Kiss of Ice (St. James Family) by Lavender Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

his hand on her thigh.
    “ I'll remember that,” she said, slapping his hand away. “I bet every day in Rio is one big vacation, right?”
    “ Well, I wake up around noon, go to the beach, get drunk, find a hot girl in a thong to take home, fuck until dawn. Press repeat.” He grinned.
    “ And somewhere in between all the fucking, you find a few minutes to ink a big buyout with a major merchandiser.” She batted her eyelashes. “Please teach me, business Buddha.” He laughed. “Teach me how to be lazy and still come out on top.”
    “ Lazy?” He scoffed, opening his eyes. “I take offense. It's a lot of work to get a hot girl to come home with you.” Now it was her turn to laugh.
    “ Right! I bet you crook your little finger and they come running.”
    “ If only it were that easy,” he said, sadly. “There's all the wining and dining—,” he trailed off, shaking his head. “And then I have to maintain my stamina, which requires exercise.”
    “ Life is so hard.” She rolled her eyes.
    “ But the wonderful thing is, because of all the hours and hours of hard work, I've perfected my technique.” He leaned closer to her. “I can make a girl come—,” He held up too fingers and curled them, simulating the stimulation of the g-spot, “—with the crook  of my finger.” He sat back, looking pleased with himself.
    “ You're disgusting.”  Annata turned back to the window, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach. She remembered that day in her office seven years ago, when he roughly slid those fingers inside her and stroked her like that.  He had driven her mad when he curled his fingers, deep inside.  She bet he knew it too. The jerk. She snuck a look at him out of the corner of her eye. He was staring at her.
    “ Anything else you want to know?” he asked, his voice light, but his eyes darkening. She'd either made him mad or turned him on. Either possibility worked for her. The thought of him fucking a bevy of gorgeous women didn't anger her exactly. She wasn't jealous. And she wasn't disgusted. So what did she feel?  She considered her choice of words carefully.
    “ What do you think about when you're fucking them?” she asked, not taking her eyes off the passing city outside of the window. “Are you thinking about your technique? Or how they're feeling? Or what you're going to eat for breakfast the next morning?”
    “ Nothing.” He didn't hesitate.
    “ Then what's the point?”
    “ It's fun.” He shrugged.
    “ You're going to have to grow up sometime, you know.”
    “ Why do you think I'm sitting next to you right now in Paris?” he said. “I'm ready to stand up and take what's mine.”
    “ So you do want to be CEO?” she shot back.
    “ Who said anything about that?” He snaked a hand out and ran his knuckle slowly down her cheek. A shiver ran up her spine and she felt the familiar twinge of arousal between her legs. Damn him. She supposed it was her fault, for pushing the direction of the conversation. She caught his wrist and pushed his hand down to the seat between them. She kept her eyes to the skyline, trying to fight the torrent of thoughts rushing her brain.
     

 
    Chapter 7
     
    The rest of the car ride was in virtual silence. Christophe didn't know what to make of her mood. Was she giving an invitation or shutting him out again? She kept her face to the window and didn't give him any clues. He rolled his shoulders, feeling like a rusty tin-man in need of oil. His body was sore and tight, and he had a sneaking suspicion the cold shower that morning hadn't helped. He'd barely slept at all the night before, tossing and turning. He was restless, and horny as hell. Being so close to Annie was like adding fuel to the fire.
    The car slowed to a stop in front of their hotel. Christophe unfolded himself from the backseat and held his hand out for Annata. She took it, her slender leg emerging from the car first. She leaned on him for a brief moment, then she slipped her hand