The Millionaire Meets His Match

“Oh,” she said on a quick intake of breath as she looked around the large king-size hotel room, then walked directly to the stone fireplace. A fire had been set recently and was going strong, radiating warmth throughout the room.

There were throw pillows piled on the wide stone hearth for cozying up close by the fire, and the mantel held a sweet display of old-fashioned portraits in small Victorian frames. Hanging on the walls on either side of the mantel were vintage tinted photographs of mountain and lake scenes.

“So pretty,” she murmured, then turned away from the fireplace and noticed the carved wood king-size bed for the first time.

“Wow.” It was a masterpiece, covered in richly brocaded silk with a colorful cluster of pillows. Whole logs made up the frame and headboard, and tall, braided willow branches acted as bedposts. The willows were adorned by gauzy drapes that looped from one branch to the next, giving the room a light, ethereal feel.

The room smelled of pinecones and forest rain. She breathed it all in.

“I’m in awe,” she said, spinning around to see more. “I love it.”

“I’m glad.” He leaned against the sliding-glass door leading to the balcony. His arms were folded across his chest and he looked relaxed and confident and too sexy for her own good, Trish thought.

He unlocked the glass door and stepped outside. “I know it’s cold, but you should come out and see the view.”

She joined him, grateful for the chilly air. Maybe it would cool off the heat washing through her. Adam stood at the rail, staring out at the lake and the mountain rising on the opposite side-dark, vast and mysterious. The moon had risen and was reflected in the water’s surface.

“It takes my breath away,” she said. “I wish we could stay for a week.”

“Do you?”

“Who wouldn’t?” she demurred. “It’s lovely.”

“So are you.”

She looked away. “No, I’m not.”

“You take my breath away,” he said slowly, his dark eyes shining with intent.

She looked up at him, in time to see him lower his head to hers. In time to tell herself to stop this.

“Adam, I’m not sure…” Trish’s thoughts scattered as he covered her mouth with his. His lips were soft yet demanding and the thrill was instant, the warmth so all-consuming, she wondered if she might go up in flames.

“You’re not sure what?” Adam murmured against her skin as his mouth traveled along her jawline.

Trish barely heard him through the cloud of sensation fogging her mind. “What?”

His deep chuckle reverberated as his hand cupped the nape of her neck. “I’m going to kiss you again.”

She was aware of her heart pounding rhythmically in her chest as she pressed her hand against him. “You shouldn’t.”

He met her gaze. “You don’t want me to kiss you?”

“Whether I want you to or not isn’t the point,” she whispered.

“Then it’s settled,” he said, and returned to ravage her mouth.

The vague thought that nothing was settled flitted away. A soft moan escaped her and her knees nearly crumpled as his tongue urged her to open for him. She obliged him, wanting to taste him, wanting to feel his touch everywhere on her body. He was all heat and hardness as he pressed against her. The world around her dissolved and all that mattered was his mouth on hers, his hands gripping her backside as he aroused and devoured her.

“Oh, Adam, I…”

“I want to make love with you, Trish,” he said, his dark blue eyes gleaming.

She gulped and felt the last of her resolve drain away. “I-I want that, too, Adam.”

“I’m glad,” he said. “It’s cold. Let’s go inside.”

He took her hand and led her back inside and slid the door closed. Still holding her hand, he walked to the bed, where he stopped, kissed her again with slow deliberation, then released her only to pick up his jacket and tuck it under his arm.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m saying good night.”

She couldn’t have heard him right. “You’re what?”

“Saying good night,” he said, cupping her cheek in the palm of his hand and stroking her skin with his thumb. “And thanking you for a fantastic evening.”

He kissed her again and she met him with fervor and a need she’d never experienced before.

“But…but you can’t go,” she said, still not believing him. How could he get them both so wound up only to walk away? How could he kiss her, tell her he wanted to make love with her and then leave?

“Believe me, I don’t want to,” he said, resting his forehead on hers and staring into her eyes. “But I also don’t want to rush you into something you might regret later.”

She almost groaned, knowing she should be grateful for his thoughtfulness. Knowing she should appreciate that he was willing to take it slow. Knowing that she didn’t want him to leave.

“But I warn you that the next time we kiss,” Adam said, skimming his lips against hers, “it won’t stop there.”

He pulled back to meet her gaze. “And there will be a next time.”

She blinked, stunned into silence by his words.

“Sweet dreams, sweetheart,” he said, drawing her close. His hands skimmed down her back to her hips as his mouth hovered an inch from hers. She parted her lips in invitation but instead of kissing her, he whispered, “Until next time.”

Then he opened the door and walked out, leaving her dazed and aching with need.

Seven

I must be out of my mind, Adam thought as the plane soared above the mountains and headed for home. He’d had her just where he wanted her and hadn’t made a move. And though he could stand back and marvel at his own inner strength, he had to question whether he’d made a mistake or not. His body was still clamoring for her despite knowing that she was trying to play him.

Now, as he watched Trish squeeze her eyes shut and clutch his hand, Adam wondered if it was indeed inner strength or just plain stupidity that had caused him to walk away from her. Last night’s kiss had proven that Trish wanted him as much as he wanted her. Sure, maybe she was a gold digger, but he didn’t think she’d been faking the need he’d seen in her eyes. And if the look in her eyes hadn’t been enough, she’d actually said so. Out loud, he reminded himself, replaying the moment over and over in his head. His memory was perfect, dammit. He could recall with absolute clarity the scent of her. The feel of her. The shine in her eyes as she looked up at him. And he could hear her whispered voice echoing in his mind.

I want that, too, she’d said, when he told her he wanted to make love with her.

I want that, too.

So, was he deaf, as well as stupid? She’d wanted him. And what had he done? He’d walked away. As a show of strength. To prove that he was his own man and to show the world that no one but Adam Duke would determine his own future. Certainly not some cute-as-hell gold digger. And definitely not his mother.

But what had he gotten for his troubles? A sleepless night, an aching body and a temper on the edge of snapping. Why the hell did it have to be Trish James who appealed to him on every level?

He’d walked away to prove that he wasn’t the kind of man who would roll over and play dead just because Trish James said she wanted him.

“So how’s that whole ‘determine your own future’ thing working for you?” Adam muttered under his breath. Then he shook his head, thoroughly disgusted. “It’s not working well at all.”

Because he hadn’t determined anything, he told himself. In making his choice to thwart his mother’s