Beauty And The Brooding Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 2)

She squeezed his hand back. “Thank you for telling me,” she said softly. “I wondered if I’d done something wrong.”

“No, nothing,” he assured her, and then leaned over the seat and kissed her gently. “You are lovely and sweet and strong.” He kissed her again, and she melted a little, leaning into the soft and seductive contact. “You’re just what I need, Jess.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she opened her mouth and led him to a deeper kiss. Desire darkened the sweetness of it, like rich chocolate over marshmallow. He let go of her hand and threaded his fingers through her hair, and she moaned against his lips as his strong fingers massaged the back of her head.

He pulled away, a little reluctantly, she thought, and stared down at her. “We’re in a car in broad daylight,” he said, his voice a bit rough. “Put a pin in this until we get home?”

“It’s a long drive,” she said.

“We could spend the night in the city. Drive back in the morning.”

The suggestion came as such a surprise she was temporarily dumbstruck. Finally she managed a weak, “Bran...”

“Order room service for breakfast.”

Never in her life had she ever rented a hotel room for sex. And yet the two-hour drive seemed interminably long, and the idea of spending the night in a hotel was exciting. His gaze held hers and the tension in the car leaped. “Bran,” she said, trying for a low note of caution. Instead that single syllable—his name—came out with a breathy sort of yearning. “I think... I want to...”

Oh, dear.

He turned the car on and pulled out of the spot, navigating a few streets until he reached the hotel she’d noticed earlier, across from the gardens. He parked in the underground garage, and without looking at her, got out and came around to open her door.

She grabbed her tote bag while a rush of feelings swept through her body. Excitement. Arousal, for sure. Anxiety. Were they rushing things? Was this really a smart idea?

“Relax,” he whispered, taking her hand as they made their way into the hotel and to the front desk. Within moments he’d secured them a room and was guiding her to the elevator.

As they waited for the elevator, Bran took her hand. Jess swallowed against a nervous lump in her throat. Were they really doing this? Last night had been one thing. They’d been in her place, talking and snuggling after a make-out session on the beach. It had seemed...a logical progression of events. This was different. The bell dinged and the doors opened, and Bran guided her inside. She let out a long slow breath and asked herself a sudden question.

What would Ana do?

Jess bit down on her lip. Ana wasn’t here. But Ana had lived life until the last moment, and she’d undoubtedly tell Jess to grab what happiness she could while it lasted. Jess chanced a look over at Bran, and he looked back at her, unsmiling, his dark eyes gleaming. None of the intensity in the car had been lost, and she got a thrill seeing the desire in his eyes.

No one was guaranteed another day. Look at Ana. Look at Jennie. You had to grab each day and its precious, fleeting moments.

The doors opened and they stepped out, then hesitated while Bran scanned the plate on the wall with arrows to room numbers.

They were off again, down the hall, stopping in front of a door, waiting while he let them in and shut the door behind them.

Jess had a glimpse of a king-sized bed covered in white and gold linens, and matching draperies on either side of an elegant desk. It was more luxurious than even Bran’s room at his house, but the moment after the door shut, the sheer opulence of the room was forgotten. Bran’s mouth was on hers, his hands were on her waist and she was swept entirely away into a sea of sensation.

CHAPTER TEN

BRAN WOKE WITH light streaming through the window. He checked the clock beside the bed: five forty. The days were incredibly long at this time of year. Last night, before they’d fallen asleep, sated, it had still been daylight. He’d slept straight through, dreamless. He regretted that he hadn’t awakened in the night, simply to make the hours last longer.

Jess was breathing slow and deep beside him, her face turned toward him, her hair strewn on the white linen of the pillowcase. She was so beautiful, with her sunrise-colored hair and delicate lips. An unfamiliar tenderness washed over him. The sex was fantastic, but it was more than that. They were friends.

He wondered if that friendship would be ruined now that they’d slept together. Certainly, after the summer, their relationship would be over. And yet he’d miss her. She understood him in a way that was so...well, easy.

Yes, he was going to miss her.

She shifted and rolled to her right side, so that her back was to him. It was early to wake her, so instead he slid closer, gently putting his arm over her waist and snuggling in, spoon-style. He closed his eyes and drank in the scent of her hair and the light musk of her skin. For two years he’d slept alone. The last two nights he’d had Jess with him, and it would be too easy to get used to her there. Spending time with her was one thing. Having fun was fine. But he wouldn’t use her as a tonic for his loneliness, and he wouldn’t get too used to her.

Last night had been impulsive and exciting, but they couldn’t make a habit of this, could they?

But reality was hours away, and he wanted to absorb every moment he could. So he closed his eyes and imprinted the moment on his memory, until she woke up.

* * *

He didn’t mean to fall back asleep, but when he opened his eyes again, Jess was facing him with a soft smile on her face.