Priceless

My heart races in my chest. The thrill of being caught is not helping the throb that has grown between my legs again. “I’m fine, Jon. Give us a moment.” Major tries to keep his voice level. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. His eyes flick to me. He doesn’t seem to find this as funny as I do, which only makes me giggle more.

“Sorry, sir,” Jon says before I hear his steps leading back away.

“Not funny. He could have seen you.”

“It’s just a boob.” I bat my hand at him. I might be somewhat new to all the sex stuff but I’m not naïve. Sure, no one has really seen me naked before but naked should be natural. Nothing to be embarrassed about.

“My boob,” he growls as he drops back down on the chair with me. I let out a small squeal when he lifts me so I’m straddling him. I can’t stop smiling now. I’ve got the upper hand on him now.

“These feel so powerful now.” I grab my boobs. “Maybe I can blackmail you with them? Threaten to flash people if you don’t stop your shenanigans?”

His hands dig into my hips as he keeps his hold on me. “I guess I’ll have to keep you here. Can’t have you running around flashing your tits at everyone. Sounds like a lot of legal work for your brother.”

My smile falters for a moment as I remember why I’m here. That I don’t like Major Bennington. “I should probably go.” I let out a small sigh. This has been fun. It wasn’t supposed to be but it has been—but it is time to get back to reality. I try and get off his lap but he doesn’t let me go.

“You are home.” There it is. That playfulness back in his voice. It should irritate me but I enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed getting a rise and upper hand on him. This man really does have me turned inside out. I glance around the orangery. This place is beautiful but it isn’t my home. I need to get to mine. Get some space from Major and his wonderful mother before they both have me married and living here permanently. It is all too tempting.

Chapter 15

Major

“You weren’t the London I was hoping to see today.”

Maple’s brother, Gavin, glares at me. He’s a tall man, slightly shorter than me. His face is tight and unhappy. I tap the side of my face. “You’re going to look fifty in a few years if you keep frowning like that. At least that’s what my sister says to me whenever she sees me.”

“You probably won’t be alive by then so what does it matter to you?” he replies coldly, throwing his briefcase on the top of my desk.

I lean back and watch as he tries to exert dominance over my space. Whatever he has in his bag must be something he thinks I won’t like. I’m guessing it’s a prenuptial which I’m willing to sign if it means hurrying this damnable wedding along. It’s already been a week since we first met and I think that’s enough time for anyone to decide whether they should be lifelong partners.

“Here.” He thrusts a sheaf of papers toward me. “Sign these.”

I start reading, fully expecting to see some egregious division of assets in Maple’s favor which I don’t mind but am brought up short when I see it’s basically a restraining order, except I agree to it instead of it being forced on me.

“What the hell is this?” I toss the papers back to him. “I’m not signing this. I’m sorry that you are unhappy with your sister’s choice of a partner, but that’s a problem you’re going to have to deal with.”

“You’re damn right I’m unhappy,” Gavin shoots back. “Whatever you did to my sister shook her up so much she came to my house in the middle of the night and demanded I protect her from you. You’re lucky I don’t have the police here arresting your ass. You can thank Maple for that. She says she won’t take any action against you so long as you sign these papers.”

My first instinct is to call him a liar, but there’s something in the red in his eyes that makes me think his anger is real. How did Maple go from being the gorgeous wanton in my mother’s orangery to sending me a restraining order? This had to be Gavin’s doing. I rise to confront him. “What did you say to her?”

A grim smile appears on his face. “Are you hard of hearing? She came to me last night demanding this.” He slaps the papers against my chest. “So sign them or I’ll have the police arrest you.”

I shove the papers back at him. “For what?”