Flash Burned by Calista Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

opportunities that abounded with this revelation!
    I eyed Dane and he held my stare. If he were any other man, I’d say delusions of grandeur got the best of him. But he wasn’t any other man. Not an ordinary one. He thought so freakin’ far outside the box, so far over the rainbow, I didn’t doubt for a single second that if he wanted another property to rival the Lux’s magnificence he could pull it off—easily. Plus, I suspected he’d eventually need another challenge.
    The remainder of dessert was spent with enthusiasm over the grand opening and what the success of 10,000 Lux might spawn—and how it could impact the execs who knew their worth, their value, in this environment.
    By the time we wrapped up dinner and the valet brought around Dane’s McLaren, I was almost dead on my feet from all the event planning and the fervor that had engulfed the dinner crowd.
    When we arrived home, Dane quietly said, “Sit tight.”
    He exited his side of the car and came around to open my door. He unlatched my seat belt and scooped me into his arms.
    â€œMy bag,” I murmured.
    â€œI’ll come back for it.” He carried me to the double doors and I used the hidden keypad to gain access. The alarm chimed as we stepped inside and I disengaged it with the code while still in his arms.
    He took me to the bedroom and set me on the edge of the mattress.
    â€œMaybe you overdid it,” he said as he deftly removed my clothes and then slipped a dark-silver satin nightgown over my head. He’d bought it for me in Paris, because the color and the Tahitian pearl accents on the bodice had reminded him of the outfit I’d been wearing the night we’d met.
    It was a full-length, luxurious garment I loved to feel against my skin. But … “Are you suggesting we’re sleeping?”
    â€œBaby, you can’t possibly have anything else in mind. You’ll be asleep in two minutes.” He discarded my shoes and rubbed my sore feet.
    â€œBut I had to spend all day pretending we weren’t going to end up in bed together tonight so I didn’t give myself away to your employees.” I speared him with a look, weary though I was. Perhaps a tiny bit tipsy from the Cristal and a work high, too. “Do you realize how hard it is to be so close to you in public and act as though we’re not getting naked in private?”
    My fingers grazed his chiseled cheek, his set jaw. Along his neck and to that pulsating point in the hollow of his throat where I could lick and suckle for all of eternity and be one deliriously happy woman.
    The errant thought made me giggle. I said, “I could literally eat you up.”
    He groaned. “You know there’s nothing more that I want to do at the moment than make love to you. But, Ari”—he stared into my eyes—“I know exactly how much time and effort you put into today, and there’s no way in hell I’m sapping more energy from you because of my needs.”
    â€œReally, put like that, you think I can resist you?”
    With trepidation in his voice, he said, “Sleep now. Tell me how you feel in the morning.”
    I groaned in protest and pulled away, falling back against the delectable mattress and its thick covers.
    â€œMy body is so ready.…” As always.
    Dane chuckled. “And your brain is thoroughly fried.”
    â€œLike … so much. I’ve literally forgotten everything outside of work. I haven’t even returned the last few calls from my dad. Thank God he knows how busy I’ve been so he’s not freaking out. I’ve missed a dental cleaning and a hair appointment. If Rosa didn’t pick up our dry cleaning for us, we’d be out of clothes by now.”
    â€œIt’ll all get back on-track soon. This has been a really big push the past month. And tonight, you just need to forget about everything and relax.”
    He disappeared briefly to