to be inside you,¡± he replied.

    She mounted his cock. Since she was already wet from her own orgasm, he slid inside her with no resistance, and he expelled a pent-up sigh. Silently she began riding him, her movements slow and deliberate, her gaze locked on him.

    With her breasts so close to his mouth, he couldn¡¯t resist tasting them, couldn¡¯t resist squeezing them together and relishing their soft fullness against his hands, against his tongue. ¡°Is that allowed?¡± he asked btedly, enjoying their game more than he ever would have suspected.

    ¡°There will be an extra charge,¡± she said. ¡°You kiss, you pay.¡±

    ¡°Can I touch you?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, and he slid his hands over her torso, around her hips, to her ass. He pressed her harder against him, coaxed her into a faster pace as the sweet tension mounted inside him. A few more strokes was all it would take, but he wanted her there with him, wanted to give her a little bonus for the hottest sex show he¡¯d ever seen.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Slipping his fingers down, he caressed the cleft of her ass, dipped his fingers in, found her most sensitive spot and massaged her there. She gasped and ground against him, contracted around his cock, almost with him¡­A little more, and she¡¯d be there¡­He pushed farther, flexed inside her, tried hard to hold himself back until just the right moment¡­.

    She came hard, bucked against him, cried out, and he let himself go, too. Just the way he¡¯d wanted it. He spilled himself, felt the pure, white-hot release shooting out of him again and again, his cries mingling with hers until she copsed against him.

    He could feel her heartbeat, listened to their breathing, which slowed to normal again as minutes passed, and finally she stirred. She sat up and looked at him curiously.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I did that,¡± she said. ¡°I hope you liked it.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered, unable to summon the energy for a full-on speech. ¡°That¡¯s the sexiest thing I have ever seen.¡±

    The sexiest, the hottest, the most addictive. How he would ever convince himself to stop wanting Kelly. He knew the answer then. He would never stop wanting her¡­.. Because he had fallen in love with her.

 41

    ¡°I feel like you know almost everything about me and I know so little about you.¡± Kelly said one night to Dimitri as theyy in bed.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Dimitri said, ¡°You know my name. You know what I do for a living,¡± he paused, then added, ¡°¡­ Oh, and you know a lot about my body too¡±

    Kelly hit him yfully on the shoulder and he giggled.

    ¡°Seriously,e on, Dimitri. I¡¯m serious¡± she continued, ¡°What about your family, your parents¡­. Do you have any siblings? What was your childhood like?¡±

    Dimitri hesitated. They weren¡¯t supposed to know so much about each other ording to their initial agreement that they stay in a purely sexual rtionship, but who the hell was he kidding? He knew that they had gone way beyond that¡­ At least he had.

    ¡°Apart from a few cousins that I rarely speak to, it¡¯s just me,¡± he said finally. ¡°Like you, I had just my dad, except he wasn¡¯t a family kind of guy¡­ Always focused on work. Hardly stayed at home. He took care of my education and that was it. He died a few years ago¡­ There¡¯s not much to tell¡±

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m so sorry about that,¡± Kelly said softly.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. We weren¡¯t close and I really don¡¯t like to talk about him¡± Dimitri replied.

    Kelly lifted her head from his chest to stare at him. ¡°Do you always have to be so tough all the time?¡± she asked.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be that way¡± she replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you show emotions¡­ You are human and it¡¯s normal to feel. You say your rtionship with your dad doesn¡¯t matter but it does from the sound of your voice. It¡¯s okay to feel hurt that you didn¡¯t get the kind of rtionship you wanted with your dad. It¡¯s okay to feel hurt about his death.¡±

    Dimitri looked away from her, ¡°Emotions make you weak. They make you vulnerable¡± he said, just the way she made him feel. And he hated it.  ¡°Emotions bring expectations and expectations hurt. I prefer to be on the safe side¡±

    ¡°But they can also make you stronger,¡± Kelly replied. ¡°You can learn from them. And it¡¯s okay to want someone you can lean on when there¡¯s the need to. We all need someone Dimitri, and there¡¯s absolutely nothing wrong with that¡±

    Dimitri said nothing and pulled her back towards him so her head was on his chest again.

    The woman had no idea how vulnerable she already made him feel. And she wouldn¡¯t because he wasn¡¯t going to tell her. These feelings would go away with time and he sincerely hoped that time woulde soon.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The pain was back again.

    Kelly thought one afternoon in her office as she tried to stand. For the past few days she¡¯d felt weird¡­ had a feeling in her stomach like something was different. It wasn¡¯t quite like cramps since it didn¡¯t particrly ache, though she felt that something was definitely up with her body. The first time she felt it, she passed it off as her body reacting to her workouts. But the cramp stayed even dayster. Starting and stopping at intervals, and Kelly was getting worried that this was something more than what she suspected.

    Soon she began to suspect that she was pregnant. It wasn¡¯t impossible with the way she and Dimitri had been having sex.

    She decided that she would give a pregnancy test a go out of curiosity to see if her suspicions were correct. She had read that the best time to take the test was the first time you use the bathroom in the morning. So on her way home that evening, she got a pregnancy test.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Half asleep by 4 am the next morning, she took a test out of the box and read the instructions. Pee on the stick. Easy enough, she thought.

    One line appeared pretty much immediately, and she rxed a bit. With eyes barely open, a few momentster she could make a second line faintly appear to make a plus sign. A positive. At this point she was way too tired to make sense of this or know how to feel so she just crawled back to bed and went back to sleep.

    When she woke at a more godly hour she thought she would try again to confirm if the test was true. She took another and the result was the same. Was she dreaming? The second test turned out to be another positive. Nope, it was definitely real.

    And she shouldn¡¯t be surprised about this, considering the fact that she and Dimitri were barely able to keep their hands off each other¡­ Sometimes¡­. Most times actually, they were even careless. She didn¡¯t even want to start thinking of the way Dimitri would react to this news.

    Hell, she didn¡¯t even know how to react.

    She sat down slowly on her bed, deciding that she wasn¡¯t going to the office that morning anymore, knowing that even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t be able to concentrate on anything.

    She needed to take some time off to think about this new development.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    A weekter, Kelly checked her watch as she headed towards her kitchen for morning tea.

    She found Evelyn, her help, alone in the kitchen, vigorously grating carrots for her favorite cake.

    Kelly had known Evelyn since she was a young girl. When her father had been too busy with work to pay her any attention, which was quite often, Evelyn had been the one who stayed with her¡­. even been like a mother to her.

    She brushed off Evelyn¡¯s offer to make tea, munching some dry biscuits to settle her stomach while she brewed the tea herself. As soon as she sat down at the table with a steaming mugful, the grating stopped and Evelyn faced her with a determined air of confrontation.

    ¡°Are you going to tell him?¡± Evelyn asked.

    Kelly shrugged her bewilderment. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Tell¡­whom¡­what?¡± she asked.

    Evelyn wiped her hands on a cloth, the dark brown eyes of her aboriginal heritage measuring some goal she had in mind before speaking again. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can be fooling me, Miss Kelly. I¡¯ve seen the signs too many times. So don¡¯t even think about lying to me.¡±

    The nausea she¡¯d been fighting every morning for days rolled around her stomach and Kelly swallowed nervously.

 42

    ¡°Reckon I knew my daughter Lara was pregnant even before she did,¡± Evelyn went on, leaving no doubt about the subject she was bent on tackling.

    Kelly realized it was useless to deny it. ¡°Have you told anyone?¡± she asked anxiously, rmed at the thought that maybe her father was aware of her condition and holding to a conspiracy of silence until she was ready to admit it.

    ¡°No. But I¡¯ll tell Mr Darcy if you don¡¯t,¡± came the challenging reply.

    ¡°You mustn¡¯t do that, Evelyn,¡± Kelly instantly cried, panic welling up at the thought of any premature disclosure. She couldn¡¯t even imagine how pissed her father would be. He would feel so¡­ Betrayed.

    ¡°No goodes from keeping secrets that shouldn¡¯t be kept,¡± Evelyn bored in with absolute conviction. ¡°Especially from your father¡­. I know he can be tough but he really loves you very much and he would hate it if you kept this from him for too long. Let¡¯s not even talk about the fact that you are also hiding it from the man who fathered the child. It¡¯s Mr Dimitri, isn¡¯t it? ¡±

    ¡°What makes you think Dimitri is the father?¡± Kelly shot back at her, desperate to raise enough doubt to give herself more time.

    Evelyn clucked her contempt for any other possibility. ¡°No-one else it could be. Think I didn¡¯t know what you both have been up to¡­I don¡¯t know if he told you, but I have seen him twice now leaving your house in the morning. I have seen you with him too, you know,ing back home every early in the morning. I see how you are with him, and I don¡¯t need anyone to tell me what¡¯s been going on.¡±

    Humiliation burned through her. Had her feelings been so horribly transparent to everyone? No, they couldn¡¯t have been, she frantically argued to herself. They had been subtle, right? She wasn¡¯t even sure anymore. Whenever she was with Dimitri, her brains seemed to go for a walk. Nothing else existed when she was around him.

    No one could have guessed that she and Dimitri were more than colleagues at the office¡­. at least she hoped so. Only Evelyn¡­Evelyn who cared so much about her.

    ¡°It¡¯s not his fault that I¡¯m pregnant,¡± Kelly blurted out. ¡°It¡¯s not fair to load it on him.¡±

    ¡°Takes two to make a child,¡± came the firm rebuttal from Evelyn. ¡°epting the me for it makes no difference, Miss Kelly. The child belongs to him, as well as you.¡±

    ¡°I guess he thought that I was protected,¡± she pleaded. ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s responsible for this pregnancy. He would have ensured it didn¡¯t happen. I was so careless¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Evelyn shook her head, disappointment and disapproval stamped on her expression. ¡°If you wove a web of lies to get Mr Dimitri into your bed, you¡¯ll only make the situation worse with more lies. I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t do that. But it¡¯s time you faced up to yourself and to him.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want him to feel trapped. That¡¯s not fair, Evelyn,¡± she repeated emphatically, gathering strength to fight any interference with whatever she decided to do.

    ¡°You think he¡¯d want his child to be fatherless? No way, Miss Kelly. No way. I¡¯m sure that he wouldn¡¯t. You just pile injustice on top of injustice if you keep this from him.¡± Her eyes narrowed in grim judgment. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of yourself. What you want. But I won¡¯t let you cut Mr Dimitri out of what is rightfully his. That is very wrong. You tell him or I will.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your business!¡± It was a desperate cry of protest. This was between her and Dimitri and she needed time to work out how best to approach the future¡­what arrangement to make with him. She had heard the way Dimitri spoke of his childhood. The emotion in his voice when he spoke about his father, and she knew that he wouldn¡¯t want that for his child. What was he going to do then? And what the hell was she going to tell her father? How the hell was she going to tell him that she had been sleeping with Dimitri of all people? And now she was pregnant for him¡­ Talk about bad timing. This was probably some kind of punishment for sleeping with her father¡¯s rival.

    Evelyn seemed to puff herself up with even more determination. ¡°Your dear mother¡¯s gone¡­. For a long time now. Your father whom I admire and respect put you in my hands since you were little.¡± She lifted a hand and shook a finger at Kelly. ¡°He put me with you. He trusted me to get things right. And I¡¯m sure that no matter what, he wouldn¡¯t want you to cheat a man out of something like this. He may have his ws, but I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t want that. Do the right thing, Kelly¡±

    Cheat¡­that was a totally uneptable word. Kelly recoiled from it. She had been carrying a wretched load of guilt for days. That was nothing new. Yet mixed in with the guilt was an insidious streak of exhrating pleasure in having Dimitri Collins¡¯s child-a part of him. But cheating him¡­that didn¡¯t sit at all well.

    Evelyn nted her hands on her ample hips. Her big bosom heaved. Her chin was thrust out in belligerent pride. ¡°I¡¯ve lived here in this town all my life. Over Forty years now. Served your father best I could. Always tried to do the right thing by you. You can sack me if you want, Miss Kelly. You have the right to do that¡­¡±

    Sacking Evelyn? Shocking thought¡­even more shocking than cheating, Kelly thought.

    ¡°¡­but as long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t stand by and let you pull the wool over Mr Dimitri¡¯s eyes, not on something as important as this will be to him. His child¡­¡±

    Mine, too, Kelly thought, fiercely possessive.

    ¡°You can¡¯t expect me to hit him with the news just like that. I just found out a week ago¡± she swiftly argued.

    ¡°You should have told him already, it¡¯s going to be two weeks very soon¡± came the damning retort. ¡°Every minute you leave it makes it worse. More underhand. More unfair. Just tell him and over with it¡± she hammered home.

 43

    A relentless drive for truth was looking Kelly straight in the face- impossible to ignore-impossible to even bend. Evelyn would serve Dimitri with the news if she was not satisfied with immediate action on this issue. She knew Evelyn and she knew the woman wasn¡¯t bluffing.

    Strong loyalties had been stirred. To Evelyn¡¯s mind, Raymond Darcy¡¯s daughter had not been acting as Raymond¡¯s daughter should, letting go of everything she had been taught, lying to a man about his child, lying to her father, lying to himself. And perhaps the very longevity of her service did give her the right to feel she had to be the one to put her back on the right track, regardless of whether it served Kelly¡¯s interests or not.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry you feel¡­so let down by me, Evelyn.¡± Kelly said. She heaved a troubled sigh.

    ¡°I¡¯m also thinking about your father, Miss Kelly. He might be pissed at first because I know that he and Mr Dimitri have some issues. But he would be telling you the same as I am. Lay it out in the open and deal with it.¡±

    No other choice now.

    ¡°Tonight. I¡¯ll go see him and then I will tell him about the baby¡± Kelly promised.

    Evelyn weighed that answer and finally conceded to it. ¡°I¡¯ll know if you don¡¯t do it,¡± she warned. ¡°And I mean what I said about telling him myself if you continue to hide it¡±

    Kelly smiled a little. A brief reprieve. At least she¡¯d have a little time to put herself together before she went to see him tonight. Then she would worry about telling her father after she and Dimitri had talked.

    She¡¯d wanted to feel prepared for every contingency beforeying out the fact that would inevitably have a far ranging effect on the rest of their lives, and wanted to have answers ready for whatever was Dimitri¡¯s reaction to it.

    However, Evelyn¡¯s words had stung her conscience. There was no denying the truth of them. Dimitri would not want his child to be fatherless, as he himself had been. Which meant she had to share. No cheating him out of the role he¡¯d want to y-a role he¡¯d insist on ying. She knew him that much.

    Roles¡­exits and entrances¡­ What had she done in her own selfish desire to have her needs answered? Several careless acts.

    Though even acknowledging she hadn¡¯t really done the right thing as far as her father was concerned, she couldn¡¯t regret doing it.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    She wanted this child.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Spencer and David sat next to Dimitri on the couch. They were at Dimitri¡¯s house, and Dimitri had just finished telling them about his feelings for Kelly.

    ¡°Damn¡± Spencer said as he took a sip of beer, ¡°If someone ever told me I would hear you talking about being in love with a woman this way, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it. But here you are saying it, and it sounds even bettering from you. I gotta say it feels so good seeing you feeling this way¡±

    Dimitri shot him a nce, ¡°Why is that?¡± he asked, ¡°Because you just like seeing me miserable? And besides that wasn¡¯t the point of me telling you guys about it.¡±

    ¡°Oh I know that¡¯s not the point¡± Spencer cut in, but I¡¯m trying to make it the point, ¡°I mean, there was a time when you would just have one night stands and move on the next day like nothing happened. We would try to set you up on dates and you would refuse. You really have to thank David for taking us to the theater that night. Here you are, talking about being in love with a woman¡­. Who also happens to be Darcy¡¯s daughter. That even makes it more funny. Talk about bad luck man¡±

    Spencer burst intoughter, and unable to help himself, David joined him. Spencer was taller than Dimitri by a few inches, with dark skin, a full beard and dark eyes that were always sparkling withughter. Spencer lived life with an enthusiasm that tended to spill over to everyone around him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry man,¡± David said to Dimitri when he saw the expression on his face, ¡°but it¡¯s kinda funny when you think about it¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Won¡¯t be funny for long though¡± Dimitri replied, as he reached forward to drop his beer on the table in front of them.

    ¡°Why is that?¡± David asked.

    ¡°Well, I have to put a stop to it before it gets worse, you know¡± Dimitri replied, ¡°It wasn¡¯t supposed to go this far, and by the way, I think she¡¯s thinking the same thing because she¡¯s definitely been avoiding metely. I don¡¯t know why. Maybe it¡¯s for the best.¡±

    Spencer grinned and pped Dimitri on the back. ¡°That¡¯s because you were overthinking things. Women are easy. You smile, tell them they have nice eyes and before you know it, they¡¯re giggling and eating up everything you¡¯re spitting. Treat them with respect when you¡¯re ready to move on, or make them think it¡¯s their idea that they¡¯re ending things and you¡¯re golden. But I don¡¯t think you really want to end this one from the look on your face. Go for it Dimitri, you know you want her, man¡±

    ¡°Shut up,¡± Dimitri said without any heat. ¡°The world already knows you wiggle your finger and womene flocking. Good thing Josie came along before you hooked up with everydy on the¡±

    Spencerughed and tugged on his cor. ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t me me. I¡¯ve got a gift.¡± he said.

    David looked at Dimitri. ¡°But what about her father? Raymond doesn¡¯t know about it, but if you decide to continue and he finds out, he won¡¯t be thrilled about the idea. The man is still mad about thepany. Think he¡¯s gonna be okay with you dating his daughter? Man, seems like you¡¯re just after everything that belongs to the guy, if I were in his shoes, I would hate you too ¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much for the kind words, David. Very calming and soothing words they are¡± Dimitri said sarcastically.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee¡± David replied while Dimitri red at him.

    ¡°So what¡¯s going to happen with thepany?¡± Spencer¡¯s voice rose in interest.¡±Still going ahead with your n?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Dimitri¡¯s tone hardened. He gave Spencer a hard look. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know any more, man. It means so much to Kelly¡­ And I¡­. I don¡¯t want to hurt her¡±

 44

    Spencer only smiled and leaned back. ¡°Damm, Dimitri¡± he said, ¡°This woman got you good. Since when are you bothered by people¡¯s feelings or what people thought of you? I can¡¯t me you though, I saw her that day at the theater, she looked beautiful¡±

    Tired of Spencer¡¯s teasing, Dimitri picked up his beer again. He was about to reply with a snarkyment of his own, when the elevator pinged open. Their attention was diverted from their beers and the television and they all watched as Kelly walked in.

    Dimitri stood immediately, ¡°Kelly¡­.¡± he said as he took a few steps towards her.

    ¡°Hi, Dimitri,¡± Kelly murmured.

    Dimitri heard David murmur, ¡°Speaking of the devil¡±, and normally he would have replied, but he was way too focused on Kelly. There was this look in her eyes and he knew instantly that something was wrong.

    Kelly saw Spencer and David that moment and then she turned her attention to them, ¡°Hello¡± she said, lifting her right hand and waving a little.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Spencer said.

    ¡°Hello beautiful¡± said David, ¡°You¡¯re Kelly. We have heard so much about you¡±

    ¡°You have?¡± Kelly replied, looking surprised and Dimitri bit his lower lip. His friends were just the worst.

    ¡°Yeah¡± David said, then he added hurriedly, ¡°Good things¡­. Very nice things indeed¡±

    Spencer just sat there and grinned at her in a funny way.

    Despite her worries, Kelly smiled. They looked like very nice people and maybe when things got better, she would get to meet them again. She realized that she hadn¡¯t spoken for a few seconds when David and Spencer kept staring at her. She shook her head.

    ¡°Ermmm¡­ I¡¯m sorry. My head isn¡¯t in the right ce right now. I¡¯m sure that next time we meet, I will be able to make a better impression. But right now, I just came to talk to Dimitri¡± she returned her gaze to Dimitri, who was watching her closely. ¡°It¡¯s very important,¡± she added.

    David and Spencer got up that second. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine. We were just taking our leave anyway¡± Spencer said, although Kelly was sure they were just leaving so they could give her and Dimitri some privacy.

    ¡°See you around Kelly¡± Spencer said, and they both pped Dimitri on the shoulder.

    ¡°Later man¡± they said, and then took their leave.

    Dimitri still stood where he was, one hand buried in his pocket, beer in the other.

    ¡°Hi¡± he said, when Kelly made no effort to say anything.

    ¡°Hello, Dimitri,¡± she croaked. Her voice sounded weird and her throat felt dry.  ¡°I¡¯m sorry I came like this. I called but you weren¡¯t picking up and I really needed to talk to you¡±

    Dimitri looked around and felt his pockets. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Guess I left my phone in the bedroom¡± he said, then returned his gaze to her. ¡°I wanted to see you yesterday. I called but you didn¡¯t pick up¡±

    ¡°I was¡­. upied¡± came Kelly¡¯s reply.

    Dimitri nodded his head, ¡°You have been¡­ upied a lottely. Was beginning to think you were avoiding me for some reason. Did I do something wrong again?¡±

    Kelly didn¡¯t reply, and he took another sip from his beer. ¡°You look worried about something, Kelly. What¡¯s going on? You can tell me¡­.¡± he added. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±

    He pulled his other hand from his pocket, and took a few steps closer to her. Not too close, but enough to make her heart beat a little faster. Kelly took a deep breath. The man seemed to suck out all the oxygen in the room. His stance was bristled with spiky tension, insisting on space around her.

    Dimitri moved again, this time away from her. He trod softly, moving over to a  desk, propping himself against the front of it, trying to establish a rxed, non-critical air. He didn¡¯t want to beat her over the head with anything. He wanted her to trust him, he realized. If she¡¯d just ce some confidence in him, she would tell him what was wrong¡­but there was none forting at the moment.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Kelly¡± he soothed, trying to be a little yful. ¡°I¡¯m not going to bite. Just tell me¡­whatever it is¡±

    Her head tilted back. She swung around to face him. Her expression seemed torn between intense inner conflict and a need to rise above it.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t careful, Dimitri,¡± she said. The bare statement held both guilt and defiance.

    His mind wandered. What was she talking about? Did she mean something about thepany? If it was, then why was sheing to him? Or was this about them?

    ¡°What were you not careful about?¡± he asked, doing his utmost to keep calm.

    Hershes fell. Her mouth twitched into a rueful grimace. She took a deep breath, forced herself to meet his gaze squarely, thenid it out. ¡°We have been sleeping together¡­And I guess you thought I was protected¡­but I wasn¡¯t.¡±

    It took him several moments to unscramble his mind which had been totally focussed on possible problems at thepany. Then it took several more moments for the implication of her words to sink in. The shock of it robbed him of any ready speech. Now that wasn¡¯t what he thought she would say.

    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, Dimitri¡± she shot at him in case he hadn¡¯t put it together.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Right! he thought, still unable to produce a verbal response. He simply stared at her as understanding flooded through his mind. His eyes drifted to her stomach, which was still t, and then back to her face. When did she find out? How old was the pregnancy? Did her father know too?

    That wasn¡¯t the point. But what did Kelly want of him? That was the big question.

    Though instantly overriding it was what he wanted.

    Kelly was pregnant with his child.

    There was no question about what should be done.

    ¡°We get married,¡± he said suddenly, pushing off the desk to stand tall and determined against any opposition she threw at him.

    ¡°Married,¡± she repeated, as though she couldn¡¯t believe he had made that leap. And honestly she couldn¡¯t. This was the craziest thing she had ever heard him or anyone say.

    ¡°Yes. We can do it tomorrow¡­. Anytime¡­. As soon as possible¡­ sign whatever papers have to be signed for legal notice¡­¡±

    ¡°Dimitri, people don¡¯t get married over a pregnancy anymore,¡± she cried, her arms unfolding, hands pping in agitation. ¡°Especially when¡­¡±

    ¡°It was just a sexual rtionship¡± he finished for her.

 45

    He watched her flounder, so many emotions flitting across her face, it was impossible to decipher what she was thinking. Dimitri decided it didn¡¯t matter.

    The only important end to this conversation was to give the child she was carrying-his child-the kind of security every child deserves to have.

    ¡°Look!¡± she finally pleaded. ¡°I did something stupid¡­I should have been careful and I wasn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re all guilty of rash acts from time to time, Kelly. And the rtionship was my idea¡± he said sympathetically.

    ¡°I¡¯m responsible for the consequences, not you, Dimitri¡± she shot back at him.

    ¡°That¡¯s beside the point. Whether nned or not, I¡¯m the father of this child,¡± he stated simply.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean you have to marry me.¡± Kelly said. Wild pride in her eyes. She couldn¡¯t even believe that he was making this suggestion. She had expected him to freak out, maybe even get mad at her for not being careful. But him saying this was thest thing she had imagined he would say.

    ¡°Do you have a problem with being my wife?¡± Dimitri asked her.

    No answer.

    Anguished uncertainty in her eyes. The sex between them had been good¡­ Too good, Dimitri argued to himself. They were good together¡­. Happy whenever they were together. She couldn¡¯t deny that. Why then did the idea of being married sound so crazy to her. He knew she was also thinking about her father and thepany. But all that didn¡¯t matter to him now.

    ¡°I¡¯m here, Kelly,¡± he pressed. ¡°I know that you are worried but I¡¯m here. You can¡¯t send me away. I¡¯m not going away. Why not ept-¡±

    ¡°But my dad¡­. Thepany¡± she broke in vehemently. ¡°He¡¯s going to be so upset¡­ We shouldn¡¯t have done this in the first ce¡±

    ¡°We cane up with some kind of solution for thepany¡­. It doesn¡¯t have to be such a big deal¡±

    ¡°Oh suddenly now it¡¯s not¡­ You once said nothing was going to stop you from getting what you want. I remember vividly, Dimitri¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not beat around the bush, Kelly¡± he said stiffly. ¡°Darcy Enterprises is going down, and you need help. I know you have made no progress with getting that contract, am I right?¡± He cocked a challenging eyebrow at her. ¡°Can we be honest about that?¡±

    She felt herself burning again.

    ¡°You need not be concerned about thepany, Dimitri. I¡¯ll be doing that. I just need you to stop your ns to buy it and let me handle it. You are the one who is putting so much pressure on us¡± she stated with grim determination.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°I don¡¯t doubt you¡¯re capable of running thepany, Kelly, given enough resources, which you don¡¯t have, let¡¯s be honest about that. That¡¯s where Ie in.¡±

    Theck of resources¡­there was no denying that, though there¡¯d been no mismanagement. Her father had taken out the first big loan from the bank to finance the business, before things started getting bad. Then to keep thepany running, keep paying wages, he took more loans¡­and then prices dropped. The mortgage now was so big, Kelly didn¡¯t know how they would fix things. For some reason, they didn¡¯t get the contract they had set their minds to, and time was running out. Dimitri was right. She had to tell herself the truth. They weren¡¯t getting the contract and she and her father were running out of options. A rescue package had to be epted from Dimitri if she was to keep Darcy Enterprises.

    ¡°We need an injection of funds,¡± she admitted tly.

    He nodded. ¡°I will wipe out the mortgage, get the bank off your back.¡±

    Just like that! Kelly instantly bridled at how easy it was for him while she had sweated over every money being spent in thepany. ¡°No, you won¡¯t!¡± The denial exploded from a deep well of pride.

    He frowned. ¡°No? Again? Is that the only word you know or are you just out to piss me off? I have the funds, Kelly.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to owe you that much.¡± She red defiantly at him. ¡°If you pay off forty-nine percent of it, I can get another loan from the bank which could see me through¡­¡±

    ¡°Why put yourself through that worry when you don¡¯t have to?¡± he argued, waving an impatient dismissal of her counterproposal.

    ¡°Because I won¡¯t take your charity,¡± she shot back at him.

    ¡°Charity?¡± He red down at her from his formidable height, a big man, emanating a power that wanted to st her point of view to smithereens. He raised a clenched fist, shaking it as he spoke with more passion than she¡¯d ever heard from him.

    ¡°Damn it, Kelly. Fine. You can pay me back when you can. If you must. But you know you need me. The bank will be on your back soon.¡±

    ¡°Even if I let you do that, I¡¯ll have to borrow again to keep going,¡± she pointed out, mocking his ignorance of what had to be done.

    ¡°No. I¡¯ll set up an ount for you to draw from,¡± came the swift reply. He was all primed to fix everything with his money.

    Her jaw set stubbornly. ¡°I won¡¯t ept that.¡± she said.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know how long this willst. Why won¡¯t you just let me help you?¡±

    ¡°I will manage it my way.¡± she retorted.

    Frustration boiled through Dimitri. She was just going to stress herself over this and there was no need for it. Funny how there was a time when he was nning to buy and sell off thepany, now he was doing the opposite¡­ Trying to save it. All because Kelly hade into his life, and because now she was having his baby. But she wouldn¡¯t listen to him. Wouldn¡¯t trust him. He wanted to pick her up and shake some sense into her, but there was steel in the brown eyes so fiercely defying him -and he knew he had to find another way of convincing her to use the money he could provide.

    He straightened up, turned away, walked over to the window and stared out.

    ¡°Would you prefer me to buy you out, Kelly?¡± he tossed at her with little hope.

    ¡°No¡± came the firm and predictable reply.

    He shrugged. ¡°I thought, since you dislike having to deal with me so much¡­¡±

    Her jaw clenched. ¡°My father wouldn¡¯t want that,¡± she said.

 46

    He turned to face her again. ¡°You father? Is that what you are really worried about, or yourself? Have you stopped to think of what your father wants¡­instead of what you want?¡±

    ¡°He won¡¯t ept your help or your money¡± she insisted.

    He pounced on that statement, inmed by her antagonism towards him. ¡°I¡¯m sure he will when I talk to him, especially with the current situation right now¡­ And the baby too. He and I may have had our differences, but we have worked together for a long time. I¡¯m sure we cane up with something. You are the one who is being unnecessarily stubborn. So why do you refuse my help?¡± he challenged.

    Intriguing to watch the flushe again, sweeping into her cheeks with zing heat. She dropped her gaze and fiercely imed,¡±I can manage on my own. With the mortgage reduced, I can¡­¡±

    ¡°What if you can¡¯t? Why risk it?¡± He paused, sure now in his own mind that he was the problem. ¡°Is your dislike of me so great that you can¡¯t bear to let me help? I didn¡¯t know you felt this way towards me¡±

    He hated that he felt hurt because she wouldn¡¯t ept his help.

    ¡°I don¡¯t dislike you, Dimitri! I just¡­.. I just¡­ I don¡¯t know okay¡± she burst out, banging her own hands on the desk as she leaned forward to deliver this deration with vehemence.

    ¡°Then what would make it right for you,  Kelly?¡± he asked. The storm of feeling in her eyes gave way to a dull bleakness. Dimitri read the answer in her mind-Nothing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know,¡± she muttered, shaking her head over the wretched admission, shoulders slumped in defeat. ¡°I¡¯m just so confused. So much is happening so fast and I feel so overwhelmed¡±

    She looked so miserable, for the second time, Dimitri felt the urge to pick her up, but not to shake her, to wrap her in aforting embrace and promise her he would make everything better.

    He loved this woman. He knew that. He loved Raymond Darcy¡¯s daughter. He wanted to take care of her. But how was he to do it when she wouldn¡¯t even let him? His gaze dropped to the table.

    He still couldn¡¯t believe that she was pregnant¡­. Carrying his baby. And he knew that his idea that they get married was crazy.  It was totally wild. Absurdly quixotic. Yet the more he thought about it the more it appealed to him. On many levels. Especially the prospect of wearing down Kelly¡¯s resistance to it, winning her over. Though that mission could well prove impossible.

    Still, something was needed to break this hopeless impasse and the shock of his offer might open Kelly up more, give him an understanding of how she viewed him. He certainly had nothing to lose by putting it on the table. In heaping more scorn on him, she would have to give reasons for it, reasons he could work on.

    He pasted an ironic little smile on his mouth and aimed it at her. ¡°You know, Kelly, you¡¯d have the right to all I could provide¡­if you just married me. We could be fixing all these by just doing that¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t just get married, Dimitri¡± she began again, ¡°You didn¡¯t want¡­..¡±

    ¡°¡­. Things are different now, damn it.¡± he said, his voice louder. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what I want, Kelly. More than anything I want to be a good father. I didn¡¯t n to be one right now, but it¡¯s happened and I can¡¯t do anything about it, but thest thing I¡¯m going to do is to be absent from my kids¡¯ life.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be married to fulfill that role, Dimitri,¡± Kelly replied.

    ¡°You¡¯d prefer us to be single parents?¡± Dimitri asked. His mind buzzed around what advantage Kelly might see in that situation and zeroed in on the worst possible scenario.

    ¡°If I have to fight you for custody rights, I will. Don¡¯t think that I won¡¯t do it¡± he fired at her in a grim challenge. ¡°Just because you¡¯re the mother doesn¡¯t make you the arbiter of what¡¯s best for our child.¡±

    She looked appalled. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even have time for him-her-with the way you concentrate on just work all the time¡±

    ¡°Why not? I can change all that without blinking. I¡¯m sure a fair judge will agree with me. If you don¡¯t want to be my wife and work at being a harmonious couple¡­¡±

    ¡°A good father would want a stable life for his child,¡± she fiercely argued.

    ¡°Yes. And also want the child to feel loved by both parents. Not one cutting out the other. Was that what you intended to do with me, Kelly? Cut me out? It¡¯s what you are doing already. I understand now why you have been so upiedtely to see me. You have known about the baby for a while now and decided not to tell me¡­. Because you were thinking of ways to push me away ¡±

    ¡°No!¡± She paced around, pumped up with too much turbulent energy to remain still, though her arms folded across her chest again, projecting a need for self-containment, excluding him by action if not by word.

    Dimitri kept his distance, watching her deal with the pressure he had mounted for the oue he wanted. Anger was still burning through him. If she had imagined he¡¯d just waltz off about his business and leave her to bring up their child any way she wanted, she could certainly dismiss that idea right now.

    She paused, shooting him a measuring look. ¡°I want my baby to be happy. I don¡¯t want the kind of childhood I had for our baby¡±Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    ¡°So why not make us a family, Kelly? The child would be happy. What objection do you have to marrying me?¡±.

    ¡°If I marry you¡­will you leave our son or daughter here with me when you take on your¡­. careermitments¡±

    Dimitri knew that being a hands-on father would alwayse first with him.

    ¡°Should I take on work that requires me to be elsewhere, I would want my family to go with me.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Scarlet pride in her cheeks. ¡°I will notpete with¡­¡± Her mouth mped shut, but her eyes held a violent storm of feeling.

    ¡°Compete with what?¡± he probed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­. The women in your world,¡± she flung at him, hating having to say it yet unable to hold it in.

 47

    He shook his head. The absurdity was¡­she was the only woman he wanted¡­ The one woman in his world. They hadn¡¯t been in amitted rtionship, but he hadn¡¯t been seeing anyone else. Nevertheless, the realization finally dawned that Kelly was not only worried about her father and thepany, but she was also consumed by an intense sense of vulnerability, fighting him to keep herself and their child on the only secure ground she knew.

    ¡°There is nopetition,¡± he said gently, wanting to erase her fears.

    Rank disbelief stared back at him. It propelled him forward, his hands spread in an openly inviting gesture. ¡°You can trust me, Kelly. As my wife, you¡¯ll have my absolutemitment and loyalty.¡± Still the rigid stance, arms folded in stubborn resistance, but there was a wavering in her eyes, perhaps a wanting to believe that couldn¡¯t quite be suppressed.

    He curved his hands over the tense muscles of her shoulders.¡± I promise you. We can make our home here. Anywhere you want. But if I ask you to leave it sometimes, to share something else with me for a while, aren¡¯t you brave enough to try that, Kelly?¡± His hands instinctively slid up to cup her face, forcing her gaze to hold his while he pushed for a resolution.¡±You are just scared right now, Kelly. And what we need here is a leap of faith. The reality is we¡¯re going to have a child. We should live together as a family. And marriage is about giving to each other, notying down conditions that will limit-if not wreck-the rtionship we should have as husband and wife. There was a time when I didn¡¯t think I would ever want something like this, but we have a babying and I¡¯m willing to give this a try. I¡¯m not even asking you to meet me halfway. Just give a little. At least¡­give it a chance.¡±

    He dropped his hands and backed off.

    ¡°Think about it, baby. My position is not going to change. Either we get married and we both try to make it work as best we can¡­or I¡¯ll fight you for my fair share of fatherhood. I won¡¯t be kept dangling on this, Kelly. You have until tomorrow morning to decide.¡±

    Dimitri left the ultimatum hanging and walked towards his bedroom door. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing more to discuss. Whichever way Kelly chose, his own course was clear. His child was going to have the kind of father he would have wanted himself-a good father like-always there for him. Or her. If Kelly didn¡¯t evere to love him, at least their child would. No way was he going to miss out on that!

    ¡°Wait!¡± His hand was already on the doorknob when her call whipped through the tense silence, halting his exit. Dimitri gritted his teeth and half-turned, conceding a few more moments but not prepared to enter into further argument.

    She¡¯d dropped the folded arm posture and her hands were now fretting at each other, revealing how very nervous she was. Her eyes held a fearful pleading that he found painful. He¡¯d never done anything to hurt her. Never would. Why was she so damn scared of being his wife? Her throat moved in a convulsive swallow, as though her thoughts sickened her.

    ¡°Dammit, Kelly,¡± he muttered fiercely. ¡°Can¡¯t you see¡­? I just want us to¡­..¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give it a chance.¡± she said stiffly.

    ¡°Give what a chance?¡± he asked. He wanted to hear her say it.

    ¡°I will marry you, Dimitri¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be fucking kidding me¡± Raymond Darcy swore and got up from his chair. He shook his fist at Dimitri, ¡°I swear I¡¯m gonna kill you¡± he said.

    ¡°Dad, please, listen to me¡± Kelly pleaded as she stood too. Just as she had predicted, Raymond Darcy wasn¡¯t thrilled about the news of them getting married. In fact, he was furious, and Kelly didn¡¯t me him.

    ¡°No you listen to me¡± Raymond thundered, ring at Kelly, ¡°I would like to speak to you right now¡­. Alone¡±

    ¡°No. Whatever you want to say, you can say it in front of Dimitri too¡± she replied. This was about the both of them anyway, but Dimitri had other ideas. He knew that Raymond wasn¡¯t going to take the news well, and he didn¡¯t me the guy. He would be mad if he were in his shoes too, so he slowly stood up.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Kelly,¡± he said, ¡°I will give you guys some privacy. I will be in the living room¡±

    After he left Raymond¡¯s office, Raymond red at Kelly once again.

    ¡°What the heck is going on, Kelly¡± he thundered, ¡°How did this happen?¡±

    ¡°I¡­.. I don¡¯t¡­. Dad, please, I know you are mad at me, but could you please just calm down a little. I¡¯m freaked out already¡­ I¡¯m scared¡­ Please don¡¯t make this worse for me¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Raymond managed to calm himself down, but he was still too agitated to take his seat. ¡°How could you do something like that? You know the problems we have been having with him¡­.¡±

    ¡°I know Dad, and I¡¯m sorry¡± Kelly cut in. ¡°I really am, but I didn¡¯t know at first. You have to believe me. The first time we met, I didn¡¯t know who he was¡­.. And I know that I should have stayed away when I found out¡­. But I couldn¡¯t. I know I shouldn¡¯t have hidden it from you for so long and I really am sorry. I never meant for things to go this way¡±

    ¡°How exactly did you think it was going to go?¡±

    Kelly breathed deeply, ¡°I know that I screwed up dad, I¡¯m sorry. I really am. But I¡¯m going to do this. I have decided to do this. And for once, I¡¯m asking you to be on my side. I have always wanted to please you. To be my father¡¯s perfect little daughter. Always wanted you attention, which I barely got, and I neverined once. I¡¯m tired and I really need you on my side right now. If it¡¯s thepany that you are worried about¡­.. ¡±

    ¡°No¡­ No¡­ No ¡± Raymond replied, realizing how hurt his daughter was. He knew that she was right. He had been selfish¡­. always focused on hispany that he had forgotten what mattered most. His family. He had neglected her. Made her quit things she loved¡­ Made her do things she didn¡¯t want to do. And now he had lost it all. Had lost hispany, and he felt like he was losing her too.

 48

    ¡°No¡­ No¡­ No¡± Raymond replied, realized how hurt his daughter was, and how terribly he had responded. He knew that she was right. He had been selfish¡­. always focused on hispany that he had forgotten what mattered most. His family. He had neglected her. Made her quit things she loved¡­ Made her do things she didn¡¯t want to do. And now he had lost it all. Had lost hispany, and he felt like he was losing her too.

    He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, baby¡± he whispered, ¡°I have been a terrible father. Chasing after things that didn¡¯t really matter. Put my rtionship with you on hold. I guess I always told myself there was still time to make up for it, but I was wrong, and I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so worried about you too. Is this really what you want?¡±

    Kelly wasn¡¯t quite sure. She cared about Dimitri. She liked him¡­ A lot¡­ Maybe even loved him. Although she wasn¡¯t quite sure how he felt about her, she thought maybe they could make it work. They had to¡­ For the sake of their child. She nodded her head.

    ¡°Are you happy about the baby?¡± she asked, sniffing loudly and lifting her head so she could look at her father.

    ¡°Of course I am, Pumpkin¡± Raymond replied. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t act like I was, but I am, honestly. I¡¯m going to be a grandpa. This is a chance for me to do everything I didn¡¯t do with you¡­ Everything I missed out on with you. I won¡¯t make that mistake again. If you need me¡­ For any reason, I¡¯ll be there for you¡­ Both of you¡±

    ¡°And Dimitri?¡± she asked. She wanted to know how he felt about Dimitri being the father and his future son inw.

    ¡°Oh I¡¯m going to have a talk with him¡± Raymond said frowning, ¡°He and I can work something out. I have known him for a while, and even if he is a pain in the ass, I know he¡¯s a good man. He¡¯s tough and I like that¡­ Has a lot of potential in the business aspect¡­. In family, I¡¯m not quite sure so I can¡¯t say.¡±

    He stared at Kelly again. ¡°You are sure this is what you want?¡± he asked.

    Kelly wasn¡¯t, but she had to try. Have a little faith, just like Dimitri said. So she simply nodded her head again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure dad,¡± she said.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    ¡°Will you, Kelly Darcy, take this man¡­¡±

    While the marriage celebrant intoned the traditional vow with all due solemnity, Kelly was still struggling to believe it was really happening, that she was standing here in full bridal regalia, about to say the words that would make her Dimitri Collins¡¯s wife.

    Things had moved so damn fast. This man¡­who she had had a one night stand with¡­her wedding to him more a teenage fantasy than an adult reality, yet here they were, standing on the green grass of the inner quadrangle, everyone who worked at thepany, along with her family and Dimitri¡¯s closest friends, bearing witness to the marriage. This was how she¡¯d dreamed of it, although in her dreams and fantasies, she wasn¡¯t getting married because she got pregnant. Hell, she wasn¡¯t even sure how Dimitri felt about her.

    If only the baby hadn¡¯t forced this end, if she¡¯d been sure of Dimitri¡¯s love for her, Kelly knew she might have been a deliriously happy bride. As it was, her stomach was full of butterflies and all she could do was hope that everything would turn out right. Or right enough to live with this decision.

    The celebrant looked expectantly at her.

    ¡°I will,¡± she said.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    A leap of faith. That was all she needed right?

    ¡°Will you, Dimitri Collins, take this woman¡­¡±

    No doubt about his reply. He¡¯d been the driving force towards this wedding from the moment she¡¯d agreed to marry him. No quick civil ceremony in a register office. A proper celebration of their union in front of those closest to them. He had insisted on it.

    At first, she didn¡¯t want to make a big deal by inviting everyone. Wanting to keep the wedding as private as possible, but his reply had made any argument impossible- ¡°I¡¯m not going to hide you, Kelly. And I am not entering you into apetition. I never nned to get married, but here I am, and I¡¯m going to do this right. To me you are the most beautiful woman in the world and I want everyone to know it. To know I¡¯m married to you.¡±

    Had he said that simply to quell the panic she felt? Oh, she desperately wanted to believe him. Whatever the truth, Kelly had desperately wanted to live up to Dimitri¡¯s stated view of her, at least on their wedding day.

    She¡¯d asked Lizzy, to help her choose the wedding dress, a fabulous design in ivory silk withce and seed pearls, making it possible to wear a pearl ne which Dimitri had given her, and a wonderful long veil attached to a pearl tiara.

    Evelyn, with sentimental tears in her eyes, had dered she looked just like a princess, and her dear mother would be very proud of her today, but most of all Kelly wanted Dimitri to be proud of her, proud to have her as his wife.

    ¡°I will,¡±  he said, very firmly. And Kelly shook her head, bringing herself back to reality.

    Then they exchanged the gold rings he had chosen. She was d he wanted to wear one, too, the symbol of hismitment to their marriage.

    This past weeks he¡¯d devoted most of his time to helping her with thepany. Fulfilling his promise to help her with the mortgage, proving to her that he had a deep interest in it, even making suggestions for improvements that should be considered. But how long was this going tost? How long before they got enough of each other?

    Don¡¯t think about that. She told herself.

    Not today.

    ¡°I now pronounce you husband and wife.¡±

    Dimitri was smiling at her. She could hear the clicking of the camera. Her heart was rocketing around her chest in anticipation of the kiss that was toe. It was impossible to move her facial muscles into a responding smile. Her mind was wildly sorting out the expression in Dimitri¡¯s eyes.

 49

    Pleasure in her appearance, yes. Also a sh of triumphant satisfaction, possibly in having carried through what he¡¯d decided was right, even to holding off having any intimate connection with her until their wedding night. But mostly, she saw a simmering desire, reveling in the promise that she was his, to have and to hold from this day forth.

    Sweet relief. At least he did want sex with her. At least they had this attraction to each other.

    He kissed her with a slow, seductive sensuality, his mouth certainly seeming to suggest that passion was just lying in wait for the privacy of their honeymoon.

    No problems in bed, Kelly assured herself. Maybe her pregnancy actually made her more desirable to him. She hoped so, acutely conscious of the more rounded tummy hidden by the clever design of her wedding gown.

    He steered her to the table where they were to sign the marriage certificate.

    Once that was done, everyone came up to congratte them, wishing them a long and happy life together.

    It amazed Kelly how genuinely given these sentiments were, as though no doubts about the sess of this marriage were being harbored. They knew she was pregnant. Neither she nor Dimitri had tried to keep that a secret. There was no need to anymore. Yet it seemed irrelevant to them. It was as though they had all decided that this match had been made in heaven and it met with their heartfelt approval. Even her father seemed to havee to terms with it.

    Whether his friends had raised any questions with Dimitri, she didn¡¯t know.

    They gave no sign of it. They seemed to think it was marvelous that Dimitri wanted to marry her. Not one hint of criticism from them. Apparently they were perfectly confident that a workable future could be achieved between the two of them, probably on the principle that love conquers all.

    Except the only love Kelly was sure of was Dimitri¡¯s love for their unborn child.

    A huge barbecue dinner had been organized. Fairy lights had been strung around the pepper trees, just as they always were for Christmas, and the mood was just as merry. Speeches were made.

    At some point Dimitri squeezed her hands, instantly imparting warmth and strength, almost as if he knew the doubts and worries in her mind.

    She looked up into eyes that zed their searing message into her heart¡­believe in me. She didn¡¯t hear the camera click that captured her own surge of emotion, the huge welling of need and desire to believe their marriage would survive anything life threw at them. Survive and thrive, because this was where she belonged, where she wanted Dimitri to feel he belonged, with her and the children they would have.

    And that overwhelming wave of feeling was still sweeping through her when they were finally alone together. She was still a little nervous, and apprehensive, and she tried so hard to convince herself that everything would be fine.

    They were married now. She had to stop worrying. At least for now¡­ On this-their wedding night-she wanted to to leave all other realities¡­. At least until when they had to be met.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Dimitri stood in the shower, letting the warm water run down his head.

    He almost couldn¡¯t believe it, but he was married to Kelly Darcy, and she was pregnant.

    They were having a child. His chest clutched and he mmed his eyes closed, the taste of adrenalin filling his mouth. A thousand and one memories tormented him from the inside out, like acid rushing through his veins.

    Kelly, finding out she was pregnant. Kelly, swelling with his child. Kelly, ufortable. Kelly, inbor. Kelly, nursing their infant. Kelly, watching the child learn to walk. Kelly, patiently reading to the child, loving him,ughing at him.

    And of course he would be there with her every step of the way. He wanted to be there for her. Wanted to share this with her.

    His eyes opened, bleakness in the depths of their obsidian centers. He was creating a whole new family¡­. something he never nned.

    He grunted, shaking his head. Theirs was a marriage born of necessity, a marriage born of a need to protect his child, and the woman he¡¯d made pregnant. It was a mar-riage of duty, that was all.

    But he knew it wasn¡¯t just that¡­ Maybe for her it was, but It wasn¡¯t just a duty for him.

    Flint formed in his eyes, his resolution hardening. Whatever it was, their child deserved to grow up in a family. Kelly deserved to have support and assistance.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    And what else?

    Happiness¡­. Love¡­.. Sex.

    His body tightened as he shed back to the way she responded to him, the way desire engulfed him like a tidal wave whenever he was with her, drowning him in his need for her.

    The way he kissed her, his mouth taking possession of hers, his whole body firing with a desperate need to possess her

    Their affair had been a mistake. It should never have happened, but it had, and, looking back, he didn¡¯t think he could have stopped it. Not for anything or all the money in all the world.

    There had been a force pulling him to her¡­ It was still there, although it was almost two months since he had touched her. Every time their bodies had collided he¡¯d felt as though he¡¯d been jolted back to life. He¡¯d looked at her and felt a surge of need that had gone beyond logic and sense. It had been an ancient, incessant beating of a drum and ignoring it had not been an option.

    Perhaps it still wasn¡¯t¡­

    He was taking too much time in this damn bathroom. It was their wedding night for God¡¯s sake, and he had to find a way to get rid of this awkward silence between them.

    He turned off the shower and grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist, then grabbed another which he used to dry off the rest of his body. Towel in hand, he went back into his bedroom, but Kelly wasn¡¯t in there as he expected.

    After he had dried himselfpletely, he pulled on his pajama bottoms, then he grabbed the shirt, and pulled it on as well. Leaving it unbuttoned, he went in search of Kelly.

 50

    He found her on the balcony, leaning on the rails. She was wearing a short pink nightwear. And she looked so damn sexy. Dimitri swallowed hard. She looked lost in her thoughts that she didn¡¯t even notice him standing there, so he moved a little closer.

    ¡°Kelly¡± he said softly, and she turned immediately, looking startled.

    ¡°Gosh. Why do you always do that, Dimitri¡± she asked, as her hand lifted to her chest.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to startle you¡± Dimitri said, ¡°You weren¡¯t in the bedroom so I came looking for you. Are you alright?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t meet his gaze, so she turned away from him and continued to look out.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Dimitri,¡± she replied.

    Dimitri took a few steps closer, ¡°Look, Kelly. You don¡¯t have to.. We don¡¯t have to¡­ Do anything tonight if you don¡¯t want to. I totally understand, and I¡¯m willing to wait until you get used to this. I¡¯m trying to do the same too. Can you juste back to bed? You must be freezing out here.¡±

    She turned to him again and shook her head, trying to keep her thoughts away from his bare chest. ¡°No. No. That¡¯s not it. I was just thinking and I¡­ Urhmm¡­ I guess I just can¡¯t believe that I¡­ That we are¡­¡±

    ¡°Married¡± hepleted for her and she nodded. ¡°I kind of can¡¯t believe it either¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­. Right¡­ That¡± she said.

    He gave her a look. ¡°Do you regret it? You are not thinking about divorcing me already, are you?¡± he murmured, trying to lighten the mood with some humor.

    ¡°No I¡¯m not, Dimitri,¡± Kelly replied, ¡°I just can¡¯t believe we actually did it. Everything seems to be happening too fast you know. I just hope that we made the right decision. It¡¯s kinda crazy¡±

    ¡°Yeah it is,¡± Dimitri agreed, ¡°But I think it¡¯s going to be fine. We took a leap of faith today, and I think that¡¯s all we are going to need to make it work¡±

    ¡°I guess I just always thought that my wedding night would be a lot different¡­ You know. That it would be easier. I had this vision of me and my husband madly in love with each other¡­ Can¡¯t keep our hands off each other¡­ The normal stuff¡±

    ¡°I never saw myself getting married, ¡± Dimitri said, as he moved closer so he could stand beside her. So close that their arms touched, and he could feel the heat from her body. ¡°But I don¡¯t regret this one bit. I think you¡¯re awesome¡­ And beautiful and I don¡¯t regret meeting you¡­. I don¡¯t regret making a baby with you¡­ It makes me happy in fact, knowing that I¡¯m going to be a father. I can¡¯t wait to meet our baby¡±

    ¡°Do you really mean that, Dimitri¡± Kelly asked, looking at him with her soft beautiful eyes, like he had the answers to all the questions in the world. Like anything was possible. Like he could make everything better. And God, he wanted to.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m worried¡± she continued, ¡°I¡¯m worried, and a little scared¡­. And I can¡¯t help but overthink everything¡±

    Dimitri moved and pulled her gently into his arms, and Kelly dly let him hold her. She needed this. She felt safe in his arms¡­. She felt protected and she buried her face in his chest, breathing in his scent and listening to his steady heartbeat.

    ¡°It will be fine,¡± Dimitri whispered, smoothening her hair, ¡°One day at a time, baby¡±

    Kelly nodded and wrapped a hand around his waist, bringing herself even closer, pressing her body more intimately against his, and Dimitri groaned as he felt blood rush to his cock. So much for waiting till she was ready.

    Kelly felt it too, and she smiled inwardly. At least she was sure that he wanted her. He always did. She moved against him again, trying to get another response from him. And she did, because he gripped her tighter and whispered.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move like that, honey¡±

    She giggled and did it again, ¡°You mean like this?¡± she asked, trying her best to sound innocent. ¡°Why not?¡±

    Dimitri pulled her away from him so he could look at her face. There was nothing innocent about the look in her eyes.

    ¡°You know why, and you know exactly what you are doing. I thought you didn¡¯t want to?¡± he said.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything of the sort. You made that conclusion yourself¡± Kelly replied. She lifted her hand and stroked his chest slowly with her finger tips. ¡°We are married, Dimitri. It¡¯s our wedding night, and I don¡¯t want to wait. If there is something that I¡¯m sure of, it¡¯s that I want you¡±

    Dimitri didn¡¯t need any convincing. He hurled her towards him once again and crushed her lips with his.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Perhaps she¡¯d expected him to kiss her gently, to explore her slowly, but there was nothing gentle about this kiss, nothing slow. It was a kiss of urgency and it detonated around them.

    She made a groaning noise into his mouth, her desire roaring through her body, taking control of her.

    This was not a warm,fortable kiss. It was a kiss that redefined everything in her life, pushing new boundaries into ce. She clung to his shirt for dear life and he kissed her deeper, his mouth moving over hers, demanding more of her, his tongue dueling with her own, his body cleaved to hers so not a breath of space remained between them.

    It was a kiss ofplete domination and she sumbed to it utterly. She was not prepared for the intensity, the hunger, the ravishing. He dragged her under with the thrust of his tongue, the hard but sensual molding of his lips to hers.

    His holds in her hair and on her chin tightened. He tugged her head back farther, and his thumb pressed firmer just under her bottom lip. Both helplessly and willingly, she opened wider for him, for the plunging and tangling of his tongue. For his possession. A possession she not only weed but craved like her next breath.

    His mouth abandoned hers, and with a disappointed whimper, she followed him. But he shifted his grip to her jaw and held her still. He trailed a sizzling path from her lips, down her throat and to the crook between neck and shoulder. There, he nuzzled her, and she gasped as a jolt leaped from that spot to her taut nipples, through her knotted belly and down to the already damp and spasming flesh between her thighs.

 51

    Reaching for steady purchase to cling to in the erotic maelstrom, she dug her fingernails into his shoulder. And held on.

    ¡°Come here,¡± he murmured, his hand dropping to grab hers, and began to lead her out of the balcony.

    He was heading for the bedroom, but Kelly had no such patience. As soon as they got to the living room, she took over and pulled him towards the couch. Dimitri followed her. He loved it whenever she took charge.

    She sat down and her fingers shook only slightly as she grabbed the waist of his pajamas. He took another step closer and Kelly pushed the pants down past his hips. She didn¡¯t bother pushing the boxers down, but instead reached her hand inside the opening and grabbed his dick.

    ¡°That¡¯s it, baby. Take what you want.¡± Dimitri murmured.

    His words were raspy and sounded dirty.

    She liked them. Kelly scooted her butt to the edge of the couch, spreading her legs so that Dimitri was now standing between them. She jerked her hand from the base of his length to the tip, watching hungrily as her fingers moved over the silky dark skin. Her mouth watered and she dipped her head, extended her tongue and took her first taste.

    Dimitri groaned. ¡°Oh baby, damn¡± he said.

    With her throat muscles rxed, she took in his full length. Hollowing her cheeks, she sucked while her tongue licked the bottom of his shaft. One hand was still at the base of his dick, holding him in ce while the other fondled his heavy sac. Her eyes were closed as she worked her mouth over him while the sound of his guttural moans and the feel of his fingers raking over her scalp, pushing away the band that held her hair, rang like music to her ears.

    He pulled back and pumped into her mouth with slow movements that almost seemed painful if the sound of his grunts were any indication. But the way he held her head so tight to him and the slight tremble in his thighs when she held him deep in her throat made Kelly feel as if she were flying. Soaring actually, over the entire world.

    ¡°Damn! Your freakin¡¯ mouth, Kelly!¡± His words were punctuated with deep breaths and loud exhales.  ¡°Your sweet, hot little mouth.¡±

    Kelly let her lips slide over his dick as she pulled back slowly. He wrapped her hair around his fingers and gripped tighter, trying to keep her from releasing himpletely. That wasn¡¯t her n. Instead she flicked her tongue over the crest of his cock, easing into the slit that dripped sugared drops of his pre cum. He hissed, sucking air through clenched teeth as his head fell back on his shoulders.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.

    Kelly had looked up just in time to see the moment of surrender in this infamous sophisticated billionaire. Triumph was like a nightcap and they hadn¡¯t even experienced the full meal yet.

    She knew the moment Dimitri had reached his breaking point when just as she sucked him in deep again and tightened her mouth around him, he released her head and stepped back from her hastily.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to cum yet. Not like that,¡± he grumbled as he pulled his shirt off his body, his pajama bottoms followed, then his boxers. When he returned his attention back to her, she was smiling at him.

    ¡°All that show for me?¡± she asked, her gaze on his dick, which was jutting forward.

    Dimitri grinned back at her, ¡°Did you bring a friend?¡±

    She shook her head, ¡°No¡±

    ¡°Then it¡¯s all for you baby¡± he said, ¡°Now, is this what you want?¡± It was a question he didn¡¯t give her a chance to answer because before Kelly could speak Dimitri grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest.

    She tilted her head to stare up at him and he bent down to meet her, crashing his lips over hers and taking a brutally hot kiss. Tongues, teeth and moans mixed and mingled while naked bodies pressed to-gether in the middle of the living room. This could have been a scene in a movie-a tawdry sex flick, Kelly thought.

    He lifted her off the floor, wrapping her legs around his waist while his mouth still worked over hers. Kelly wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and she groaned his name as his hands curved around her rear, lifting her up, wrapping her legs around his body as he strode through the house towards the bedroom. He eased them towards the bed without bothering to turn on the lights. She wasn¡¯t thinking of anything now besides how good his kisses were and how the taste of him would forever be emzoned in her mind when he ripped her nightie off her, and sat on the bed, holding her close on hisp.

    Kelly eagerly pulled away from his mouth. She dropped her hands between their bodies and grabbed his cock while lifting her body to position herself over him.

    ¡°Now.¡± She breathed the single word just as the tip of his dick touched her wet opening.

    ¡°Not yet baby,¡± he replied before taking her nipple between his teeth for a quick tug. Kelly moaned and he stopped to grin at her. Stroking his hands up her arms, he squeezed her shoulders, before continuing his journey south until he cupped her breasts in his big hands.

    ¡°So beautiful. So damn gorgeous. I¡¯m so fucking lucky¡± he rumbled, whisking his thumbs over her stiff, aching nipples. He pinched the tips, wringing a low cry from her. ¡°It feels good. Doesn¡¯t it, baby?¡±

    She didn¡¯t answer but lowered her head and took his mouth, swallowing his wicked chuckle. He didn¡¯t let up ying with her body, tweaking and tugging her nipples until she ripped her lips from his and threw her head back. More than anything, she wanted him flesh to flesh, inside her¡­ With no barriers.

    She reached for his cock and stroked him gently, and an almost feral growl tore from him. He pulled her hand away and hefted her breasts, lifting one to his mouth and sucking deep while continuing to toy with the other.  Every flick and circle and suckle agitated the insatiable creature she¡¯d be. She tunneled her fingers through his hair, gripping, caught between clutching him close so he couldn¡¯t turn her loose and pushing him from her, unable to bear the brutal sting of pleasure.

 52

    Switching to the other mound, he rubbed the wet tip, but slid his free hand down her torso, over her stomach and between her legs. Her audible catch of breath echoed in the room, and she stilled as his fingers slipped down there, resting on top of her sex.

    Lifting his head, he met her gaze. ¡°Yes or no?¡± he asked softly.

    Desire burned in his mismatched eyes, but so did resolve. His stare assured her that he wanted her. He was teasing her and she knew it¡­. and she liked it too.

    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, the answer firm and sure.

    She wanted his touch. Him. Releasing her hand from his hair, she dipped it between her legs as well, covering his fingers with hers. ¡°Yes,¡± she repeated.

    She tilted her hips, and theirbined touch glided over her flesh. Twin thick groans saturated the air, and she couldn¡¯t contain the cry that slipped from her lips.

    Together they stroked her, slid through her folds and down to the small, tight entrance to her body. On the tail end of a curse, Dimitri abandoned her breast.

    Fingers tangled, side by side, they caressed her opening. But it was him that pushed inside, stretching her with a familiar but almost-forgotten burn.  In a duet that was as dirty as it was beautiful, they coaxed a tune from her body.

    He stilled for a moment then moved his finger deeper, finding her sensitive cluster of nerves and tormenting it until she was panting, desperate, so desperate, before pulling his finger out, fixing her with a look of wonderment.

    ¡°You are so wet.¡± he whispered.

    She was, and shaking all over, desire like an electrical current and it was frying herpletely.

    ¡°Yes I am¡± she whispered back.

    ¡°Touch yourself,¡± hemanded, and she obeyed, untangling her fingers from his and slipping beneath his palm to slick a caress over the swollen button of nerves. She jolted, whimpered.

    He gave a soft chuckle. ¡°Do it again, Kelly. We¡¯re going to take you there together.¡±

    Shivering, she circled the nub, again and again, his rough praise and encouragement pushing her to rub harder, more, harder, more¡­ ¡°Oh God,¡± she croaked, then splintered.

    She cried out, quaking from the inside out. Dimitri reced her fingers with his, making sure she received every measure of the orgasm rippling through her. She went limp, falling into his body and wanting nothing more than to curl against him, lethargy weighing down her limbs.

    Like she was a rag doll, he lifted her from hisp, thenid her on the bed. He loomed above her, the dim light in the room managing to highlight the corded strength in his arms, chest, abs and thighs. His cock.

    Her lungs locked down all avable air in her lungs at the sight of the heavy column of flesh rising from a dark nest of hair.

    The desire that had settled to a hum low in her belly sparked and crackled, the mes leaping to hot life.

    He was sexy, perfect¡­beautiful. Her husband.

    ¡°I want you,¡± she said. There was nothing and no one in Kelly¡¯s mind as she lifted a little so she could im Dimitri¡¯s mouth with her own, her kiss curious, questioning and then desperate.

    He kissed her back, their bodies molded together, desire a me that was growing bigger than either could control. ¡°I want to go slow tonight¡± he groaned, his hands tangling in her hair, curling it up and holding it against her head, the weight and strength of him an impossible pleasure.

    ¡°No, Dimitri,¡± she said, more to herself than him. ¡°Don¡¯t take it slow.¡±

    He lifted himself up to stare at her, his eyes showing emotions she couldn¡¯tprehend, or perhaps her ability toprehend was blunted by the sheer force of her own feelings, which were overwhelming her, robbing her of sense and logic and reason.

    ¡°It¡¯s our w¡­.¡±

    His words were engulfed by her kiss. Kelly was sick of being patient. She had never known desire like this.

    ¡°Make love to me, Dimitri,¡± she groaned. The words were breathed into his being, sparkling like the light. Explosions of light, intense, glowing, hot. He separated her legs, nudging the tip of his arousal against her womanhood, and Kelly held her breath, she held everything.

    He thrust hard into her and with her gasp he stilled, pushing up to stare down at her, his features harsh in the darkened room.

    ¡°You okay?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Kelly said, nodding her head, grabbing his waist and trying to push him in even deeper. Of course she was okay. He pushed into her again, letting her feel his presence and relish in it before taking more of her, more of her, until finally she was crying his name over and over, the sybles tripping off her tongue as rushed breaths filled her lungs.

    His mouth moved from hers to her cheek then lower to the sensitive flesh at the base of her neck, his tongue flicking her pulse point while his hands roamed her body, feeling every inch of her, pausing where she responded loudest to his inquisition, teasing the sensitive flesh of her breasts, tormenting her nipples with the skill of his hands.

    It was heaven.

    Pleasure built inside Kelly like a coil winding tighter and tighter and she dug her nails into his back, moaning softly as the spring prepared to burst. She arched her back and rolled her head to the side, the fire-works gaining momentum as her own pleasure began to detonate. She lifted her hips in a silent, knowing invitation and he held her, his hands keeping her close to him, reassuring her as she lost herself utterly to thepelling, indescribable pleasure of a sexual orgasm.

    It was intense and it was fast and it robbed her of breath and control. Her eyelids filled with light, her mouth tasted like steel. She pushed up on her elbows, staring into Dimitri¡¯s eyes, feeling quite mad and delirious with what she¡¯d just experienced.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    But it was nowhere near over.

    He braced himself above her on his palms, watching the y of sensation on her features, and then he began to move again, his body stirring hers to new heights, his dominance something that made her want to weep.

 53

    She knew though, instinctively, that giving into the salty tang of tears would be a bad idea. Even while she was partly mad with pleasure, she didn¡¯t want to show howpletely he shifted something inside her, nor how much this meant to her¡­.

    Because Kelly felt a surge of feminine power and it was instantaneous and went beyond words. She didn¡¯t think she was ready to tell him how much this meant to her¡­. That she was in love with him. She felt it and that was enough.

    She had never met anyone who made her feel this way. Made her feel precious. No one had ever looked at her like he did¡­. as though he would die if he didn¡¯t kiss her¡­. as though the push and pull of their chemistry was robbing him of sense.

    Dimitri did.

    He moved his body and he stared into her eyes and she felt a cascade of emotions from him to her, then he pulled out of her, ignoring her protest.

    He bent, trailed kisses up and down her inner thighs, reveling in the revealing quiver of her flesh under his lips as he moved her legs wider. He caressed the soft folds of her sex, feeling the moist heat that telegraphed her need for him.

    He grazed his mouth over the erotic little hollows under her hipbones while inciting her need to a higher pitch with his hand, his thumb gently rubbing her clitoris, fingers circling, diving inside her, working a teasing rhythm as he moved upward again and pressed hot kisses over her stomach. And her body arched up to him, inviting, inciting.

    He ran his tongue around the tips of her breasts and she broke into chaotic movement, hands wing at his back, urging an upward surge. Excitement flooded through him but he denied her demand to hurry the pace, wanting this tost a bit longer, surrounding the taut thrust of her nipple with his mouth, drawing on it, reinforcing the rhythmic caress he¡¯d maintained, building an arc of throbbing pleasure.

    She grabbed his head, fingers tugging his hair. He moved to her other breast, determined on having her whole body acutely aware of him, craving and wallowing in every nuance of sensation he could give her. Her body thrashed from side to side in a chaotic offering that drove him to almost frenzied action. Impossible to hold out much longer.

    He drew himself up again, hovered over her. Her legs curled around his thighs, convulsively pressing. Her hands linked around his neck, trying to pull him down to her. She was panting with the primitive passion he had stirred.

    Whether it was pride or possessiveness or some dark streak of male domination driving him, Dimitri didn¡¯t know, but the powerful need to stamp himself in her mind overrode everything else.

    ¡°Say my name,¡± hemanded, resisting thepelling pressure to perform at her instigation. ¡°Say it!¡±

    ¡°Dimitri¡­¡± It burst from her as though her mind was filled to overflowing with it.

    His heart leapt in exultation. He positioned himself to enter her, feeling the pulsing of her inner muscles closing around him, sucking him in.

    ¡°Again,¡± he insisted.

    ¡°Dimitri¡­¡± It was an anguished plea.

    He picked up her fluttering hands and mmed them above her head as he drove himself deeply into the sweet hot cavern of her innermost self. Hey on the soft cushion of her breasts, his face directly above hers. He wanted eye contact but her lids were shut, her mouth open, dragging in quick shallow breaths.

    ¡°Look at me, Kelly!¡± hemanded. His voice was hoarse and urgent and her eyes flew wide with shock and breathless abandon as he began to thrust into her in the most intimate way possible.

    Theshes flew up. Her eyes seemed unfocussed, inwardly concentrated, but they swam back to seeing him squarely.

    ¡°Oh fuck, Kelly¡± he said more softly, and kissed her.

    The sounds of her harsh breaths met with Dimitri¡¯s own grunts of pleasure. He bit his lower lip and squeezed her tight, his eyes darkening as he continued to stare down at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re mine, Kelly. Mine¡± he said possessively.

    The quivers of her orgasm started again. She wasn¡¯t ready. She wanted this tost longer, to hold him longer. But he probably sensed how close she was, and increased his pace. He moved again and the feelings in her body escted until every thought in her head was eclipsed by a sensation so wild and all consuming that she could do no more than to cry out his name and move in a way that he urged her to move as he guided them both towards sexual oblivion.

    When the explosion came it took them both together in a shower of satisfaction so intense that she clutched at him as if he was the only one that could save her from the madness. Her body shattered into a thousand threads of ecstasy. She buried her face in his neck, then bit down on his shoulder to stop herself from crying out for the world to hear.

    He felt it too, because he drove into her hard and then held her against him, mumring something against her neck while his body throbbed into hers.

    Pleasure coursed through them in waves, until he could only move to the side and pull her close, catching his breath with his face nuzzled in her neck. Theyy tangled together, Kelly wrapped around him, her head on his chest, strands of her hair spread over his arm and her limbs tangled with his.

    Listening to her peaceful steady breathing minutester, he knew that she had fallen asleep.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    The honeymoon was pure sensual bliss-two weeks of hot days and balmy nights-time out from the problems at thepany-nothing to do but enjoy themselves in any way impulse took them.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    Sexual pleasure with Dimitri was extremely addictive. He was a marvelous lover and there was certainly no doubting his desire for her. It seemed to constantly simmer in his eyes, ring into passion when she dared to provoke it, and twinkling with wicked satisfaction when shey contentedly in his arms afterwards.

    She was almost four months pregnant now and asionally she felt a stab of jealousy at the look of entranced love on his face whenever he talked about the baby.

 54

    Not once did he speak of loving her, and Kelly could not bring herself to admit to the feelings had about him. She was the mother of his child. That was what their marriage was based on. And Dimitri certainly did his best to be a husband she could be happy with.

    And she was happy for the most part. When they returned home, she moved to Dimitri¡¯s ce. Dimitri threw himself into work,ing home to her each evening with the air of a man well satisfied with jobs done. Sometimes he even worked from home so he could help her, especially when she was a little sick, he tried his best to be there for her.

    She couldn¡¯t fault hismitment to their partnership.  Things seemed to be going well, and Kelly hoped that it would continue to be that way. That even if he didn¡¯t love her, he understood her and wanted the best for her and her baby. But her hopes were short lived when she checked her email one afternoon.

    A week before she found out that she was pregnant, she had sent an email to LeBron industries, trying to follow up, hoping to get the contract she badly needed before Dimitri hade up with a solution. She had gotten no reply from them¡­ Well, until today.

    She was in her room, working on herptop when she saw the email notification, and she hurriedly left what she was working on to click on it. Nervous and excited, her eyes ate up the words, but what she read didn¡¯t please her at all. ording to the email, the contract was now buried in the appropriationsmittee. The reasons were ridiculous¡­. Appallingck of purpose¡­.. Absence of Positivity in the Proposal¡­.

    Scanning through the rest of the email, Kelly got to the part addressing thepany¡¯s financial problems and she immediately knew who was responsible. The one person who wanted thepany so bad¡­. The one person who had the connection and influence to pull something like that.

    Kelly shut theptop with more force than necessary. She had read enough. She should have known, she thought as she stood up. She should have known that he was the reason why they didn¡¯t get the contract. Should have known that helping her get thepany out of debt and getting married was just another way to get what he wanted. What had he said back then?

    ¡®You could have ess to all I could provide, if you married me¡¯. That went both ways too. Coupled with the fact that he had paid off the mortgage for her, he had the ess he wanted already.

    She marched out of the bedroom. Dimitri was in his home office, having a meeting with two of his business associates. He wouldn¡¯t like to be disturbed at this moment, but Kelly didn¡¯t give a damn.

    The walk from the room down the corridor was sufficiently long for her to examine the facts. Sufficiently long to ensure that by time she finally reached the door to his office, she had reached boiling point. For the first time in her life, she contemted violence. Shock had given way to anger. She felt outraged and affronted and so blistering angry that she wanted to kill someone.

    She wanted to kill him¡­.. with her bare hands.

    Their marriage was a sham. A way for him to get what he wanted. The baby had juste at the right time¡­. a bonus for him. Nothing had been real. She almost felt sorry for Dimitri. He had no idea what wasing to him, she thought grimly as she pushed open the door and walked into the room, head held high. If he had known then he would have run for the hills. She didn¡¯t care one bit about the other two men in the room.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    His dark glossy head was bowed over a set of papers but he looked up with a frown of irritation at her surprise entrance. Astonishment was reced by caution.

    ¡°Something is wrong?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°You are quick,¡± she said sweetly. ¡°I need to speak to you and I need to speak to you now¡±

    Dimitri threw down the pen he was holding and sat back in his chair, his expression falling a long way short of encouraging. ¡°Kelly, I¡¯m in the middle of a very important meeting¡­. I don¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°What I have to say could be said in public¡± she interrupted, working hard to keep her tone well modted, ¡°And it probably should be. But in the interest of diplomacy I will allow you precisely Sixty seconds get rid of your guests and save yourself public humiliation¡±

    With a sharp indrawn breath, Dimitri rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving hers. ¡°Gentlemen, if you will excuse me for a short time,¡± he said, ¡°We will resume this meeting very shortly. You can help yourselves with drinks from the bar¡±

    Clearly riveted by the scene ying out in front of the, the men rose to their feet, abandoned the pile of papers in front of them and slid silently out of the room.

    ¡°For your information, I hate scenes. And In particr I hate public scenes¡± Dimitri said to Kelly after the door closed behind the men. He sat back in his chair, dark eyes glittering with anger, his long fingers drumming a steady rhythm on the polished table. ¡°Whatever you want to say could have waited. I don¡¯t appreciate being disturbed in the middle of an important meeting.¡±

    ¡°And I don¡¯t appreciate discovering that you are the reason why I didn¡¯t get that contract with LeBron industries. Or the fact that our marriage was just another way to get what you wanted. Allow me to say that I find your romantic streak less than overwhelming, Dimitri¡±

    The atmosphere in the room changed in an instant.

    ¡°You are not making sense¡± he uttered the words in a bored tone but his fingers stilled, his eyes narrowed and she could see his sharp brain shifting through the gears. It was the final confirmation that she needed.

    Rat.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m making perfect sense. And if you hate scenes then you married the wrong woman because I¡¯m not prepared to stand by with my head bowed while you walk all over me¡± she replied.

 55

    Torn in two by the agony of his betrayal and the effort of holding on to her steadily copsing emotind, she walked across the room and stared out the window. Then she turned, her voice little more than a whisper. ¡°You bastard¡±

    Something flickered across his face

    He had the look of a man who knew he was under attack but so far hadn¡¯t managed to identify the enemy.

    ¡°Kelly¡­.¡± he began, but she didn¡¯t let him finish.

    ¡°I thought you cared. I really thought you cared about me. And what sort of a fool does that make me? You lied to me¡±

    He rose to his feet in a fluid movement, his hands on the table. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie. Kelly, We need to¡­.¡±

    ¡°All those things we did together. All that time we spent together¡± she lifted a hand to her forehead and rubbed. ¡°All those things you said to me. And you didn¡¯t mean any of them¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true¡­ You are being hysterical¡±

    ¡°Too right, I¡¯m hysterical. You made them withdraw their contract offer. We could have gotten it so you found a way to stop it. Just like you did with Edward¡± her voice cracked as she said the words. ¡°All you have done since we met is find ways to ruin my life and I can¡¯t believe I let myself be so blind. You did all this so I would let down my guard¡­ married me just so you could have thepany. It was never about helping me. What sort of scumbag does a thing like that? Just to get what you want¡­ the baby came at the right time, didn¡¯t it? So you grabbed the opportunity. It was never about wanting a family for your child¡±

    He inhaled sharply and opened his mouth but she didn¡¯t give him a chance to speak.

    ¡°Are you sure you can stand me forever, Dimitri? I can¡¯t believe what a fool I have been. It all makes sense to me now. I thought getting married was you trying to do the right thing for your child but I realize how stupid I was to even think that a selfish person like you would put another person before yourself. What was all that romantic gesture during the honeymoon for? To make sure that I couldn¡¯t see what you were up to. You are a ruthless, conscienceless rat and I can¡¯t believe that I actually married a scumbag like you.

    Muttering something she didn¡¯t hear, he moved so swiftly that she didn¡¯t see iting until his fingers gripped the top of her arms, until she had her back against the wall.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough! You have had your say, now it is your turn to listen!¡± he thundered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to listen. I have heard enough of your lies¡±

    ¡°You will listen to me¡­¡±

    ¡°Why? So that you can tell me more lies?¡± Kelly asked him.

    His powerful body pressed against hers, but careful so he wouldn¡¯t press hard against her stomach and she felt the familiar curl of excitement low in her stomach. The instinctive response sickened her. Even now, knowing what she knew, her body failed to recognize the man he was.

    ¡°Face it, Dimitri, there is no way you can dig yourself out of this hole. You are in so deep that even a rope and adder wouldn¡¯t save you now¡± she said. She tried to push him away but he nted an arm either side of her head blocking her escape.

    ¡°I insist that you calm down and listen to me. Already I have allowed you more leeway than any other person¡±

    ¡°Oh fuck you, Dimitri. Is that supposed to tter me? No other person had thepany you wanted, did they, Dimitri? It¡¯s amazing what you can get away with when the stakes are high enough¡±

    She could feel the tension pulsing through him and wondered with a flicker of rm whether she had gone too far.

    ¡°Listen to me, Kelly¡± he growled ¡°or so help me I will make you and you may not like my methods¡±

    Eyes shed, breath mingled and the atmosphere snapped tight around them. She had a feeling that his methods would include his mouth on hers and she wanted to avoid that at all costs.

    Even after what had happened, she knew herself well enough to understand that If he kissed her she was lost.

    ¡°Speak, then. Make your excuses. Tell me you didn¡¯t do it. Tell me it¡¯s a lie¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t a lie,¡± Dimitri said.

    The t, simple sentence sent a sharp pain through the center of her chest, killing off the final flicker of hope that it had all been a terrible misunderstanding on her part.

    ¡°Then I truly, truly hate you and there is no excuse for what you have done¡± she whispered. Her knees sagged and she would have slid into a heap on the floor if he hadn¡¯t caught her.

    ¡°I do not intend to make excuses,¡± Dimitri said. ¡°I wanted Darcy Enterprises and I knew that I wouldn¡¯t get what I wanted if you got the contract so I pulled a few strings and¡­.¡±

    ¡°When did you do this?¡± Kelly asked, ¡°Was it before or after I told you I was pregnant?¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Before¡­.¡± Dimitri replied.

    ¡°So that was when we were sleeping together. I thought that I was hanging out and having a good time¡­ I thought I was bonding with you whereas, you were working behind my back to ruin my life¡­ Even after your shitty apology. I was so stupid to believe that you were actually sorry about anything. And when you found out that I was pregnant, the only reasons why you insisted on getting married was because it was an easier way to get what you wanted¡±

    He tensed, ¡°You are making it look bad, but¡­¡±

    ¡°I fail to see how even someone as ruthless and machiavellian as you could put gloss on this situation¡± she said trying to stop her teeth from chattering, ¡°And No matter how you try to rephrase it, it isn¡¯t going to look good.

    ¡°You too have gained from this marriage and you know that¡± he said in a raw tone.

    ¡°I got thepany out of debt. You still have it¡­. And the opposite would have been the case if not for me¡±

 56

    ¡°But that¡¯s because you are the reason why my ns never work. You were always there¡­ Always at the right time to ruin it. You did it the first time and I let it go because you apologized. Turns out you never meant it¡±

    His firm hold on her was the only thing preventing her ignominious descent on to the smooth floor and perhaps he realized that because she felt his grip tighten.

    The way the sunlight came through the window made Kelly¡¯s hair look like it was on fire. Her hair was red normally, but in the sun, like this? It looked like somebody wove each strand from molten rock. Kelly lifted her hand and tucked some of the locks behind her ears to get them out of her way as she red at him. Dimitri had to stop himself from thinking about tucking those locks of hair behind her ears for her. He was sure she would p his hand away if he tried anything like that. She hated him right now, he knew that just by looking at her face. If only she would let him exin, he thought.

    ¡°You are overwrought and your pride has been damaged, but¡­.¡±

    ¡°Pride? You think this is about pride? I have just discovered that I am married to a lump of slime, and you talk about pride?¡± she flung the words at him, mortified as she felt her voice crack with emotion. The fact that even after spending so much time together. After everything, he was still who he was. A selfish bastard¡­. And he had told her in the beginning¡­. Warned her even, but she had just been too blinded by her attraction to him to listen or see for herself. Blinded by her love for him.

    Thank goodness she had never told him the truth about her feelings. Her shell was her protection.

    ¡°There is nothing wrong, Kelly,¡± he assured her quickly in a smooth tone. ¡°I know you are angry because of what I did, but you still have thepany. It all worked out fine. There¡¯s no need to get so upset about it¡±

    ¡°You think all that matters to me is thepany. So why?¡± she annunciated when she finally recovered sufficiently for speech. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m so upset? Why do you think I agreed to marry you if all that mattered to me was thepany?¡±

    ¡°Because of the baby¡­ and because you find me too irresistible to say no to?¡± There was a glimmer of humor in his dark eyes but she was too angry and upset to respond with anything other than a fierce nce.

    ¡°It¡¯s obvious that you care about nothing else and you have never taken the trouble to get to know me. Our rtionship was exactly what it has always been. A one night stand¡­. One that hassted way too long and gone too far¡±

    His expression was instantly guarded. He was a man on the spot and he knew it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that is what our rtionship is. And stop trying to make it sound like this is all on me. You agreed to marry me so clearly you believed that this marriage would be advantageous to you also. You had your selfish interests too¡± he said stiffly and she winced. ¡°Don¡¯t put it all on me¡±.

    Advantageous. They were so different. How could she have possibly thought that this rtionship would ever work.

    ¡°What is clear to me is that we make a terrible mistake by getting married. You don¡¯t know me and clearly I don¡¯t know you either. The inner workings of my mind are a total mystery to you. And actually they are a mystery to me too because why I choose to make a fool of myself by continuing with you after I found out what you did with Edward the first time, I don¡¯t really understand ¡± she muttered and he looked at her with ill concealed desperation.

    ¡°Then tell me how you feel¡±  he said.

    ¡°Sick¡± she replied.

    Sick that she had been so stupid and trusting. That she had let herself fall in love with him. She was d she never told him because the words would mean nothing to him. This marriage was about mutual benefits for him. A business deal. The baby was just an excuse to get what he wanted.

    ¡°We are good together. The honeymoon, these weeks we have spent together -¡± his voice became husky as he gave in and stroked her hair away from her face with a gentle hand, ¡°-it has been incredible, Kelly.¡± his hand moved to cup her slightly round stomach. ¡°We are having a baby, and I care about that¡­. Can¡¯t we just forget about all this stuff in the past and just focus on the future?¡±

    Hispleteck of sensitivity triggered the burst of emotion that she had been struggling to hold back and he stared at her with disbelief and no small degree of frustration as the tears spilled down her cheeks.

    ¡°You are making no sense whatsoever¡± He jabbed his fingers into his hair. ¡°You are upset because you believe that all I care about is thepany and yet when I tell you that this is not the case you start crying. Why?¡±

    ¡°Because I have never been more miserable in my life¡± she said tly, scrubbing her palm across her face and sniffing hard.

    Two spots of color appeared on his perfect bone structure. ¡°Stop crying. Stop upsetting yourself like this. It isn¡¯t good for the baby. I think you are misunderstanding me¡­.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡± Kelly replied, needing to escape before she lost thest of her dignity, she wriggled out of his arms and walked over to the door. Only when the handle was safely under her fingers did she risk turning to look at him.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    His handsome face might have been carved from stone, his powerful body tense and unmoving as he watched her. He looked like a man who had his back up against an electric fence. It was clear that he was trying to anticipate her next move and if the situation hadn¡¯t been so tragic she would haveughed. He looked so unsure of himself. He didn¡¯t know what her next move was going to be.

 57

    And neither did she, she realized miserably. Even when her dignity andmon sense told her to leave the room¡­. Leave him¡­ A tiny, stupid part of her wanted to hurl herself into his arms and lie there safe and warm while he used his diplomatic skills to talk his way out of this vile situation and made it possible for her to forgive him.

    ¡°I want to go home, Dimitri,¡± she said, hanging on to thest of her dignity. ¡°I want to leave¡±

    ¡°This is your home. You are my wife. You are carrying my child and you are not going anywhere¡± he replied angrily.

    One nce at the rigid set of his hard, handsome features told her that argument was useless. He wanted her here for some reason. His baby maybe. And she didn¡¯t have to be a genius to know what the other reason was.

    The sparks in his eyes. The sexual awareness that even now pulsed between them, all gave her the answer to that question.

    She sucked in a breath. ¡°Fine. You want me to stay? I will stay. Let¡¯s see how long you can endure having me around, Dimitri. You have proved to me that the only things that interest you in life are power, money and sex. Finally I understand the kind of person you really are. I have always known, but I shut it out. The chemistry between us is powerful, I know. The wedding night and honeymoon were amazing, that¡¯s true. But that was it. It¡¯s all you are ever going to get from me. Prepare yourself for a lifetime of hell¡­ Or for how long this marriage willst.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Kelly sat curled up in the corner of the balcony, indifferent to the future appearance of the long silk dress she was wearing. Her t shoes had been discarded on the floor and her hair fell loose down her back. She was on the phone with Lizzy, as she needed someone to talk to so badly and was too scared and ashamed to call her father.

    It was dark, it waste and she had cried so hard that she didn¡¯t dare imagine what her face looked like and she didn¡¯t see that it mattered.

    The thought of what happened that afternoon brought fresh tears to the surface and she brushed them away with an impatient hand. Enough crying, she told herself firmly. Enough.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    Eventually she would get over him. It wasn¡¯t possible to hurt like this forever. And in the mean time she would just stay away from him. For a man as red blooded and virile as Dimitri, knowing how much he wanted her in his bed, being deprived of sex andpanionship would be a just punishment. But before she could face him again, she needed to allow herself the self indulgence of a good cry.

    ¡°I suppose you think I¡¯m mad¡± she muttered into the phone, ¡°I have made a fool of myself¡­ Over a man that I had every reason to be careful about. I¡¯m obviously not great at learning lessons. And it¡¯s not just about me¡± Tears welled in her eyes again. ¡°I have lost mypany because I was too blind and stupid to see through this and check exactly what marriage to Dimitri would mean¡±

    Would she even be able to sort things out? She highly doubted that.

    ¡°No honey, I don¡¯t think you are mad or anything like that¡± Lizzy said on the other end, ¡°I think you made a mistake because you needed help and because you fell in love. It¡¯s not your fault that he took advantage of you. You can¡¯t me yourself this way. We all make bad choices especially when we are in a difficult situation. Cut yourself some ck, Kelly¡±

    ¡°I just feel like a total idiot,¡± Kelly confessed softly, curling her legs underneath her.  ¡°I thought Dimitri cared about me at least. I know he can be arrogant and controlling but he really can¡¯t help it sometimes and I kinda felt sorry for him because he had a pretty grim childhood. I thought as time went on, he would be more¡­ demonstrative. It turned out that the reason why he wasn¡¯t was because he give give a fuck about me. I don¡¯t believe he¡¯s capable of loving anyone in fact. It was all about thepany and not me¡±

    Kelly leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes. All the anger had drained out of her, leaving her limp and exhausted and unable to make a decision about anything. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe that I was such a gullible, stupid fool that I let him do this twice. I honestly don¡¯t know what to do now. I have no one to talk to. My dad is going to be so mad. My life is just a total mess¡±

    ¡°Your life is not a mess¡­. And I¡¯m here, you can talk to me. In fact, I wish you would¡±

    The deep masculine tones were drawn tight with stress and Kelly¡¯s eyes flew open and she shrank back against the wall as Dimitri walked into the balcony and closed the door in a decisive movement that ensured that she wouldn¡¯t be escaping in a hurry.

    ¡°Can I call youter, lizzy?¡± she said.

    ¡°Sure. Just take things easy ¡°Lizzy replied before she hung up.

    Kelly flinched as she heard the door close. She would sooner be trapped with scorpions and snakes. After he concluded his meeting, he and the men had left, and Kelly assumed that he had just returned. Why was he here? He had focused on his business, not caring about how she felt or how upset she had been, because as always, his work came before her.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked, standing up immediately and hating that he had seen in that pathetic condition. ¡°You are finally done with what is truly important to you, and so now you finally have time for me? I don¡¯t want to talk to you because you are a truly horrible person. Now go away¡±

    She watched as he ran his hand through his hair.

    ¡°Why do you keep saying that? Why do you think you are not important to me?¡± he demanded in a tense, driven tone. ¡°I left because I had to, not because I didn¡¯t care. I could hardly concentrate on anything out there¡±

    Maniptive rat, Kelly thought dully. This was exactly what he had done to her before. Using the right words, soothed and charmed until he had her exactly where he wanted her.

 58

    It urred to her that she had never seen him look anything less than suave and well groomed. But tonight he looked anything but. He was dressed in the same suit he had worn for his meeting, but the jacket and tie had long since been discarded and what had started life as a crisp white shirt was now crumpled and dirtied. She wondered what he had been doing and where he went to.

    ¡°When I came back and couldn¡¯t find you inside, I got worried¡± he frowned slightly, as if that confession was as much of a surprise to him as it was to her.

    ¡°Worried about your investment, you mean. But it wouldn¡¯t have mattered if I had had an ident, would it, Dimitri? You¡¯ve gotten what you want. There¡¯s no need to pretend to care anymore¡±

    He sucked in a breath. ¡°Whatever you may think, this is not about thepany¡±

    ¡°Of course it is¡± Kelly retorted.

    He dragged a hand through his glossy dark hair and nced around him in disbelief. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we are having this conversation in the balcony in the middle of the night. Come with me now and we will talk¡±

    She didn¡¯t move. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk. And I wille inside when I¡¯m ready and not before¡±

    ¡°You mean you don¡¯t want to talk to me¡± he said. A muscle worked in his jaw and there was a wry gleam in his dark eyes. You have been talking to who ever you were talking to on the phone phone for a while now ¡±

    She wondered just how much he had overheard and then decided that it didn¡¯t matter. She had already made an utter fool of herself over him. It couldn¡¯t get any worse.

    ¡°Go away, Dimitri¡± she said again and turned away from him.

    He inhaled deeply. ¡°If only you would just talk to me¡±

    ¡°What difference would it make?¡± she snapped at him. ¡°You were never interested in me as a person, were you, Dimitri? You just wanted to manoeuvre me so you would get what you wanted. Once that happened everything else was irrelevant. So what do you want us to talk about now?¡±

    ¡°If that is the case, then why am I standing here now?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Damage limitation?¡± she leaned her head back and studied him. ¡°You don¡¯t show any damn emotion¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.

    ¡°I don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Yes you don¡¯t¡± Kelly replied, almost shouting now, You have probably seen more today than In your entire life time. I¡¯m sure you just want it all to go away. You know, before I interrupt anymore of your meetings with my drama¡±

    ¡°Certainly the men have rarely been so thoroughly entertained at my expense¡± Dimitri admitted with a disy of humor. ¡°And what I really want right now is for you toe back inside so we can talk properly about this like mature adults. It¡¯s freezing out here, you are pregnant and you are wearing next to nothing. You cannot spend the night out here¡±

    ¡°Why not? I can if I want to. And the house is upied by a rat and I don¡¯t think I want to be around a person that toxic¡­. Not anymore¡± she gave him a pointed look and saw his eyes sh dark.

    ¡°We can work this out¡± Dimitri said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡± she tilted her head to one side, her slightly sarcastic tone hidingyers of pain. ¡°This time you have really excelled yourself. But it doesn¡¯t matter, does it? Because you were never thinking about me, only yourself. It what you are really, really good at¡± Her voice rose again and Dimitri moved closer to her.

    ¡°Are you going to be reasonable?¡± he asked her.

    ¡°Probably not. I don¡¯t feel reasonable. If you really want to know, I feel stupid and gullible¡± she threw at him. ¡°Discovering that you have been thoroughly manipted isn¡¯t really the best incentive to be reasonable¡±

    But she was starting to shiver and felt his gaze fix on the tiny bumps that appeared on her skin.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough discussion. Being angry with me is no reason to risk pneumonia. You can sulk and ignore me inside the house as easily as you can ignore me here¡± he pointed out, stooping so fast before she realized what he was about to do and sweeping her into his arms without further attempt at negotiation.

    ¡°I never sulk, and I want you to put me down¡± she muttered, pushing at his chest, feeling the hard muscle under her fingers. ¡°You can¡¯t just drag me off. It¡¯s not the way tomunicate. And oh, I don¡¯t want to be married to you anymore. I don¡¯t like you¡±

    ¡°You are married to me and that¡¯s the way it¡¯s staying¡± Dimitri said grimly, tightening his grip on her as he strode from the balcony and into the house. ¡°And I think now would be a good time for you to stop talking¡± he added.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you might say something you will regretter¡±

    Kelly rolled her eyes, ¡°Offhand, I can¡¯t think of a single thing that I would regret saying to you. The only thing I regret is the part where I said ¡®I do''¡± she muttered but he simply tightened his grip and continued to move to the bedroom. At any other time she might have admired his impressive athletic ability, but now she simply red at the hard ridge of his darkened jaw, which was within her line of vision.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care about that right now. I¡¯m however, interested in getting you out of that non existent dress before you catch your death. It¡¯s cold and you are wearing so little. Aren¡¯t you worried about your health and the baby¡¯s? Do you really hate me that much¡±

    She said nothing, but she knew that he was right. No matter what had happened, this was still her baby, and she loved him¡­ Or her. She reminded silent, ignoring the sudden rush of awareness that engulfed her as he entered the room and deposited her firmly in the middle of therge bed. She dared to meet his eyes. There was no misinterpreting the purposeful gleam in his eyes as he lifted a hand and unbuttoned his rumpled shirt.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, Dimitri¡± she warned, scooting up the bed out of reach of those dangerous, skillful hands.

 59

    He dropped the shirt on the floor, his eyes still locked on hers. ¡°Why deny yourself what you know you want? The chemistry between us is all that matters right now¡± he said.

    The sight of his bronzed muscr chest was almost enough to make her believe him. Almost, but not quite.

    ¡°Yes, well, it would make it very convenient for you if I believed that. You think that everything can be solved by sex, but it can¡¯t¡± she muttered, ignoring the banging of her heart and the buzz in her ears.

    She couldn¡¯t do this right now, she reminded herself as she dragged her gaze away from the fascinating sight of dark, masculine body hair that followed a trail down his body and disappeared temptingly beneath the waistband of his trousers. Nevend, she thought to herself. She should never have gone there.

    As he reached for the button on his trousers she felt her blood heat and knew that urgent action was necessary to prevent her from doing something that she was going to sincerely regretter. Sliding off the bed, she made a run for the bathroom without giving him a chance to stop her. Pushing the lock home, she leaned against the door and slid slowly on to the cold marble floor.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    She was going to stay the hell away from him, then find a way to get the hell out this marriage. And then she would go back to her life with her child and spend the rest of her life trying to get over him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C

    Kelly devoted her time to avoiding Dimitri. She spent her nights in her room instead of the one they shared. The door was locked for her sake as much as his. She didn¡¯t trust herself to be around him and not to give into temptation. He was so unbelievably sexy that it would have been all too easy to just forget what he had done and just sink into his arms. But she wasn¡¯t going to do it. And every time she felt remotely tempted to unlock that door, she reminded herself what he had done to her.

    Trying to distract herself, she focused on work, and on days when she was too tired, she put on a pair of jodhpurs and a loose,fortable t-shirt and just stayed in bed.

    One morning, as she stood in the kitchen making breakfast, she heard his deep, drawl from behind her.

    ¡°Hey, you are up early today.¡± he said.

    She turned to see Dimitri standing there, a sardonic expression in his dark eyes. ¡°You are not usually up by this time¡­ I meantely you haven¡¯t been¡­ Because you have been avoiding me. You seem to have taken up permanent residence in your room¡­ Are youing to the office today? We could go together. I will just wait till you are ready¡±

    He was rambling and he knew it. His words tailed off as Kelly red at him. ¡°I was hungry, and yes I have been avoiding you, because I don¡¯t see or speak to you. Also, you can leave without me. Thest thing I want is to be stuck in a car or any ce with you. Why do you care if Ie to the office anyways?¡± Her tone was flippant, ¡°Is there something else that you want to take away from me?¡±

    He ran a hand over the back of his neck, a strange light in his eyes, ¡°How long are you going to keep doing this Kelly?¡± he asked.

    ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about. Now could you please leave? I¡¯m sure you have more important things to do this morning¡± she pointed out, as she turned off the stove and emptied the eggs into a te and covered it.

    Dimitri swore and stepped fully into the kitchen, moving towards her with a purposeful look on his face. Kelly took a step back involuntarily. It was of no use because he was faster.

    He grabbed her arm. ¡°You are the most contradictory, infuriating woman I have ever met, you know that?¡± he said.

    ¡°And I bet you have met a few, so that is probably apliment. Get away from me. I don¡¯t want you touching me¡± She yanked her hand away from him, grabbed the pan and began to wash it in the sink.

    She could feel his gaze burning into her back but she didn¡¯t turn around. She waited for Dimitri to be bored and leave but instead he stayed until she was done rinsing the dishes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anywhere to go?¡± she shot at him with an exasperated look. ¡°Something terrible could happen at the office while you are hanging around here with me¡±

    ¡°Oh, something bad is undoubtedly going to happen soon if I don¡¯t get Five minutes alone with you soon¡± Dimitri promised in an undertone and she felt her heart jump in her chest.

    ¡°Forget it¡± she retorted. ¡°It¡¯s not happening¡±

    ¡°You are such a little hypocrite, you know that?¡± he breathed in a menacing tone. ¡°You want exactly what I want but you pretend otherwise¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want anything, Dimitri, except to be far away from you as possible¡± and with that she turned and began to arrange the dishes she had just washed.

    She concentrated on it and when she turned around again Dimitri had done. She should have been relieved that he had finally left her alone, but instead she felt¡­. Disappointed.

    Which just went to show that she was as stupid about the man as ever, she thought, turning her attention back to the dishes.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Kelly went through the day feeling more miserable than ever. Shepletely lost track of time and slept off in her room. When she woke up, she nced up and saw Dimitri standing in the doorway and she blinked in astonishment.

    He was dressed in a dark Grey suit that seemed only to emphasize the athletic perfection of his powerful frame. His hair shone dark and glossy under the lights and his features showed evidence of strain.

    ¡°There was a meeting at the office today¡± he informed her helpfully and she felt a stab of guilt which she pushed away. ¡°I thought you woulde¡±

    ¡°I lost track of time¡± Kelly said simply as she stood from the bed.

    ¡°Obviously.¡± Dimitri replied. He took a few steps into the room.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked, with concern written on his face. ¡°Is everything okay with the bab¡­¡±

 60

    Kelly didn¡¯t let him finish.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Dimitri,¡± she snapped. ¡°I was just tired and I lost track of time¡­ Like I said before. Don¡¯t act like you care¡±

    Dimitri sighed. ¡°You are my wife, Kelly. You are carrying my baby¡­ Of course I care¡±

    ¡°Well not really¡± She pulled a face and turned away from him to fix the bed sheets. Anything to stop herself from looking at him. He was spectacr, she thought weakly. Stunning. Gorgeous. Virile. Masculine. Ignoring the slow curl of heat low in her pelvis, she closed her eyes briefly and talked sense into herself. ¡°You married thepany. And I sort of came along too, which must have been pretty inconvenient for you you¡±

    With a harsh expletive that she didn¡¯t understand, he crossed the bedroom and pulled her away from bed. ¡°Enough, Kelly¡± his voice was a low, throaty growl as he powered her gently against the wall and trapped her there with the heat of his body. ¡°I have heard enough, Kelly. You are determined to simplify theplicated and soon we are going to talk about that, but for now I have had enough of talking and I have had enough of being patient. I have given you time and space to calm down and be reasonable and it hasn¡¯t happened. Do you have to be so stubborn? You haven¡¯t even given me the chance to say anything. I admit that I was wrong but that doesn¡¯t mean you shouldn¡¯t give me a chance to exin myself or even apologize. Come on¡±

    ¡°Get away from me, Dimitri,¡± she said. Overwhelmed by his masculine strength, the fire in his eyes, the sheer closeness of him, she pushed at his hard chest, struggling against a temptation sorge and potentially dangerous that her movements became frantic. ¡°Get away from me¡± she repeated.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°No way,¡± Dimitri replied adamantly.

    ¡°Oh, God, please don¡¯t do this to us¡­ To me¡± she wriggled against him in an attempt to free herself and then gave a soft moan as she felt the hard ridge of his arousal and the warmth of his breath as his mouth closed in on hers.

    ¡°Damn it. You are the most infuriating woman¡± Dimitri said as he nted his arms either side of her, blocking her escape. His voice was husky and seductive. ¡°I don¡¯t know whether to strangle you or kiss you¡±

    ¡°Strangle me, definitely¡­ It will be better for both of us¡± Kelly gasped, her heart pounding hard against her ribs, her head swimming. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to kiss me. I really, really don¡¯t want you to kiss me¡­.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not listening to that anymore,¡± he said.

    If he kissed her she would be lost. If he kissed her, she would¡­.

    His mouth came down on hers with punishing force, his kiss ravenous and desperate, trapping her sob of need. His hands slid down her arms and lifted them to his neck. He wanted her to cling and she clung, her arms wrapped around his powerful shoulders, her own shoulders pressed against the wall, trapped by the force of his passion.

    She forgot that she was mad at him. She forgot that she didn¡¯t want him to kiss her. She forgot that he had hurt her. She forgot that she had resolved to keep her distance. She forgot everything except the fact that she had kept her distance for two long weeks and now she needed him. She needed him badly.

    His kiss was savage. A primitive assault on her senses that destroyed all thought and will power. Excitement whipped through her body like a loose electric wire as he stole and plundered. His left hand cupped her round stomach and cupped and rubbed it until all she could feel was the pumped up, insistent throb of pulsing masculinity.

    She felt his hand slide up to cup her breast and she arched in a desperate plea for more. Responding to her silent demand, he used both hands to jerk her shirt open in a rough, impatient gesture. Neither of them were aware of their surroundings. They were aware only of each other. Of the pounding hammering of hearts and the frantic lock of seeking mouths.

    ¡°I need you naked. I have missed you so much¡­. You have no fucking idea how much I have missed you¡± Dimitri said hoarsely, his hands swift and determined as he stripped her of the rest of her clothes and she was sopletely desperate for him that she did nothing but urge him on. Her entire focus became the insistent, throbbing ache deep within her body that grew to monumental proportions and threatened to drive her mad with frustration.

    Need made her uncoordinated and she wed at his suit, groaning in frustration with her fingers met fabric instead of flesh.

    When she felt his mouth on her bare breast she closed her eyes and gasped at the sheer perfection of the feeling and when she felt his strong fingers slide between her legs she gave a moan of frustration because his touch brought her so close to ecstasy and yet not close enough.

    The hard, cold wall of the room pressed against her bare back but she was oblivious to everything but her body and his. Her need and his.

    Frantic for him, she reached down and fumbled with his zip and he covered her hand with his and helped her with the task. He was painfully aroused and hot and hard that her entire body throbbed with an urgency so monumental that nothing could have stopped the inevitable. Her desperation bordered on the indecent and she didn¡¯t even care.

    He slipped a finger inside her and she gasped, throwing her head back as she moaned. He took the opportunity to nt kisses all over her neck and he slipped a second finger inside her, stretching her as his thumb rubbed her swollen clit. Kelly rode his fingers over and over again, but she wanted more. She wanted him.

    ¡°Now Dimitri¡± she said, her voice strangled. ¡°Now please¡­ Make love to me¡±

    His eyes glinted dark as she said the words, his breathing harsh and he lifted her into his arms without hesitation and unto the bed. Kelly parted her legs immediately as he knelt before and entered her with a hard, possessive thrust that brought a sob of pleasure and relief to her lips.

    ¡°Oh fuck, baby¡± Dimitri groaned and he thrust deep inside her again.

 61

    She felt the force of him deep inside her as he took her with barely contained violence and she moved her hips and clung to him as excitement surged through her body, caring for nothing except the need which grew and grew from deep within. He came into her hard and fast and Kelly weed the union with as much savage satisfaction as he took in it, a tumultuous fever of possession gripping both of them.

    He thrust deep and he did it again and again until her vision blurred and her entire body exploded in a shower of sensation so exquisitely perfect that for a moment she ceased to breathe. She felt him shudder as he reached his own desperate climax and then there was only the slow descent back to normality. The unsteady breathing. The sudden intrusion of the outside world into their private space. The scattered bed spread¡­.

    Dazed and disoriented, it was only as he gently moved to the side that Kelly realized that, although she was totally naked, he was fully clothed. Even his stylish silk tie was still in ce.

    He shifted slightly, gliding his hand gently over her rounded belly.

    ¡°Are you okay? I went so hard and I forgot the baby,¡± he murmured incredulously

    ¡°The baby is fine,¡± she said stiffly.

    For some reason, this stark reminder that she had thought nothing but her own need for him increased her mortification and she got out of the bed and retrieved the remains of her torn shirt. Head bowed, fingers shaking, she slipped it on and reached for her trousers.

    Dimitri reached out and caught her arm, his eyes dark and stormy, his breathing less than steady. ¡°We really need to talk, Kelly¡­. Please¡­¡±

    He was going to tell her that they might as well stay together until such time as he grew bored with her. A ce in his bed and his life until he decided that it was time to fill it with someone different. That was all the marriage was about. Thepany, their baby and sex. He didn¡¯t love her

    Well, that wasn¡¯t what she wanted. What they shared was too powerful, but it was just sex¡­. Nothing more. And sex wasn¡¯t enough for her. She couldn¡¯t live with him, knowing what he didn¡¯t care. Knowing that he didn¡¯t love her. Maybe he would leave when the time was right. When it suited him.

    Eventually he would get bored with the sex and then where would she? In love with a man who didn¡¯t return her feelings and she couldn¡¯t live with that.

    This marriage was doomed before it even began. He had to let her go. There was no need to postpone the inevitable. So she would leave and make it easy for him.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    The following morning after Dimitri went out, Kelly packed up most of her stuff and got in her car. She knew that she was going to need help as her pregnancy progressed so she called Evelyn. She could move around now, but soon she wouldn¡¯t be able to do everything on her own.

    She could talk to her dad about all thister¡­ When she was ready. But now she wanted to focus on healing emotionally¡­ And her baby. The thought that she was actually doing this left her unutterably depressed and she was so lost in thought as she drove back to her ce.

    Oh why was she kidding herself? She thought as she brushed her tears away angrily. She and Dimitri never stood a chance. All they shared was passion and that just wasn¡¯t enough.

    Evelyn was there already when she arrived, and she was so thankful that she had someone to look after her for now. At least she wouldn¡¯t be alone.

    Evelyn didn¡¯t press her to tell her what was bothering her. She knew that Kelly was exhausted and that she would tell her when she was ready, so she just urged her to get some rest, and Kelly was d to oblige. She felt so drained physically, mentally and emotionally.

    She slept for hours and when she woke up it was already seven pm. She stretched and made her way to the bathroom. Sleeping had helped her a lot for sure. Now she needed a hot bath.

    A few minutester when she walked back into the room, d in her bathrobe, she stopped in shock. The bathroom door mmed shut behind her but she wasn¡¯t even aware of that.

    Dimitri stood by a desk in the middle of the room, dressed in another sleek designer suit, his handsome face taut with strain.

    ¡°Do you have any idea how fucking worried and scared I was when I came home and realized that you were gone?¡± he asked her, ¡°So that¡¯s how you are going to do this? I leave the house and you run away? Why?¡±

    She found her voice, ¡°What are you doing here, Dimitri?¡± she managed to ask.

    ¡°I had to call your dad first. When he said you didn¡¯t call him, I decided toe down here. You didn¡¯t even bother to leave a message¡± he said in a raw, impatient tone. ¡°And why did I have to convince Evelyn to let me see my own wife?¡±

    Kelly curled her hands into her palms. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be around you, Dimitri. You wanted thepany, you can have it. I really don¡¯t care about anything anymore. I have my baby to worry about and I¡¯m not going to raise it in a toxic environment. I hope you live happily ever after.

    She felt her voice Crack and she headed for the door, intending to leave before she made aplete fool of herself again, but he moved so swiftly that she didn¡¯t even manage to take more than a step towards freedom.

    ¡°You are not going anywhere¡± he said grimly, propelling her against the wall and trapping her there with his arms on the wall.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    It reminded her of the previous night with him and she felt tears threaten again.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do this any more, Dimitri. I¡¯m not running away with your child if that¡¯s what you are worried about. Just leave me alone¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t do that,¡± he replied.

    ¡°You can. You can do whatever you want. You can even divorce me now. There¡¯s no need to wait¡±

    He looked confused, ¡°Divorce?¡± Dimitri repeated. ¡°Where the hell did you get that from? I won¡¯t be divorcing you¡­. Ever¡±.

 62

    ¡°You are being ridiculous¡­¡±

    His mouth moved closer to hers. ¡°Do you really think that? You think what we share is ridiculous?¡±

    ¡°What we share is just sex, Dimitri. That¡¯s what this entire rtionship has been built on. And I¡¯m not prepared to stay with you until you get bored with me¡±

    ¡°Bored?¡± heughed In genuine amusement. ¡°Bored? I would give much for the opportunity to be bored by yourpany, Kelly. You tell me exactly how you feel¡­. I doubt you will ever learn to filter what happens between your brain and your mouth and you are reliably unpredictable. There are many words to describe our rtionship, but boring is certainly not one of them.¡±

    He released her then and turned and paced back across the room, a weary look on his face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I have been wanting to talk to you but you wouldn¡¯t give me the opportunity to do so¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it would make any difference,¡± Kelly replied.

    ¡°Yes I know. It might not¡± Dimitri replied, ¡°But I gotta tell you anyway. Because I know that you are so angry with me¡­. And you have every right to be. I have acted in a very shitty way¡­ For my own selfish desires and I was wrong. But I can¡¯t¡­. I don¡¯t think I can take it if you leave¡­ I really can¡¯t. Please don¡¯t do this, Kelly¡±

    Kelly closed her eyes. The heat in the room was intolerable and her head was throbbing. ¡°Why would you want to stay married to me? Because of the baby? Because the sex is good?¡±

    ¡°No¡­ I mean, yes. But also because you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not true¡±

    Dimitri ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Why is that so hard for you to believe? What do I have to do to make you believe me?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ask me that,¡± Kelly said, ring at him, because all that time we spent together, I thought that I was having a great time with you¡­ Getting to know you and all you were doing was going through the motions¡­. Figuring out a lot of ways by which you could ruin my life. Forgive me if I¡¯m not willing to believe any word thates out of your mouth¡±

    Dimitri paced the room for a moment before he turned back to her. ¡°That¡¯s not what happened. I mean, yes, I was the reason why you didn¡¯t get the contract. I know admitting that isn¡¯t going to help my case in any way, but I wasn¡¯t going through the motions with you. I swear I wasn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t fake anything¡­. I couldn¡¯t even if I wanted to. Every moment with you was amazing¡­ The best in my life. I was selfish. I have always put myself and my work first. Never got emotional¡­ Never cared or put anyone else¡¯s feelings before mine. Until you came along and I tried to fight it. I didn¡¯t want to care, but I couldn¡¯t help it. I guess what I¡¯m trying to say here is that I¡¯m so sorry Kelly. I know that I hurt you badly and it might be really hard for you to believe me, but I really hope that you do. You have a beautiful heart and I hope that you find a ce in there to forgive me and try to make things right.¡±

    ¡°You married me because you wanted thepany¡­.¡± Kelly began.

    ¡°¡­. Thepany doesn¡¯t matter to me. Nothing else does. All I know is that I want you toe back home with me. It¡¯s all I care about right now. And you have to understand that no matter how it looks right now, that¡¯s not the reason why I married you. I married you because I wanted you and when I found out that you were pregnant¡­ ¡±  He stopped talking and walked over to her. When he took her hand in his, she stilled.

    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Kelly asked

    He lifted her hand to his lips before he replied. ¡°I¡¯m saying that even the need to gain control of thepany wouldn¡¯t have been enough to tempt me into marriage unless that was what I wanted¡±

    Her heart pounded. ¡°But you wanted thepany¡±

    ¡°That deal could have been achieved in other ways,¡± Dimitri said quietly, still holding her hands tightly. ¡°The truth is when I saw the opportunity, I grabbed it, not because of thepany but because I wanted to marry you. I only realized that myself recently. As for the baby, I meant what I said, I want a home for our child. I want us to raise this baby together¡±

    ¡°You are just saying all this because you are in a tight spot¡± Kelly said. He was a master negotiator¡­ She knew that and she had made a fool of herself over this man. She didn¡¯t want to do it again.

    ¡°When I realized how I felt about you, it scared the hell out of me. When I asked you to marry me, I made it look like it was just about the baby but it wasn¡¯t. I just wasn¡¯t ready to admit it, that my reasons could be moreplex than that¡­.¡±

    ¡°Dimitri¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt me. I am trying to say something I have avoided saying for my whole life and it isn¡¯t easy¡± He released her hands and paced over to the other side of the room before turning back to face her. ¡°I love you, Kelly. I married you because I love you although it took me a while before I realized it, and I want to stay married to you because I love you. There, I have said it three times and it¡¯s getting easier already¡± He gave a self-deprecating smile and for a moment she couldn¡¯t speak.

    ¡°You do?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Unbelievable, isn¡¯t it?¡± he spread his hands in a fatalistic gesture. ¡°Finally I fall in love with a woman who loves me in return and get lucky enough to marry her but now it¡¯s all in jeopardy because of my stupidity. I know it is a lot but how am I ever going to convince you that it¡¯s true?¡±

    She wasn¡¯t ready to give in that easily. ¡°How do you know that I love you in return?¡±

    ¡°I think¡­. that you have always loved me,¡± Dimitri said. ¡°I know because of the way you treat me, In your actions, but it has taken me a long time to recognize that too. You see, I¡¯m not used to seeing love. Didn¡¯t grow up in a loving home and none of the women I have ever been with have loved me any more than I loved them¡±

    ¡°But the¡­.¡±

    He put a finger on her lips to silence her, ¡°I¡¯m not done yet¡± he said, and Kelly nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t value my work or thepany over you. I really don¡¯t and I¡¯m sorry that I have given you that impression. When I realized you were gone I almost lost it. I¡¯m sorry, baby¡±

    He took a step back and folded his arms across his chest and lifted an eyebrow, ¡°And now it seems to me that I have been doing a great deal of groveling and apologizing and I am hearing very little from you in return.¡±

    That statement sounded so much like his usual arrogant self that she gave a slow smile, hope building inside her. ¡°That¡¯s because you won¡¯t let me say anything¡± she paused then asked, ¡°What do you want me to say, Dimitri¡±

    ¡°A deration that you won¡¯t leave again? Something about you being crazy about me too, loving me madly¡­.¡± There was a glimmer of humor in his eyes. ¡°¡­.. That kind of thing.. If it¡¯s not toote¡±

    ¡°We are kinda different, Dimitri¡±

    ¡°A fact for which I am grateful for on a daily basis¡± he drawled, strolling towards her and dragging her into his arms. ¡°Enough argument. We are different, it¡¯s true. But we are supposed to be different. Different is good¡±

    ¡°You are arrogant¡­ And stubborn¡±

    He gave a dismissive shrug. ¡°And you speak sometimes without thinking. It¡¯s part of the person you are and I love you for it¡±

    ¡°¡­ And youmand and order¡±

    He slid his hands either side of her face and dropped a gentle kiss on her mouth. ¡°And you are ridiculously, extravagantly, impractically romantic, and I love you for that too. Did I mention that you are also very beautiful and really sexy and¡­¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

    ¡°Okay. Okay. Okay. I get it¡± Kelly saidughing.

    ¡°So will youe back home¡­ With me?¡± Dimitri asked.

    She saw the uncertainty in his eyes and it was that uncertainty that made up her mind.

    ¡°I wille back, Dimitri¡± She said as she walked towards him and reached up to hug him, ¡°And I do love you¡±

    ¡°Yes, I do know that¡± Dimitri¡¯s voice was unsteady. ¡°But I didn¡¯t know if you would be able to forgive me for the less than conventional route we took to reach this point¡±

    ¡°Well, the thing about love is that it is generous and forgiving,¡± she breathed. ¡°Love is kind and everything  good. And love can perform miracles¡±

    ¡°That I know to be true¡± Dimitri said as he leaned down, his mouth hovering temptingly close to hers, ¡°Because I found you and that truly is a miracle¡±

    And with that he kissed her, leaving her in absolutely no doubt that as well as being generous, forgiving, kind and good, love was also perfect.

    ____________________

    THE END

    _____________________

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