The Hudsons: Max, Bella and Devlin: Bargained Into Her Boss's Bed / Scene 3 / Propositioned Into a Foreign Affair / Scene 4 / Seduced Into a Paper Marriage

Her breathy, broken words drove him to repeat the maneuver again and again until her back bowed and her nails raked his back, his thighs, his chest. She nipped his shoulder—another gentle love bite—and that was all it took. He crossed the line, the point of no return. He pounded into her. Deeper, harder, faster. Again. Again. Her gasps and cries fueled him.

When he felt her tense, heard her breath catch, he did the same. Fighting his way back from the brink became a lost cause. Orgasm ripped through her, making her body squeeze his and forcing the air from her lungs in a sexy groan. And he lost it. His own release battered him over and over until he was spent. His lungs burned. His arm muscles quivered and then collapsed. He landed on her. It took seconds to regain his strength and lift himself from the warm, damp, soft cushion of her body. Not that he wanted to leave. And that worried him.

Her eyes remained closed, her lashes a dark fan on her flushed cheeks. But it was the smile curving her lips that nailed him right in the chest. He leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers.

What the…?

His arms snapped straight and then he rolled off her and landed on the bed. The bed that smelled like Dana. Like Dana and hot sex.

Why had he kissed her that way? He didn’t do tender gestures. Not anymore. Sex was sex. Basic. Primal. Satisfaction of a need. And in this case, a way to protect his assets. No emotion required or desired.

But damn, he wanted to ask her about that smile. If it meant what he thought it did—that this was more than just physical release for her—then he needed to warn her. Temporary was his MO. His only MO. He would never marry again.

But if he warned her off and she got huffy, then his honesty could cause problems. One, she might quit. Two, she might pout and refuse to speak to him—the way Karen sometimes had. Three, anger might drive her back to Lewis. None of those options would help him get Honor completed on time.

So he’d have to suck it up and hope like hell she didn’t get emotionally attached. Because happily ever after might make for a great film, but it had no place in his life.

Six

Dana couldn’t stop smiling.

She lay flat on her back, eyes closed, fighting the urge to grin like a fool. Max lay beside her. She could hear his rapid breathing, feel his body heat and smell him. She inhaled deeply. Correction, she could smell them and the intoxicating aroma of their lovemaking. The urge to grin grew stronger.

Making love with him had exceeded her fantasies. And she couldn’t ask for more. She was so happy they’d finally taken this step—even if she didn’t know what had precipitated it.

The mattress shifted. She forced her heavy eyelids open in time to see Max leaving the bed. She soaked up the sight of his broad shoulders, tight butt, and long, muscled legs as he bent to scoop up his swim trunks from the floor. Yummy.

He disappeared into the adjoining bathroom without looking back. Something felt a little off. She chalked it up to the awkwardness of the first time with a new partner. Not that she had a whole lot of experience with that circumstance. And he did have the condom to deal with.

Rolling out of bed, she gathered her suit and shifted on her feet as she tried to figure out what to do next. Put the suit back on? Get dressed? Climb back in bed? She still hadn’t made up her mind when Max returned dressed in his trunks.

His gaze rolled over her, lingering on her breasts, which tightened in response to his widening pupils and intense expression. His gaze coasted past her waist and hips to her legs and then slowly returned. His eyes stalled briefly on her navel ring before gliding up until they locked with hers once more. She saw suppressed passion but also caution in his eyes.

Her fingers tightened on the fabric of her swimsuit. A sudden and unexpected wave of insecurity made her want to cover up. He dated some of the most beautiful women in the world. How did she measure up? She certainly wasn’t as skinny as his usual type. And she wasn’t blonde.

“I’m going to take a quick swim and have lunch before getting back to work. Shall I cook enough for two?”

She blinked in surprise. He’d taken her to restaurants for working lunches, but he’d never prepared anything for her or even offered to fetch anything for her from the Hudson Pictures canteen. And while all he’d be doing was heating up something the caterer had left, that he’d offer to include her now made her feel all warm and fuzzy and cherished.

“I could make lunch.” She’d rather stay here and cuddle with him. But they really didn’t have time for that.

“I can handle it. You take a shower or…whatever it is women do after…sex.”

Sex. She’d rather he called it making love. But he was a guy. A commitment-phobic guy. “Maybe I, um, could join you in the pool and then we could make the meal together.”

“I’m going to swim laps.” He turned on his heel and exited through her patio door.

Confused, Dana stared after him. Had that been a statement or a dismissal? Did Max regret what had just happened?

How could he regret what had been one of the best moments of her life?

And where did they go from here? Because for her, everything had changed. She no longer wanted to get away from Max, and she no longer wanted to win the bet. She wanted to win his heart.

Only the hum of the electronic equipment disturbed the silence of the room.

Dana sat at her desk in Max’s home office and tried to focus on work, but her mind kept straying. She wasn’t dumb enough to delude herself that Max was in love with her. Yet. His cool demeanor throughout lunch had proven that. There had been no tender, reminiscent smiles, no wicked glances promising more lovemaking to come later.

But he did desire her. She knew good acting when she saw it, and Max hadn’t been faking his passion earlier.

So why the oppressive silence now?

Max’s office chair squeaked as he twisted to face her. Her heart skipped in anticipation of what he’d say.

“How is the capturing coming?”

Work. She’d expected something…personal. She tried to mask her disappointment. “It’s going well. I should be finished in a couple of days.”

He swiveled back and then stopped. “My family is having a dinner tonight. I’d like you to join me.”

Happiness welled in her chest. He was including her—like a real date. That had to mean something. “I’d like that.”

“We’ll leave at seven.”

She glanced at her watch. She had just over an hour to get ready. And then she realized she wasn’t prepared—not to go to Hudson Manor as Max’s date. “I didn’t pack anything that would be appropriate for a night out. I’ll need to go to my place to change.”

“Back up your work and go. I’ll pick you up in an hour.” His neutral tone lacked enthusiasm and again, that niggling feeling that something wasn’t quite right hit her.

She brushed it aside. They’d made love and he was taking her to his family dinner. As her brother had always claimed, as long as you’re making forward progress, you’re headed in the right direction.

And Max was picking her up at her house. It would be almost like a date. Their first date.

Dana’s palms moistened and her pulse quickened as Max pulled his car to a halt in front of Hudson Manor. She’d been here several times before for functions related to work and to visit Lillian.

But tonight was different. Her role had changed.

Or had it?

It was hard to tell from Max’s demeanor. He hadn’t taken her in his arms and kissed her when he’d arrived at her place. In fact, he was acting as if they hadn’t been lost in each other’s bodies this afternoon.

She shook off her insecurities and looked up at the Hudson’s home through the car window. The French provincial mansion Charles had built for Lillian on Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills never failed to impress her. the gray stone facade with its wrought-iron decorative accents tripped every romantic switch she had.

Set on fifteen acres with two swimming pools, four tennis courts, stables plus a carriage house and a guest house, the estate had a fairy-tale quality that made it impossible for Dana to imagine living in such grandeur.

Charles and Lillian had filled the place with antiques they’d bought on their world travels, but the place didn’t feel in the least like a museum. Every other time Dana had come for a visit she’d been very comfortable. Tonight, not so much.

Max came around to her side of the car and opened her door. He offered his hand to assist her out. She grasped him tightly, glad for the reassurance under the changed circumstances. What would his family think about him with her?

She climbed from the car, took a deep breath and squeezed Max’s hand. She deliberately stepped into his body. “Thanks for including me tonight.”