One buy she could never regret making though, was the diamond necklace she wore. She’d been walking past the window of the jewellers and had backed up when she’d caught a glimpse of it in the display. It was nothing gaudy: and yet even in its simplicity, it was devastating. She’d walked into the glamorous store, and had tried it on. Seeing its intricately set edges laying upon her neck in a glittering mantle, with its tip projecting to nestle within her cleavage, made her know that this was what she needed to finish off her look.
It turned out she was right. Once she’d been dressed and Jude had seen her, he’d had the look in his eyes she was coming to recognize easily. He’d come forward, hands cupping her shoulders as he swept his gaze over her from head to foot. “Ravishing,” he’d murmured, dipping his head to nuzzle her neck lightly, even as he drew in a deep, appreciative breath. “It would be so unfashionable – and downright rude, to be late. If it wasn’t for that...”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but the woman in her knew exactly what he was thinking. And the woman in her had ached with an answering need. And it was one that never eased throughout the evening. Even with the distinguished company, the fine food and dazzling wine, she never lost consciousness of the virile, gorgeous man at her side. It didn’t seem possible, but he looked even more handsome than ever that night. His perfectly fitted suit moulded his dashing frame like a glove, and her eyes felt constantly drawn to his face. When he laughed, or his smile... or listening to him converse comfortably with the people of power seated with him at table, she got a deeper explication into the man he was, and how much she was drawn to him.
At first it had seemed only physical; he turned her on and that was a fact. But if her heart fluttered every time he looked at her or held her gaze briefly, she knew it was something deeper than sexual desire she felt. He aroused her body, and thrilled her mind.
When he spoke, on whatever topic, she loved to listen, admired the way his sharp mind worked and how he analysed things. It wasn’t hard to see why he was so successful, and why he commanded so much respect.
Since leaving university and joining her brother in trying to pick up the pieces of their family finances, she’d come to understand a little bit of the cold, steel-hard reality of the business world. And she remembered one of the first things Jude had told her that night they’d met, after she’d found out who he really was. About how he made no apologies for what he’d had to do in the name of business – such as the takeover of her father’s company. Was she wrong to have hated him for what had simply been a corporate call?
But then, wasn’t she betraying her family by beginning to have certain feelings for him that she shouldn’t? She’d already spent one night of pleasure with him –and even when she kept reminding herself it was all for the good of those she cared about, she knew there was more.#p#分页标题#e#
It was weak and foolish of her, but she should have known. It should have been obvious from the start that in this game, she’d already lost too much ground. And when it was all over, when she walked away with those signed papers, she knew she’d have given away even more than she’d gained.
***
Miranda thought of her previous allusion to Cinderella, and yet once the dinner was over and they were back inside the limousine, she couldn’t help thinking that for them, the real party had just begun.
Once alone inside the air-conditioned lavishness of the limo, he drew her into his arms, and kissed her. No warning, no by-your-leave, nothing. It was like he’d been raging for her all through the evening. His mouth was insistently passionate, and very rough against hers. The evident strength of his desire for her thrilled and yet amazed her; he seemed ready to rip her out of her clothes.
Obviously, one night of abandon had only managed to whet his appetite for her, not assuage it. Miranda found this prospect very gratifying – especially since it was the same for her. His ardent kiss was making her belly do flip-flops, and her heart pounded so hard she could hear it ringing in her ears. Her hands clutched his jacketed arms, and she gasped against his tongue sucked sensually on hers. For heavens sake, she thought desperately, as her pussy instantly began to vibrate like it had been plugged in. A shudder passed through her body, her arousal intensified by his hand slipping beneath the draped neckline to cup one full breast in his large palm. He thumbed her nipple roughly, drawing out a harder gasp from her lips. His lips broke from hers, and he bent his head, pressing hot, hard kisses down her neck.