The Billionaire's Paradise (Sexy Billionaires)(33)

“No, I don’t think I will,” he said, crawling onto the bed as she scooted backward. “It’s getting rather hot in here. I highly recommend taking off that dress.”

“What do you think the odds of that happening are?”

He prowled over her, dropping a light kiss to her lips. “All right. I told you before, remember? There’s a lot we can do with clothes on.” Nudging her legs apart, he settled his weight between them.

She hissed out a breath.

“You wanted to play,” he whispered, running his lips along her jaw as his hands stroked down her curvy body. “Where’s the harm?”

“You have no idea,” she said, tipping her head back to give him better access as her eyelids fluttered shut.

He smiled, satisfaction thrumming through him. “Tell me you don’t want me to touch you.” He drew his fingers along the backs of her thighs, inching her dress higher. “Tell me you don’t want me to taste you.”

A shudder ran through her body, and he knew it had nothing to do with fear.

“I can be good,” he whispered in her ear before catching the tender lobe between his teeth.

“I remember,” she gasped.

A chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Not quite what I meant. Trust me, Avery. Just a little. Trust me to take care of you.”

Dark eyes met his as she lay in his arms. He didn’t need to be a mind reader to see the longing within them, and the worry.

“You’ll forget yourself,” she said. “And sex will complicate things. We should stop.”

“I won’t,” he promised, though keeping the vow might just kill him. He’d never wanted anything the way he wanted to be inside her. But if sex was her line in the sand, then he could play by her rules. This time, at least.

Then she’d see he was more than the jaded womanizer she thought he was. She’d realize he was someone she could trust.

Someone she could see herself with.

Temporarily, his inner voice interrupted. You want her to be with you temporarily.

Because that was all his battered heart could offer.

Avery’s hand slid down his chest, tracing her fingers over the contours of his muscles.

“Play,” she breathed.

“A foreign concept to you, I know,” he teased. “Let me teach you.”

Her gaze flicked up to his. “I always was a good student.”

Fire shot through him, turning his already painfully hard cock to iron. The things he’d like to teach her. His eyes nearly crossed at the thought.

But first they needed to start slow.

Not that spending this time focused on her would be in any way a hardship. Excitement bubbled through him as he pushed the skirt of her dress to her waist. Not breaking eye contact, he ran the tips of his fingers along the line of her black panties.

Avery’s lips parted as he tickled the sensitive skin of her abdomen, abiding by the silken barrier when all he really wanted to do was pull the fabric from her body.

“Trust me,” he urged.

Her mouthed tensed as if she were about to speak before she swallowed the words.

And nodded.

Triumph mixed with lust burned within him, urging him to fall on her like a starving man on a feast.

Slowly. Seduce her. Win her.

Bind her to you.

He let a slow grin tip his lips as he pressed a palm to each of her thighs, pushing them apart.

Oh yes, he intended to make every second she allowed him count.

…

What did I agree to?

Avery stared up at her would-be lover and fought back a wave of panic. He confused her enough already. Letting this progress any further was a mistake.

But what a glorious mistake to make.

His fingers pressed against her panties, rubbing against the sensitive flesh. She bit her lip at the pleasure that spiked through her at the simple touch.

Hell, there was no downside here. They both knew he’d never be satisfied just giving her an orgasm. Or three. No, he’d want more, and in the morning, she’d be well pleasured and well assured that he was exactly what she’d thought. Untrustworthy. Focused on obtaining one goal only. A man she’d never be able to count on.

But what if he does exactly what he says? What if he gives you a shattering orgasm without asking anything in return?

Won’t happen, the cynical side of her brain replied. Hayden was not the sort of man who delayed his own gratification.

Those fingers stroked her again before hooking around the edges of her panties and pulling them down.

Cool air hit her as he tossed the panties over his shoulders and pushed her dress higher.

She should feel embarrassed, laying spread before him this way, on display for his heated gaze. But instead, she liked the way he looked her at with an expression of raw need. Never once in their relationship had he ever made her feel cheap or tawdry, and tonight was no exception. Hayden lived his life taking pleasure where he wanted. He obviously had no qualms about others who followed the same rules.