Bedroom Seductions: Two Weeks in the Magnate's Bed

Zac had a way of looking at her as if she was the only woman in the world, and when he did the small, wistful part of her that wanted to be that confident woman dared to hope.

She made it back to his office with a minute to spare.

‘Come on in. I’ve got the forms for you.’

‘Great.’

As she stepped into the office he briefly touched her elbow, bending lower on the pretext of closing the door. ‘What? No perfume?’

Her gaze snapped to his, only to catch a fleeting glimpse of a cheeky grin before he turned away. Her scowl was wasted.

‘Why don’t I take them away with me, fill them out, and drop them at the front desk when I’m done?’

She might be feeling braver after breezing through the class, but there was something about him now—the way he looked at her, as if seeing her in a new light. While she should be happy, her inner introvert trembled at what he might do if he sensed the change in her.

He tapped the stack on his desk, beckoned her over. ‘Believe me, when you take a look at these you’ll be thanking me for filling them out here. I’ve helped employees through the rigmarole before; we’ll get it done in half the time.’

Okay, so he was being helpful. Then why did it feel like the Big Bad Wolf lending Red Riding Hood a hand before gobbling her up?

‘Right—let’s get to work, then.’

She plopped on the chair opposite his, drew the forms towards her.

He stilled her hand by placing his on top, setting her pulse racing as she stifled the urge to yank her hand away.

‘Not much intimidates you, does it?’

She raised an eyebrow. If he had any idea how her heart thumped, her lungs seized and her insides quaked at his simple touch, he’d withdraw that statement.

‘I can usually handle stuff.’

Professionally, that was. Anything else and she was about as poised as a toddler on ice-skates.

‘Think you can handle me?’

His voice had dropped seductively low, and the smouldering flame in his eyes warmed her, warning her that she was in way over her head with this one if she thought for one second a small boost in confidence could cope with the likes of him at his tempting best.

‘I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard.’

She almost bit her tongue in frustration, unwittingly adding to the wordplay. Heat suffused her cheeks, and she wished she had the guts to toss her hair over her shoulder, not duck her head like the blushing virgin she almost was.

His grin had tension strumming her taut muscles. ‘You’re very assured when you want to be.’

Only when he needled her enough that she forgot her shyness.

‘Mainly when putting guys like you back in your place.’

He leaned forward, close enough to whisper in her ear. ‘Guys like me?’

Resisting the urge to jerk back from his proximity, she settled for a subtle slide of her hand out from under his instead.

‘Over-confident. Smooth. Charming. Used to getting your own way.’

Rather than being offended, he laughed. ‘Guilty as charged.’

He leaned into her personal space again, crowding her, overwhelming her, confusing her.

‘So, is it working?’

‘What?’

‘My charm.’

‘Not a bit.’

She crossed her fingers behind her back at the little white lie. ‘Now, if there’s nothing else, let’s get these forms done so I can enjoy my holiday.’

‘Actually, there was something else.You know I owe you?’

‘Uh-huh.’

The instant wariness in Lana’s eyes made Zac chuckle.

‘How about a tour when we dock in Suva? I’ve got the day off, so I could show you the sights. What do you think?’

Her eyes lost their cautious edge as her lips curved into a smile—the type of genuinely happy smile that could easily tempt a man to want more, a lot more.

‘Sounds good. Know any hot spots?’

Yeah. Just below her ear, above her collarbone, and dead on her soft lips…

‘Several.’

His tone must have alerted her to his thoughts, for her eyes widened, glowed with understanding, till he could distinguish the tiniest green flecks in the molten caramel before the shutters quickly descended.

‘A tour sounds great.’

She dropped her gaze in record time, her tongue darting out to moisten her top lip. The nervous action did little to dissipate his growing interest in discovering what really made this tantalising woman tick.

Considering how much he wanted to get to know her, perhaps he should rethink Suva—especially his idea about taking her to his favourite secluded beach. If he could barely keep his hands off her here, what hope did he have in blissful isolation on the most spectacular stretch of pristine sand he’d ever seen?

‘Right, it’s a plan.’

He’d almost said a date, but dates implied more of that physical stuff he was afraid would scare her off. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wipe a vivid fantasy of the two of them splashing in the lagoon, him play-wrestling her, her wrapping her legs around him, her wet skin plastered to his, no clothes…

She stood abruptly, the chair almost toppling. ‘Look, I really appreciate the offer to help, but I’ll be fine with these forms. I’ll holler if I need anything.’

Judging by her shaky voice she knew exactly what he was thinking, and she reacted the way she usually did: by erecting verbal barriers and making a run for it.