She could see that Law was listening.
“That’s what you’re doing, Love. You’re thinking that if you’re to blame, you could have stopped this. I think your brother Ash is right about Xavier. He snapped.”
“What about the warning signs he exhibited?”
Jill sighed. “It’s possible you’re right. It’s also possible he was just checking up on you. You’ll never know for sure. Is beating yourself up accomplishing anything? Is it what Xavier would have wanted?”
He blew out a long breath and shook his head. At long last, she saw a dimple appear. “He definitely wouldn’t want me to be all mopey with you smiling at me.”
“Oh really?”
“Really. I think you’re right, Xave would be pissed as hell to see me wallowing. I remember him saying that the only thing worse than second-guessing yourself was third-guessing yourself. He’d sure as hell be disgusted with me letting this situation slip through my fingers.”
“What situation would that be?”
“You sitting on my lap,” he grinned.
“I’m intrigued. How would Xavier handle a situation like this?”
A dimple appeared.
Jill sent up a prayer of thanks to Xavier Thorne.
Chapter 9
He looked down at the woman in his arms, amazed. She was a gift. He didn’t know where she came from or who she came from, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to be stupid enough to let her go.
“You want to know how Xave would handle a situation like this?” Law repeated her question. Something settled inside him. He knew exactly what Xavier would be doing, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be talking about his brother.
Law gave a low chuckle and brushed back her silky hair as he looked into deep brown eyes that seemed to have all the answers to questions he never knew he needed to ask. He took a deep breath, savoring the tantalizing smell of spice and flowers that was Jill’s scent. He feasted his eyes on her breasts that swelled up over the modest cut of her dress. His finger traced along the lace that trimmed the bodice and watched her shiver. She pressed up higher, inviting him closer, but he was enjoying this moment. She deserved—and he damn sure wanted—a long, slow slide into seduction. He intended to savor every moment with this beautiful woman.
She surprised him when she reached down and caught his right hand in hers and twined their fingers together, the caress an erotic foreshadowing of the moment when their bodies would join. Jill brought his big hand up to her mouth, then licked the tip of each finger before sucking his thumb between her lips.
Jesus!
Law lost himself in the beauty and sensuality of her caress before he gathered himself and brushed her bottom lip down, opening her up for the kiss he so desperately needed. It was such a rush when Jill mewled with want as his mouth pressed heated, wanton kisses against her needy flesh. She let go of his hand and gripped his short hair, digging her fingernails into his scalp, applying just the right amount of pain to fuel his passion. Law cupped the back of her head and tilted her face so that he could deepen the kiss. He needed more, and more, and more.
When Jill bit at his bottom lip he was ready to roar his possession. His. She was his. Never had anybody gotten him like this woman. Jill had become as necessary as his next breath. Somehow, he’d found a woman who had peeled back his protective layers and nestled into his soul.
Law stood up with her in his arms and she broke the kiss.
“You’re not supposed to be able to lift me up like that. I’m too heavy.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” He gave a ragged laugh as he headed down the hall toward his open bedroom door. Law put his knee on the bed and ripped back his duvet so that he could gently lower her onto his white sheets.
Her dark hair spilled across the pristine cotton and he shuddered. “Lady, you look good in my bed.”
He loved the small pink buttons that ran down the front of her dress—it meant he could slowly unwrap and savor his present. Law dipped his finger into her bodice as he set about the task at hand.
“There’s a zipper at the side,” Jill said as she shimmied to reach it.
Law pushed her hand aside. “Nu-uh, we’re doing things my way.”
“What?”
“We’re doing things at my pace. I want to unwrap my gift slowly.”
A slow, shy smile of pleasure spread across her face. She liked that idea. Good. He wanted nothing more than to make all of her dreams come true.
Law released the first two buttons and caught a glimpse of the lacy white bra underneath. His breath hitched. He had to touch. He had to taste. He traced his fingers along the material, watching her shiver. Then he heard her gasp as his tongue followed the trail his fingers blazed.
Another button slipped free, then another, and another. Soon, he was kissing her bellybutton as she arched up on her heels. Law changed positions until he knelt between her legs and could hold her waist up high as he licked down toward the top of her white silk panties.
“So good,” she moaned.
Law unbuttoned the rest of her dress and spread it open, feasting his eyes on her olive skin decorated with white satin and lace.
“Ah, Jill, you’re gorgeous,” he breathed.
“I want to be, for you.”
“Then you’ve succeeded.
