Don’t Miranda; don’t let him fool you, she warned herself. Keep your guard up and keep reminding yourself that you were dealing with a man far, far different from you in the way you reasoned and felt. They were as different as chalk and cheese, and though she felt his physical appeal, she couldn’t distance her mind from the fact that he was manipulative, opportunist. A man who would use what ever he had to get what he wanted.
But then with a jolt, Miranda knew she could very well say the same for herself at this point. Here she was, about to pay the ultimate female price: yielding her body in return for something she desired most in the world: to see her father, her whole family, happy again. To get the pieces of her life back together since the day it was shattered when they’d practically lost all they had.
So maybe she wasn’t so different from Jude Stone after all.
***
Miranda found herself in a fitful doze when he returned.
He’d left the room several hours ago, after he’d showered and changed. He said something vague about having to see to some matters with Carly in time for the meeting tomorrow, and that he’d discuss in the PA’s room so that Miranda could rest without disturbance.
Once she was sure he was gone, she’d slowly undressed, then indulged in a leisurely soak in the majestic marble tub in the bathroom. She’d been almost reluctant to finally rise from its scented, warming depths. She’d spent almost an hour in the bath, and still he wasn’t back. Wondering at the strange pinch of perverse irritation she felt, she quickly unpacked, retrieving her lace and satin lingerie, which she’d chosen to wear. Before she put it on, she caught a glimpse of her naked frame in the mirror, and paused.
Standing in front of the full length, gilt-framed glass, she viewed her reflection and tried to be impartial in her judgement of herself. Miranda had always taken pride in her body; she’d always been full-figured, and had never known what it meant to be skinny or even slender. However, she kept fit, and her body was supple, firm. She had smooth, unblemished skin, which felt very soft as she ran her hands over her shoulder blades and upper arms. And she felt she had nice breasts; they were a high-profiled D-cup, with only the slightest droop that added a somewhat erotic sway to their mounds. Her belly was just a bit rounded, yet flat, and her hips flared out if not delicately, then at least with shapely elegance. Her legs were what she considered her favourite features; they were long, with well-formed calves ending in ankles that were surprisingly narrow for her weight. She also had small feet – another surprise.
She didn’t think she was doing badly at all, for a plus-sized chick. She turned to one side, and then the other. And then she backed the mirror, looking over her shoulder at her generous rump, the cheeks perfectly curved and silky-skinned. It was firm and soft, and slightly jiggled when ever she moved. She remembered that though she’d always felt it was far too big, at least two of her exes had told her it was the best they’d seen on a woman. She couldn’t help wondering if Jude would think the same when the moment of truth came.
Oh, so now she was looking forward to it, hmm, her inner voice mocked – but she ignored it. She’d be a fool to pretend to herself that she wasn’t more than a little sexually drawn to Jude. A woman would have to have dry, bloodless veins in her body if she claimed not to find him deeply attractive. Every time he was near, it was hard not to stare at him, or to feel switched on by his effortless magnetism. She’d felt it all from the second she’d set eyes on him, smiling and offering to take her off Kirk’s bumbling hands – and feet. And yet, though she could not find herself to totally like the man – she sure as hell wanted to fuck him like crazy. There was no two-way about it, no doubt. When the time came, she would want it as much as him, just as he’d assured her all those days ago.#p#分页标题#e#
***
And now, she felt drawn slowly from her light sleep by lips trailing down her nape.
She was lying on her belly, her face muffled in the pillow. The sensation of warm, silken lips making a molten path over her exposed back slowly began to register – and her eyes snapped open.
The room was as dimly lit as she’d left it when she’d settled in soon after she’d bathed, and now there seemed to be a definite glow surrounding her, warming her to the bone. Or maybe that was just the feeling of Jude’s mouth on her skin, trailing lingering kisses over her exposed back.
“Miranda.”
It was so like an erotic pronouncement, the one word filled with an undeniably intense declaration of intent that made her shiver within. Miranda lay on her belly, her face turned to the side and muffled within the pillow she now clutched. Jude was right above, his hands propped on either side of her as he continued his tender, heated foray of her shivery skin with just his lips.