“I won’t hurt you.”
Bella tilted her head to the side. She was silent for a moment, and he could tell she was trying to work something out in her head. He had never before wished to know someone else’s thoughts so much. Usually good at reading people, to his utter frustration this petite beauty remained a mystery to him.
Finally she spoke. “Are you honestly going to tell me you’re attracted to me?”
He was absolutely shocked by the scorn in her voice. Lust rose up in molten waves as he stared into her golden eyes. Eyes that matched the molten bronze encasing that gorgeous petite body that his hands all but ached to touch.
His nostrils flared and he leaned down, his arms enclosing around her to brace on the railing at her sides. “Oh, I’m attracted all right…and so are you.” Before she could deny it, his lips covered hers.
It was a gentle kiss, yet it froze her in place as if he were holding a gun to her head.
* * * *
Bella felt drunk with lust.
Heat speared into her core, and her hands came up to grip tightly onto his jacket. As quickly as it started, he pulled away, leaving her unbalanced, so she gripped tighter. His arm wrapped around her waist to hold her to him. To her surprise, his embrace didn’t frighten her but rather made her feel protected. The warmth coming from his body easily chased away the chill she had been feeling after standing out in the cool night air, and to her surprise she had to stop herself from snuggling closer.
“I’ll see you home.” Jason’s tone left no room for argument.
All she could do was blink up at him. The man had burned her alive with one kiss and he looked as if nothing had happened. He seemed unaffected, his voice was calm and controlled. She would have been completely fooled if she didn’t see his jaw clench and feel the rigid muscles of his body tense with the same desire she was feeling.
He continued to hold her close to him as he led her from the balcony. She could feel his tense muscles flex as her body brushed up against his side.
As they made their way back inside he took her arm to lead her through the masses of people, strong enough to hold her firmly but not enough to hurt. She finally found her tongue as he moved them quickly through the room and made for the exit.
“Are you always this intense?” she couldn’t help but ask.
He didn’t even look at her. “Yes.”
Jason couldn’t help but notice the admiring glances that Bella received as they crossed the room. He immediately changed his grip on her and pulled her closer to his side.
Bella felt his hand branding her waist with the searing heat of his touch as he swept her toward the front entrance. She was caught in a whirlwind as the sea of people parted for them as if they didn’t dare stand in the way of man by her side.
They stopped to retrieve her wrap from the coat check and made their way outside.
Jason’s car was waiting at the entrance as he walked up and opened the door for Bella to slide in. As he got into the driver’s seat, she looked over at him with a raised eyebrow in question.
“I had them keep my car out front since I did not plan on staying long,” he answered her silent question. He started the car and pulled into traffic.
Bella found herself staring at his profile in the passing lights, fascinated by the harsh beauty of his face, not really believing she was there with him. As if he could feel her gaze, he turned heated eyes to meet hers. “Come home with me, Bella,” he whispered. His intense gaze was frightening in the shadowed light, but she was overcome with a wave of desire.
This was what she had been looking for.
This is what she needed.
Jason held his breath slightly while he waited for her answer and let it out in a rush as she responded with a breathless “Okay.”
With that, he gunned the engine and took off.
Chapter Four
Jason drove his car to a large brick building in the warehouse district that he had rehabbed. Five floors housed apartments which were occupied by agents of IAD who were also employees of Mac Securities. Jason had part of the top floor as his personal penthouse suite.
The first floor contained a gym, pool, spa, and an elaborate game room for all the residents to enjoy. He had made sure that the individuals who worked tirelessly for him had every amenity at their disposal to shake off the horrors of the job. There was an underground garage that they all used with a hidden walkway attached to the building next door that housed the offices of Mac Securities. What onlookers didn’t see was several subterranean levels under the garage that contained the headquarters of the IAD branch.
Jason pulled the car past the garage door that had opened at the press of a button. The car came to a halt inside what looked like a large single-car garage space. He opened his window, reached out to key in a code on a keypad, and after a few seconds the inner door opened and they drove down a slight ramp into the main garage.