Page 57 of Masquerade

Kate moved back, and his erection bounced upright. Deliberately, she brushed her breasts across it in her reach for the drawer.

His hands grabbed at the sheet, the muscles in his arms tight cords of restraint.

“Planning a long night?” She tore a single condom from the strip.

“That”—he jerked his chin in the direction of the drawer—“is about hope, not assumption.”

“I can see how the word mighty could apply.” Her heart pounded in her chest. “I didn’t expect you. You’re patient, sexy and generous.” The foil opened easily. “No.” Playfully she slapped his hands aside when they reached to help her ease it on. His gritted teeth spoke of his tight control, his groans of his pleasure. Because his husky growl melted her insides, she ran her tongue up his rigid length to encourage more. “Just checking the fit.”

“We fit,” he grunted, rolling her over and finding her centre with a single push. He chose a rhythm that left her boneless and unable to do anything except absorb the pleasure. Locking her legs around his back, she held tight. Each new thrust rippled through her, until she was sobbing for breath. Still, he went deeper, carried her higher until she was teetering on the edge of an orgasm in a world where only he had meaning.

“Give in to it, sweetheart.” His hand snaked between them, his touch helping her find release—a starburst of bliss.

She clung to him, her only link to reality.

“Yes.” Her world exploded into a kaleidoscope of tumbling colours with Liam at the centre.

Picking up speed, he edged towards his own release and took her with him. She crested again, her hands wrapped around his forearms, her breathing in tune with his. His body spasmed, before his forehead dropped to hers. Her body unravelled in the nicest possible way.

“Can I say, yum.” She stroked her hand through his damp hair, unwilling to put a name to what they’d shared. Ridiculous to feel so cherished because his arm and leg were flung across her, his weight warm and natural.

“Back at you.” His voice was deep and relaxed. He rolled to one side, his fingers combing through her hair, to spread it across the white pillowcase. “It’s glorious, you know. Rich and lush and sweet smelling.” He pressed his face into her hair, inhaling deeply. When he leaned back, his gaze met hers, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled. “I’ve wanted to unpin your neat bun and muss you up since the day I met you.”

The breath caught in her throat at the tenderness in his expression. A wave of longing swept through her making ground rules a nonsense. She’d agreed to satisfy the itch they had for each other. She’d known she respected him. Liked him—he was a likable man out of his suit. She hadn’t known she’d develop this craving. Falling for him was a recipe for heartbreak.

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“Sweet Mary and Joseph. Would you have a look at that!”

Kate opened a bleary eye. Liam stood to one side of the bedroom window, at home with his nakedness, and looking at anything other than his sexily relaxed, hipshot stance from the rear seemed like a waste of 20/20 vision. Despite only snatching a few hours of sleep, her body hummed into life.

“Very nice,” she purred. “But if you want me to do something about it come over here.”

He flashed a roguish grin over his shoulder. “Is your phone handy?”

“What? Phone?” The sheet slipped as she pushed herself up on her elbows.

“I’d love to help you find it”— his gaze caressed her bare breasts—“but there’s no time.” Grabbing his abandoned jeans, he rifled through the pockets until he found his phone, before returning to his position slightly to one side of the window. “I didn’t expect this development.”

Intrigued, Kate rolled out of bed, donning his T-shirt before she wandered across to see what had caught his attention.

“What is it?” She peeked under his upraised arm.

“A couple who look very pleased to see each other.”

“You’re taking photos of them?” The realisation jolted her fully awake. Photographing someone without their permission was close to the top of her list of deadly sins. Through all the stages of her father’s fame, she’d been helpless to prevent any invasion of her privacy.

“His tongue is tickling her tonsils, and her hand’s in his pants.” He panned the phone to snap the sign on the building as well as the couple.

“Liam!” Genuinely shocked, she lunged for the phone. “Stop it.”

“Have another look.” He held his hand higher, so she couldn’t reach. “Tell me what you see.”

Kate peered around him. “That’s”—the haircut gave the woman away—“is that Selina?”

“Uh-huh.” He lowered his phone. The couple was turning to enter the office opposite. “Couldn’t wait ‘til they got inside. Patience really is a virtue.”

Her brain was whirling as pieces of information fell into place. “With the local state politician?”

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