Whisper

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Whisper ISBN 9781419913365 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Whisper Copyright © 2007 Rose Middleton Edited by Carole Genz. Photography and cover art by Les Byerley. Electronic book Publication November 2007 This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 443103502. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

WHISPER

Rose Middleton

Dedication To C.C.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Dungeons and Dragons: Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Whisper

Chapter One All week he’d imagined the delicious curves of his weekly indulgence. Standing back, he appreciated the way she lay on the bed with her body stretched to its limit. Her pale skin glowed amber in the candlelight. With her arms bound above her head, her rosy nipples puckered and ready for tasting, and her toes curled in anticipation, she was everything he needed after his dismal day. When he unzipped his trousers, her belly quivered and her ribs expanded with a sharp breath. He sent a silent prayer heavenward, grateful she’d agreed to the blindfold, and continued removing his clothing without her sensual crimson eyes on him. The color alone made him hard but the intensity pushed him to breaking point. He’d yet to ask if they were contacts or her true color, not ready to spoil the illusion every time he fell into them. In the warm room and with his eyes on the night’s prize, his body hardened. This— their third encounter—needed to be something special. Each erotic joining had surpassed the last. Tonight could not disappoint. Which was why he’d arrived earlier than usual and made sure the curtains were drawn, the candles lit, the air saturated with scents he knew would arouse her even before they touched. Judging by the flush spreading over her belly, his efforts hadn’t gone to waste. And then there was the spell. The ancient incantation handed down through the generations of lovers before him, the one he’d never used before tonight. Dabbling in the kind of magic that manipulated human emotion hadn’t appealed to him until this little vixen invited him to spread his wings. According to lore, the spell would clear her mind of the daily dribble they’d vowed never to discuss, just as it worked to wipe his mind blank of the terrible day. With that task complete, the spell would weave its way into the very fabric of her being until there was no distinguishable beginning or end of

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either. He welcomed the flood of magic into his soul. It would bind them and take them to a higher plane. There was no need to speak, no need to ask what she felt. He knew, and nothing would stop him from knowing every inch of her being tonight. Naked, he moved toward her and lifted her leg. Her warm skin smelled of strawberries and cream, the scent slipping into his veins and heading straight for his cock. Her sweet whimper signaled compliance and the tension in her muscles drained beneath his fingers. He kissed the instep of her foot, licked her slender ankle and listened as her breathing quickened. Short, sharp gasps sounded as his hands kneaded her calf and the moment he made contact with the sensitive pit in the back, she bowed up off the bed and moaned low. Her thighs spread for him, showing him the swollen wet lips of her cunt. His mouth trailed along her skin toward the inviting cradle, alternating between kisses and bites until he passed the knee and found the smooth flesh of her inner thigh. The closer he got, the stronger her scent. It filled his head, beckoned him to do away with the niceties and take what he wanted. Hooking her knee over his shoulder, he knelt on the bed and flattened a palm to her belly. “Please,” she whispered, the sound now familiar to him. He leaned over her and licked his lips as the mounds of her breasts bulged before him. They were the perfect size and the rosy nipples never failed to kick him in the guts. With a wry huff, he brushed her lips with his. What began as a teasing kiss blossomed into a deep and passionate connection. Her hunger toyed with his restraint, her need called to him. No woman spoke to him the way his Whisper did with her lips, her hands, her eyes. Her pliant lips molded to him while her tongue demanded more from him. He gave himself willingly to Whisper, like to no woman before, almost drowning in her. How she could test his control like this confounded him, yet he didn’t question it, only knew it was what he needed. 6

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He palmed her breast and felt it swell into his hand, and when he rubbed the head of his cock against her wet entrance, she arched into him. Teasing her, he dipped into her warmth and then withdrew. Her impatient moan filled his mouth and made him smile. “Please,” she begged when he released her lips. The swollen ripe mouth only made him hungrier and when he kissed her again, he thrust deep into her. Her hips lifted to greet him and her free leg wrapped around his hip in a futile attempt to keep him buried. But the feel of her hot pussy throbbing around him made him greedy and he took what he needed, losing himself in the heavy thrusting. It had been this way each time. First came the teasing then the need and finally the greed. She assured him she desired it as much as he but he always felt guilty afterward. The pure joy in this game of theirs lay in the mystery. He could be anyone he wanted to be, anyone but himself, and yet he chose to remain true to the dominance within. He’d seen her the first time on a bus in central Melbourne. She was in her ruffle miniskirt, with legs that went all the way to heaven and he knew he had to have her. She was his destiny, but why couldn’t he sidestep his fate and be more of a gentleman? His thoughts broke their kiss and he reared back to tower over her again. Having her at his mercy made his heart thunder against his ribs. Her unique mix of tender seductress and wanton vixen vexed and intrigued him, and his curiosity would probably be his downfall. But when Jett Rich set his sights on something, nothing got in his way. Sitting up, he wedged his knees under her plump behind and tilted her hips upward. With her ankles hooked over his shoulders, he felt her trust touch his core. Their joining looked so intimate, so innate, that he marveled at the way two strangers could find such a union. He ground into her and stroked her swollen nether lips with his fingers, listening to her every sound. Soft, whispery words floated from her

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delicious mouth, urging him deeper. Her gasps spurred him on until he felt her inner muscles squeeze. He stopped, his need threatening to make him explode. The magic began to take effect and from their intimate joining, a part of him found its way into her soul. Welcomed with open arms, he settled into a new rhythm and reached down to lift the blindfold from her eyes. And there it was, that crimson gaze he’d come to adore, drawing him in, making him hers. Her legs fell to the sides as he reached further to release her hands from the silk binds. Instantly, her touch burned his skin, the sizzle shooting up his arms to engulf his heart. In that moment, he fell victim to the charm weaving a magical web between them. Her eyes never left his as she lifted, circled her arms around his neck and climbed into his lap. The bed beneath his knees sank a little but the cushion it provided for him gave him the freedom to focus purely on his Whisper. “What did you do to me?” His mouth curved into a smile. “It’s magic.” For a fraction of a second, her eyes widened. Did she believe him? She kissed his cheek. “It’s fantastic. How long will it last?” His hands curved under her bottom and he pushed into her as far as he could. Her eyes glazed over, her mouth dropped open and he knew that nothing would stop him until the sun appeared over the horizon. “All night.” The flare of her black pupils ignited his drive and he quickened the pace. “You’re going to make love to me all night?” He nodded and let them fall back on the bed. She cried out and held on as he brought her to the edge and then withdrew. The expression on her face looked fit to murder but he plunged back into her. Her fingernails scratched his scalp and he had the strength to slide a hand between their bodies. He found her enlarged clit and stroked it. It throbbed beneath his fingertips as he circled the nub, hitting the bull’s eye in an unpredictable pattern. 8

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“Deeper,” she insisted, her thighs tight around his hips. She bucked beneath him matching each of his deep thrusts and when he came, her bucking intensified until she cried out. The room around them brightened as the orgasm rippled from her to him and the heat grew so intense that the beads of sweat on his back turned into rivulets. Words spilled out of her mouth as her body vibrated under him. Jett remained cradled within her warmth, his gaze glued to the glow of fire in her eyes. He’d never seen anything like it. She epitomized the element of fire, the total opposite of his water sign. They were never meant to be but he’d never let that stop him. Her palm caressed his cheek and pulled him out of his thoughts. “Your eyes,” she whispered. Her voice had dropped several notches, a husky drawl that rang in his ears. “I can see the ocean.” Jett smiled and slid the pad of his thumb across the top of one flushed cheek. “And you’re on fire.” “You do this to me.” He bent his head and nuzzled her neck, licking the sweat as it pooled at the base of her throat. “It was the magic.” “It was you,” she insisted, tunneling her fingers into his hair and rolling her hips as if to remind him they were still joined and the night was far from over. Jett lifted his face to look into her eyes. “We’ve got all night, Whisper.” He loved it when she explored his face with her hands. Her soft fingertips were like wisps of silk against his rough skin and, with their gazes locked, he sensed the connection between them deepening. “I feel like you know me,” she confessed. “And each time we’re together, you get to know another piece of my heart. Should I be worried?”

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He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. “I’ve known you three nights and already told you I’m a witch, a healer. I’ve tied you up, had my way with you and intend on doing so until you say stop. You’ve seen my darker side. Should I be worried?” At his hips, her thighs squeezed tighter, pulling him deeper into her. Jett obliged and shifted, eliciting a long, satisfied moan. “You think you have a dark side. Wait until you’ve seen mine,” she said and winked. Yeah, he really didn’t want the sun to come up anytime soon.

***** The light at the edge of the drapes signaled dawn but Roxanne barely noticed it. While she was on her knees and straddling his hips, her only thoughts zeroed in on the long hard length inside her. Satisfaction came in many forms and she’d decided that true satisfaction came with a killer smile, olive skin, a crown of thick black hair and a shadow of stubble. Which had felt sensational on the inside of her thighs and especially scratching over the curve of her ass. The man had kissed every inch of her. Every. Single. Inch. With her fingers twined in his, she struggled to stay upright. Her body ran on pure adrenaline and the very promise of completion, something only he could deliver. Not only had she not slept but he’d withheld her climax, choosing to stroke and tease and stimulate until she was almost mad with wanting. Every moment he spent inside her promised to fulfill her wish, yet he refused with that charming but devilish grin, melting her every time it flashed. She’d tried to force her orgasm out of him, only to have him laugh wickedly. He’d driven her to the brink so many times she’d lost track of how long they’d been playing the game. But she couldn’t deny the liquidity of her muscles and the languid sense of being taken that pumped through her veins. “Are you ready, Whisper?”

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Her foggy brain took a moment to register his voice and another to decipher his words. By then, he lifted her and was on his feet with her still impaled on his cock. She held on while he took them into the bathroom and shuddered with delight when she heard the shower water. It was hot as it washed down her back, rinsing the salty sweat from her skin and plastering her hair to her head and shoulders. No sooner had they entered the shower than he had her pressed against the cold tiles and began to move within her. His thrusts were slow but hard, each one reverberating up her spine and exploding in her chest. If he really was a witch and had cast a spell over them, she felt it as surely as she did the orgasm building with each thrust. Something connected them on a level she didn’t understand. It was like an invisible thread bound their souls and, while she worried it would make their casual encounters difficult to bring to an end, she also prayed it actually existed. She hadn’t felt this close to another person in too long. He could have been feeding her lies the whole time and yet she believed every one of them, held onto them, used them to bring her back from the wasteland of the workaholic. “Wait,” she gasped, the surprise on his face bringing her lips to his in a kiss bathed by running water. “Is Jett your real name?” “What?” “I want to say your name.” “Why?” His hips ground to a halt and he looked at her, a curious spark in his eyes. “When I come.” “Oh.” The rolling ocean in his eyes disappeared and she stared into his azure irises. His big hands framed her face while he stared hard into her eyes. “I haven’t lied to you and, while I know your name isn’t Whisper, I believe you’ve been honest with me too.” Her heart skipped a beat at his insight. He was wrong. Of course she could have used the fantasy to be someone else, to live a make-believe persona in their masquerade, but she hadn’t. She couldn’t. She hardly knew herself these days, having 11

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lost the true Roxanne Whisper to a demanding job that gave her no time for anything else. So she’d used Jett and the freedom of their nights to reconnect with herself. Roxanne swallowed and blinked the water out of her eyes. He stared at her so intensely, like he wanted to know everything about her. It threatened to overwhelm her. He threatened to overwhelm her. Jett possessed a truly enigmatic presence, the kind that turned heads when he walked into a room. Part of her wanted to soak it up, let it sweep her away, but she was too practical to believe a man could do that. Even a man as divine as Jett. She swiped the water off his brow and kissed him between the eyes. “You’re a very powerful man and you like it, don’t you?” He nodded and picked up his rhythm again, stealing her breath. “I wanted to be different with you, maybe be more subtle.” “I like that you know what you want, that you go for it.” He grinned. “I wanted you. I went for you.” His strokes set off a series of explosions in her belly but she refused to let the orgasm sidetrack her. “You want to dominate me.” “Does that scare you?” Oddly enough, it excited her. “I expect nothing less.” He licked his lips and then crushed them against hers, the heat between them spiking and reaching an inferno. Unable to cry out, Roxanne dug her nails into his shoulders and rode the waves that crashed through her. The pent-up need propelled a surge of bliss along her skin. Her toes curled. Her fingers flexed. Her entire body shook with the force and, through it all, Jett continued to fill her. His presence inside her soul almost made her weep. It felt so right, so perfect. But she wouldn’t cry, would never allow him to see how much she needed more from him. This was a game of fantasy where both had consented to its temporary nature. So what if he’d shown her a paradise, given her a glimpse of nirvana. In the end,

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it always came back to the same thing. When it came to relationships, Roxanne Whisper sucked. He set her back on her feet and lifted the soap to create a rich lather in his palms. “What are you thinking, girl?” he asked as he smoothed the soapy bubbles over her belly. “It’s just occurred to me how much I have to do today.” The corner of his mouth quirked upward. He turned her around and pulled her back against his chest to wash her breasts. “It’s the weekend.” The whispered words in her ear made her long for a normal life, one where the workweek ended on a Friday afternoon. “I have to go to work,” she murmured, holding her breath at the closeness with which she skated the taboo topic of ordinary life. “And clean out my office.” His hands paused over her ribs. “You make it sound like you lost your job.” Roxanne rested her head back against his shoulder. “I did. I was ‘let go’ at lunchtime yesterday.” “I’m sorry to hear that.” He kissed her temple. “I take it you’ll spend the weekend job hunting?” She shook her head and tilted her face up to his. “I got a job by the time I left the office.” His beautiful blue eyes pulled wide in amazement. “Wow. You don’t waste any time, do you?” “I wasn’t giving that bitch the satisfaction of seeing me down. I helped her build that damn company and she fires me because more people associate my name with the firm than hers.” “I’m impressed and more than a little glad we’re not competing against each other.”

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Amused by his statement, Roxanne turned and pressed herself against him. His body hardened and she dropped a hand to his proud, erect shaft. As she stroked him, his eyelids fluttered down and his arms fell slack against his sides. “So what do you think I do then?” He shook his head. “I can’t talk while you do that.” Roxanne paused. “Answer me.” “You’re always dressed in short skirts and heels that make a man’s mouth water, so I figured you were in fashion.” She grinned and tightened her grip on him. “Nice guess.” She had no intention of correcting him. “What about me?” he groaned. With her other hand, she rubbed his chest and tweaked his hard nipples. “Well, Mr. High-Powered-Business-Suit, I figure you’re either a banker or a lawyer. You like to be in control and you’ve got a great poker face. You’re articulate and smart and, damn it, you look hot in a suit.” He smiled briefly but then gave into the motion of her hand and pumped his hips. For a moment he went stiff before his hands shot out to brace against the tiles. Frenzied thrusts followed with an expression on his face that blended the pleasure and pain she knew gripped his body. With a throaty growl, he came, his hot cum squirting onto her belly. He stood with head bowed, hauling in deep breaths and pinning her with his stare from under long, thick eyelashes. Satisfied she’d paid him back for some of the night’s sensual torture, she giggled and reached to turn the showerhead on them. Before she succeeded, he pulled her back against his chest and began rubbing his cum over the skin of her belly. “Don’t wash it off. Wear me for the rest of the day.”

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His request shocked her, pleased her. She covered his hands with hers and followed his movements. “When you go to bed tonight, picture me. You and I are connected, Whisper, we’ll find each other in our dreams.”

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Chapter Two The instant he stepped into the reception of Taylor & Taylor Management Group on Monday morning, Jett wondered whether coming into work was a good idea at all. Professional footballer of the Australian Football League and longtime friend Greg O’Connor stood to greet him. Anxiety rolled off the fit six-footer in huge waves. The only time the footballers he managed came to him was when they were in trouble and he knew Greg well enough to know that look. He tucked away his exhaustion and smiled at Greg, shook his hand and invited him to wait in his office. “I take it you haven’t seen the newspapers this morning, Jett?” The familiar deep voice of Addison Taylor made Jett turn around. Even the old man seemed worried. “Not as yet.” “Well,” Addison nodded toward Jett’s office, “then I’d say you’ve got your work cut out for you today. I don’t understand why you persist with them, really. With your talent, you should be catering to those who don’t have a penchant for punching nightclub bouncers.” Jett swallowed a groan. Again? “Whether you’re done with him by two this afternoon or not, you’re required in the boardroom. Your schedule has already been cleared and I want to start this week on a high note.” Jett blinked slowly. Whatever they were meeting about had to be important. “No problem.” He turned to go but Addison called him back. “I know I can’t insist on this but I want you to let Mr. O’Connor know that if his misbehavior continues then perhaps we’re not the firm to represent him. As far as public relations go, Greg O’Connor is a nightmare.”

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Addison was right on both counts but as Jett entered his office he acknowledged to himself the difficulty he’d face in detangling himself from Greg. They’d known each other since they were born. Not only were their mothers best friends but Jett’s mother had saved Greg’s mother’s life through the power of her healing magic. Greg knew all of Jett’s secrets. Well, all except one. Whisper. He fought the urge to grin at the thought of her and silently willed his body to settle down. He hadn’t seen her since Saturday morning, at least not in the flesh. As he’d promised, he’d found her while he dreamed, because their souls were connected. She might not have believed him when he told her but it was true. The divine lovemaking they shared in their dreams was as real as if they’d been there in the flesh. His body grew hard while he thought of her naked curves and willing surrender, and this time he gave in. Bathed in the sound of her low, husky voice, he remembered the pleasure and satisfaction they exchanged in the dream realm. Images flashed before his eyes. Whisper’s mouth descending on his cock, the spread of her wet pussy lips, the flare of her pupils every time he slid into her slick heat. An ache settled into his groin, the pulsing throb a reminder of how he craved her. “Jett?” He blinked and put the images away, though it wasn’t so easy to douse the erection. But it was time to dig his client out of trouble and he needed to think straight. “In your own words, Greg. Don’t give me any bullshit.” “It was self-defense, Jett. You know it. I’d never hit anyone without being provoked.” Jett set his briefcase down behind his desk, hung his coat on the rack. Once he was certain his erection wouldn’t show any longer, he faced Greg head-on. “I hate it when you lie to me. I mean, of all the people you could lie to, I shouldn’t be one of them. How the hell am I supposed to get you out of this mess?” 17

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Greg shrugged. “The coach wants to suspend me. Says I’m being a terrible role model.” Jett leaned on his desk but didn’t sit. He needed to take the high ground. “He’s right. Do you know how many young kids idolize you? You are more than a footballer, more than a sportsman. When are you going to get it through your thick, Neanderthal skull that you have a moral and social obligation that extends beyond the number of goals you kick and how many women you screw?” Slumping back in the chair, Greg clasped his hands over the buttons of his suit jacket and stared at feet shod in fine Italian leather. The man made oodles of money playing football and never once gave the responsibilities of his fame a second thought. “You couldn’t, like, weave a bit of that magic and make this all go away, could you?” Jett snapped straight, anger and dismay driving at his control. “Jesus, Greg. I can’t believe you just asked that. Shit. Listen, the boss wants me to drop your contract and if you keep going the way you are now, I might be tempted. Stop acting like a spoiled brat. Tell me what happened.” “I was talking to this chick while we were waiting to get into the club. Sweet little thing, she was. Best piece of ass I’ve seen in a long, long time. When we got to the door, the bouncer lets her in but not me. I ask him why, he says it’s because I’m a boring ball boy. I lost my temper, broke his nose.” Now Jett sat. He almost felt sorry for the bouncer. “I’m sorry, man, but honestly, no one dismisses the footy. You know that.” “Well it stops here.” His mind whirred with all the strategies open to him but they were fast running out of tricks. He’d almost need to pull a rabbit out of a hat to keep Greg off the front page and out of court. And he would not even consider the irony in that thought. “You need to let the coach do his thing. If the club wants to fine you, pay it. If they want to suspend you, take it like a man and support your team while you’re doing the time. In the meanwhile, we’re checking you into an anger management course and 18

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finding some sort of community service for you. And if the bouncer wants to charge you with assault, we’ll need a lawyer. This one is going to hurt, Greg.” Jett dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his temples. What he wouldn’t give to be back in that hotel room with his seductress. This might be the longest Monday morning on record and it did nothing for his bout of Monday-itis. Some days, mending PR nightmares like these, really did need a little magic. “That’s a lot of punishment. I punched a guy, Jett, that’s all. Why the hell do you want to send me to anger management?” Jett looked up to find Greg on his feet, hands balled into fists by his sides and fury painted bright red on the man’s face. Jett shook his head and pointed at him. “That’s why. Take a good look at yourself, man.” “So, what? You’ll drop me, your best friend since forever, because I refuse to be disrespected? Some friend you are. You’re not even trying to see my side of this.” “What side? You have no side, Greg. You were in the wrong!” Greg shrugged. “If you’re not going to help me out then maybe I should fire this firm. We should never have mixed business with our friendship.” Jett sighed, too tired to argue. He’d used those exact words twelve months ago when Greg approached him with an offer. Of course they should never have mixed the two, it was a fundamental rule of business, but as Jett’s mother would say, there was no point in crying over spilled tincture. “Is that what you really want, Greg? If so, I’ll get Addison in here and we’ll clear this up in a matter of minutes. If not, sit your ass down so we can get on with cleaning up your image because that’s what is going to suffer here. Your actions can make or break you and with this being your second offence, it could get very ugly. What’ll it be?” Greg paced the small office uneasily, muttering under his breath words Jett had no desire to decipher. For one reason or another, Whisper had moved back into his

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thoughts. He felt her presence as strongly as if she were in the room. Her fire licked at his insides, her body a temptation he wanted to surrender to. Each time he blinked, she appeared behind his eyelids, a lure for him to lock himself away and indulge in her luscious curves and womanly heat. Out of the blue he wondered if she’d done as he requested last weekend and worn him on her skin all day. Chagrin heated his cheeks. They hardly knew each other. Part of him would understand if she’d raced home and showered and scrubbed until her skin glowed red. The rest of him desperately wanted to believe she’d carried him with her. He just didn’t understand why. “I’ll find other representation.” Greg’s voice penetrated his thoughts and, when Jett raised his face, his friend frowned at him. “What did you say?” “You weren’t even listening, were you? What the hell’s wrong with you today, Jett? It’s like you’re off in la-la land. You know, speaking as a friend, you need to get laid. How long has it been? I know you’re worried about the—” Jett shot to his feet, the scraping of his chair drowning out Greg’s voice. “Let’s see if we can go find Addison and get the contracts terminated.” Without another word, he rounded his desk and strode toward the door. Determined not to let Greg get another word in, he gripped the doorhandle and prayed his boss was free.

***** “Ready for that tour now?” Sitting in her plush leather chair behind her brand-new desk, Roxanne lifted her gaze from the immaculately organized desktop to the friendly face at the door. How could she not smile? Her new boss welcomed her with open arms and he’d lined up a series of potential clients for her to interview. Clearly he’d done his homework and knew the kind of clientele she’d handled. It brought a tickle of joy into her heart. 20

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“You realize you’re spoiling me, right?” She smiled as she stood and joined him at the door. One last glance behind her confirmed this statement. Her new office was furnished exactly as she would have done herself. “Well,” Addison Taylor held out an elbow for her and Roxanne slipped an arm through, “it’s hard not to. This firm hasn’t had a female PR consultant in a long time and it’s going to my head. You are going to be a huge asset to this team, Roxanne. I can feel the positive energy you bring and so will the others. I’ve set up an introduction for you at two in the boardroom, where you’ll have a chance to meet my brother Theodore and the rest of the crew.” The deep pile carpet beneath her feet cushioned each step as Addison led her through the corridors of the famed Taylor & Taylor Management Group. He seemed a proper gentleman though his reputation painted him as a ruthless businessman with an eye for talent. He’d chased her to join their firm a while back and, despite her polite decline, he’d left the invitation open. “It was shortsighted of Celeste to let you go,” he remarked when they reached a bank of windows that overlooked the heart of Melbourne. “Did she offer you a reasonable explanation?” Roxanne tamped down on the wry smile trying to break free. “Apparently she felt the firm was holding me back.” He shook his head. “Silly woman. Pillow Talk is only a viable company because of your hard work. You understand that, don’t you?” Laughing lightly, Roxanne removed her arm and stepped forward to get a closer look at the city. She’d never seen it from this high before. “Celeste worked as hard as I did.” “And that’s why the magazines want to interview you instead of her. There’s no need to be modest, Roxanne. Anyone with average intelligence can see that you were the face and the name of Pillow Talk. How did your clients take the news?”

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Hearing Addison Taylor, a respected and feared leader in PR and marketing, praise her left her feeling giddy. This time she couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. “They were shocked,” she said to the window. “I didn’t explain the circumstances, just let them know I was leaving the firm and they would be in good hands.” Because, of course, the clients were contracted with the firm and not with Roxanne. As much as she’d wanted to rant and rave about Celeste stabbing her in the back, she’d had the presence of mind to explain that their representation wouldn’t be in any way compromised. It pleased her that so many of them wanted to tear up their contracts and follow her to Taylor & Taylor but she’d implored them to finish out their terms. Pillow Talk hadn’t done anything unethical in firing her and, while she wanted revenge on Celeste, she’d find it in the world of business and competition, not petty underhanded tactics. “How many will follow you here?” She turned and grinned at him. “Four, so far. Their contracts are up for renewal at the end of the month and they’ve chosen not to re-sign with Pillow Talk.” Addison barked a jovial laugh and squeezed her shoulder. “You’re going to be right at home here, my dear. Of course, there might be one or two consultants who may be thrown by your arrival. It hasn’t been common knowledge that we were hiring but don’t let them intimidate you. Deep down, they’re pussycats. Shall we continue?” Looping her arm through his elbow once more, Roxanne followed his lead and listened as he gave her both the tour of the offices and a brief history lesson. His deep, rolling voice and Irish accent caressed her ears and she knew if he chose a career in voice-over, he’d be a smash hit. Circling the square layout of the twentieth floor, they returned to reception. Three doors led from the waiting area. As she read each door in turn, she felt the bloom of Jett’s presence in her soul. Odd that she’d feel it so strongly now but she put it down to the need for his approval. God, but she wanted to blurt out her achievement. She now

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worked with Taylor & Taylor, the most respected PR firm in the city! He’d be so proud of her. She read the name Jett Rich on the third door and slowed as they neared it. Was he… Could he be… Roxanne blinked away the questions and plastered a smile to her lips. Of course he wasn’t. It couldn’t be him. When she’d suggested he was a lawyer or a banker, he didn’t correct her. But then, she didn’t correct him when he thought she belonged in fashion, did she? When they reached the door, it swung open with a force that made her jump. It ruffled her hair for a moment and by the time it settled back down, she found herself staring into very familiar ocean blue eyes. The recognition in them stung her and she let go of Addison’s elbow, tipping backward in shock. Lucky for her, Jett was quick on his feet and caught her. That memorable touch burned through her newly acquired business suit and she knew in a flash that coming to Taylor & Taylor had put an end to their Friday night fantasies. He murmured her name by her ear as he righted her but his gaze rested firmly on Addison. The older man laughed heartily and slapped Jett’s arm. “Good catch, Jett.” Roxanne’s heart thumped so hard in her chest she thought both men could hear it, but neither looked at her. She took a moment to straighten her jacket and suck in a deep, relaxing breath. It was no use. The man who knew her entire body, her every desire and wish, stood right by her side. The foot of distance between them did nothing to lessen his heat and she saw his jaw tighten, his lips press together, and knew he struggled to keep his eyes off her. “Jett, let me introduce you to our newest consultant.” His jaw went slack and her heart sank. “You hired someone?” Addison seemed totally unaware of Jett’s reaction to her and grinned like a proud father as he patted Roxanne’s shoulder. “I did, although it’s been a long time coming. 23

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Roxanne and I have been in secret talks for a while now. Jett Rich, meet Roxanne Whisper.” Jett’s head snapped toward her and she had to control the urge to look for somewhere to hide. “Roxanne Whisper?” Suddenly he smiled and the shock dissipated from his gaze. “Nice to meet you.” Roxanne stared at his outstretched hand. How could they shake hands after he’d…and she’d…and they’d… She didn’t give it another thought and shook his hand. “And you, Jett.” “Don’t worry about a thing, Roxanne. You’ll fit right in,” Addison added. The three of them laughed but Jett never let go of her hand. His laugh seemed as fake as hers and when they were joined by a third man, Jett’s grasp tightened. He stepped in front of her as if to shield her, though he never turned away. The intensity of his gaze deepened and he tugged her closer. She resisted. He winked. “Mr. Taylor? I think we should talk. It seems Jett doesn’t want to represent me, so I consider it best if we end our partnership today.” “Ah.” Addison nodded and turned to her. “Roxanne, this matter needs my urgent attention. I’ll leave you in Jett’s capable hands.” Neither Jett nor she paid attention as the other two men left. He still held her hand, though it no longer resembled a handshake. Glancing down, she found he’d changed his grip and held her hand as if he were about to lift it to his mouth for a kiss. The image of it struck her, made her head light and before she knew it, he’d led her into his office and sat her in a large, wingback chair. Without a word he poured her a cup of water, knelt by her feet and held it to her lips. “I can do it myself,” she whispered, to which he shook his head and urged her to drink. The cool liquid was no match for the fire burning inside her. It merely turned to steam and she wondered if anything could douse her need for him. “I like it.”

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She blinked. “The suit?” “The name.” “Jett.” She covered his hands with hers. His warmth chased away the twinge of fear that bloomed in her gut. “If I’d known—” “You’d what? Turn down the offer? I wouldn’t expect that of you. It was a shock to run into you like that though. You let me think you were a model.” “You let me think you were a lawyer.” He stood to throw the paper cup in the trash and then returned. She took his outstretched hands and let him bring her to her feet. The turbulence in his eyes suggested an internal struggle. Was he about to cut short their affair? “I felt your presence. Somehow I knew you were close but I never thought you’d be in my building, my office.” “Your building?” He rolled his eyes playfully. “Figuratively speaking.” The effort it took to keep her gaze from wandering to his lips derailed her thoughts. “I felt you too.” “It’s amazing, to be connected so intimately.” Her cheeks heated, admitting she felt the same. “We hardly know each other.” “Perhaps.” He stepped closer. “But only in matters of insignificance. Deep down, I know the kind of woman you are, Whisper.” Roxanne took a small step back, keeping a suitable distance between their bodies. He might have carnal knowledge of her but he didn’t know her well. And it seemed his idea of matters of insignificance didn’t match hers. “You said the spell would end at sunrise but it hasn’t, has it?” His eyes clouded over. “Rox, we can’t talk about that here. No one knows and I need to keep it that way.” “You didn’t answer my question.” 25

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He smiled and she watched his eyes change. No longer were there pupils and irises, but the crashing waves of an ocean she’d seen in her dreams. It seemed so real, as if she could dive in and swim inside him. Tentatively, she reached up and brushed her knuckles along his cheekbone, concluding with absolute certainty that those dreams were real. His eyelids drifted closed as he stepped closer, pressing his cheek firmer into her hand. Desire drew her toward him and threatened to overrule every rational thought in her head. With barely an inch separating them, Roxanne felt her body heat. Silently she demanded he touch her and wondered if he could still read her thoughts. “I told you we’d find each other.” His words hung heavy in the air. Could she turn her back on office rules and firstday jitters to break the deadlock? “Last night was incredible, Jett.” His eyes opened, like two windows looking out over the ocean. “But not as good as if when we are together physically?” “Different but satisfying.” “I prefer the real thing.” His confession tugged a wry smile from her. No arguments here. “Are you okay with me working here?” The ocean disappeared from his eyes and he pulled away, walking over to the windows. “Honestly? I don’t know. Our arrangement was to keep the details of our lives secret.” Roxanne toed the carpet. Where had the nervous tension come from? If he agreed they should end it then neither would be hurt and the chances of being discovered as casual lovers gone. In the end, they were safer that way. “I know. It was all about the fantasy. It’s okay, really. I understand.” He spun to face her. “Understand what, exactly? I didn’t say we were over.”

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Her heart jumped into her throat and his gaze dipped to where she knew it thumped under the thin skin between her collarbones. “What are you saying?” Jett licked his lips, his body leaning toward her. The door behind her swung open and Addison strolled into the room, oblivious to the energy flowing between them. “Here you are. I’d wondered where you’d gone.” “What about Greg?” Addison waved a dismissive hand in Jett’s direction. “Signed, sealed and delivered to whichever firm is game enough to take him on. Now it’s time for lunch. Jett, if you don’t mind, I’m taking Roxanne out for a bite to eat. You know where to find me if I’m needed but if I don’t hear from you, we’ll see you all at two.”

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Chapter Three “Your first day and you get lunch with the boss,” Jett whispered as they entered the boardroom side by side. The effort it took to keep his hands off her rendered his mind useless but then, it had been pretty much pointless to try to work while his mind kept imagining her at lunch with his boss. Not only did his Whisper now have a name but he had to work by her side. Taylor & Taylor’s policy on workplace fraternization spelled things out in very clear, direct terms. They could do whatever they liked in the privacy of their homes but at work, there would be no cavorting. And if a relationship interfered with their productivity they were toast. If he had to spend the entire week in her presence without touching her or even sharing a private moment, he’d be unstoppable come Friday night. “Jealous?” He huffed and moved to sit at the opposite end of the large oval table. Jealous? Not likely. Holding back a mountain of desire to rip off her clothes and take her on the conference table? Absolutely. The need surprised him. He should be worried about her presence, fearful she’d let his secrets out of the bag and, above all, anxious about their private rendezvous clashing with their everyday lives. To his utter dismay, he was none of those things. Having Roxanne in his life filled him with electricity. The fantasy was not over, not by a long shot, and he’d set her straight the next time they were alone. “Well,” Addison got proceedings underway, “I hope everyone’s ready for an announcement.”

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The old man glanced at Roxanne, enamored with her, as any man should be. Her flawless complexion framed by waves of shiny black hair presented the perfect package of woman. Was he too quick to draw the conclusion? What did he really know about her? Even she had warned him to tread carefully but Jett had derived conclusions about her from her actions. Knowing she enjoyed the anonymous encounters with him spoke to her adventurous nature, her strength of self and an independent spirit he admired. Allowing him to bind her demonstrated her trust, though he had to work for it. He’d learned that during their first night. Her conviction in demanding he prove his worth that night had paid off for them both. “I’d like to introduce Roxanne Whisper and officially welcome her to the team here at Taylor & Taylor.” You could hear a pin drop, it was that silent in the room. Theodore cleared his throat, stood and greeted her. No doubt they’d met and this was for show, but the formality of the occasion required it. Beside Jett, Grant Stevens nudged him. “Did you know they were hiring?” Jett shook his head, never taking his eyes off Roxanne. “Nope, but you have to admit, this place needs more women.” “That’s true.” Grant chuckled. “Do you know who she is?” Jett shook his head again. Well, it was half-true. “You?” “She was at Pillow Talk, the firm specializing in erotica authors, romance authors, exotic dancers and porn stars.” The news spiked Jett’s curiosity. Erotica authors, eh? He’d have to get to the bottom of that. Hell, he’d need to write a list of all the things he’d need to investigate before long. Whose idea had it been to keep the humdrum details of their lives out of the equation? “I hope she doesn’t bring them here,” Grant added. “We’re a respectable firm.”

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Jett laughed. “Sure, that’s why we represent elite athletes who punch nightclub security. Do you know how successful some of those authors are?” “They write about sex.” Grant sounded disgusted, causing Jett to finally turn. “And you date a different woman every week and talk about your encounters like they came from some porn flick. Don’t be so righteous. Have you ever read an erotic romance?” Grant pulled a face. “It’s still sex, spelled out word for word. And it’s still written by women, for women. All mushy and romantic. Nothing like real life, my friend.” Jett thought back to the second night he’d shared with Roxanne Whisper. How naïve he’d been to read erotic poetry to her. He could laugh about it now, but that night, he’d read with the passion and desire the writing elicited in him. The lovemaking that followed blew his mind and converted him to a fan of literary eroticism. So much so he’d spent the rest of the following Saturday propped up in bed reading the entire anthology. Would she tease him with it when they were alone? “Thank you for the warm welcome, Addison.” Her voice snagged his attention and he turned his back on Grant. “I can only hope to live up to the expectations you have of me.” Formal welcomes from Grant and the three other consultants followed. It surprised Jett to see them leave shortly afterward, though he didn’t mind being left alone with Roxanne at all. Pity Addison lingered about. “Don’t mind them.” Jett nodded toward the door, not leaving his chair. “I’m glad I have the two of you alone,” Addison bellowed in his jovial manner. “I have a client I want to lure over to Taylor & Taylor but I can’t decide which of you two I’d like to handle her account. I’ve prepared briefs for you both and you each have the week to design a campaign for presentation. She’ll make the ultimate decision on who she wants to represent her. But beware, while there’s a little friendly rivalry to be had, in the end we want her to sign with Taylor & Taylor. Have I made myself clear?”

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Addison slid a manila folder down the table, where Jett trapped it under an outstretched hand. Amused by the decision to pit him against Roxanne, he flashed a cunning smile and winked. “Are you up for the challenge, newbie?” She glanced at the file and returned a sly smile of her own. “Oh, are you feeling challenged? I know my angle already.” Jett laughed hard, loving the emergence of this competitive streak in his Whisper. “Them’s fighting words, I think.” Addison gave them both a lasting look of approval and then disappeared, closing the door behind him. “You’re not considering welching out of Friday, are you?” She grinned and sauntered toward him, dropping the file on the table before nudging his knees apart and stepping in between. “What do I get if I win the account?” Jett swallowed. She wasn’t playing around and he loved it. “To dominate me.” “Oooh,” she cooed, rubbing her hands up his thighs and setting his groin on fire. “I get to control the controller? I like that.” He sat up, bringing their mouths dangerously close. Her heated breath caressed his lips and teased his restraint. “What do I get if I win, Whisper?” Her eyes flared and her knee nudged his balls. She winked and licked his bottom lip. “Me, for a whole weekend. That’s if you still want me.” Jett grabbed the lapels of her jacket and pulled her down for a kiss. Anyone could walk in on them but the instant her mouth opened and they connected, he forgot about the danger and lost himself in the kind of kiss he’d only ever dreamed about. Those soft, silk lips glided across his with a surprising hunger. He expected her to hesitate, to play it safe. Smooth, clean teeth nipped at him before her tongue licked away the hurt. The rough graze of her tongue reignited the fire in his groin. She knew exactly how to use the appendage and had wielded it with precision on many occasion. Right here, with

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the threat of the boss walking in on them at any moment, the taboo action was all the more desirable. Jett fitted his hands over the curve of her hips and tugged her closer. Her knee nudged the rock-hard length of him, making him see stars. Without a word he stood, directed her back against the large expanse of mahogany and leaned toward her until she lay on her back. In silence, he ran his palms over her breasts, unbuttoning her jacket as he moved down. Nipples poked through the thin white shirt. His mouth watered but he resisted the lure calling him closer. “I could take you right here,” he teased as his fingers slid over her belly. “Do it.” He smiled at her dare. Because she wanted him to, he wouldn’t. “We’re dangerous together, Whisper. What if the boss found us?” “What if he didn’t?” “Until Friday,” he growled, “we don’t touch, we don’t kiss. Hell, we avoid being alone together. Got it?” “Do you think you can handle it, Jett?” He nodded, rubbing his nose against hers. “Do you?” With one final kiss, she straightened, flattened the crinkles in her suit and picked up her folder. At the door, she turned back to him, her eyes sparkling with desire. “No matter who wins, there will be magic, right?”

***** In the privacy of her office, Roxanne stripped off her jacket and kicked off her shoes. How did he do that? One kiss and she was ready to strip naked and offer her body up for his pleasure. It had to be the spell still working on her. That was if there was any real magic involved.

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When he’d told her he was a witch, she hadn’t questioned it, thinking it was part of his fantasy. Her initial reaction was to ask why he wasn’t a wizard or a warlock but he’d enlightened her and explained that throughout the generations, the men and women in his family called themselves witches. He’d chuckled whimsically and joked how Hollywood loved their fantastical wizards or warlocks. She’d confessed to being totally ignorant, assuming his explanation came from some game like Dungeons and Dragons, but now she wondered. If he really was a witch, would he use his powers on her against her will? She felt small for considering the idea but he had admitted to using magic on her. Did it explain the amazing night they’d shared last week? Or was there some sort of placebo effect encouraging her to believe him? She sighed and slumped into her cushy leather chair. She lifted the manila folder and fanned her face. What had she got herself into? On the desk, her phone rang. Suspecting Addison had further queries or tasks for her, she lifted the receiver to her ear and gave her official greeting. She didn’t expect the rich and sexy laugh that tickled her ear, nor did she expect her body to go haywire. “Miss me?” She rolled her eyes. “It’s been two minutes, Jett.” “But you missed me, right?” Biting her lip, she weighed up the consequence of blurting out the truth. “I take it you’re calling to renege on our deal?” He laughed again, the deep, dangerous sound sending shivers down her spine. “Hell, no. One way or another, lady, someone’s going to lose. I called for another reason. More serious.” He cleared his throat, making her smile at his show of concentration. “Which is?” “Did you consider ending our fantasy when you ran into me this morning?”

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Roxanne sat up. He was serious. “Say again?” “You heard me and I want you to be honest. All games aside, do you want to back out?” “Are you asking because that’s what you want?” He hesitated and she almost groaned. “Don’t answer with a question, Whisper. I need to know. Do you want out?” Time to be honest. “No. You?” “I want to keep seeing you. Being with you is addictive and when I’m inside you I feel more like myself than ever before. I don’t think there’s anything more heavenly than losing myself in your heat.” She heated all over again. “Do you want a relationship? Because I suck at those.” “What makes you think that?” “I’m independent, I’m bossy, I like my space. And I’m a workaholic. You’ll see.” “I’m bossy too.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “You’ll see come Friday night.” “If you win.” He chuckled, the sound so intimate she shimmied in her seat. “I will and you’ll be mine for the whole weekend.” “Don’t be so sure. I will beat you. I will own you.” A heartbeat of silence made her smile. She’d left him speechless and it thrilled her, but she remained quiet to listen to him. The long, slow breath told her he was plotting his revenge. “I’m sorry to say but I think you’re gravely mistaken. Do you have any idea who you’re up against?” She heard the double entendre in his voice and practically melted in her seat. Her pussy throbbed when she imagined him naked, hovering over her. “Why don’t you inform me?”

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He chuffed. “Two words, baby. The best. So when I win, you’ll give me that whole weekend, including the Sunday night. Got it?” Call her a glutton but damn, she loved the confidence in his voice. She loved even more the secret knowledge of the challenge awaiting them. “Don’t get cocky, mister. The prospective client is Lora Devine.” “And she is?” Oh, she so had this in the bag. “Only the most successful erotic romance author this country has ever produced. You know I have experience in this area, right?” “Writing erotica?” He sounded hopeful. Roxanne laughed. “Prepare to be dominated. And while you’re at it, read one of Lora’s books. She has a few submissive characters. It’ll prepare you for Friday.”

***** Taking Roxanne’s advice, he spent a couple of nights engrossed by Ms. Devine’s bestselling books. They gave him a thousand ideas for promotion and marketing and, after Grant’s damning view on erotic romance, Jett felt certain his PR campaign would not only boost his client’s image but the image of the entire industry as well. So sure was he of a win, he booked the hotel room for the entire weekend in advance and began mixing herbal teas in preparation for a magical encounter. When Thursday rolled around, his frustration with having Roxanne so close and not being able to do a thing about it made him edgy. He needed release, physically and spiritually. Drinking a calming tonic of herbs and essential oils, he picked up Lora Devine’s latest novel and skimmed through the first chapter. The woman knew how to arouse her reader and by the time he reached the third chapter, he wondered why he had chosen this way to relieve his need. Relief indeed. It seemed the height of irony to ease one’s sexual frustration by reading highly sensual words and in the end, he sat with blood pounding through his veins, a pulsing, aching cock and sweat beading on his upper lip.

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He really should stop reading. Instead, he lifted the handset of his phone and dialed Roxanne’s extension. “Are you alone?” he whispered when she picked up. “I am.” “Is your door closed?” “Jett, are you all right? You sound kinda funny—Oh.” “Let me read you something.” “Now?” “Now. Close your eyes.” He cleared his throat and held the book open on the page that had him most flustered. It took a moment to focus his eyes and find his place. “She slid her hand into the silk glove, pulling it all the way up to her elbow. He held his breath, waited to see what she would do with the second glove. When she approached the bed, he tugged against the binds at his wrists and ankles. She smiled, knowing that he anticipated the contact so much his desire leaked from the tip of his cock. “She trailed the silken glove up the inside of his thigh, making him shake with need. Every instinct he had urged him to break free, throw off his shackles and return him to his dominance. But her ropes held and he gritted his teeth while she wound the long silk glove around his pulsing shaft. She had a fascination with it since they’d met and liked to torture him by touching him with barely there strength, but tonight she tied the glove around the base of him and tightened the knot until he grunted. His hips jerked off the bed and she caught him in her gloved hand, stroking him firmly. “He yelled his need for the world to hear. No one could pleasure him the way she could. The blood drained into his shaft. Her hand squeezed and twisted and he raced toward his release faster than he wanted. Coming all over her bare chest, he fell into her crystal blue gaze and understood this was as much for him as it was for her.”

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He fell silent, an image of Roxanne doing to him what the heroine did to the hero filling his mind. Roxanne’s labored breathing drifted into his ear, letting him know the passage turned her on as it did him. He glanced down to his trousers where his cock bulged against his fly. “Do that to me, Whisper.” She whimpered into his ear, before murmuring, “Anything you want.” Jett closed his eyes and imagined her sitting on the edge of his desk, her nimble fingers releasing his length from the confines of his clothes. He let a hand drift down to mimic the envisioned actions. The soft unzipping of his fly eased the pressure and when he pulled away his briefs, more blood rushed into his cock. It stood straight as a flagpole, stiff as one too. “Is that what it’s like? Being tied up and completely dependent on my touch, on my whims?” “It’s better than that. I’ll make sure you know, after I win.” Jett smiled and wrapped his hand around his cock. The warmth of his palm barely compared to the tight, hot pussy he wanted to dive into but it had to do. “What are you doing, Whisper?” “Listening to you breathe,” she said, sounding breathless. “What about you?” He grinned. “Let’s just say that if Addison walked in right now, my employment would be terminated.” She tut-tutted before adding, “Do you wish it were me instead of your hand?” “Do I need to answer that?” She chuckled into his ear, sounding close enough to touch but with office walls separating them, the chances of skin-on-skin contact were minimal. His hand stroked harder. “Do I really turn you on that much?”

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“That much and more, Whisper. My body craves yours, my mind is alone without yours. There is nothing else I’d rather do than indulge in you every chance I get.” A small pause preceded a one-word question that floored him. “Why?” Why? His hand ceased moving as some of the need subsided. She wanted to know why he desired her, no doubt to question whether all he felt was lust. He remembered her confession that she sucked at relationships. Did she fear he wanted more than sex? “Whisper, why question it? We’ve got something going that’s unique.” “But what is it that we’ve got going?” He zipped himself back up and sat straight in his chair, curious about the things she didn’t say. “Does it matter?” On the other end of the phone, she sighed. “I just don’t want either of us to have unrealistic expectations, that’s all.” They weren’t getting anywhere with this line of discussion. He needed to speak to her face-to-face but before he could say anything, a knock sounded at his office door. “Answer your door,” she instructed. “You have a client and I have work to do.” “We aren’t done talking.” “That’s okay, we’ll talk later.” She hung up, leaving him mulling over her expectations and the expectations she thought he had about them. He barked for the client to come in, though he wished he hadn’t bothered when Greg opened the door. “No one will represent me, you asshole. What have you said about me?” Jett blinked, not sure if he heard Greg correctly. “No one will represent you?” Greg stepped inside and slammed the door shut. “Don’t play dumb with me. You’ve been telling lies about me, haven’t you?” “No. We might have a difference of opinion in business, but we’re still friends.”

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“Were friends.” Greg shook his head. “You have done enough to ruin my reputation. I’m going to return the favor, friend. I’ll spread the word about you practicing witchcraft and magic.” His conversation with Roxanne vanished. Jett stood. “Don’t be rash, Greg. I swear to you on my family name, I said nothing about you.” “And that new dish who’s working here?” Greg grinned, brotherly secrets not the only trait of their friendship. He’d always known when Jett had the hots for a woman. “Yeah, I saw the way you looked at her, the way she looked at you. Wait until she finds out that you dabble in voodoo.” Jett rubbed his brow. “You’re making this worse. No one will believe you and since our business relationship is over, the press will see you as a hothead with a psychotic streak.” The man standing on the other side of his desk burst out laughing and Jett suddenly realized Greg had changed. He was no longer the childhood friend who’d vowed to keep his confidence. Whatever friendship they’d shared was over and probably had been since Monday. “You’re a fool. Like I’d say something that wacky without proof. You’re a goner, dude. Start preparing your obituary now because the public will crucify you.” He has proof? Shit. “Out. Get out of my office and my life, and don’t you dare show your face again. You are not the kind of person I’d call a friend.” “Yeah, fuck off to you too.” When the door slammed a second time, Jett felt the tremors in his hands rattle up his arms and into his chest. A heady mix of fear and anger made his mind sizzle. Stars popped before his eyes. No one had ever threatened to expose him before, least of all Greg. Until now, the man had been one of his biggest supporters. He understood Greg

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knew nothing of the healing power that saved his mother but Jett suspected telling him now would do little to ease his old friend’s angry heart. On the one hand, he wanted to chase after his friend of almost thirty years and find out why he’d changed so much. A business deal gone sour couldn’t turn a lifelong friend into an archenemy in the space of a week, could it? He’d always thought he understood Greg’s passion for his sport, but it became all too clear now that he really had no idea. On the other hand, he needed to protect his family, his career. He loved the power and respected the responsibility inherent in the Craft. Following in his family’s footsteps had disciplined him to learn every spell, every mixture’s ingredients. He’d used their healing promise to help others, to learn how to heal and until Roxanne, he’d never used his knowledge for anything else. If he had to choose between his career and his Craft, well, he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. What choice did he have?

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Chapter Four All throughout her presentation, Roxanne couldn’t help but keep an eye on Jett. Haggard eyes, sunken and ringed by dark circles, he seemed ready to collapse in a heap. It tested her concentration and while part of her wanted to believe it was a ploy to trip her up, her heart knew better. He gave a haphazard presentation. His presence had disappeared from her soul overnight. Something was very, very wrong with Jett Rich. When she took her seat beside him, she reached for his hand under the table. His cold skin shocked her but she remained focused on Lora Devine’s cherub face and waited for a verdict. “Are you unwell, Jett?” Lora asked in all sincerity. He nodded. “I apologize but I woke up feeling awful. It would have been completely unprofessional of me not to turn up.” “Well, when you’re sick, you’re sick. Go home, get a good rest and we’ll come back on Monday. I’m sure Roxanne won’t mind.” When the author turned her serene face toward her, Roxanne nodded her acceptance. “Not at all. Besides, if I’m going to beat him, I’d rather have an even playing field.” Lora smiled and stood. “It’s settled then. I’ll return on Monday. You’ll let me know the time, Addison?” “Of course.” He smiled, though Roxanne saw the tightness in his shoulders and understood his displeasure. “I’ll walk you out.” With Lora out of the room, Addison stopped by Jett’s chair. “Your work was shoddy today and you know it.” “I’m sorry.”

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“Go home, get healthy and return at full strength.” To Roxanne, Addison smiled sympathetically. “Would you be so kind as to make sure he goes straight home? He doesn’t live far but if it’s out of your way, I’ll have my brother do it.” “It’s fine.” She patted Addison’s hand. Despite his gruff exterior, he appeared genuinely concerned. “I’ll take him home.” She waited until Addison left before turning back to Jett. He almost looked ready to cry and when he turned those sad eyes up to her, compassion shushed away her annoyance. “Thank you.” Sitting on the boardroom table edge, she took his hand in hers. “What’s wrong, Jett? And don’t tell me you’re sick because I can sense it’s more than that.” He shook his head before leaning forward and resting his forehead on the table. “I’m screwed.” “Pardon?” “Do you remember the client on Monday morning? He looked pissed as hell.” “I’m sorry, hon, but not really. I only had eyes for you.” He didn’t return her smile. “Well, he’s an old friend of mine but our business deal went sour. Now he can’t get representation and he’s blaming me, says I ruined his reputation.” Roxanne rubbed his shoulder and then ran her fingers through his unusually mussed hair. “So you lost a friend?” “I gained an enemy. He’s threatening to expose me as a witch, says he has proof.” Jett lifted his head and speared her with his pleading gaze. “It’ll ruin me, Whisper, and my whole family. No one will ever take me seriously again.” His forlorn expression worried her, as did his withdrawn appearance. “When did he make this threat?”

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“Yesterday.” Jett shook his head and pulled his hand from hers. “I can deal with it, Roxanne. You don’t need to worry about me. If you want to distance yourself from me for protection, I’ll understand.” Jett stood. His words confused her. It sounded like he was ending it. When his hands framed her face and he kissed her sweetly, she knew that was what he was doing. “Jett, you don’t need to do this.” “I do,” he whispered against her cheek. “I can’t have him drag you down too.” She held onto his hands to stop him from leaving. “I can help.” “You don’t want a relationship with a failure, sweetheart. I have loved our nights together but they have to stop before you get hurt by this.” A smile touched his lips before he kissed her again, this time deeper. His sadness penetrated her soul and, though he spoke of the end, she understood that deep down it wasn’t what he wanted. His reluctance to let her go proved it and she silently vowed to help him whether he wanted her to or not. “Don’t go, Jett.” His hands fell away, his touch disappeared. “This might sound strange but I love you, Roxanne Whisper. You accept me for who I am. I will treasure that.” “Let me take you home.” His sad smile tore at her heart while he backed away toward the door. “You’re sweet but you don’t want this trouble.” His bloodshot eyes looked ready to release their tears. Then he left the room. “That’s where you’re wrong, Jett,” she whispered. Hell, she’d been the first PR consultant to represent the erotic romance industry and succeed, she wasn’t about to let a little witchcraft get in her way. Gathering her paperwork and presentation materials, she hurried out of the boardroom and

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practically ran to his office. She caught him shoving papers into his briefcase, but he refused to look up and acknowledge her. “I’m taking you home.” “No. You’re not.” Frustrated by his stubbornness, Roxanne raced back to her office, dumped her things and collected her purse. Everything else could wait until Monday. By the time she reached reception, he exited the main doors without giving her a second look. She managed one step before Addison stopped her. “He’s a spoiled brat sometimes,” he said with a shake of the head. “Come into my office, Roxanne.” “But you wanted me to take him home?” He nodded and took her elbow in his gentlemanly manner. “I think there’s something about Jett you need to know.” Reluctantly, she let him lead her to his corner office with the enormous windows overlooking the city. Outside, gray clouds hung low, heavy with rain. They seemed a permanent feature of the Melbourne skyline at times and today, they reflected her mood. In the distance, a single ray of sunshine had found its way through the doom and gloom, reminding her that Jett had sparked the hope in her that she’d finally found someone of her own. But he’d shut her out without a thought, hadn’t he? The moment his secrets were threatened, the moment he got scared, he withdrew into himself. He was back to his controlling ways, trying to minimize the damage before it was done. But he hadn’t counted on Roxanne being there to stand her ground and maybe even share the burden. Addison appeared in the corner of her eye as he came to stand at the windows with her. “How much do you know about Jett?” “Not a great deal. It’s hard to know someone in a week.”

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“You two seem to spend a lot of time on the phone to each other,” he noted quietly, astonishing her. “So I assumed you two had formed some sort of bond. It pleased me. Jett has been very secretive about his life outside Taylor & Taylor. I have no idea if there’s a woman in his life or whether he plays golf on Sundays. I had hoped you would bring him out of his shell.” “How long has he worked here?” “Five years,” Addison boasted with a proud smile. “I know that doesn’t say a lot about me, considering I hardly know him, but there is one thing I have learned about Jett that I think you should know. You see, he practices witchcraft.” Roxanne turned, though Addison only held up a palm and nodded. “I know, it’s hard to believe. He doesn’t seem the type to believe in the occult and I’d rather not go into the way I learned of this…hobby. I’m not opposed to it, mind you. Every man deserves his privacy and so long as he doesn’t force it onto his clients or claim to use it to help them, I don’t greatly care what he does in his spare time. But I think, when it comes to Jett, he’s torn. This job has no place for that sort of thing and the dichotomy can’t be good for the mind.” Or the soul, she mused silently. “I only say this to prepare you for the shock.” Roxanne smiled warmly, trying not to give up her secret knowledge. “I know you say you don’t care about his private pursuits, but how would you react if it came out publicly? Do you think that would reflect badly on the firm?” Her boss turned to the window again and rubbed his chin. “That is an interesting dilemma you pose and I’d need to consider it before I answer.” “Perhaps he’s worried about adversely affecting the firm, even if unwittingly. He seems to adore working here and takes pride in his work. Today aside.” Addison nodded. “You are right. How do you feel about him being a witch?”

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Now isn’t that just the question of the hour? Roxanne didn’t answer, needing to have this discussion with Jett long before she had it with their boss. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I guess I’d need some time too.” “Well, in the meantime, how do you feel about stopping by his place to make sure he’s okay? I’d do it but I have dinner and opera arrangements with my wife tonight. Our usual Friday night outing. Say,” he turned to her with a smile, “I’d love for you to meet her. Would you join us next Friday? Perhaps with your partner?” “Oh, I—” Roxanne snapped her mouth shut. What was she supposed to say? “That would be lovely. Thank you.” “Excellent.” Addison turned to his desk and scribbled something on a note before placing it in her hands. “You have a relaxing weekend now, won’t you?” On her way out the door, she found Jett’s home address scrawled in chicken scratch on the paper and hurried out of the office before common sense took over.

***** The incessant knocking at his door pissed him off but when he swung the apartment door open to find his Whisper standing with a bag of take-out and the most delicious smile on glossy red lips, his anger abated. “What are you doing here?” She rolled her eyes and held the bag out to him. “And good evening to you too, grumpy. Here. Addison insisted I follow you home, make sure you got a good meal into you and tuck you in for the night.” He eyed her warily. “He said that?” Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. It served only to whet his appetite. “Well, no. I improvised. Are you hungry?” Jett let his gaze roll down her curvaceous body, heard her tut-tut and let her pass without question. He kicked the door shut and followed her plump tush into his apartment, hurriedly casting a clean-up spell so she wouldn’t see the pigsty he lived in. 46

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There was a reason he used a hotel room when they met and it had nothing to do with the anonymity. In the dimly lit living area, she moved to stand at the floating island that separated the kitchen from the lounge and plonked her purse on a clear spot. He slipped behind the bench and stood opposite her, amazed by her presence. She hadn’t only kept her word but she’d brought him comfort food and a bag of goodwill. When their gazes connected, he felt her worry for him and his heart squeezed. “You’re really here.” “I am, though if it weren’t for your concerned employer I wouldn’t have had the faintest clue how to contact you. Besides, it’s Friday night. Where else would I be?” He reached across the distance and stroked her cheek, not knowing what to say. Confessing that he needed her more than food seemed shallow, yet he craved to touch her and be touched by her. Would she understand that need? “Dish up,” she ordered. “I’m starving.” Jett blinked. The only woman who bossed him about was his mother. “Yes, ma’am.” “And no ma’aming me. Do I look old enough to be a ma’am? Do I act like a ma’am?” Leveling his gaze at her, he dropped his voice an octave and growled, “No, mistress.” Her eyes flared though her lips curved into the most seductive shape he’d ever seen. “I see you’ve done your homework.” The intense penetration of her gaze sparked a cascade of erotic images in his mind but as alluring as the thought of watching her take control was, Jett suspected he didn’t possess the ability to hand over the reins. At least not yet, not until he’d had his fill of her. Why did he feel she understood that part of him?

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He reached beneath the counter to take two plates from the stack and began to serve up the Thai cuisine. Roxanne turned and walked about his apartment. A single burning lamp lit the room as she explored his home. He tried to see the place as she would but had no idea what she thought or expected. “It’s homey,” she murmured, running her hand along the soft blanket draped over the back of the sofa. “And warm.” “And five minutes ago, it looked like a bomb hit it.” A smile touched her lips but she didn’t look at him. She sat on the arm of the sofa, crossed her legs and stared at her hands. “I need you to share yourself with me, Jett. We said we wouldn’t but it’s too late for that.” He left their plates and crossed the room. The slight shake in her delicate hands scared him. He folded them into his hands and waited until she lifted her face to his. “You know more about me than any woman I’ve ever been with, Whisper.” “Where does the magic come from? And why?” Her eyes held his attention and he felt her try to burrow into his soul, looking for the answers. Tired of holding back and amazed that she’d come after him, he dropped his guard and welcomed her in. “That’s a long story.” “We have all night,” she whispered. Bringing her to her feet, he took her face in his hands. He’d thought he’d held her for the last time in that boardroom and the contact heated his blood, sent it racing to every inch of him. With his spirit awakened, he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers, hoping and praying she’d open up to him. “Jett,” she murmured against his lips and then kissed him with the fire of her soul. Her arms circled his waist and the familiar curves of her breasts against his chest made him feel like the luckiest man alive.

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She’d come here for more than sex. She’d come here for him and he vowed to deliver. So far, she hadn’t rejected him or his Craft. The spirits knew she’d had the opportunity. He needed to take his lead from her and respect the trust they’d built. Their kiss almost broke his resolve to pull back and, with her eyes glazed and dazed, he almost gave in to temptation. Her faith in him kept him strong but he couldn’t deny that it took him by surprise. What was her motivation for deepening their relationship? After all, she had been the one to suggest they keep it casual and anonymous between them. Now she wanted to change the rules and it put him in a spin. The last time he opened up about his witchcraft and his family to a girlfriend, he never heard from her again. Granted, he had shared some of those details with Roxanne and she hadn’t run, but did she believe him? He took her by the hand to lead her back to the kitchen bench. With her balanced on a high stool, he finished dividing the take-out and set a plate in front of her. He fished a fork and knife out of the drawer for her and then sat beside her with his meal. They ate in the quiet, darkened apartment while he tried to decide on his approach. “I’m asking too much, aren’t I?” “It’s been a long time since I told anyone anything, Rox. Most people think I’ve lost my mind or live in an alternative reality. It’s not too much and besides, I want to. But there’s something I have to ask you first.” Her hand covered his. “Name it.” He set his fork on the plate and turned toward her. As if sensing his serious mood, she did the same. “Do you actually believe I’m a witch or are you humoring me?” Shocked, she frowned at him. “Why would I humor you?” Feeling about an inch tall for airing the question, he shrugged and stared at his hands. “I don’t know, Rox. I mean, you never questioned it.” He couldn’t resist her hand under his chin lifting his face and the uncertainty in her eyes made him swallow. “I admit, at first I thought it was part of the fantasy but after

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last weekend, I sensed something had happened. I don’t know if I believe in magic but I’m willing to learn. You have the whole weekend to teach me, if you want it.” “Why do you keep asking me if I want you? I thought the answer was obvious.” “Wanting my body is one thing, wanting me is another.” Jett had to work hard to keep his jaw from falling open at her revelation. During all the nights they’d spent together, he never once detected any self-doubt in her. She hid it well but it explained the tender seductress he adored so much. “Is that why you think you suck at relationships?” She shrugged but he saw his arrow hit the mark. “Most men don’t want me after they’ve had my body.” “Rox.” He rubbed her knee through the fabric of her pants. They really were going to need the entire weekend. “Most men are idiots.” She chuckled and scooped the last of her meal into her mouth. What he wouldn’t give to kiss her, but he stayed put. They wouldn’t solve anything with sex. “That’s why being anonymous felt so good, Jett. I could be me and not worry about whether you would reject me. Believe it or not, you’ve seen the real me.” He pulled both her and her chair closer. “Ditto. You know how much I like to be dominant, that I take control so you can give up yours and just feel, but you also know that I would never hurt you.” Her small hand curved around his cheek, her face tilted up to his. “Why are we so physical?” “Is there anything wrong with that?” She bit her lower lip. “Not really, but we can’t answer every question by jumping in the sack. And it’s not the only way to get close to someone.” He leaned closer to her. “Agreed.” In seconds his mouth devoured hers, his hands roaming freely to squeeze one breast before he lifted her into his lap. This was wrong, they should talk, but when she 50

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tore at his shirt and popped his buttons, the temptation to give up his resistance almost overwhelmed him. But Jett wanted more for them. Now that he knew her, he didn’t want to obliterate the hard questions with sex. She deserved more. They deserved more. “Wait, wait.” He held her by the shoulders and hauled air into his lungs. She sighed. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be. I’m not stopping because I want to.” He frowned but she wiped away the tension from his brow with her fingertips. “You came here for a reason, and I’m honored you cared enough to follow me home. But I have a proposition.” “Oh?” Jett summoned his courage, fearing she’d laugh him off. “I booked our hotel room for the weekend, anticipating my win of course. Let’s still use it but, this time, let’s change the game. Why don’t we use the time there to answer every question we have about each other?” He watched her face carefully, searching for any sign she thought his idea ridiculous. “Will you show me more magic?” “Will you let me make love to you?” She smiled. So did he. “What about our deal?” “We don’t know who’s won yet. Let’s keep that for next weekend.” Roxanne kissed his brow, his cheek, the corner of his mouth. “Let me help you deal with your friend’s threat.” His heart skipped a beat and shifted into double time. “It’s my problem.” “He’s threatening you. That makes it our problem.” If he didn’t put his faith in her, he’d hurt and disappoint her. But if he told her everything about himself, he ran the risk of loading her up with ammunition to use 51

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against him. He’d be left in the same boat he was now with Greg. He hadn’t taken a risk in a long time, always choosing to play the safe option but he stood to gain so much more with Roxanne. It was a risk he had to take. More importantly, it was a risk he wanted to take.

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Chapter Five Funny how she hadn’t considered why he wanted to continue their affair until now, but when Roxanne closed the hotel room door behind her and stood in the familiar room bathed in candlelight, the question dominated her thoughts. She had no inkling as to why he felt compelled to show her his magic or what he hoped to achieve by sharing that part of his life with her. The more time she spent with Jett, the more complex his personality seemed. Though it was neither forced nor fake, it served to test her, push her to consider the changing nature of their relationship. No longer were they strangers. The anonymity had vanished. All that remained were two people baring their souls, but for what purpose? What did he hope to gain? What did she? “Stay right there, Whisper.” His voice floated to her on a warm current of air that caressed her exposed skin and sent goose bumps chasing chills up her arm. One by one the flickering candle flames extinguished with a hiss but he was nowhere in sight. “Where are you?” The roughened skin of his palm touched her neck, the contact ever so soft, so sensitive. Still, she couldn’t see him. When the last of the flames were doused and the room plunged into darkness, Roxanne set her overnight bag at her feet and waited. Anticipation snaked through her veins. Nervous butterflies flitted in her belly. The suspense aroused her more than she could ever imagine and when she thought she could take no more, his presence moved into the room. The air shifted, the temperature spiked and the hairs on her nape rose as if to stretch out to him.

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He moved about in the dark, coming to stand before her, but how she knew this with such certainty quieted the butterflies and soothed her nerves. Though she could see nothing, she knew exactly where he stood, how much space lay between their bodies. The air between them shuddered with the knowledge that neither would make it through the night without the other. A small snap sounded and a ball of fire glowed before her. Its radiance showed the outline of a hand beneath, a hand above, both curved as if to cradle and nurture. If she didn’t know a thing about this man she’d consider it a trick of the light but the heat of the fire reached her skin and proved he held a real ball of fire. Roxanne stared at the glowing flame, mesmerized by his ability to control it. Part of her marveled at the skill while another part of her thought it beautiful. Was there anything he couldn’t do? Beyond, she made out the hard lines of his chest and abs, as bare as she needed them to be. “You are made of fire, like the flame in my hands. A source of light, of heat, of passion. But you need the nourishment of the sea, the surety of water. Without it, you’d burn out.” The fireball morphed into a churning sea, complete with crashing waves, leaving her with the feeling that if she pushed a finger into it, she’d feel the cool water and taste the salt. “You’re the ocean.” “I am.” “So why doesn’t the water put the fire out? They can’t coexist.” In answer, the flame returned to surround the sea, to contain it and soothe it. The crashing waves lulled and the hypnotic rhythm of ebb and flow drew her to the man before her. She placed her hands over his and felt the mix of the hot and cold elements rush into her. Connected to him, she molded her hands to the contours of his arms and slid them up toward his big shoulders. 54

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“When I was a boy, my mother showed me the four elements. Earth, wind, fire and water. She said we embody all elements, though each of us represents one more strongly than the others. I always believed those of opposing elements could never find a harmonious existence, until I met you.” Stepping around his big, gorgeous body, she traced the muscles of his back before sliding her arms around his waist. Pressing against him sent shivers through her and his masculine scent reached into her core, stirring her emotions. The physicality they shared didn’t scare her. Giving her body to a man didn’t worry her. Physical pleasure could be given and taken and they could go their separate ways. But his confessions pulled her heart into the equation and that, above everything else, frightened her. Broken hearts may eventually mend but they would be scarred forever. Pressing her palms to his chest, she kissed a line along his spine up to his neck, rising to her tiptoes to bury her nose in his thick hair. He hummed in approval and wove their fingers together. Holding hands should never be so erotic but the sensation of his strong fingers sliding between hers gave her visions of naked bodies and legs entwined. She’d asked him to bare his soul, but could she do the same in return? Roxanne feared she would disappoint him. “You smell so good,” she admitted, licking the slope of his neck. “It turns me on.” His rumbling laughter vibrated under her fingertips. “What do I smell like?” “You’re all man, Jett.” She smiled when his head leaned back and gave her better access to the plane of his jaw. The rough stubble abraded her lips and she rubbed her cheek against the whiskers as a cat would. His offer to open his soul to her touched her deeply. When was the last time a man did that for her? It had been too long since she gave a man the time to prove himself to her. She was too wrapped up in her work to have the energy for a relationship. In the beginning with

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Jett, the no-strings-attached, commitment-free rules gave her the freedom to take what she wanted and feed her urges. She should feel guilty but knowing he did the same prevented her from indulging in the self-defeating emotion. He’d allowed her to be herself, to buck the traditional expectations of a woman. Her behavior bordered on alpha dominance, yet he never once commented or undermined her need to act out. Did he have any idea how much she appreciated it? Appreciated him? “What are you thinking?” She lifted a knee to hug his hip and pressed her heated core against him. “I’ve been very selfish in our affair,” she whispered. “I take what I need and then I demand more.” He turned his face, the stubble scraping against her skin until his lips kissed away the hurt. “I’ve done the same.” “Why are we so emotionally damaged, Jett?” In the dark, his body turned toward hers until she felt his hardness nudge between her thighs. While one hand slid under her thigh to hold her to him, his other trailed down the side of her face with a reverent caress. One snap of his fingers and a single candle flame burned back into life. The blue of his irises caught the light and she gasped at the depth she could see. “I’ve been hurt by women in the past. I’ve only told two women about my witchcraft and both walked out the door without another word. I never knew whether they thought I was a lunatic or whether they were just appalled. It left me secondguessing every decision, every relationship. That’s why I told you straight up.” “Why me?” “There was one morning when I watched you help an older lady with shopping bags board the bus. You gave up your seat for her and chatted to her until her stop. Then you helped her back down to the pavement, genuinely happy you could help. I knew then that you were different.”

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Roxanne remembered that morning like it was yesterday. She also remembered thinking what a bunch of selfish pigs the other passengers were for not helping, and smiled at the thought of Jett watching her, thinking so highly of her. “I wasn’t very charitable in my thoughts that day. I think I cursed every other passenger who was close enough to help but sat there like blobs. It’s a big leap, Jett, thinking I’d accept you as a witch based on me being a polite and courteous citizen.” “Just like it was a big leap trusting me enough to follow me to the hotel room. How did you know you could trust me?” She bit her lip between her teeth to think but he ran the pad of his thumb across her lips and she let go, desperate to feel his touch. As if he knew, his thumb traced her mouth and dipped in to scrape over her teeth. Her body shuddered at the intimacy of it and the deep throbbing in her womb intensified as his eyes devoured her. “Tell me, Whisper. Why did you trust me?” “You’d been there, on the bus every morning for months. You got on at the same time, dressed in your perfect suit, your hair always perfectly groomed and your shoes polished. You seemed like the quintessential businessman. Strong, reliable, honest. I wanted to ruffle your feathers and get under your skin. Did I succeed?” He nodded as he leaned toward her, taking her mouth in a hard demanding kiss. Her in-control businessman appeared to have lost all control, his actions admitting that she’d succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. Losing herself in the kiss, she bowed to his will, welcomed his domination of her mouth and held on for dear life. The man possessed the potential to suck it right out of her. When he began to remove her clothing, she struggled with the desire to give in and help him bare her body. Instead, she tussled playfully, stretching out the time and causing him to growl into her mouth in frustration. Roxanne chuckled and then gasped when he tore his lips from hers and spun her around. With her back to him, she couldn’t counter his speed and stood naked in mere moments before he pulled her hard

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against his rigid body. In silence, he cupped her breasts and fondled her, making her achy and restless for more. “What’s your favorite color?” Twisting her head, she frowned up at him. “Pardon?” “Favorite color, what is it?” “Red, why?” He rolled his eyes and then kissed her nose. “Are your eyes really that color?” “Jett, what—” Seeing his eyes widen made her shut up. In an instant she realized what he was doing. “Oh. Yes, my eyes are really this color.” “I’ve never seen it before.” Everybody commented on her eyes. “No one believes a person can have reddish eyes without looking bloodshot.” “For the record, I think they’re crimson and they’re absolutely beautiful.” Her cheeks heated at his unexpected compliment but something else about the moment made her ears prick up and pay attention. Addison had admitted to knowing very little about Jett, even after working together for five years. And yet here Jett was, prepared to open up to her when she hadn’t asked him to. She suddenly felt overwhelmed by his faith in her and the fear of disappointing him roared back into life with such strength it made her shake. “Whisper?” She pulled out of his hold and crossed the room. All her dismal failures of the past returned to haunt her and it took everything she had not to grab her clothes and run out of the room. She might have, had he not been standing in front of the door. Covering herself with a cushion from the sofa, she risked a glance at him only to find him confused. “Before you ask, let me get dressed.” “Ask what?” 58

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She moved toward her shirt thrown over the arm of the sofa but Jett met her there, his curious gaze penetrating her. “What was I going to ask, Whisper?” “You were going to ask me what’s wrong. The trouble is I don’t know how to answer.” “So why do you look so scared? Did I say something to upset you?” Roxanne shook her head. “No.” His warm hand curved around her biceps. Through the simplest touch he invited her to trust him, to open up to him. “Please, Roxanne.” “You trust me to do the right thing, to say the right thing. You’re putting so much faith in me when the truth is, I don’t have that much faith in me.” The confusion in his gaze faded away and the smile on his lips gave her hope she didn’t expect to feel.

She looked so vulnerable, so trusting that all he could think of was wrapping her up in a warm, cozy embrace. It seemed like his trust in her scared her as much as it did him. On the one hand, it could make her appear wishy-washy, but he knew she possessed more strength than she gave herself credit for. “I know you won’t hurt me, Roxanne.” “How can you know that? I could be playing you to get your job.” He surprised them both by laughing but promptly stopped when she crushed the cushion tighter against her chest. “In all honesty, you wouldn’t need to discredit me. You are damn good at what you do, though I suspect somewhere in your past a coworker has done something of that nature to you.” He gave her a moment to respond and when she didn’t, he stepped closer. Buoyed by the way she held her ground, he tugged on the cushion. She held tight, her gaze avoiding his. The discomfort between them forced him to think laterally and rather than

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fight her for the pillow, he removed the rest of his clothes. When he stood naked before her, he touched the back of her hand to reestablish their connection. Her hand came away from the cushion to tangle with his. “Let’s take this slow. We’ve got all weekend.” The tender smile on her lips took his breath away and when he reached for the cushion a second time, she didn’t fight him. Fuelled by the need to lighten the tension between them, he pulled her closer and took her face in his hands. He’d stare into those eyes all night if she’d let him. He pressed his lips to hers in an advance gesture of thanks, never thinking she’d use the contact to ignite an entirely different type of tension. The heat that engulfed his body made him hard and his cock lengthened and thickened against the soft curve of her belly. Why are we so physical? It took virtually no effort for each to get lost in the pleasure of the other and while he had no answer, he knew he couldn’t stop. Touching her deepened their communication and he only hoped he said the right things. Lowering her to the sofa, he waited for her to get comfortable on her back before settling between her thighs. “We should be careful,” he whispered, rubbing his cock against the inside of her thigh. “I don’t have a condom handy.” Her eyes flashed and she gave a nod. “What was it like, growing up with witchcraft? Did you use it on others?” Sliding a stray strand of hair from her forehead, he relaxed. “My mother had very strict rules about that. She loved the Craft but she didn’t want everyone to know. I never understood why she worried so much because she’s a healer. I’m the one who dabbles in clean-up-my-apartment spells, though until I met you, I’d never used much besides healing magic.” Whisper’s lips curved. “And what does she think of the clean-up-your-apartment spells?” 60

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He huffed. “I think she’d skin my hide if she knew. She doesn’t like magic to be used carelessly, says it gives people the wrong impression.” “But Greg knew about it?” He nodded and kissed the warm skin in the valley between her breasts. “Our mothers are good friends. His mum, Kathy, is rather smitten with the whole concept but she’s always been true to my mum. They’ve shared a special bond since my mum helped her heal after a long illness. If she knew Greg had threatened to expose me, she’d probably want to knock him senseless.” Her hands traced the lines of his face, bringing him up so she could kiss his cheeks, his chin and finally the corners of his mouth. Her taste drew him in and he sampled her further, caressing her lips with his in a slow, yearning kiss. Too many sensations pulled at his consciousness. The feel of her body beneath his. Her hands in his hair. The way her tongue danced with his. He didn’t want to talk anymore. Would she understand? He strayed from her mouth, kissing and licking the delicate skin of her throat, down the slope of her chest and then up the rise of her breast. For a brief moment, he hovered over the peak of her nipple but she arched toward him and he took the rosy tip on offer, sucking it deep into his mouth where he could lave and nip. Her murmurs of contentment struck a cord deep in his heart and he rocked against her to the rhythm in his ears. Though he wanted nothing more than to be buried inside her, he needed her to be ready for his entry. With great regret, he released her and lifted his head. Her pleading eyes speared his heart but if she allowed him to use a little magic, their lovemaking would be more meaningful and longer lasting. “I want to use magic on us.” “No, Jett.” Her hands in his hair tugged him forward. “Let it just be you and me, no magic this time. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

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Disappointed, he nodded and shifted to get up, but the fear in her eyes made him stay. “I need to protect us,” he whispered, easing her worry. “Can I get you anything while I’m on my feet?” “Just yourself, back here in a hurry.” He kissed her before rising and hurrying over to the counter. He rolled the latex on, poured two champagne flutes and then carried them back to the sofa. Seeing his hands full, she sat up and took a glass. A voice in his mind warned that the herbal tincture he would give her went against her wishes, but his knowledge of his Craft assured him the results would soothe her ire when he explained why. He needed her to feel what he felt, to know him inside out and this was the only way given the time they had. “To us,” he smiled. “And to learning everything I can about my Whisper.” They clinked glasses and he watched her drink, swallowed at the sensual way her throat moved with each gulp. He finished his glass quickly, needing to chase away the dryness in his mouth and control the fire she’d ignited within him. With their glasses safely on the table, he returned to the warm, moist cradle of her thighs and pushed into her in one motion. She gasped and arched and he used the rhythm she set to bring her close to climax. Her legs hugged his hips, her heels digging into his buttocks urging him deeper. It was an impossible task but he tried and, when he felt the beginnings of her orgasm, he quickened the pace. The herbs began to work and the meeting of the minds mimicked the meeting of their bodies. He heard her voice though she did not speak and her wide, surprised eyes told him she heard him. Their union took them deeper into the other and in the moment they both climaxed, her life flashed before his eyes. Every memory from her first kiss to her sixteenth birthday, to the jealousy of her former boss who used her and then cut her out of the business at the peak of its success. He saw something else and it almost broke his heart. She buried herself in work for fear of being hurt, of hurting another. She was driven by the need to prove herself as a woman in a male-dominated industry and had given 62

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up all hopes of finding love and happiness. She never thought she’d find it in him, saw him as a source of physical pleasure. The wall surrounding her heart cracked and though she wanted him to open up to her, she didn’t think she could do the same in return. And as he saw that in her, he also knew she hadn’t wanted to disappoint him. The revelation and the shock of the connection jolted him back into reality. Beneath him, her face was turned but there was no hiding the tears. Jett pulled away, backing up to his knees, but the damage was done. She scrambled to her feet, staring at him accusingly. Her bottom lip trembled as she crossed her arms over her chest in a vain attempt to hide from him. “I asked you not to use magic.” “Roxanne, let me explain.” He reached for her but she swatted his hand away in fury. “How can you explain that? I was clear, wasn’t I?” “Yes, but—” “No!” Her tears flowed, each one a stab to his heart. “I can’t believe you would do that.” Helpless, he watched her gather her clothing. She’d go but not before he explained himself. “I only wanted us to be closer. I know you better, you know me. Don’t you understand? I used the magic to help us, not to hurt you. I would never hurt you, Roxanne.” She haphazardly stepped back into her clothes and then stopped to glare at him. “But you did. I asked you not to, Jett. All those things I saw about you—” She squeezed her eyes shut and held her palm to her forehead. Was she reliving the events of his past or trying to block them out? “I could have learnt that about you over time.” Seeing her in pain brought him closer to her. He brushed off her attempt to hold him back and took her by the shoulders. “I did it for us,” he insisted. “Please look at me.”

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He waited for her to look at him but he never got to see those crimson eyes. She shook her head and pushed him away, picking up her bag and struggling with the lock on the door. “Don’t go,” he pleaded. She stopped but didn’t look at him. “Just tell me why?” “Because it was the only way I knew how. You’ve offered to help defend me against Greg and I needed you to know the kind of man you were trying to help.” Roxanne sighed and turned her head to the side. Tears glistened on her cheeks. “But don’t you see? I needed to learn that for myself, in my own time. You’ve forced your life into my mind and maybe I wasn’t ready.” She finally looked at him. The sadness rendered his lungs useless. “You used magic when I asked you not to. If you can’t respect my wishes then what hope is there for us?”

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Chapter Six It took Roxanne all of ten seconds to understand why Greg O’Connor sat in her office at nine o’clock Monday morning. And she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Not after a weekend of Jett’s flashbacks running through her mind and his presence still swimming around in her soul. But her manners and her sense of ethics kicked in and she greeted him politely. “I suppose you’re wondering why I’m here.” Roxanne hung her coat and lifted her light scarf off her neck. The early burst of winter only added to her dour mood. “That would assume I know who you are, which I don’t. So why don’t we begin with an introduction?” He snapped to his feet, smoothing his hands down his tailored suit jacket before offering one to her. She tried not to flinch at the feel of his clammy palm and reasoned it away as nerves. No doubt his last time in the building played on his mind and she guessed he’d come to her only as a last-ditch effort to climb out of trouble. “Greg O’Connor.” Now that she got a good look at him, she saw who he was. Mr. Football. September’s hunk in this year’s Stars of the Australian Football League calendar. Cleanshaven, immaculately groomed and cocky to boot. The kind of guy who believed himself to be God’s gift to women. His arrogance filled the room and made her itch. Such a stark contrast to Jett’s quiet confidence. She made a mental note to skip straight over September and drool over October for two months instead. What kind of friend used inside knowledge, trusted knowledge as blackmail? A heartless, ruthless one, she supposed, and after she pulled her hand free and rounded her desk, Roxanne understood his very presence in her office could be misconstrued. 65

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A quick glance at the windows lining her office wall showed the hall outside empty but she knew it wouldn’t last. Murphy’s Law would see to it. The quicker she could send him on his way, the better. “And how can I help you, Mr. O’Connor?” He blushed but she refused to let that cutesy grin slip by her defenses. “I’m in need of your services, Ms. Whisper. You see, I used to be represented by this firm but didn’t see eye to eye with the consultant handling my account. I’ve heard you can work miracles and to be blunt, I need one right about now.” Lowering herself into her chair, Roxanne bit her lip. Dozens of comebacks scrolled through her head but she needed to choose her words carefully. Giving O’Connor the slightest hint that she had any intention of representing him would be unethical, since she’d rather stick her finger in a light socket. How she could think of defending Jett after his Friday-night faux pas baffled her, but she didn’t have the time or the energy to go over the situation again. He’d gone against her wishes and she wouldn’t let him get away with it, but ignoring her problem with Jett didn’t help her with O’Connor. “I’m your last resort, aren’t I?” “I won’t lie to you.” He sighed heavily and sat back down. “Yes. It seems no one wants to give a guy with a short fuse a go. I have a temper and I lose it.” “And you get in trouble,” she surmised. “Which isn’t great for your career. The problem for you, Mr. O’Connor, is that if you don’t address the problem you will keep landing in hot water and no amount of magic will fix that.” His eyes narrowed suspiciously at her though he said nothing. She could practically see the cogs of his mind churning but, lucky for him, he chose to play it safe and not utter a word about Jett. “I know I need help and I will get it, but right now no one wants to know me. I’m out of options.”

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Roxanne rubbed her chin and thought it over. Agreeing to represent him felt like professional suicide. Addison hadn’t hesitated to release O’Connor from his contract. She doubted the boss would be happy for her to bring the rogue footballer back into the fray. The risk to the firm in handling his public image was high, maybe too high. As for how Jett would feel, Roxanne wanted to groan. On the one hand, she didn’t want to think about his needs. On the other, she hadn’t been able to put him out of her thoughts. She leaned back in her chair, crossed one leg over the other and immediately scowled at herself as her skirt rode up her leg. The flash of flesh caught O’Connor’s attention instantly. He practically drooled over the inch of skin bared. “To be honest with you, Mr. O’Connor, I don’t think my boss is interested. I doubt he’ll consider this at all and considering he has the final say, your chances are slim. I might however have a solution for you.” The man’s greedy eyes locked with hers and she suppressed a shudder at the hunger in them. Strange how this good-looking, sexy guy didn’t arouse her at all. And yet, she knew that if Jett walked in the room, she’d go weak in the knees. “Ms. Whisper?” Roxanne blinked and dragged her mind out of Jett’s bed. “It’s a radical idea but it might work. Are you willing to look at it with an open mind?” O’Connor nodded eagerly. Movement behind him out in the hall made her look up. Air jammed in her throat at the sight of Jett standing wide-eyed and mouth agape staring at them. She moved quickly, almost running across her office while he ran to barge in on her meeting. The swinging door missed her by an inch but Jett only had eyes for the man still sitting in one of her wingbacks. “Why, you—” Roxanne pressed her hand to the centre of his chest, relishing the warmth beneath her palm and needing to forcibly remind herself he’d hurt her. “Outside.”

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His eyes turned to her and the essence of him within her swelled. Bright blue irises blazed wild and confused, but he relented and backtracked until they stood outside her closed door. “But that’s—” “I know.” “You’re not going to—” Pain replaced the anger in his voice, twisting her heart and stalling her for a moment. They connected again and the strength of it threatened to drown her. How could she miss a man who didn’t respect her? Why couldn’t she use his misconduct against him? She had every right to and a tiny voice demanded she do it, but she held no conviction to hurt him. Not that way. Holding her chin up, she met his accusatory gaze head-on. “You trust me, don’t you?” His expression wavered. “I didn’t betray you, right?” Under her hand, his heart thundered against the wall of his chest. The solid wall expanded against her hand with his deep breath. The sound kissed her ears with such familiarity her resolve to make him understand why she’d been so angry wobbled. Especially when the flare in his pupils suggested he’d breathed her into his lungs and embraced her closeness. But despite his sexy smile and bedroom eyes, she needed to remain strong. Giving in to their shared chemistry was a lousy solution to their problem. “Roxanne, I—” “Answer my question, Jett. You do trust me not to betray you, yes?” The fight went out of his eyes and he gave in with a sigh. Hot air caressed her skin and she felt his apology touch her heart. “Of course I do.”

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She gave a hint of a smile and stepped closer, using his heat to steady her. “Then let me deal with him.” He lifted a lock of her hair and wound it around his forefinger. The way his gaze traveled over her face made her scalp prickle with delight. “What about us?” he whispered. “How am I supposed to forgive you?” His hand covered hers, pressing it harder to his chest. Blue eyes pleaded for her to listen and the genuine regret in them helped heal some of the ache in her heart. “I know I was wrong and I should have waited. You weren’t ready and I’m sorry I couldn’t see that. I wish there was more I could say.” He’d said enough, both with his words and his heart. She didn’t understand how or why she could forgive him. Perhaps it was the man whose life she felt she knew insideout, who’d become a part of her when she wasn’t looking. Perhaps it was the connection that only seemed to gain strength every time they touched. Or perhaps it was because he’d shown her a way out of the workaholic, one-way-ticket-to-stressville lifestyle she’d created for herself. Whatever the reason, she’d forgive him but not before she let him stew over her answer a little longer. “Everything we’ve shared has been so intense and it’s moved very fast. You need to give me a little time, Jett. Can you do that?” Brimming with confidence, he nodded and squeezed her hand. “As long as you need. Now would you go and get rid of him before I lose it and deck him?”

***** He fidgeted nervously with the corner of his suit jacket under the table. Waiting had never been an asset, but as he sat opposite the beautiful, erotic romance author Lora Devine, his impatience frustrated him. He should be grateful she’d offered him a chance to redeem himself and he should be ecstatic that he’d proven he deserved it, yet all he could think about was whether Roxanne would forgive him. 69

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Beside him, his Whisper sat quiet and still. Though she was close enough to touch, he resisted the urge, knowing the moment they made contact would open the floodgates. They needed to be alone and he could hardly concentrate on Lora’s comparison of their presentations. It no longer mattered to him who won the account and though the prize on offer tickled the back of his consciousness, something much bigger was at stake. Beneath the table, Roxanne’s warm fingers touched his, instantly soothing his nerves. The gentle rub of her skin across his lulled him into a serene calm and the unexpected raking of her fingernails over the back of his hand made the hairs on his nape stand to attention. Desperate to turn to her, he ground his teeth and tried hard to focus on the author building to her announcement. He wanted to win more than ever and vowed to use the weekend of his victory to prove he could go without magic. Lora’s gaze met his but he couldn’t read her thoughts at all. Curious, he paid better attention to the woman. “I appreciate your efforts, Jett, and I enjoyed your presentation. What you lack in experience, you more than make up for in pizzazz. But Roxanne knows what I do, she’s worked with erotic romance authors before. It’s a pity I can’t have you both. I’m sure you would be dynamite together and I suspect that it would make for some very feisty promotional campaigns. But if I must choose—” “Hold on.” Roxanne’s grip on his hand almost made him yelp as everyone turned toward Addison. “Did you just ask for them both?” Jett spun back in anticipation of Lora’s answer. “I did, though I understand that’s not feasible.” He suddenly felt like he was at a tennis match as he swung around and focused on Addison. Would Roxanne massage the kinks out of his neck?

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“Hmm.” Addison rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That’s an interesting prospect. Certainly not something I would have thought of.” Jett thought his head might explode if Addison didn’t address him soon. Roxanne’s answer was made clear by the way her fingers threaded through his under the table. Of course they could work together and perhaps it would pave the way for more joint ventures. Though it left their little wager in limbo. “You make an interesting observation, Lora, about the way these two complement each other. I’ve noticed that even though they’ve been supposedly competing, they’ve spent a lot of time together.” Finally Addison turned his old gray eyes onto Jett. “If this is what they can do individually, I can only imagine what surprises they have in store working together. It’s an unusual request but I’m curious to see what they come up with. Jett?” He nodded. “I love the idea.” “Roxanne?” “I think we can make this work.” With the arrangement settled, they celebrated with a round of handshakes and smiles and when Addison took Lora to get a start on the paperwork, Jett found himself alone with Roxanne. Just the way he wanted. He watched her hips sway as she walked to the door and closed it and his mouth watered when she turned to him, cocked a hip out to one side and rested her hands on the delicious curve. Ever since she’d come to work for Taylor & Taylor, she’d ditched the miniskirts in favor of tailored pants and figure-hugging knee-length skirts. All in all, he adored the new look. “Do you want to know about Greg?” Jett shook his head. This moment had nothing to do with that loser. “No.” “Well, I will tell you just so you’re not kept in the dark. I made a few phone calls and convinced my former employer to take him on.” He frowned. “How?”

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Her sneaky little grin made him want to smile too. “My former boss Celeste has a thing for trying to fix broken people. She thinks she can change anyone and welcomes the challenge. When I hinted that she’d be signing a potential Taylor & Taylor client out from under the firm’s nose, she leapt at the opportunity. So she’s happy, he’s happy and you don’t need to worry about him exposing you.” Rising to his feet, he shook his head in admiration of her cunning move. “So you rescued me?” Roxanne bit her bottom lip and shrugged. “I’d call it helping out a friend but hey, whatever you tell yourself.” Jett chuffed at her attempt to play down her actions. As much as he wanted to cross the room and get close to her, he chose to stay put. The more he got to know about her, the more she impressed him. “So we’re good then?” “Not so fast,” she said, her stern voice belying the sparkle in her eyes. “Just because this is settled doesn’t mean our problem is.” “Let me make it up to you.” One eyebrow arched high into her bangs. “How do you propose to do that?” Oh, I have quite a few ideas. “Give me one night to show you that I know what I did was wrong. That’s all I ask.” “One night?” He nodded. “You think that’s all it will take?” No, but he had no intention of being greedy. Jett closed the distance between them. The moment he got within range of her scent, his body hardened. “If, after one night, I can’t prove to you that I can love you without magic then it’s your choice what happens next.” “No magic?”

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The hope in her voice made him reach for her and, with a hand curved around her hip, he brought her body against his. “No magic. For you.” She stretched toward him, her lips hovering close enough to devour. Jett held back. If he gave in now— “All I want is for you to respect my wishes. It really hurt to think you’d go against what I asked. I trusted you.” He trailed fingertips along her cheekbone. “I made a mistake.” The tear that appeared in the corner of her eye stunned him. “I know and your intentions were honorable. Just don’t ever make the same mistake.” Thumbing the moisture away, he kissed her nose. Her eyelids fluttered down, the picture of her upturned face so beautiful and honest it made his heart squeeze. She was willing to trust him, one more time. “I’m so sorry, Roxanne.” “I want to be with you, Jett. No magic. Just you.” Jett lowered his cheek to hers and rubbed against her fine skin before realizing he still wore his whiskers. Pulling away, he winced at the reddened abrasion but she only smiled and turned her cheek to him in invitation. With the ghost of a kiss, he whispered, “And that’s all you’re gonna get. Just me.”

***** Friday night couldn’t come quick enough and when it did, he found himself bared, bound and breathless. As he lay on the hotel bed, his hands secured to the posts of the board and his body a slave to anticipation, he tried to piece together the last few moments. He remembered Whisper opening the door. Her long silk gown showcased every curve he’d lusted after all week. He’d stepped in, gathered her in his arms and joined them by the sweetest of kisses. His restraint left him proud but obviously vulnerable because she’d had him stripped and hogtied in a matter of minutes. “Whisper?” 73

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Her singsong laughter rang through the room and he wished she’d hurry out of the bathroom. When she stepped into the doorway and he saw the accessory she’d gone to retrieve, he whimpered with joy. The jolt to his cock made her grin, but tearing his gaze away from those long, silk gloves seemed impossible. She wore only one, all the way to her elbow. The other, clasped in one hand, she whipped against her open palm in a suggestive display of dominance. “Do you remember our deal? If I won, I’d get to dominate?” Jett swallowed hard. His mouth dry, he couldn’t talk. He nodded. “I realize that we both won and you’ll get your turn, which is why I booked the room for the whole weekend. But tonight, I’m claiming my prize. You, no magic and this pair of gloves. Any arguments?” Sliding his gaze down her beautiful body, Jett shuddered. How the hell did he get so lucky? From a one-night stand to a partnership both in and out of the bedroom, he couldn’t help but think all his Christmases had come at once! The sight of her luscious curves made his mouth water and he licked his lips hoping she’d let him lick her. It’d be easy if he was in charge but he wasn’t, and the thrill speeding through his veins spiked his temperature. “I’m all yours.” He winked. Roxanne sauntered into the candlelit room. A dance of light and shadow flickered on her gown but his eyes zeroed in on the single loose glove. Mesmerized, he held his breath as she dragged it up his leg. The contact made his muscles twitch. Blood drained from his head to his groin, swelling his cock with near painful force. She swirled the fingertips of the glove around the stiff rod, tickling the hairs and leaving behind a trail of fire. “You and me.” His mouth became even drier. Worry sat heavy in the pit of his gut. Could they be as good together without the magic?

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“We’ll make our own magic,” she assured him as if reading his mind. “We make a great team, Jett. Trust in us.” He wanted to relax but his muscles continued to clench. Roxanne leaned down and peppered his bulging biceps with feather-light kisses, urging him to relax. But the ends of her hair trailed over his chest and the heightened sensitivity sparked need deep in his heart. He opened his mouth to speak but she shook her head to shush him and directed the kisses down the center of his chest and belly to the erect shaft straining toward her. Her tongue darted out to touch the tip of his cock and he smiled at the way her eyelids fluttered down. “Hmm, you taste so good.” “You’re going to make me wait, aren’t you?” He caught a glimpse of her grin before her mouth descended and took in his length. Wet heat surrounded him, pulling a long needy moan from his throat. The intense suction that followed tested his patience and though he held off the orgasm, she persisted, driving him to distraction. Tremors raked through him from head to toe, growing stronger the longer she tended to him. She wasn’t going to make him wait at all, was she? Quite the opposite, and she’d succeed if she didn’t back off. Jett’s control slipped and his hips jerked toward her. Whisper’s hand slid between his thighs to massage his balls, the added intensity forcing his eyes closed so he could concentrate on not coming in her mouth. Without warning, she pulled away. The sudden loss of her heat gave him some breathing space but it didn’t last long, the long silk glove tightening around the base of his cock. He swore under his breath. She smiled. “Would you rather I removed it?” “Don’t you dare.” Hitching her gown up around her thighs, she straddled him, her wet flesh kissing the tip of his cock. The skin-to-skin contact sent shivers up his spine.

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“Condom,” he choked out. Whisper shook her head. “We’re safe, unless there’s something you need to tell me.” Jett lifted his hips and rubbed against her. “You know everything, sweetheart.” Fire flashed in her eyes as she took his length into her, surrounding him with warmth. In silence, she rode him, bringing them both to the edge of climax. His cock thickened once more, pushing against the glove and driving him over the edge. Her eyes widened before her inner muscles squeezed him hard, milking every last drop from him before she fell onto his chest. Jett grinned. “Yep. No arguments here.”

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About the Author I’m an ordinary Australian girl who puts family first and, fortunately or unfortunately, sometimes lets my career get out of hand. A teacher by day, romance writer by night, my life is full of good things. I write because I’m passionate about it, because it’s in my heart. I love the escapism, the adventure and the life I live vicariously through my characters. Most of all, I relish the challenge of bringing sensual, delightful and fulfilling stories of romance to life. I write contemporary romance, romantic suspense, action/adventure, and paranormal. I’m a sucker for a happy ending and I love following my characters as they fall in love.

Rose welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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