Reinventing Jane Porter (3 page)

“Hmm, I don’t remember you on the guest list.” She picked up her clipboard and feigned checking the guest list. “I thought you were in Europe slumming with the French.”

“I would hardly call it slumming especially after living in one of the best Parisian hotels for more than six months.” His eyes twinkled. “I’m not sure I remember how to make my own coffee.

“I’m sure you’ll manage.” Lily threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug. “You’re a far better cook than I.”

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Dominique Adair

“That is hardly a compliment from a woman who believes tinned beans with hot dogs is a delicacy.”

“Hey, I learned how to work a microwave while you were gone.”

“Mmm, now you can warm the beans first.” He nodded toward Jean Jacques. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you jealous over another woman.”

“Me? Jealous of what?” Ignoring her burning cheeks, she waved her hand in the direction of the Barbies. “Too much Lycra and peroxide poisoning? No thanks.”

“You’re out of practice, Lily. You were a much better liar six months ago.” Robert chuckled. “Admit it. Your panties are in a twist because our friend over there has always had a hard-on for you and right now, you don’t even exist. You can lie to yourself all you want but deep down, you and I both know I’m right.”

Smug bastard.

She’d always hated that she’d allowed Robert to get to know her so well. They’d dated for three months before realizing they made better fuck-buddies than boyfriend and girlfriend. Ever since then they’d hooked up when he was in town and spent a few nights of rough and tumble, get your skirt dirty…sex. The pillow talk afterward gave him an insight into her personality that few others had.

His ability to assess a situation and call it like it was, was one of many reasons why Dirk valued him so much. Personally, she liked him better when his mouth was otherwise occupied…

“Sometimes I think I hate you.” She spoke without heat.

“I don’t believe it. From time to time you would like to think you do, but I know better. We’re too much alike, so if you hate me, you’re really hating yourself.” He smiled. “Besides, who else could keep you on the straight and narrow?”

“Woo-hoo, how did I ever survive without you?” She rolled her eyes.

“Cheer up, Lily.” Robert dropped his arm around her shoulders. “It could’ve been worse if I’d had a twin.”

“I’m thankful for small mercies.” She groaned.

“That’s my girl.”

Her gaze drifted to Jean Jacques. He was so damned handsome with his chiseled features and rock hard body. For two years they’d resisted their mutual attraction. They’d fought, teased, tormented and laughed together, and she knew they couldn’t ever go back to what they were less than twenty-four hours ago.

Jean Jacques put his arm around one of the women, and Lily felt as if her chest went hollow. She felt his loss more keenly than she’d ever dreamed she could. She’d gotten used to his gaze following her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. Secretly she enjoyed how he would compliment her on what she wore.

The best part was he would open doors for her and as she walked through, he would place his hand on her lower back. Each and every time she thought her knees would buckle when he touched her there.

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Educating Jane Porter

When Jean Jacques was near, her reaction was strong and immediate. Just hearing his voice caused every hair to stand on end and if they were face to face, her nipples hardened every time. She’d come to realize that on some level she’d already claimed Jean Jacques as her own.

Her shoulders sagged.

Right now the emotional chasm between them was wider than mere distance could ever be.

The tall Barbie’s hand landed on his abdomen as she spoke. The flash of her red nails against his white shirt was like waving a red cape in front of a bull.

“I’m going to snatch that bitch bald, Robert.” Her fists clenched.

“Lily, you’ve nothing to be jealous of.” Robert’s lips touched her ear. “Those women don’t possess any of your enviable talents. The woman whose hair you’re threatening—she’s the governor’s daughter.

She graduated last year and announced that her greatest desire in life is to be a trophy wife.”

“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me. I never suspected she’d set her sights so…high.” Sarcasm dripped from every syllable.

Robert laughed, and she ignored him. Lily was pissed and not in the mood to be teased into a smile.

Not only had she let a man get under her skin, but it was Jean Jacques, the one she’d promised herself she couldn’t have. Years of self-restraint thrown out the window for sex.

Well, really, really great sex…the best sex she’d ever experienced.

“Feeling insecure?” Robert gave her a one-armed hug. “You’re ten times more woman than those girls could ever hope to be.” His voice dropped, and his breath caressed her ear. “And far more desirable.”

A slow tingle ignited in her lower belly. Robert, like Jean Jacques, had some serious charisma. Both men had an indefinable aura that never failed to flip any woman’s switch. It was one of several reasons why her relationship with Robert was so enjoyable. They both appreciated good wine, classical music and hot sex, the raunchier the better.

She shot a dark look at Jean Jacques. So unlike a certain Frenchman, being with Robert was easy, comfortable. She looked up at him.

“I’m not in love with him.”

His brow rose. “I never said you were.”

“And if he prefers a Ford to a Jaguar—” she jerked her head toward Jean Jacques and the Barbies, “—

that’s his loss.”

“That’s my girl.” His smile was encouraging. “Sometimes you need to be reminded that you’re in charge. If you want him, take him. While Jean Jacques may be flirting with other women…”

“He fucked another woman in front of me.” The moment the words were out, her eyes began to sting.

“Wow.” His gaze roamed her face. “That’s a twist. What the hell did you do to him?”

“Me?” She pushed him away. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Lily, stop.” His voice was gentle. “Here’s how I see it.”

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Gripping her shoulders, he forced her to turn toward Jean Jacques and the Barbies.

“You love him—”

She snorted.

“—and I’m pretty sure he loves you. You’ve allowed you pride to dictate what you say, but it’s not how you feel on the inside.” His hands landed on her hips. “Not every male in the universe is a complete dick, and Jean Jacques, he’s one of the good ones.”

“Yeah, right—”

Lily started to turn away, but Robert’s grip tightened.

“I don’t know why he had sex with another woman, but if you don’t wake up and swallow some of that damnable pride then you’re going to destroy the best thing to ever happen to you.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “You’ve outgrown your capricious life, Lily. Even Holly Golightly had to grow up sometime.”

Her heart ached and now her eyes burned. She knew Robert was right but her pride, her damned wonderful, hateful pride wouldn’t allow her to admit it.

“It’s always been Jean Jacques for you.” His voice grew husky. “I introduced the two of you, remember? Both of you looked as if you’d been struck by lightning. Even if I’d been in love with you it would’ve been over right then. Not once did you look at me as you did him.”

Damn, there had been a witness!

“Have you been reading romance novels again?” Her nails dug into her palms, but the pain was nowhere near the growing ache in her chest. “You always get sappy when you do.”

“Only the sexy bits.” He chuckled. “I need to keep myself occupied in the darkest hours of the night or else I will go out and have sex with inappropriate women.”

“I’m not falling for it. Every eligible woman in your Paris hotel probably ended up in your bed.”

“Not quite.” His lips touched her neck. “There was a transgender female who worked in the laundry, and she was the only one to avoid my bed.”

“You probably nailed her on a washing machine.”

His hand skimmed over her hip to the top of her thigh. Her pulse leapt. Even though she was in love with Jean Jacques, Robert still had the ability to jump-start her libido. Old habits died hard.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but she turned me down.” His teeth grazed her earlobe. “It would seem she’d become a woman only to turn lesbian.”

She began to laugh.

“Keep it up, Lily. Your lover is getting restless now that my hands are all over you.” His tongue tickled the indentation behind her ear. “Do you think making him jealous would help to appease your hurt feelings?”

“You’re getting warm.” She tilted her head to the side.

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Educating Jane Porter

“Being a man gives me some insight into how the male mind works.” He tugged her earlobe with his teeth. Her nipples hardened. “If I were to guess, I’d say our friend fucked another woman to deliberately hurt you.”

Lily thought about how she’d accused him of screwing another woman before he’d carried her out of the ballroom and into the utility closet. If he was innocent, her accusation would’ve taken a chunk out of his hide.

“You could be right.”

“Our boy is possessive, very possessive. Seeing you with another man will drive him insane.” His breath was hot on her shoulder. “Your man has definite ideas when it comes to his women and another man invading his territory is an insult he cannot ignore.”

“What do you get out of this?” Lily hissed. “You work with him, won’t this interfere with business.”

“Hell, no.” His chest shook against her back. “I owe the bastard for fucking my assistant last summer.

I’d asked her to dinner at least a dozen times, and she turned me down. That bastard waltzed in and had her naked on my desk within an hour. Making him watch me fuck you will be the highpoint of my year.”

Don’t do it…

“Why Robert, I like how you think.”

Tilting her head, she watched Jean Jacques through her lowered lashes. He wasn’t looking in their direction, but his demeanor had certainly changed. The smile was gone and judging from the tightness of his jaw he could very well be grinding his teeth.

Poor boy, you are so screwed.

“Besides, who knows when we’ll have this chance again?” Robert said. “Once both of you get over your stubborn pride, our relationship will be over.”

“I am a one-man kind of woman.”

His hand dipped beneath her waistband and made a beeline south. Widening her stance, Robert didn’t hesitate to accept her invitation. Slipping into her panties, he cupped her pussy.

“Fuck, Lily, I want to strip you bare and take you on the bar.”

She moaned when his fingers delved into her cunt. Clutching his arm, she rose onto her tiptoes to give him better access.

“Only feet away your lover is flirting with nameless, faceless women.” Two fingers invaded her pussy, and she quivered. “I’m inside you, but it’s his fingers your body remembers.”

He began to thrust. Arousal washed over her and when his thumb stroked her clit, her legs began shaking. She was grateful for his arm or she would melt to the floor.

“Your pussy is so hot I could fuck you all day, Lily.”

“You’ve already done that.” She laughed.

“Indeed I have.”

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Jean Jacques was staring at them, and he did not look happy. Good. Reaching back, her fingertips stroked Robert’s firm jaw. Her hips began to move, leaving Jean Jacques in no doubt as to what was happening behind the bar.

Still surrounded by the Barbies, he’d given up any pretense of paying attention to the women. Her gaze met his and her chin came up, silently daring him to say or do anything to stop her.

A muscle began to tick in his jaw when Robert’s free hand covered her breast. He stroked her nipple and she covered her hand with his. Soft whimpers tumbled from her lips as liquid heat washed through her pussy. Jean Jacques’ darkening expression only added to her arousal.

“You’re so tight, hot.” The pace of Robert’s hand increased. “Let him see your passion, your fire.”

Driven by the twin devils of Robert’s hand and Jean Jacques’ anger, she arched, pressing her rear into Robert’s pulsing crotch. Tossing back her head, she no longer cared who was watching. Her need for release overrode everything else, even revenge.

But it wasn’t to be.

Robert released her, and she stumbled. She turned and he took her by the shoulders, forcing her backward until she was half-sitting on the edge of the beer cooler. His massive erection prodded her belly.

“You should get dressed for tonight.” Slowly, deliberately, he skimmed his hands down her body.

“You’re officially off duty, Ms. Tyler.”

“But, I still have—”

“No, you don’t.”

Catching the hem of her skirt, he pulled it up to her hips. His blue eyes gleamed, and he lowered himself to his knees. Gaping at him, she began to shake when she realized what he was about to do.

Spreading her legs, Robert lifted each one over his shoulders. Her hands slammed down on the cooler when he balanced her weight on his shoulders. Spreading her pussy lips, his tongue touched her clit and her body jerked.

Lily was both thrilled and appalled when he set to work. Robert was a pussy-eating fool. Many times he’d joked about packing a lunch and spending the day between her thighs. And on more than one occasion he’d done just that.

“Oh, yes, yes!” Her head tipped back.

His tongue was warm, firm as his fingers slid deep into her cunt to focus on her G-spot. Her eyes rolled back into her head as wave after wave of need burned through her system. Her soft moans grew to howls of need and her hips rocked on the edge the cooler.

“Harder…yes, just like that. Yes, yes, yes!”

Leaning her back against the bar, her body arched upward when her release struck. Wave after wave of pulsing release tore through her body leaving her breathless and shaking. Robert withdrew his hand and 20

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