Chapter 14

Bonnie

Nash looked self-assured as he spoke. His eyes were gray and harsh as he focused his gaze on my face. He had his hands thrust into his pockets and stood in front of me with his shoulders squared and his feet spread wide apart.

Yeah, he looked like he was sure of himself and what he was saying. That he didn’t mind taking over his father’s company.

“So, did you get to travel much? Do you miss being an engineer?” I asked, hoping that he might reveal himself a little more.

I couldn’t pull my gaze away from him. He looked devastatingly handsome standing there, looking at me. Everything that I had dreamed about was coming true. Except that Nash Preston didn’t actually have feelings for me. If he did want me, he wanted me for sex.

“I do. But it’s my duty—” he began to say.

“To inherit your business,” I completed the sentence for him, not wanting to hear him lie again.

Nash took a step toward me, and my body responded. “You think you have me figured out, don’t you, Bonnie Calhoun?” he said in a deep husky voice, as he drew closer. He was mocking me. He had a smile on his face. I craned my neck to look up at him. Our bodies were only inches apart. I could reach up and touch his face if I wanted to, but I was holding back. My fingers were trembling, and I hoped he couldn’t see them.

“No, I never said that. I just wanted to know if you’re happy in your current situation,” I managed to say, remembering at the last minute what he had asked me.

Nash’s smile widened, and he kept his eyes trained on me. You’re right,” he said softly and raised a finger. He used that to touch the tip of my nose gently. My heart had begun to pound, what was he doing? Was this just old-pal-friendly interaction for him again? My mind was racing with wild ideas, while my body was reacting to his touch.

“It was a sacrifice. To give up my engineering career. To give up traveling the world,” he continued and now his finger was trailing down. From my nose, to my upper lip, to my lips, down to my chin. I couldn’t keep staring at him anymore. I had to shut my eyes. I gulped as my skin trembled beneath his touch. My lips parted of their own accord.

“But it was all worth it,” he whispered, bringing his lips close to my ear. I gulped again, completely lost in the sensations. I had no idea what he was talking about anymore. None of it mattered. His finger on my face, that was all that mattered.

“Like I said, it’s just business.” His voice was like a lullaby in my head. He was putting me into a trance. My body had begun to sway, my nipples were erect and yearning for his touch. So many years. I had waited for this moment for so many years. I didn’t even think this could happen.

Nash’s finger moved up again, from my chin toward my lips. And this time it stayed there. He was stroking my parted lips with his finger. My face was turned up to him, inviting him, telling him more than I wanted him to know.

Then his finger slid into my mouth. I tasted the salty course texture of his skin as he slid it to touch my tongue. I moaned softly, imagining instantly what it might be like to have his cock there instead. He pulled his finger out, and my eyes flew open.

Nash was smiling at me. His gray eyes had darkened.

“You seem eager,” he said and his gaze dropped to my breasts. Was he imagining my nipples, the ones he had probably seen through my robe? Could he see them through the dress?

“Dance with me,” he said suddenly, snapping me out of my paralyzing sexual reaction to his presence. Nash grabbed me by my waist and swung me around. He took my hand and held it up, leading me in some ballroom dance I didn’t know how to do.

Some classical music was floating out from the ballroom inside, along with the chatter of voices, but Nash was dancing to the steps of his own tune. His back was straight, his hand clutching mine gently, while his other remained on my back.

I was out of breath. I could feel my cheeks burning up. What had just happened?!

Why was he so hot and cold? Why did he keep pushing me to the edge and then violently hauling me back? I could see that he was teasing me. He knew how madly I wanted him. How turned on I was. And he kept drawing me in to see how much further he could push me.

But the dancing was having a calming effect on me. Even though I didn’t know what I was doing, I continued to cling on to his arm and follow his confident steps.

“I haven’t done this in years,” he exclaimed in my ears, laughing a little as he carried on.

“I haven’t done this ever,” I said and we were both laughing. Somehow it was easy for me to forgive him for what he was doing to me. For the havoc he had wrecked on my body and mind. I was simply happy to continue dancing with him, swaying in his arms to some made-up music. I was in no rush for anything else. As hard as I tried to not think about it, I couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Nash Preston wanted more than just my body.