Mastering the Art of Love (The American Soldier Collection 2)

When he smiled slightly at her, she felt it to her gut. She also felt a tiny spasm in her pussy. How the hell did he do that?

“Mariana, you are in a lot of trouble, young lady,” he said as he reached for her hand. She hesitated, and he took control immediately, pulling her alongside him. He was pressed close to her. He towered over her as he inhaled against her hair.

“I’ve been waiting patiently to speak with you. It seems you’ve snagged the attention of every man in this place tonight.”

Why did he sound so angry and bossy? What was his problem? Hadn’t she been clear the other day at his office?

“You seem upset.”

“Who is he?” he asked abruptly.

She felt her body tighten and nearly shake with a combination of excitement from his demanding tone and fear that she was completely out of her comfort zone with Jax. If Jameson showed up, she was toast.

She stepped back and began to walk toward the enclave of displays, set back in a more private and secluded location. She could handle this. She handled bill collectors hounding her all the time and uptight college professors who thought she was ignorant and too young to understand the arts, so she could handle one such business man who reeked of wealth and commanded compliance.

She swallowed hard.

“Liam is from Scotland,” she said as she tried to focus on the coastal scene in front of her. Of course it had to be one of Ewbank’s more tragic depictions, but she forced her heart to stop racing and straightened her spine. But then she felt the hand on her waist. Large, hard, yet gently en route around her waist, he wrapped her firmly.

She gasped as she felt his solid chest against her spine, his cock, hard against her ass despite the barrier of clothing, and then the warm breath of his whisper.

“I don’t give a fuck where he’s from, he wants to take you home and that’s not happening.”

His words were so firm and so damn macho she hadn’t expected her body’s reaction. She should be angry, turned off, or at minimum shocked by his possessive words. What gave him the right to say such a thing to her?

She swallowed hard again, and this time her saliva nearly got caught in her throat.

“I’m a big girl, Jax. I can take care of myself.” She hated that her voice cracked, because as she said those words, he used his free hand trail a finger along her neck then pressed his warm, solid lips against her skin.

Holy fuck, this man is amazing. Fight it. Don’t be so easy. He’s a professional, he has to be, wearing a tux like this and cuff links made of what is certain to be real diamonds bigger than I have ever seen before. Things like this do not happen to regular nobodies, like me.

She tried to step away, and he released her. She was both disappointed and relieved. She needed to gain control of the situation.

He took her hand. His thumb caressed along the top of her skin, causing goose bumps to explode across her flesh.

“This is quite the painting. The roaring sea swallowing up the helpless, foolish swimmers.”

She felt his breath collide against her shoulder and neck where the skin was exposed.

“Why do you think they’re foolish?” she asked and shocked herself for coming up with the coherent words at all.

“For challenging the sea.”

She absorbed the sight of the painting of the seascape from the east coast of Scotland. Large, wild waves smashed against the rocks. Ewbank made the people so small that they appeared quite miniature in comparison as they struggled to grab any bits of items left over from the boat wreck.

“I suppose it does show how powerless man is against forces of nature,” she whispered.

“It’s interesting, because this painting sort of reflects the way you make me feel.”

What in God’s name did he just say?

His hands moved up and down her arms, caressing her skin.

“Mariana, I know we don’t know one another well yet, but I want to change that. Please say you’ll have dinner with Jameson and I tomorrow night.”

In her mind she wanted to accept. Her body never felt strung so tight and so interested in such a fantasy, but she wasn’t as naïve as he might believe.

She stepped to the side and turned toward him. Jax stared down into her eyes, and she fought against the superior aura of his presence and stature.