Desire (#2)

Title Page copy

Copyright copy

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Thank you!

About Carrie

DESIRE 2

Carrie Cox

If you would like to be informed when the new Carrie Cox book is released, sign up for the newsletter:

http://carriecoxbooks.com/newsletter.html

Copyright © 2012 Carrie Cox

All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author.

JUST AFTER SUNRISE, I hopped around the dorm room with one shoe on. Dammit. Where was my other pump?

I crouched beside the bed and spotted it at the back near the wall. How the hell had it gotten there? I wriggled forward and extracted the shoe from its hiding place. Then I sat back on my heels and took a deep breath, so much had happened in the last few hours my head was spinning.

This time yesterday, I was finishing up an art restoration project, worrying about the fact I had no new work lined up, and today I was off to London with the gorgeous Benjamin Easton.

I stood up and slipped on my other shoe, grinning goofily at my good fortune. Maybe I had finally used up my quota of bad luck. I sure hoped so.

I looked down at my suitcase and ran through my mental checklist. Even though there was no one else in the room, I flushed when my eyes rested on the black lace underwear I’d packed.

My stomach churned with nerves. I sat down on the floor next to my case and began to zip it up. I’d said I would go, so I couldn’t back out now. Besides, it would be safer in London.

I shivered, remembering how, a few months ago, I’d had to pack up in the middle of the night and leave my old life in Miami behind. If it hadn’t been for my old friend from college getting me the job on the Easton estate, I don’t know what I would have done. I’d probably be working in a fast-food joint, flipping burgers by now.

I looked at my watch. Dammit. I was going to be late.

I quickly gave my room a last once over, checking the drawers and the wardrobes to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind. I tried to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. I was off on a new adventure, and I’d be safe in London. Perhaps I might even find more work over there. I could stay awhile, wait until things cooled down.

I hauled my case out of the dorm room and down the corridor and found Frank the warden sitting in his little cubby office. I handed him my key, said goodbye, then headed out to the parking lot to wait for Benjamin Easton.

I still had a couple of minutes to spare, so I perched on top of my case to wait. I tilted my head back and enjoyed the feeling of the early morning sun on my face. I’d only been in Newport, Rhode Island for a couple of weeks, but that was enough to know I loved it. I could smell the Atlantic Ocean and the briar roses growing in the college gardens. Maybe I would come back here one day on vacation.

I heard the crunch of tires over gravel and quickly stood up as the dark limousine rolled towards me.

The chauffeur pulled up in front of me then got out of the car to help with my luggage. I felt a shiver of embarrassment as he put my tatty old green suitcase next to Benjamin’s black leather one.

The chauffeur opened the limousine door for me, and I climbed inside. My breath caught as I saw Benjamin. Would I ever get used to that handsome face?

“Hello,” I said as I sank back into the plush leather seat.

“Hello, Kate. Would you like a drink?” He gestured to the cabinet in front of us. “We picked up coffee on the way.”

“Thanks,” I said and reached for one of the steaming, paper containers.

“I have some work to do.” He nodded at the iPad resting on his lap. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Uh, no, of course not.”

As the limousine pulled away, I turned to gaze out of the window. I was not really sure what I’d expected. I felt a little lost as the sights of Newport flashed past.

I slanted a glance at his profile. Benjamin really was unbelievably hot. His dark hair and tanned skin was a perfect combination. He was dressed more casually today, in jeans and a cashmere sweater, but not quite as casually as the first time I’d seen him and mistaken him for the gardener. I blushed at the memory.

He seemed quite unaware of my presence, working away, while I took the chance to study him. His jaw tensed as he read whatever document he was scrolling through on his iPad, and a small furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

I was surprised when the limousine stopped and the chauffeur got out of the car. Benjamin didn’t offer an explanation, so I sat with my hands linked in my lap, waiting to see what the hold-up was. A minute later I was shocked to see the passenger door open and Colin Easton enter the limousine.

Colin smiled as if he’d been expecting me. I tried to hide my shock. Benjamin hadn’t mentioned his cousin would be joining us on this trip. Not that I minded. Colin had been very kind to me over the past few days, but I didn’t know how much Colin knew about my relationship with Benjamin. If you could call a couple of days hot sex a relationship.

“Lovely to see you again, Kate,” Colin said. “I’m glad you’re joining us on our London trip. Benjamin can be such a boring travel companion. All he does is work.”

I tried to hide my smile as Benjamin looked up from his iPad.

“Have you been to London before?” Colin asked.

I told him I hadn’t, and he began to list all the tourist attractions and sights London had to offer. I couldn’t wait to see Big Ben and the Tower of London and walk beside the Thames.

I imagined walking along the banks of the Thames hand in hand with Benjamin, until Benjamin said, “She is coming to London to work Colin, not to sightsee.”

My daydreams evaporated.

“You’re a slave driver, Benjamin. Not everyone is a workaholic like you,” Colin said and winked at me. “Don’t you worry, Kate. I’ll make sure you see at least some of London.”

A frown flickered over Benjamin’s face as he looked at me. “I didn’t mean you couldn’t see the sights. Of course, you’ll have time off, and it’s up to you what you do with your leisure time.”

AT LOGAN AIRPORT, WE boarded the eight am British Airways flight to London Heathrow. All three of us sat in the first-class section of the plane at the front. I wanted to pinch myself. I’d never flown first class before. On all my previous plane journeys, I had been wedged in with economy passengers. I settled back in a huge, soft seat and accepted a glass of wine from the stewardess.

To be honest, I was very surprised Benjamin Easton didn’t have his own private jet, ready to take off on a moment’s notice.

After the stewardess dimmed the cabin lights, I mentioned it to Colin, and he smiled indulgently at me. “Oh, the Eastons do have a private jet, but honestly flying to place like London, where the flight times are frequent, it makes sense to fly with an airline.”

Although Colin was charming and very willing to chat, I felt a little put out as Benjamin ignored me, seemingly engrossed in work. The seats were wide and set out so there were large gaps between us. Seeing as I wasn’t going to get any attention for Benjamin, I tucked the blue blanket around myself and decided to sleep.

The flight time to London from Boston was over seven hours. I slept for at least five of them. When I woke, despite the comfort in first class compared to economy seats, I still felt stiff.

I opened my eyes and turned to look over at Benjamin. He was looking at me with a sexy smile that made my heart race, even though I’d just woken up.

“Did you sleep well, Kate?”

I flushed and rubbed a hand over my face. Oh, God. I hoped I hadn’t been snoring, or dribbling. Then another horrible thought hit me: Had I been talking in my sleep? I did that sometimes when I was stressed, and the past couple of months had definitely been tense.

I nodded and smiled shyly back at him. “Yes, thank you. Are we nearly there?” I sounded like a kid on a road trip, but I was so excited.

“We should land in less than twenty minutes. We are circling London, waiting for a landing slot. Why don’t you lift the window blind and take a look?”

I did as he suggested, lifting the window blind and peering down at London. A slow grin spread across my face. What a fantastic view.

Below us, the river Thames snaked its way through the centre of London, I spotted the London Eye and then as the plane banked to the left, I let out a squeak of delight when I saw the Tower of London.

Practically bouncing in my seat, I turned to Benjamin. “It’s amazing. I can’t wait to visit the Tower. All that history. The kings and queens and the crown jewels. Have you ever visited the Tower?”

Benjamin stared at me for a moment, a bemused look on his face as if he couldn’t understand my excitement. Then he shook his head. “No.”

When he looked at me like that, I forgot all about the diamonds and the castles. My mind was filled with only him. He was impossibly handsome. His firm jaw clenched as he watched me curiously, his eyes searching my face for something.

The spell was broken as the stewardess sashayed between us. “Please fasten your seatbelts. We’ll be landing soon. She strode across to Colin’s seat and gently shook his arm. “Fasten your seat belt please, sir.”

I clipped my seatbelt across my waist and looked out of the window as we descended towards London.

We collected our cases and passed through immigration within minutes. Terminal five was the new, high-tech terminal at Heathrow. The halls and passageways were huge and the ceilings high, giving an impression of vast space. My practical, low-heeled pumps clacked against the hard floor as we wheeled our cases towards the exit.

The sound made me remember my strappy gold sandals Benjamin had given me as a gift. I had a flashback to last night, his mouth running along the sensitive arch of my foot. I looked over a Benjamin’s broad back. I wondered if we might repeat the performance tonight.

As we reached the exit, the glass door slid open, and the green smell of rain washed over me. Luckily the exit had an extended awning which sheltered us from the rain.

I turned at the sound of tires swishing over wet tarmac and saw a black cab.

“Are we getting a cab?” I asked eagerly, as the cab driver pulled up to the kerb.

“No, that’s our car,” Benjamin said and strode off towards a silver Mercedes.

My shoulders slumped a little as I followed him. The inside of the cab had looked surprisingly spacious and comfortable.

I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder. It was Colin. “Don’t worry we’ll take a black cab ride later.”

I smiled at him. “Tonight?”

“No,” Benjamin said as he waved away the driver and lifted his own suitcase into the trunk. “I need you at the hotel tonight.”

“Oh,” I said as he took my heavy suitcase and lifted into the trunk as if it weighed nothing.

“Have a heart, Benjamin. It’s her first trip to London,” Colin said.

“I am aware of that,” Benjamin said, stiffly. “All the same, I’m afraid I can’t spare you tonight.”

“I don’t see why you need her to work tonight anyway. Surely, Lady Vastor won’t be in that much of a hurry,” Colin muttered.

Benjamin ignored him.

Colin reached for the handle of the front passenger door, and I slid into the back seat next to Benjamin.

Benjamin looked across at me then reached over to put his hand on my knee. The warmth made my skin tingle and delicious spikes of desire ran up from his hand to between my legs. I pressed my knees together, and glanced up, catching Colin frowning at us in the rear-view mirror. I flushed scarlet and bit down on my lip, trying to ignore the sensations running through my body.

As if he was aware of what his touch did to me, Benjamin smiled and slowly stroked the inside of my thigh just above my knee. Dammit, I squirmed in the seat. I could feel the wetness between my legs already.

As he moved his fingers higher, I tried to move away. I shouldn’t have worn a skirt.

Benjamin looked barely affected. His eyes were a little darker, but other than that he was the picture of innocence.

The slow, seductive stroking was driving me crazy. Who would have guessed that spot right there could be so sensitive?

I wanted his hand to travel higher, to finish what he started. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. How long would it take to get to the hotel? Was he going to keep up the exquisite torture for the whole journey?

My panties were already soaking.

Two could play at this game, I decided, and shifted towards the window. I hitched up my skirt and crossed my legs, giving him an almost indecent view. I tried to keep my expression nonchalant as I turned to him and smiled.

I was gratified to see lust darken his eyes. He stared down at my bare legs then licked his lips.