High-Society Seduction by Maxine Sullivan Read Free Book Online Page A

he might mean.
    He followed her soon after, and they stood there sipping brandy and looking out on a warm autumn night that still held strong traces of summer. The building wasn’t particularly high, but it was prestigious and on the main thoroughfare. From what she could tell the last time she was here, the whole of the top floor was his penthouse, with a sweeping panoramic view of the city, the bay and the mountain range in the distance.
    Of course the last time she was here on the balcony, Adam had been standing much too close for her liking. She looked at him now and found him watching her with a flame flickering in those dark depths. Her breath caught high in her throat. He’d loosened his tie and he looked incredibly sexy.
    “That color suits you,” he murmured.
    Nervously, she said the first thing that came to mind. “Vinnie’s has some great things.”
    A crease formed between his eyebrows. “Vinnie’s? I don’t think I’ve heard of them.”
    She couldn’t help herself. She laughed. “St. Vincent de Paul. You know, they run a lot of the secondhand stores.”
    His expression faltered. “You’re wearing a used dress?”
    “Unheard of in your world, no doubt,” she said, oddly not taking offense. He really didn’t know any better. “It’s clean and they have some great stuff. Seriously, lots of people buy secondhand goods from them. It works out well all around. People have decent clothes to wear that they might not be able to afford, and the money goes back into charity.”
    He stood there looking at her as if she was speaking another language, and she laughed again at his confusion. This guy had no idea of the real world. Not everyone could afford caviar and champagne.
    Out of the blue, his gaze intensified on her face, then dropped down to her lips. The flame returned to his eyes. She could feel her smile slip away as he slowly brought his head toward her. She couldn’t seem to move, not even to put aside the glass she cradled in her hands.
    He placed his lips on hers and stilled, and it was the most incredible thing she’d ever experienced. He didn’t touch her with anything but his mouth, yet he was oddly touching her in other ways she didn’t want to think about. How was this happening?
    And then his brandy tongue nudged her lips open. She didn’t resist. She couldn’t, and he began long, mesmerizing slides over her. He did it in right measures too, not to tease, but exploring her…just right…so right…mouth-to-mouth as his warm breath shimmied through her, holding her suspended in time…until the moment she’d be able to take a breath on her own again.
    He slowly drew back, a watchful expression about him. She took that first breath then, aware something had clicked between them. A blink later, his eyes filled with male satisfaction. Jenna stiffened, not wanting him to get the wrong impression here. She wasn’t available for long kisses that lingered.
    “I should slap your face.”
    “Mmm, kinky.”
    Her chin rose. “Just because I didn’t slap your face doesn’t mean I’ll let you get away with it again.”
    Challenge flared in his eyes, then banked, his sensual mouth curving upward. “In other words, you don’t want to be my mistress and I’d better not expect you to be?”
    “Exactly.”
    “Fair enough.”
    She managed a snort. What the hell was he playing at?
    He arched a brow. “You look surprised.”
    “I am. I didn’t expect you’d give up so easily.”
    “Who said I had?” He smiled…but a moment later it was gone. “Stay the night.”
    “Wh-what? Didn’t we just agree—”
    “It’s getting late. You can sleep in the spare room.”
    She searched his face, not sure what she was looking for precisely. “Is all this really necessary, Adam?”
    “Unfortunately, yes. It’s only just occurred to me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Chelsea appears on my doorstep tomorrow morning to see if you’re still here.”
    Unease rippled through Jenna. “There’s