Read Christmas With The Billionaire for Free Online Page B

intimate, too intimate. She countered it with a cool gaze as his black stare rampaged over her body like a heat-seeking missile until it lodged with mind-blasting good effect between her thighs. And now he was coming over—
    “So, Ms. Black...”
    “Yes?” She was proud of herself for remaining composed. Relatively speaking.
    “You’re the only person in the room I haven’t had a chance to talk to properly yet.”  
    Was he joking? He hadn’t given her the chance to speak; he’d been too busy kissing her.  
    She couldn’t be sure if this was just another of Jason’s tormenting sallies, as he smiled his bad-boy smile. She was on the point of saying something snarky back, but the response of her ever-eager body distracted her before she had the chance, and the tension between them roared off the scale. They wanted each other, but for different reasons they were both holding back.  
    Common sense was her reason. What was his?  
    She stared up and read the answer in his eyes. Jason Kent wanted her, but he would never force her, and he had sensed her pulling back. Also, he loved tormenting her, and she guessed that playing the sex card was his way of bringing her into line.
    “You don’t have to be polite any longer,” she said coolly. “You’ve done your duty, so if you want to go—”
    “I don’t want to go. You fascinate me, Ms. Black.”
    “Should I be flattered?”  
    “I doubt it—though I’ve never been part of such a diverse group of people, and I’ve got you to thank for that. I can’t think of anyone but you who could bring these people together.”
    “You are flattering me,” she argued. “But now you’re done?” she guessed.  
    “For now,” he agreed.
    Something in his eyes said Jason Kent was far from done with her. She couldn’t pretend that didn’t excite her. His inky-blue stare was full of humor as it lingered on her face. He could read her. He could remind her of her hunger for him with just a glance. He was tormenting her. Worse, she was enjoying it. There was a glint of triumph in his eyes as he anticipated her melting. But that was where he was wrong, because she had a control switch too.
    “What are you doing tomorrow, Ms. Black?”
    Taken by surprise, it took her a moment to rejig her thoughts, by which time there was a flash of victory in his eyes. He knew he’d thrown her. She had to stop being so obvious around him. Jason Kent was used to sophisticated women, and she was hardly that.
    “Tomorrow is Christmas Day, Ms. Black,” he reminded her.
    “You sound like the sternest of schoolteachers scolding a disobedient child.”
    “If the cap fits. So? What will you be doing?”
    Now she realized she hadn’t really thought about it. “Clearing up here, I suppose.”
    She blinked as he turned to go. So, what was all that about? She had to remind herself as she stared at his powerful back that she had told him he didn’t need to stick around. Strike that thought. She wanted him to stay. She wanted another bite of that succulent black cherry.  
    He didn’t make it out of the apartment, though, because Lily waylaid him at the door. And now Jason was inclining his head towards Lily, listening to something she was saying. Then he said something and Lily replied. Straightening up, he curved one of his winning half-smiles and touched Lily’s arm in a way that made Kate feel wistful. It was such a warm and reassuring touch, an affectionate touch, a touch that made her wish he’d touch her that way too...  
    Was she going soft? Running her hands down the front of her suddenly ridiculous-seeming outfit, she had to ask herself why a man like Jason Kent would want to be seen with an overstuffed elf. She was hardly femme fatale material, especially tonight, dressed in a costume one of the circus performers had lent her. When he glanced across, she guessed he had to be thinking he’d had a narrow escape tonight—
    “Oh, why don’t you just go?” she muttered,