Previously in Trading Hearts….
Naomi Kildare is a young Scottish designer.
Eaglestone is the powerful retail agency that could launch her into international stardom. Naomi's meeting with the fashion buyer was taken by a mystery man who turned out to be Lucas Eaglestone, the company's owner.
When they met, mutual desire forged a new and unexpected path.
A passionate BDSM affair with this masterful lover sidelined Naomi's business plans and changed her life forever. Lucas asked her to surrender herself to him, totally, and at his hands she experienced sexual pleasures beyond her wildest dreams.
Her emotions quickly became entangled.
Then Lucas offered her a business contract – with conditions: she must be his.
This dominant master has uncovered Naomi's true nature, but did it also prove business and pleasure don't mix? Naomi is enthralled by his physical claim on her, but her pride wouldn't allow her to sell her own dream in exchange for a decadent life as his willing submissive. Together they could be the perfect match, but trading hearts is never that simple.
She turned down his offer.
Lucas has now traveled the length of the land to win his woman and he won't let anything stand in his way...
Chapter One
She was in his arms again, and Lucas was kissing her, owning her, but it didn't settle easy with her. She'd taken flight, run from him, run home to Scotland, and yet here he was on her doorstep and she couldn't resist. The need to express herself, to re-establish her herself, was taking hold. Naomi Kildare pressed her hands to his chest, pushed, and took a deep, steadying breath.
"Wait. Stop."
His sharp blue eyes darkened. "You let me in here, you agreed to this."
She knew that look. He was aroused, as was she, and it was going to be hard to put the brakes on. This is what he could do, own her, swamp her, and it was important she guard her corner.
He tugged her closer, strong hands locked around her waist.
It triggered something raw, something animal. She locked eyes with him. "You think you can have any woman you want, don't you? That's what this is about, isn't it?"
"I don't want any woman. I want you."
He cupped her head in both his hands and looked deep into her eyes. The heat of his desire was there, powerful, demanding and possessive. When he kissed her she felt it right through her body. It seized every nerve ending, drew every part of her body to his. Her core seized, her nipples burning for contact.
He dipped to kiss the soft skin of her neck, hungrily, his teeth grazing her collarbone as he moved lower. Lust surged inside her, numbing the troubled thoughts that had caused the gap between them.
Were the doubts vanishing too? she wondered vaguely, as he urged her to lie back down over the shop cabinet she was perched on. In his hands there was no room for doubts, as if being in his arms and being seduced by him pushed everything away.
He parted her thighs, stood between them, then reached for the hem of her top and pulled it over her head. He wasn't waiting to be taken upstairs. He was going have her right here on the countertop in her little shop of dreams.
"I need you." His voice was barely above a growl.