She may as well deal with it and get it over with. Funny how reminding herself of the signed paperwork in his office almost put out the fire in her belly. Way to kill a mood, Kate. Now how was she going to manage to get herself worked up again to lead him to his bed?
Suck it up kid, and put on your best face. You know you have to do this for the team, and if you're honest with yourself, you will admit that deep down you want him to take you to bed and show you what the whole sex deal is all about. You just don't want him to dump you at the end of it. So don't make a fool of yourself by getting in over your head.
She took another deep breath and splashed cool water on her wrists. Tucking a loose strand of wayward hair behind her ear, she surveyed her face in the mirror. Satisfied that she looked as normal as possible, and not like a scared animal that had raced into the small room, she walked back to the kitchen. "Smells good, Magnus," she said, smiling into his amused eyes. "I can't wait to taste it. Anything I can do for you?"
"You can top off the wine glasses if you like." He drained the pasta into a colander in the sink.
Magnus watched Kate as she took the wine from the fridge and filled the glasses up more than he would have expected. Dutch courage or just a non-drinker? He smiled to himself. She was being incredibly brave going along with his outrageous idea of becoming his mistress. Not that he was complaining. He wanted her like he wanted no other. The thought of her body under his matching his passion had kept him going when he had to venture back to Brisbane and his business. He smelled her in his sleep, imagined her lips against his, and was acting like a ridiculous school boy with his first crush. He was not going to admit it to himself out loud until he understood his feelings, let alone anybody else—Kate included.
Magnus watched as she tried to act upbeat throughout dinner. She drank her wine and smiled her approval when he offered to top off their glasses again. After a snack of ripe cheese and Italian crackers, Kate offered to help wash up. She giggled as she tipped too much dishwashing detergent into the sink and laughed as the bubbles overflowed the edge. When she plunged the dirty plates into the hot water, she scalded her hands. Kate let out a sharp cry. Magnus pulled her hands out of the steaming water. Cursing, he flicked on the cold tap and held her hands under the running water. Magnus kept them there until the angry red tinge faded from her fingers.
"Katie, what were you thinking?" he asked as he held her close to his body while her hands cooled under the running water.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, "silly of me. I told you I was dangerous in the kitchen."
"Remind me never to let you anywhere near my knives." He turned off the tap and gently dried her hands, then held them up to inspect them. "I don't think you will have any lasting injuries," he said as he placed soft kisses on the tips of her fingers. Kate looked into his eyes, and his pulse starting to race again. Sliding her hands free, she lifted her arms and wound them around his neck, pulling his face down to hers.
Magnus froze as she explored his mouth. Her teeth gently tugged at his top lip, making his blood race. He gripped the back of her neck with one hand while the other cupped her butt and pulled her close. There was no doubt he wanted her and he intended to follow through.
His lips left hers and made their way to her cheek where he nibbled along the edge of her jaw, making her tremble in his arms. His tongue explored the soft skin of her neck as she pushed her body into his, her arousal apparent with her nipples straining against the fabric of her dress.
Magnus picked her up in his arms, his mouth still buried in her neck and strode to his bedroom. .With a swift kick, he closed the door behind him, then lay down on his back while Kate lay on top of him. She lifted her head and looked at him with glazed eyes. Her hair had tumbled loose and fell around her face. Kate tucked a strand behind her ear, before kissing the tip of his nose. He captured her lips with his and rolled over, pinning her beneath him.
"Don't ask me to stop now, Kate, please," he said, his forehead on hers as his lips continued to explore her mouth.
"I don't, Magnus, please…"
"What?" He sighed as he started to back off.
"I don't want you to," she whispered blushing under his scrutiny.
He traced a finger down her cheek and followed the outline of her full lips before capturing them again. He kissed her deeply before following her jawline, and then slowly licked and kissed his way down her neck to her taut breasts. Magnus lifted his body from hers, pulled her up, and undid the buttons on her dress, pushing it down over her shoulders.
Kate blushed as his gaze roamed over her basic white cotton bra. Magnus couldn't think of anything sexier than her sitting on his bed right now looking innocent and untouched.
