Free The Trouble with Valentine’s by Kelly Hunter Page A

the base of her spine and pressed her even closer.
    ‘Kinky,’ she said lightly.
    ‘It may not be the audience.’ His lips were curved in a familiar half-smile. ‘It could be you.’
    Hallie slid her hands to his shoulders, delighting in the feel of him, in the rich musky scent of his skin. ‘You mean you don’t know?’
    ‘Nope. And there’s not enough blood left in my brain to figure it out.’
    ‘Maybe it’s both,’ she said breathlessly.
    ‘Now you’re trying to confuse me.’
    ‘Actually, I’m trying to distract you.’
    ‘Try harder,’ he said, and set his lips to her neck, sending a jolt of pleasure straight through her. Roleplaying, that was all, but she tilted her head to allow him better access, gasping when the heat of his lips was joined by a whisper of tongue as he teased and tasted his way along her neck.
    This was madness, she thought, as she buried her hands in his hair and demanded more. Utter madness, as Nick cupped her buttocks and surged against her as his lips rushed over her shoulder, her collarbone, the swell of her breast and it was all she could do not to whimper when his mouth found the peak of her breast through the thin layers of silk. All she could do not to scream when his teeth and tongue came into play.
    ‘Nick.’ He’d found the clasp on her trousers, his fingers at her waist setting off feathery tremors of sensation. ‘Nick! He’s gone.’
    ‘Who’s gone?’ His eyes were black, his breathing was ragged, but comprehension dawned. ‘Oh, yeah. Him.’ His hands stilled, and his big body shuddered as he struggled for control. ‘Just give me a minute here.’
    No problem. She could do with a minute or two herself. Not to mention a few more metres of unoccupied personal space.
    He let her go, let her put some distance between them, but her skin was on fire from his touch and her breasts ached for the feel of his hands andhis lips on them again. Half blind with unfulfilled need, she staggered towards the centre of the room. And stopped.
    The floor was the palest marble streaked with grey. The furniture was intricately carved cherry wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The furnishings were red. Not dull red, not blood red, but a bright primary-colour-wheel red. The floor rug, the curtains, the bed … yes indeed, the bed was undeniably red, with enough cushions and pillows piled against the headboard to furnish a small orphanage.
    ‘I thought you said there was a sofa as well,’ she said at last.
    ‘There was,’ said Nick, frowning. ‘It used to be over by the far wall.’
    Well, there certainly wasn’t one there now. Nothing in this room but a bed. A big red bed.
    ‘The Chinese consider red a fortuitous colour,’ said Nick. ‘It’s supposed to bring good luck.’
    ‘Good,’ she muttered. Cause they were definitely going to need it if they were going to be sharing that bed. ‘Mind if I take first shower?’
    ‘Go ahead.’ Nick gestured towards a door to her right.
    The bathroom was marble too, all marble, with gold taps, red towels and the biggest glass walledshower cubicle she’d ever seen.
Two
shower heads in that there cubicle. Two of them, side by side, commanding her attention the way the bed had in the other room.
    ‘Or we could shower together and save time,’ he said from the doorway.
    Did he honestly think that getting wet and naked with him was going to save time? She slid him a glance; he was leaning against the doorframe, his smile crooked and his eyes dark.
    No, he didn’t think that either.

CHAPTER FIVE
    ‘W HAT DID HE DO to you?’ The question came at Jasmine softly, sneaking beneath her defences and opening her up, laying her bare. Kai had always been able to do that, even with a glance, and when he used words it was worse.
    ‘What do you mean?’ Jasmine turned her attention from the perfectly prepared trays of finger-food on the kitchen bench and glanced towards Kai, knowing full well that her heart would trip when she made eye contact,