Page 35 of Return of the Outback Billionaire

‘I don’t suppose you could keep me in mind and let me know when that control of yours returns?’

‘I can do that.’

‘Will you dance with me?’ she murmured. ‘I’m a terrible dancer, unless it’s raining, and it’s not raining, but moonlight and a beautiful harbour might improve my dancing too.’

‘It would be my pleasure to see if it does.’

She held his hand as he led her to the centre of the terrace. She closed her eyes the better to feel him as he turned her into his arms. Those powerful thighs of his brushed against hers as they moved and the warmth of his palm settled in the small of her back and held her close. She dropped his hand but only in order to place both hands on his shoulders. His hands now encircled her waist. It was the school formal she’d never had.

She smiled at the innocence of it all and moments later felt his lips brush hers.

Okay, maybe she could open her eyes just a fraction, the better to see his reaction to the kissing.

He was close enough to see the thickness of his lashes and the faint frown between guarded eyes that held a question.

‘There’s that lack of control,’ he murmured.

Oh. She wouldn’t have put it like that. ‘Can you do it again?’ Three times now he’d smiled or laughed and meant it. She was on a roll. ‘You know, if we did want to take this to the bedroom, I could always tie you up.’ Would he beg her to release him? Would he strain against the ties that bound him? ‘How many neck ties did you bring?’

‘You want to go from virgin to dominatrix without passing go? That’s nuts.’ But his eyes flashed fire and the hands around her waist tightened, before deliberately, on his exhale of breath, making their way to her hips. ‘Also, we’ve only just met.’

‘I feel as if I’ve known you for longer,’ she said. ‘And I’d check in with you. A lot.’ Not as if domination was her goal. ‘You could direct me.’

Judah groaned.

Still not a no.

‘There could be safe words. Traffic-light colours.’

‘And cursing,’ he muttered.

‘Yes, all the curse words. Not a problem.’ She smiled brightly.

‘You have no idea what you’re asking.’

‘True.’ But he kissed her again and she didn’t think it was a no. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the moment as fire ripped through her veins.

‘Do it.’

‘What?’ She hadn’t actually been expecting a yes.

‘Take my clothes off, tie me up, and use me. Let’s see what you’ve got.’

Bridie felt her breath hitch at his gravelly challenge. ‘Okay.’

‘Okay.’

‘Okay,’ she echoed again. Now was not the time for rampant insecurity to make an appearance. She was Bridie Starr of Devil’s Kiss station. A talented photographer who’d just held her first sell-out exhibition. An outback woman, bold and resilient—even if it had taken years to claw her way back to where she was today. She could do this. She could slide his jacket from his shoulders and let it fall. She could undo the buttons on his snow-white shirt. After that, she’d be covering new territory. She could improvise.

‘You realise you’re talking to yourself?’ he asked.

‘Oh. Did I say all that out loud?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Sorry about that. Then again...you’ll be forewarned.’ He smelled so good, so undeniably cologne-y and male that she couldn’t resist putting her nose to the curve of his neck and breathing deeply of his scent and setting her lips to the skin below his ear. This was lovely—having free rein to indulge herself and experiment.

The shudder that ripped through him was encouraging.

---