The Gold Collection: Bedded By A Billionaire. Kim Lawrence

you—’

      ‘People like me?’

      ‘Sorry, I forgot, there are no people like you—you’re special,’ she drawled, sketching speech marks in the air. Her mocking smile faded as she added in a voice that shook with contempt, ‘But actually you’re not. Living in a castle and having pots of money makes you lucky—not special.’

      ‘And you were born on the wrong side of the tracks forced to live off your wits? I don’t think so,’ he drawled.

      Lucy blinked, but recovered quickly. ‘I don’t live in a castle.’

      ‘And the Fitzgeralds are paupers, I suppose?’

      Her blue gaze grew frosty. ‘Leave my family out of this,’ she warned fiercely.

      This display of protectiveness struck him as ironic. ‘Like you did? Did it ever occur to you to consider how your actions would affect them? How do you think they feel when they see you use your body and beauty as a weapon?’

      Lucy laughed, finding the accusation particularly ironic when she was standing here struggling to control her breathing. If only!

      ‘What can I say? I’m a shallow and superficial person.’

      ‘You’re …’ He lunged without warning and grabbed her by the waist, the other hand went to the nape of her neck, his fingers pushing into her hair as he pulled her into him.

      Panic made her struggle but then his mouth was on hers and her resistance melted, she melted; the arm banded around her narrow waist took her weight as she went limp.

      He sank his teeth into the plump fullness of her lower lip, sighing as she moaned. The heat of his body penetrated the silk of her dress … nothing she was feeling was like anything she had experienced before.

      ‘I really want to taste you.’

      His smoky voice shivered through her body, awakening an answering need deep inside her. Using what strength she had to force her heavy lips open, she looked up at him with passion-glazed blue eyes.

      ‘Yes,’ she breathed huskily. ‘Please.’

      He kissed her deeply, his warm lips seductive, his probing tongue shockingly intimate, but it was the contrast of soul-piercing tenderness and ravenous hunger of the carnal assault on her senses that drew a series of soft moans from Lucy’s throat.

      Overwhelmed by the need his touch awoke, she wound her arms vine-like around his neck and kissed him back hard, meeting his tongue with her own.

      The shocking rock-hard imprint of his erection as it ground into her belly excited her incredibly, making her gasp and moan, giving herself over totally to the wild hunger in her blood as the passion generated between them burned hotter. His mouth demanded more and she struggled to give it.

      His hands moved down her body, moulding her against him, as Lucy’s hands slid over his shoulders feeling the hard ridges of muscle through his clothes feeling the racing of her pulse, feeling his heartbeat, the two sounds becoming one.

      The desperation of their soft moans and murmurs grew more frantic and uncontrolled until finally Santiago pulled back.

      It took a few seconds for sanity to return. When it did the shocking realisation of what she had just done hit Lucy. She stood staring at him as she shook her head in denial, unable to accept the need he had awoken inside, the confusing tangle of emotions that the kiss had shaken loose.

      He said nothing. The shadows across his face accented the strong planes and fascinating hollows. Just looking at him made her ache to touch him. ‘You think that proves anything?’ she challenged.

      ‘It proved that we’d be pretty sensational in bed.’

      She gave a scared little gasp and just ran.

      When Ramon returned she was waiting in the car. He was terribly apologetic about the wait and didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about her silence.

       CHAPTER SIX

      ‘RELAX,’ Ramon recommended as Lucy looked nervously over her shoulder. ‘You won’t see him.’

      That assurance was the only reason she was here—that and Ramon’s promise of a ride on a pure-bred Arab, which she had been unable to resist.

      Though she’d managed to do so until Ramon, correctly interpreting her reluctance, had promised his brother would not be there. ‘So there’s no need to be nervous.’

      Her pride stung, she had retorted hotly, ‘Your brother does not make me nervous. I simply find him …’ At a loss to explain even to herself the way the man made her feel, she finished lamely, ‘He won’t be there.’

      ‘No chance,’ Ramon had promised, coaxing, ‘Come on, the least I can do is give you the ride I promised. You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain and, yes, don’t worry,’ he soothed, predicting her interruption, ‘I know you don’t want to carry on with our plan … You are sure about that?’

      ‘Quite sure.’

      ‘Pity, I was having fun. Oh, well.’ Ramon gave a philosophical shrug. ‘It’s not all bad—you really got to Santiago.’

      Not nearly as much as he got to me.

      ‘Did I?’ she said, getting hot as she thought of his hard, lean, ardent body pressing her … his warm breath … She sucked in a steadying breath and thought, Keep it together, Lucy. The man kissed you—big deal!

      ‘Well, he was as rude as hell to you.’

      ‘I assumed that was normal for him.’

      Ramon shook his head. ‘Big brother is always polite even when he’s mad as hell. He has this way of letting you know you’ve messed up without raising his voice.’

      ‘I feel so special.’

      ‘You still sure you don’t want to carry it on?’

      ‘I don’t. Sorry, Ramon, but I’m here to help Harriet and that doesn’t leave much time to make myself a sitting target for your delightful brother’s insults.’

      Actually she did have time, as Harriet had pointed out when she had heard Lucy knock back Ramon’s offer to go out.

      ‘I appreciate what you’re doing, Lucy, but even convicted prisoners are allowed time off for good behaviour and, besides, you’re giving me an inferiority complex. The place has never looked so immaculate.’

      Lucy had allowed herself to be persuaded … perhaps a little too easily?

      ‘Ah, well … but it’s all good. You made such an impression that no matter who I date is going to seem an improvement, so it’s win-win for me.’

      Lucy’s lips quivered. ‘I’m so glad to have been of help.’ The sarcasm passed over Ramon’s head. ‘You are sure your brother won’t be around?’ She wasn’t scared of bumping into him, it was simply a matter of common sense. She hated spiders so she wasn’t going to wander into a room where she might encounter one.

      ‘I told you Santiago rides before anyone is up. He’s already done half a day’s work before breakfast. The man’s a machine, not human—he might not even sleep at all.’

      Lucy did not share the admiration in Ramon’s voice. ‘Or maybe he can’t sleep because he has a guilty conscience?’

      The spiky comment drew a laugh from Ramon. ‘Most people think Santiago is one of the good guys.’

      Lucy snorted.

      ‘That’s Santiago’s horse, Santana,’ Ramon said as she walked to the stall containing the massive magnificent black stallion she remembered from her first meeting with Santiago … Was that really only four days ago?

      It