The Mistresses Collection. Оливия Гейтс

to do something decadent?’

      His eyes sparked. ‘Decadent?’

      It would be so decadent. The guy was like that luscious, rich chocolate he’d fed her. The finest of ingredients, the smoothest texture, divine taste. Fit, strong...seven times?

      He laughed softly as he looked at her. ‘What are you thinking?’

      ‘Very bad thoughts.’

      ‘Tell me some.’

      ‘You wouldn’t understand.’ She lifted her chin provocatively. ‘You can’t really be bad. It’s not in you.’

      ‘And you think you’re the expert?’

      ‘Rumour has it.’

      ‘We both know you can’t believe everything you read.’ He pulled her towards him, his voice dropping. ‘Tell me what you’re thinking.’

      Only a breath away from him, she couldn’t resist. ‘I’m thinking, everyone thinks I’m bad. Why not be bad?’ She was tired of fighting it. Tired of trying to hold her head up in public. She wanted something for herself. Something fun. Something that felt good. And James Wolfe felt good. No one would ever know. He’d be as adamant on that as she. And she could live with that.

      His hand slid across her shoulder, the tips of his fingers seeking her collarbone. They were gentle, but firm. Hot. She tensed, trying to stop herself flaring out of control.

      ‘Maybe it’s not so bad if the world thinks I’m bad,’ she added. ‘Then I can get away with anything because people are already going to think the worst.’

      ‘What’s the “anything” you want to get away with?’ His fingers moved south, tracing the neckline of her dress. Down towards the curves of her breasts.

      She breathed quicker. Her lashes lifted. ‘Corrupting. Claiming innocence. Taking someone over to the dark side.’

      His eyes widened, then a small laugh escaped him. He shook his head slightly. ‘You really think I’m good?’

      ‘You better be.’

      ‘Truth is, I can be very, very bad.’ His fingers slipped beneath the fabric, delving towards her cleavage.

      ‘So we should be bad together,’ she whispered, placing her hand over his, pressing him closer. She ached to feel more of his skin. Less tease, more touch.

      ‘Or good.’ His finger traced the lace edge of her bra.

      ‘In this instance?’ she muttered. ‘Same thing.’

      He bent forward and nipped her lower lip. ‘Let’s both be very, very good at being very, very bad.’

       SIX

      Caitlin melted into his arms—his kiss came quick and hard and she was so ready. Right here, right now. Just right. She groaned as James swept his tongue across her upper lip. She wanted him to go deeper but, to her stunned outrage, he pulled back and picked up his phone.

      ‘You have an important call to make—now?’ She scowled.

      Amusement flashed on his face as he took another step back from her. ‘Very important text.’

      What? How could the guy even think? How could his hands even be steady enough to be able to tap out a text? She was wobbly all over. Needy. Hell, she had been for hours. She put her hands on her hips to hide it and tapped her foot to express her annoyance even more obviously. ‘How is a text more important than...?’

      ‘I’m ensuring no builders turn up here in an hour.’ He grinned. ‘In fact, I’m insisting no builders or workers of any kind enter the condo at all today.’

      Oh. ‘So you’re putting up the “do not disturb” sign?’ she clarified with a tilt of her chin.

      ‘Absolutely.’

      Well, for that the man might be rewarded. In a minute. ‘Hmm.’ She lifted her shoulders and let them fall in a careless shrug. ‘You do your admin, then,’ she taunted. ‘I’m going upstairs to find my own...comfort.’

      She walked oh-so-easily across the floor, head high, shoulders back...heart thundering.

      But she heard his low laughter, heard the sound of confident, controlled movements. Footsteps fell heavy on the stairs only a few paces behind hers.

      As she entered the immaculate bedroom he ran a hand from her shoulder down the length of her arm to her wrist. His fingers made a circle—a cuff—around her bones and then he tugged.

      ‘Don’t think you can turn your back on me now.’ He spun her round and pushed her gently with his other hand, just below her ribs. ‘It’s my job to provide the comfort here.’

      She fell back on the bed. He fell with her, his lips connecting with hers. She closed her eyes as she savoured the glorious weight of him. His tongue stroked deeper this time, seeking knowledge. She let him find it—opening up to let him explore completely. She lifted her hands, exploring the breadth of his back, feeling the strength of his lean muscles. Oh, yeah, the guy was fit. Taut. Hot.

      But then he drew back, one hand pressed on the mattress beside her head as he levered away enough to look down at her. Caitlin stared at him through narrowed eyes. He damn well better not put the brakes on again. She’d do him an injury.

      He stared down at her, a smile slowly crossing his lips. ‘Tell me what you want.’

      She let her hand fall. She was sprawled on a bed beneath him. Wasn’t it obvious?

      ‘Talented as I am, I don’t do telepathy,’ he said with a self-mocking grin. ‘I don’t read minds. And I don’t like to make mistakes.’

      ‘You’ve made mistakes with women before?’

      ‘Some.’ He nodded. ‘So I think it’s a good idea to clarify exactly where we’re going with this. I like my private life to remain exactly that. Private.’ A vaguely uncomfortable expression flitted across his face. ‘I’m a wealthy guy. I’m a little known. So I’m always going to get verbal consent. I’m always going to wear a condom.’

      What, he thought she’d try to trap him? ‘You want me to sign a contract and everything?’

      He moved, his weight falling heavier on her so she couldn’t escape and pretended to think about it for a moment, amusement lighting his eyes. ‘It has possibilities.’

      ‘You don’t trust me.’ Wasn’t that a surprise?

      He smiled, getting her annoyance and soothing it as he stroked the back of his fingers lightly down her neck. ‘Actually, I’d trust you on many things. But I always ask that a woman doesn’t kiss and tell.’

      She rolled her eyes. ‘You know you’re okay with me there.’

      ‘True.’

      ‘I don’t trust anyone about anything,’ she said. She’d never have unprotected sex. Truthfully she’d not had sex in a long time. Which had made Dominic’s accusations all the more hurtful.

      ‘You want me to sign a contract?’ he asked.

      She stared at the wickedness lurking in his eyes. She understood he had little to give her. Only the one thing she wanted. ‘I can handle a verbal.’

      ‘What are your terms?’ He lifted a hand, traced her features with a light, sensual finger.

      Caitlin drew a breath at the sparks such a small touch ignited. And she went for it. ‘Sex. Unlimited. No one else knows.’

      ‘Unlimited?’ His eyes kindled—darker, magnetic.

      ‘As often, as much, as you like while you’re in New York.’

      She felt his