Free Manhattan Millionaire’s Cinderella: HarperImpulse Contemporary Romance by Sun Chara

hands shook. Her breasts were adorned in lace, their nipples straining for his touch. Moonlight shimmered through the half open shutters, casting light and shadow on her. Over this delectable female who was his…not technically, but legally . Caution flashed through his mind, but it was overridden by erotic fantasies about this woman he held in his hands, had in his care, in his keeping.
    Ignoring the reservations bombarding his brain, he could still enjoy her; after all, she’d not only quipped ‘I do’ but cashed out on him. Every sinew in his body tightened, his lungs constricted, and he blasted out a breath.
    Payback.
    And this is how you want it?
He locked his mind against the attack of his conscience.
With her?
The thought persisted.
A quickie on the fly?
    Shut up.
    An act of seduction?
    He clamped down on the irritants, tuning in to his body’s reaction, his heart— a muscle clubbed his chest.
    Bunching her dress in his hands, he pushed it lower,his fingers tensing over the material, his blood heating. The trinket at her navel gleamed, and he was hard pressed not to dip his head, fuse his mouth to the spot and flirt with his tongue.
    He nudged the fabric over her hips and down her thighs, and he almost buckled at the knees. A silk scrap of nothing covered the shadow between her thighs, fueling his libido. He gulped down his lust, for of course that’s all it could be, he reminded himself, blocking the niggle in his brain. With a swift flick of his fingers, he discarded the dress from her body.
    Air filled his lungs, and he closed his eyes, allowing it to sizzle from his lips.
    He pulled the covers back, stole another glance at the goddess in his bed and draped the blanket over her. He brushed his thumb along the curve of her cheek to her mouth, outlining her lips…soft, moist…he could almost taste—
    She opened her mouth and nipped his thumb.
    “Hey.” He yanked his hand away and caught the glint of mischief in her eyes.
    Or was that a dare?
    “Move over, wife.”
    Nina was wound up like a spring ready to come unhinged; her pulse skyrocketed. His touch lingered on her mouth, and she licked her lips, tasting him. But doubts zoomed in her brain. To him she was just another woman, regardless if she was married to him or not. Was this a way for him to salve his ego?
    And could she allow it? Something inside her stirred, but she paid it no heed. Maybe just this once, she could forget their differences and partake in the forbidden pleasure he offered.
    The hush of sound as he removed his shirt reached her, and she peeked at him from beneath her lashes. Her body blushed with anticipation, then cooled with fear. Not of him, but what her reaction would reveal to him; what she suspected, but didn’t want to admit even to herself. She burrowed beneath the covers and hugged the pillow, smothering a moan.
    Was she falling for this guy? That was something that she couldn’t allow.
    He unbuckled his belt and sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress depressing beneath his weight.
    She held her breath, her heart thudding, knowing,
you couldn’t love to order.
    And afterward?
Her mind shot back.
Who’s going to pick up the pieces?
    Before she could formulate an answer, he reclined and reached for her. Her stomach clenched, she swallowed, and a kick of emotion zinged through her. She was about to open her arms to him, when his cell phone beeped, puncturing the silence of the room. She muffled a nervous giggle.
    A heavy beat.
    It beeped again.
    An expletive incinerated the air.
    He grabbed his jacket from the floor, yanked the phone from the pocket and flipped it open. “Sloan.”
    A moment ticked by, and he shot her a covert glance. “You’ve located him?”
    Nina’s eyes flew open, and she drew the blanket up to her chin, the chill invading her body and freezing her bones. Caught whom? Her father?
    “Sure it’s him?”
    A grim stillness.
    He met and held her gaze, hesitated, then, “On my way.”
    A regrettable