His Secretary Mistress(57)

‘What happens between us now?’ she asked quietly, sure that he would want to end their relationship.

‘Nothing,’ he replied, with a shrug that spoke of indifference and hid his inner frustration.

He had rushed her, and if he didn’t tread carefully he would lose her completely. He had underestimated the damage her damned ex-husband had inflicted on her self-esteem, the devastation Lee had wrought on her ability to trust her own emotions. He had lost serious ground, Alex conceded bitterly, but he wouldn’t lose her—not without a fight.

‘I don’t see why we can’t carry on as we were. You still want me as much as I want you,’ he added, with a flash of his old arrogance, and despite everything she found she was powerless to resist his kiss, her arms moving of their own accord to wind around his neck as the pressure of his mouth increased.

Feeling her willing response, he tightened his arms around her, one hand sliding down to cup her bottom and pull her hard against his thighs so that she was made achingly aware of his hunger. When he finally released her she was flushed and trembling, shamingly aware that if he repeated his suggestion to make love to her across his desk she would willingly comply.

‘This hasn’t changed,’ he told her softly, ‘and nothing Lee or Selina can do or say will alter my desire for you.’





He insisted on driving her home after work, stopping off on the way to collect Maisie. The nursery had held a Christmas party, and Maisie skipped out to the car looking utterly adorable in her fairy costume, complete with wings, which Jenna had constructed from wire coat hangers and net curtains.

‘I look like a real fairy, don’t I?’ the little girl demanded, and Alex felt a gentle tug on his heart as he lifted her into the car and fastened her safety harness.

If anyone had told him six months ago that he would be seriously considering exchanging his bachelor lifestyle for fatherhood he would have laughed, he admitted with a rueful smile. He had assured Jenna that he would never upset her or her daughter, and the truth was that doing so would be akin to cutting his heart out.

‘You certainly do,’ he assured Maisie gravely as he struggled to accommodate her wings beneath the child restraint, and, watching them, Jenna felt a pang of dismay.

It was plain that Maisie adored Alex, and he seemed to be genuinely fond of her. Maybe she should have accepted his marriage proposal and prayed for a miracle, she fretted. Perhaps in time Alex would have grown to love her. But it was too late now. She could hardly tell him she had changed her mind.

He stayed for dinner, and as Jenna tucked Maisie into bed the butterflies in the pit of her stomach set up a clog dance, her nerves stretched to breaking point when she went back downstairs. Would he expect to stay the night? she wondered, the sight of him sprawled on the sofa setting up a slow, steady drumbeat of desire in her veins. He had discarded his tie and unbuttoned the top couple of buttons of his shirt so that she could glimpse the dark hairs that covered his chest. His body was lean and hard, so sexy that she felt a shiver run the length of her spine, and her face flamed when he glanced up and saw the unguarded expression in her eyes.

‘Come here,’ he commanded, and she gave up any semblance of trying to act cool and fell into his arms. ‘My parents have invited us to spend Christmas Day with them,’ he murmured long moments later, as she balanced on his knee, her mouth swollen from the fierce hunger of his, her blouse and bra lying in a pile at her feet. ‘I accepted on your behalf.’

‘Alex, I don’t think…’ In truth she could barely concentrate on his words; she simply wanted him to continue his sweet sorcery, her breasts aching for his possession, and she frowned as he reached for her blouse and slid it over her shoulders. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Your parents must have been hoping that Selina would accompany you. What will they think of me?’

He caught the note of uncertainty in her voice and stared at her with quiet determination. ‘They’re looking forward to meeting you. They’re quite aware that I intend to spend Christmas Day with you, so either we both visit them or we don’t. It’s your choice.’

‘That’s not fair,’ Jenna muttered distractedly, unable to hide her dismay as he fastened the buttons of her blouse. Perhaps his much-vaunted desire for her was fading already.

‘How were you planning to spend Christmas Day, then? Other than moping around missing Maisie and feeling sorry for yourself?’ He ignored her furious gasp and continued, ‘Chris has been invited to spend Christmas with his new girlfriend’s family, but he’s refused on the grounds that he felt he should stay with you.’