Eligible Bachelors: Wife For A Week Part 14

aI can't do this,' he muttered roughly.

aWhich this are we talking about?' she whispered as his lips came closer to her own and his hand slid from her cheek to cup the back of her head. aThis as in kissing or this as in agreeing to my plan?'

aAny of this,' he said, and captured her lips with his own.

She expected anger from him, the remains of it at any rate, but his kiss was unexpectedly sweet, his hands in her hair so very gentle as he traced the b.u.mp on her head.

aDoes it still hurt?' he murmured roughly.

aNo.' She slid her hands over his chest, luxuriating in the feel of him, so warm and solid and, above all, alive. He kissed her again, deeper this time with a needy edge to it that she matched with a helpless, aching need of her own.

aHow about now?'

aNo.' With her hands digging into his shoulders and her skin on fire from his touch. She had no defences from this man, not one, but still she tried to dissuade him, for his sake as well as her own. aYou're breaking all the rules,' she whispered as his hands slid to her shoulders and his long, sure fingers started toying with the straps of her gown. aA bedroom is definitely not a public place.'

aI know.' In that gravelly bedroom voice that set a woman to shuddering all by itself.

aAnd the door is shut and the curtains are drawn.'

aNo audience,' he muttered, and set his lips to her shoulder in the exact place her straps had been.

aAnd I don't know about you,' she said desperately, in a last-ditch effort to remind him of the rules, abut this is really starting to feel like s.e.x to me.'

aIt's not s.e.x,' he said with utter certainty. aIt's foreplay.'

Hallie gave in, gave up, s.h.i.+vering in pleasure as his mouth feathered over her shoulder, tracing a slow, torturous path along her collar-bone. He lifted her effortlessly onto the counter and found her nipple with his mouth, through the thin barrier of silk that her dress afforded her, but it wasn't enough, not nearly enough. She wove her fingers through his hair, revelling in its soft, silky texture as she arched back and he slid the straps of her dress down her arms. The bodice followed and then her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were bared for him and his fingers grazed her puckered nipples with a touch so gentle she didn't know whether to weep with pleasure or scream with frustration. aI won't break,' she said huskily, by way of a hint.

aI know that too.' His smile was crooked. aYou're probably indestructible. I noticed that today. It's just that you look so d.a.m.n fragile.'

aI'm not fragile,' she said. aI'm not even a virgin any more.' And then he bit down on her aching, swollen b.r.e.a.s.t.s and she screamed her approval as sensation shot through her.

aG.o.d help us,' he said fervently as he swept her into his arms and carried her over to the bed.

Hallie clung to him as they tumbled onto the pillows, wanting him over her, inside of her, wanting it now. Her heart beat wildly and her breathing was fast and urgent as she undid the b.u.t.tons on his s.h.i.+rt, pushed it aside, and surged against him, glorying in the rasp of skin on skin as her nipples pressed hard and tight against his muscled chest. More, she craved it, demanded it, fumbling with his belt, with the fastening of his trousers, only to have him push her hand aside with a half-strangled laugh.

aNo,' he muttered. aLadies first.'

aWhatever happened to equality?' she grumbled.

aEquality is overrated.' His smile was slow and wicked as he eased her gown from her body and then her panties. aLadies first is a good option for you right now. Trust me.' He took her hands and drew them above her head and she let him do it, let him do whatever he wanted. She was naked for him, utterly naked except for the diamonds at her ears and around her throat. She felt completely exposed, utterly vulnerable as he loomed over her, his eyes intent. aClose your eyes,' he whispered and she did as he commanded, whimpering with pleasure as his lips traced a path from her wrist to her elbow. He stopped when he reached her elbow, stopped to curse beneath his breath before tracing the area surrounding the angry red graze with gentle fingers. Hallie s.h.i.+vered hard and he moved on, his hands tracing a path down her body for his lips to follow, the soft underside of her breast, the slight curve of her stomach, and everywhere he touched her muscles contracted and the pleasure built. She knew what was coming when he spread her thighs wide and moved lower, knew it and craved it but he made her wait, made her plead while he scattered tiny kisses over her hips and his thumb circled the sensitive folds of her flesh.

aPlease!' As his mouth moved closer and his hands held her firm. She strained against him, clutched at the sheet above her head, and finally, finally, he licked into her. She couldn't breathe, the heat of his mouth was divine, the rhythmic stroking of his tongue an unbearably exquisite torment. He knew exactly where to lick, exactly how to please her, and she writhed beneath him, riding the wave of antic.i.p.ation he built so cleverly, riding it hard. And when she didn't think she could stand any more, when she was slick with sweat and just about to shatter into a million pieces, he concentrated his efforts and the world exploded inside her, all around her, as she shuddered her release.

aOh, my G.o.d!' she gasped.

aTold you so,' he muttered, shedding his trousers and moving over her as she brought her hands to his hair and his lips down to hers for a feverish kiss that had nothing to do with tenderness and everything to do with raw, driving need. It was his turn to groan now, his turn to shudder as he settled himself between her legs. His turn to whimper as her need for him turned savage.

aShh,' he muttered. aEasy.'

Nick inched slowly into her, inexorably penetrating her hot, slippery flesh as her body stretched to accommodate him. He slid his fingers between them to further coax her taut, tight muscles into submission. And then he was seated in her up to the hilt, exactly where he wanted to be, his entire body on the verge of exploding as her hips slammed into his and her body climaxed around him again. He'd never seen anything more wanton, more beautiful, than Hallie lost in pa.s.sion. So fearless, so utterly open for him as he spread her legs wide, cupped his hands around her b.u.t.tocks and surged into her, glorying in his possession, in the scent of s.e.x, and the tight slickness encasing him.

aThis would be the s.e.x part,' she whispered as her legs encircled his waist and her nails raked his back.

aThis isn't s.e.x.' He was spiralling out of control, seconds away from his own pulsing release. aThis is madness.'

Hallie woke just before dawn, too worried about what the day held to go back to sleep. She slid out of bed and padded to the window to look down on the Teys' tranquil garden, wondering if John would be up soon and out there practising t'ai chi. Wondering if he did and if she watched, would some of his calm feed through to her? She s.h.i.+fted the curtains aside to lay her palm on the window-pane, and reached for the confidence she knew she had to have if her plan was ever going to work.

Nick stirred and she turned to watch him; saw him reach for her, and wake when he couldn't find her. She felt the moment he saw her, felt it as a heat that licked over her entire body, and then he was out of bed and heading towards her, beautifully, magnificently naked. She knew that body now, had loved every inch of it during the night. She knew his scent, the taste of him on her tongue, the playful edge in him and the fire.

What she didn't know was the workings of his mind. What he wanted from her and whether he was going to regret their lovemaking and pull back as he had done last time and, in doing so, shatter her heart. So she looked to his eyes to see if they were cool, to his mouth to see if it was stern, and to his jaw to see if it was set, but Nick was none of those things this morning. He snaked an arm around her waist and drew her into his warmth and his hardness, resting his chin on her head, saying nothing as he too stared out at the wakening day.

aI couldn't sleep,' she murmured.

aI noticed,' he rumbled, his voice working its usual magic on her skin. aReady to save the day?'

Not yet. But she would be. aSure.'

aLiar,' he countered, with a gruffness that spoke of worry. aYou don't have to do this, you know. It's not too late to change your mind. We can find another way. A safer way.'

aThere is no safe way. This is a good plan, Nick. You know it is. I want to give it a try. I want to fix this my way.'

aWhy? So you can prove to your brothers that you can?'

aNo. It's not that.' All her life her brothers had fixed her mistakes when she'd made them. They'd done it out of love for her; she knew that. They'd done it because they considered her upbringing their job and they took their work seriously. But hadn't they seen? Hadn't they ever looked beneath the protests and seen how they were eroding her confidence and her self-belief? aThis isn't about my brothers,' she said quietly. aIt's about me. I need to prove to myself that I can do this.'

Nick sighed heavily, his arms tightening around her. aCan't we just take that as a given?'

aNo.'

ad.a.m.n.' He turned her in his arms, turned so that she was facing him, then lifted his hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. aHow can I help?' he murmured. aWhat do you need?'

No more questions, no more protest, just simple support and it flew like a shaft, straight and true, to lodge itself in her heart. She'd been walking a tight-rope ever since she'd met this man. She'd resisted his warmth and resisted his wit. She'd even resisted his lovemaking for a while. But she couldn't resist his belief in her. There would be no more balancing on the high wire, not with this man. Silently, willingly, Hallie tumbled into love. aWhat do I need?' Her lips curved as she wound her hands in his hair and pulled his lips down to meet her own. The answer was obvious.

Right now, right this very minute, she needed him.

CHAPTER NINE.

aI HATE this,' said Nick five hours later as everyone gathered in the Teys' kitchen for a final briefing of the plan. aI can't believe I'm letting you do this.'

aIt's the only way,' said John Tey. aShe's the only one who can cancel the contract. I'm afraid your accompanying her is out of the question.'

Nick scowled. The thought of Hallie facing down professional a.s.sa.s.sins without him ate away at his stomach like acid.

aI still think I should be going there on my own,' said Hallie. aCompletely on my own.'

aNo,' he said curtly. aYou are not going there alone.

If not me, then Kai.'

aWhy drag Kai into it? Or John, for that matter?

This business has nothing to do with them.'

aNo,' he repeated. aYou take Kai or you don't go at all.'

aKai will accompany you,' said John.

aHe's very capable,' said Jasmine earnestly.

Hallie sighed and glared at him, glared at them all. aFine, I'll take Kai.'

Nick met Kai's steady gaze and a look of silent understanding pa.s.sed between them. Kai would do everything in his power to protect her. Everything. He'd better.

aStop that,' Hallie told him sharply.

aStop what?'

aThat look. The one that says you're going to tear strips off Kai's hide if he lets anything happen to me.'

aYou know that look?'

aI have four brothers,' she reminded him darkly.

aAnd I can honestly say I don't know how any of them survived your adolescence,' he snapped.

John Tey smiled. Kai's cough sounded suspiciously like laughter. aI've phoned ahead. The meeting is set,' said John. aThey'll be waiting for you at the shop.'

aReady?' Nick asked her quietly.

aReady,' she said with far more confidence than the situation warranted. aMy negotiating skills are honed and ready to go.'

They ought to be. He, Kai, John and Jasmine had spent the last two hours firing every conceivable question or objection the bad guys might come up with at her and coaching her on her reply. aStick to the plan,' he said gruffly. aStay with Kai.'

aOf course.' Hallie smiled at him rea.s.suringly.

aAnd don't do anything stupid.'

Her eyes narrowed. Her chin came up. He loved that look. aWas there anything else?' she said, heavy on the sarcasm.

aYeah.' He strode over to where she was standing, took her face in his hands and kissed her with enough heat to light up half the city. aBe careful.' He put his hands in his pockets and took a step back before he grabbed her again. Because if he did he knew he'd never let her go.

aIt'll take twenty minutes to get there,' said Kai. aAnother twenty, perhaps, to complete the negotiation. I'll call when we're done.'

Nick nodded and watched in tight-lipped silence as they headed for the door. Watched while his stomach roiled for fear she'd be hurt, and his brain informed him that letting her attempt to cancel the hit out of some crazy desire to prove her worth was undoubtedly the worst decision he'd ever made.

It was going to be the longest forty minutes of his life.

It was New Year's Day and most of the shops were closed. Lucky Plaza was closed as well, but Kai drove directly to loading bay entrance number five, parked the Mercedes beside the huge, corrugated Roll-A-Door and cut the engine.

aThey're meeting us here,' he said, nodding towards a wall-mounted security camera. aThey'll have seen us arrive. Are you ready?'

Hallie nodded. Her heart was beating a furious tattoo, her hands were clammy, and her lipstick had doubtless been chewed away completely, but she was ready. aWait!' Her lipstick. She flipped the suns.h.i.+eld of the car down to reveal the small mirror on the other side, fished her lipstick from her Hermes handbag and carefully applied a fresh coat to her lips. Now she was ready.

Kai gave her one of his rare, slow smiles and then the loading bay door opened and two suited sentries stood waiting for them. Hallie took a deep breath and then another before reaching for the door handle. She could do this. Would do this, dammit, because this little catastrophe was of her making and she was going to fix it. What was more, Nick trusted her to fix it.

It was time to go do business.

The plaza was deserted and eerily quiet, but the door to the little corner shop was open, the lights inside were on, and the young salesman she'd bought the vase from stood waiting by the counter. He wasn't alone. An older man with greying hair and hard black eyes stood beside him. Whoever he was, and she really wasn't inclined to ask, he wore authority like a cloak and power as if he was born to it. Maybe he was.

aThank you for agreeing to see me at such short notice,' she said politely.

aWe have no quarrel with the Tey organization,' the older man said in heavily clipped English. aWe prefer to keep it that way.' His cold black gaze s.h.i.+fted to Kai and then returned to her. aYou have business with us?'

aBusiness that should have been concluded by now,' said Hallie smoothly, knowing instinctively that this man would not tolerate weakness. aI now find myself in the rather unfortunate position of having to change my plans.' She smiled, a careful, charming smile. aI'm afraid your services are no longer required.'

aI'm afraid, Mrs Cooper, that we do not renegotiate contracts. Not even with those who place them,' said the older man with a charming smile of his own. aIt's bad for business.'

Nick kept himself occupied by pacing from one end of the Teys' long living room to the other. Jasmine had made tea, two lots of tea, and thirty minutes had come and gone. The first twenty had been bearable. The first twenty minutes had involved Hallie and Kai getting to where they were going. Now it was different. Now, thought Nick grimly, Hallie was meeting with contract killers, firing them, to be precise, and Nick's nerves were stretched to breaking-point. Any time now, they'd call.

aYour wife is a very resourceful woman,' said John. John, who had been a quiet, rea.s.suring presence throughout the entire debacle. aI'm confident she'll succeed. And Kai is with her. They will not dismiss him lightly. Not the man, nor the organization he represents.'

Nick sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair. His primary concern was for Hallie's safety. Once she was safe he would worry about the next problem, namely that Kai's presence at the meeting and the implied involvement of Tey Enterprises would have unwanted consequences for the older man. aHow far will this place you in their debt?'

aNot that far,' said John with a slight smile. aWe are neither enemies nor allies, our two organizations, even though both wield a great deal of power. We coexist. We are respectful of each other. I do not believe this small transaction will upset that balance.'

Nick didn't know whether to believe the other man or not. His explanation sounded too simple and far too easy, given what he knew of Chinese culture. aLet's hope you're right,' he said wearily. aI know it's a risk, but I couldn't let her go alone.'

aNor I,' said John. aI am your host. I allowed my daughter to take your wife to Lucky Plaza in the first place. My conscience would not allow it.'

aThank you,' said Nick quietly. He appreciated everything the older man had done for them. He really did.

aYour wife made a simple mistake,' said John magnanimously. aIt could have happened to anyone.'

Nick just stared at him.

aOkay,' said John. aMaybe not anyone.'

aOf course you don't renegotiate contracts,' said Hallie, deciding it was time to examine a magnificent porcelain vase displayed on a marble pedestal. aThese really are the most exquisite pieces,' she said admiringly, and then, on a more businesslike note, aI understand your position perfectly, but I'm not here to renegotiate. The delivery was not made in the specified time. Our contract is void. I have no need of another.' She was politeness itself. Tris would be proud of her. Nick would be amazed. aI simply wished to let you know in person that I consider our business complete.'

He wasn't going to go for it. Hallie held the older man's gaze steadily, knowing in her bones that he was going to say that he didn't do this either. That the contract was complete when the delivery was made and not before. That was good business too.