She glanced up at him. Color burned along his cheekbones, eyes glittering. The expression on his face so blatantly hungry she almost couldn’t believe it was real.
Joseph Ashton, gorgeous billionaire, wanted her.
Yet a remaining sliver of doubt slid under her skin. That night in his apartment had been incredible, but she’d been Naughtygirl then. Could she do the same as Christie?
“I…I don’t know,” she murmured, uncertain.
“What don’t you know?” The question had an unexpected softness to it.
“I’m not experienced, okay?” Wanting him to know right up front so there could be no mistake. So he knew what to expect. In case there was any…disappointment. “I haven’t had many relationships.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Christie.”
“I’m not saying it is. It’s just if you expect, uh, something more exciting, then—”
“I’m not expecting anything. Whatever you want to give me will be spectacular.”
“Spectacular?” It wasn’t a word she was accustomed to hearing in relation to herself.
“Oh yeah.” His thumb rubbed along her jaw, a gentle movement. Making her shiver. “Absolutely. Let’s find out, shall we?”
He slid his hand behind her head and then, exerting a gentle, irresistible pressure, drew her forward to meet his mouth once more.
A slow, deliberate kiss. Carried out with skill and with an intensity that left her trembling. Then it became hotter, deeper, an exacting, familiar hunger taking hold inside her. One that left no room for shyness or inhibitions. A hunger that had no patience with nervousness or awkwardness.
She wanted him. Dear God, she wanted him.
His hand pushed her thick ponytail over one shoulder, his mouth dropping to the sensitive skin below her ear. She gasped, shuddering, and heard him make a satisfied sound deep in his throat. His lips moved along her neck, down toward her collarbone.
“Joseph,” she whispered. “What are you doing?”
“What do you think?” His voice was a caress against her skin. “I’m seducing you. I told you I would.”
An arm slid around her waist, pulling her against him. She gave a soft gasp, one hand aiming for his knee to steady herself and brushing something else near his groin. Something hard.
Oh. Wow.
Joseph tensed, biting out a soft curse.
Christie moved her hand again, unable to stop herself, tracing the outline of his arousal beneath the soft wool of his trousers.
“Oh my, God,” she breathed. “Is this for me?” The question popped out before she could stop it and she felt herself flushing.
His muscles had gone rigid beneath her hand. “That one of your interview questions?”
A surprised laugh bubbled out of her. “Uh, no.”
“You have the dirtiest laugh I’ve ever heard, you know that?”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Oh yeah, very good. And in answer to your initial question, yes, that’s all for you. I mean, I love my stereo but not that much.”
Wonder swept through her, along with a sense of feminine power that was new.
No, she didn’t want to do this dumb interview. Didn’t want to stop kissing him. She’d never felt this kind of power before and she wanted to explore it.
Besides, it didn’t have to mean anything. She could have another night and then walk away. And that would be okay because she didn’t want any more. No, she didn’t need the complication of a man in her life. Especially a man like Joseph.
One night of hot sex and that would be it. Yep. Definitely.
Christie sighed, need rising inside her, unfolding like a flower, letting her lose herself in the heat of Joseph’s mouth on hers.
His hand moved from her waist, sliding up over the cotton of her T-shirt to cup one small, round breast in his palm. She groaned, fire flashing along her nerve endings, making her shake.
“Come on, Naughtygirl,” he said, “time to visit my sheepskin rug.”
Chapter Six
Christie gave a small squeak as she was lifted off the couch. Then she put her arms around Joseph’s neck, turning her face against his throat, unable to resist the urge to inhale the spicy, masculine scent of him. Oh, she could so do this. Be a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of woman. Have some fun with a hot guy, then move on. And what a guy to have fun with. “My hero,” she whispered.
He laughed, the deep sound of it vibrating against her where she nestled against his chest. “It’s all self-interest, believe me. This is the quickest way to get you naked.”
The bedroom was huge, the curtains drawn back to let in the night, the bed right up near the windows, a vast expanse of white sheets and pillows.