Free Kept by Him by Red Garnier Page A

Why didn’t he smile? Oh, God, she felt like one of those women. One
     of those who dreamed at night of this man, who dreamed of being the Prince of the
     Windy City’s princess. The thought snapped her back into herself only to realize Chris
     was shouting at the top of his lungs, “Yes! Yes! That’s the look!”
    Monica jerked her eyes back to the camera, but her body still ached with such intimate
     force that she instinctively drew her arms protectively over her pained breasts, trapping
     the cashmere against her flesh, her heart pounding in awareness of Daniel’s green
     eyes watching her.
    The blinding flashes stopped, and Chris lowered the camera with a frown. He seemed
     somehow disappointed that she had lost the magic as soon as she glanced at the lens.
     He turned to study the source of Monica’s change, and his eyes lit when he spotted
     Daniel.
    “Would you mind if we tried something with you, sir?” he asked.
    “Not at all,” Daniel said easily, his voice making Monica’s flesh pebble.
    “We need a sweater in his size,” he said, and Monica’s assistant rushed to grant the
     request.
    Meanwhile Monica watched him strip off his shirt, and her pussy clenched despite her
     wanting to stay cool and aloof. His chest became exposed, and Monica almost climaxed,
     visibly jolting at the sight.
    “Forget the sweater, look at this! Bare skin it is!” He began giving orders while
     Monica and the rest of the people in the room almost drooled over Daniel’s torso.
     Thick chords popped up in his hands and forearms, disappearing into the bulging muscles
     of his biceps, shoulders, and triceps.
    “Cool tat!” Chris said. “Great quality work, great bod, too! Ms. Davenport, there’s
     going to be a change. I will take only some sample pictures of you with our new guest.
     Our ads will probably be as planned, with you alone, but in the meantime let us get
     into the mood of seduction.”
    He turned to whisper something to Daniel, and Daniel nodded and pulled off his shoes
     and tossed them aside with two loud thumps. He ended up in dark slacks, a belt, and
     a chest that got her saliva glands working like nothing else.
    His walk as he came over caused a tightening deep in her abdominal wall. She was so
     sensitive today even dressing had felt sexual, and all those places throbbed even
     more as the blood rushed in their direction.
    A strange dread ran through her as he lifted the blanket to join her, somehow taking
     care not to reveal her to the dozens of people gathered around. He turned his big
     body to face her, his broad back angled toward the camera as he rolled to his side
     against her, covering her nakedness from view.
    As soon as he dropped the throw over his hips and hers, his legs entangled with her
     nude ones, and Monica’s body chemistry altered. Everything—heart, lungs, flesh—heightened
     to alarming levels.
    His scent stole into her lungs, causing her mouth to water even more. “What are you
     doing here?” she murmured, horribly breathless, hot, aching.
    He bent so only she could hear. “I’m a little early for the board meeting and was
     told I could find you here.” His strangely hoarsened voice flooded her with memories
     of last night and the coiling, writhing tension of desire came alive within her as
     he pulled her against him, the move proprietary, possessive—protective.
    He braced up on one elbow, his powerful arm around her waist, his back shielding her
     from everyone present as he ducked his head so that practically no one could see her.
     But him. She felt immediately safe, while at the same time, electricity crackled through
     her, clanging off all the warning bells in her body.
    Years ago, she had felt enormous pleasure when she’d lived with the Lexingtons temporarily,
     and Daniel had held her at night. She’d count the hours until he’d appear, large and
     manly at her door, and when he slid his arms around her, his touch would release some
     strange calming