November Harlequin Presents 2(107)

Grace twisted and writhed on the bed, her whole being focused on the exquisite sensation of having Javier drive into her, penetrating her deeper and deeper until she didn’t think she could bear much more without exploding with pleasure. Above her she could see their reflections in the mirror, his bronzed limbs entwined with hers making an erotic contrast to her pale skin, and she felt an illicit thrill of enjoyment as she watched him make love to her.

Little spasms were rippling through her, and she dug her nails into his shoulders as his harsh, rasping breath sounded in her ear. Suddenly she was there, teetering on the edge of a place to which only Javier had the key, and when he clamped his hands on her buttocks to still her desperate movements she felt her body convulse with the power of her climax.

‘Oh!’ Nothing had prepared her for the flooding sweetness, and tears stung her eyes as he paused briefly and then thrust again with a barely leashed savagery that should have appalled her but which only served to increase her excitement. He threw his head back and groaned her name.

‘Grace…!’ His release was a violent explosion of passion, and for long moments afterwards he remained within her, the weight of him pressing her into the mattress as tremors shook his big body. Grace didn’t mind, she loved the feeling of oneness, of two hearts beating in unison, and she gave a soft murmur of protest when he eventually rolled away and lay stiffly beside her.

Her eyelids drifted down and she snuggled close to him, absorbing the comforting warmth from his body. Her hand crept across his chest and she stroked her fingers through the covering of wiry black hairs before her movements stilled and she slept.

Javier glanced down at her lovely face and felt his heart clench. Any minute now he would slide off the bed and leave her alone to sleep, he promised himself. After his childhood experiences of rejection, he had no patience for the obligatory cuddling and other signs of affection that women seemed to want after sex.

But Grace’s small hand, curled over his heart, comforted rather than irritated him. He didn’t want to break the contact—in fact he wanted to put his arms around her and draw her in as close as he possibly could. Fortunately his iron willpower controlled the urge, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave her any more than he could prevent himself from brushing his lips across her brow in a gentle benediction before he permitted himself the pleasure of watching her sleep.



In winter the mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada were covered in snow, but inside El Castillo de Leon huge, blazing fires ensured that every room was warm. It was another three weeks until Christmas, but already the party season was underway, and tonight the Duque de Herrera was playing host at a lavish dinner for local businessmen and dignitaries from Granada.

The past months had been the happiest of her life, Grace mused as she prepared for the party. Since Javier had made her his wife in the real sense of the word, they hadn’t spent a single night apart. He made love to her with a single-minded dedication that caused her muscles to ache pleasurably the next day and put a permanent smile on her face.

But overshadowing her happiness was the knowledge that time was running out. Her marriage contract was already nearly half over, and six months from now Javier would ensure his place as head of El Banco de Herrera before arranging a quick divorce. Despite their incredible sex life, Grace was under no illusions that he would want their relationship to continue. Every night he took her body with a fierce passion, but afterwards he would roll over to his side of the bed, denying her the closeness she craved.

She was beginning to feel like a sex machine, but on the few occasions that she had steeled herself to resist him he had used the mastery of his hands and mouth to devastating effect—taking her to the edge of ecstasy time and time again, but denying her the satisfaction of his full possession until she was forced to beg. At times like that she almost hated him, but hated herself more. Her inner battles had caused her so much misery that in the end she’d simply given in and settled for the only thing he offered her—mind-blowing sex.

The only time he showed her affection was during the day, and presumably his passionate kisses were for the benefit of his staff—continuing the façade that they were a blissfully happy couple. But, weak, pathetic fool that she was, she couldn’t resist him, and as she studied her reflection in the mirror she knew that the glow of excitement on her cheeks was because tonight at the party he would dance with her and hold her close in the way she longed to be held.

A slight movement from the doorway caught her attention, and she held her breath when he walked towards her until his reflection joined hers in the dressing-table mirror.