Two Weeks in the Magnate's Bed. Nicola Marsh

      ‘Do I make you hot?’

      Zac slid his hands up and down her upper arms, the rhythmic contact depriving her of all rational thought and possible responses as he gazed at her with hunger and greed and passion

      ‘I don’t know what to say—’

      ‘You have no idea what you do to me when you look at me like that.’

      He tugged her close a second before crushing her lips beneath his. The scorching kiss, a sensual assault, left her reeling.

      As she tilted along with the deck beneath her shaky feet, she realised she’d never been kissed like this—ever.

      She clung to him as his lips teased her to match him. She moaned, a guttural sound deep in her throat, and the noise inflamed him as he leaned into her, pressing her back against the rail and setting her wildest desires alight.

      She should stop this madness, re-erect the barriers that had come crashing down the first instant his lips had touched hers.

      But it felt so good to be desired, so good to have the attention of a man, so good to obliterate any lingering memories of what had happened on this night over three years ago…

       Praise for

       Nicola Marsh:

      About Nicola’s Modern Heat™, TWO-WEEK MISTRESS:

      ‘Funny, witty and sensually enticing, TWO-WEEK MISTRESS by Nicola Marsh left me laughing at the antics of her characters while enjoying the sensuality of this novel.’

       —www.cataromance.com

      About BIG-SHOT BACHELOR, also from Modern Heat™:

      ‘Nicola Marsh writes a down-to-earth romance that will appeal to everyone…’

       —www.cataromance.com

      About INHERITED: BABY, from Mills & Boon^® Romance:

      ‘Awe-inspiring characters combined with an incredible story, INHERITED: BABY by Nicola Marsh tells the story of a woman’s inspirational spirit to live her life her way, who is able to succeed in getting the man of her dreams…’

       —www.cataromance.com

      Nicola Marsh has always had a passion for writing and reading. As a youngster, she devoured books when she should have been sleeping, and later kept a diary whose content could be an epic in itself! These days, when she’s not enjoying life with her husband and son in her home city of Melbourne, she’s at her computer, creating the romances she loves, in her dream job. Visit Nicola’s website at www.nicolamarsh.com for the latest news of her books.

      Nicola also writes for Mills & Boon^® Romance.

       Recent titles by the same author:

      HOT NIGHTS WITH A PLAYBOY

       THE BOSS’S BEDROOM AGENDA

       PURCHASED FOR PLEASURE

      With thanks to fellow M&B Romance author Claire Baxter, for helping me brainstorm Zac in all his dynamic, enigmatic glory!

       Dear Reader

       There’s something about cruising… the choice to do everything or nothing, the delicious food, the excitement of sailing the seven seas (maybe indulging the odd pirate fantasy or two?), the brilliant eye candy factor with all those guys in uniform… Ahem, where was I?

      Can you blame a girl for having her head turned by a strong, sexy sailor? The type of guy to sweep you off your feet, to romance you in the style you deserve?

      Lana Walker doesn’t know what has hit her when suave shipping magnate Zac McCoy does exactly that—turning on the charm till the shy curator doesn’t know whether to succumb or jump ship and swim for shore.

      What would you do? Give in to a spellbinding romance, no matter how brief, or settle for the safe option? I’ve been in this position and, believe me, taking the romance was worth every magical second!

      I hope you get swept away by Lana and Zac’s enchanting romance too.

      Happy reading

       Nicola

      www.nicolamarsh.com

      TWO WEEKS IN THE MANGNATE'S BED

      By

      Nicola Marsh

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      CHAPTER ONE

      AS THE taxi screeched to a halt, Lana Walker flung open the door and scrambled for her bags.

      ‘Hey, slow down. You haven’t missed the boat.’

      The deep groove in the driver’s caterpillar mono-brow had been honed with years of practice if his glare was any indication.

      The way she saw it, she might have arrived on time to board the Ocean Queen, but she’d missed the boat metaphorically in every other way that counted—which was exactly why she was taking this trip.

      She rummaged for the fare and darted a curious glance at the ship, spotting several officers in white uniforms on deck.

      Very impressive—and the ship wasn’t half bad either.

      A shadow loomed over the open passenger door as the driver held out his hand. ‘Some people have all the luck. How about my fare, lady?’

      Grouch. She resisted the urge to poke out her tongue as she handed him the money, picked up her luggage and headed for the escalators.

      What would he know about luck? She’d worked hard for what she had—damn hard: five years as curator at Melbourne Museum, and three years as head curator at Sydney Museum had been amazing, stimulating and stressful.

      Sure, she had a stellar reputation in the industry, and a gorgeous apartment in the beachside suburb of Coogee, but that was about it.

      She didn’t have a life.

      No time out, no socialising, no fun.

      Over the next two weeks she planned to change all that.

      Though luck had played a part in this trip; if she hadn’t won the cruise she wouldn’t have taken a holiday, sad workaholic that she was.

      As thoughts of work crowded her head, namely how she’d recently missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime courtesy of her crippling shyness, she stumbled at the top of the escalator and pitched forward, silently cursing the three-inch heels her shoe-crazy cousin Beth had loaned her for the trip.

      So much for the hope that the illusion of height would give her extra poise. It would be difficult to feign elegance when she landed on her butt.

      Grabbing wildly at anything more stable than air, she exhaled on a relieved sigh as a strong pair of arms shot out, holding her in a vice-like grip.

      ‘Whoa. These things are lethal if you don’t concentrate. Too busy daydreaming about the Love Boat, huh?’ The smooth voice, with more than a hint of amusement in its husky depths, sent an unexpected shiver down her spine as she looked up into her rescuer’s face.

      Wow.

      Seeing good-looking guys on a daily basis was a perk of her job. The museum was a haven for sexily scruffy archaeological students, attractive teachers, even the odd university