Page 31 of The Billionaire's Christmas Bride

Max growls in his throat.

I shoot him a dirty look. Fucker changed camps, deserted me so easily... Wait until he comes looking for treats.Guess who wears the pants around here, you mutt!

Max whines.

"Hey," she hunches her shoulders over the puppy, "back off, you big bully."

"Not happening." I firm my grip on her. She winces but doesn’t back down.Hmm.This woman has a backbone, all right. I am going to take so much pleasure in breaking her down. "Get out of the car," I growl.

"No." She firms her lips.

"You have until I count to five."

"Whatever." She continues to pat the puppy’s head.

"Four." I set my jaw.

"Count faster." She rubs behind Max’s ears and the mutt makes a contented sound.Hell. How dare she ignore me…for a…a dog?She is fucking with my head, all right.

"Three." I lower my chin.

"Guess he knows his numbers, huh?" she sing-songs to the puppy.

My pulse begins to race.

"Two." I move in closer.

"I am soo scared," she simpers

Adrenaline spikes my blood. My pulse thuds at my temples, behind my eyelids, even in my fucking balls. "Don’t say I didn’t warn you," I lower my voice to a hush. She pales, a visible shudder running up her spine.Good.

"One." I apply just enough pressure so she turns to me.

"What are you doin—?" Her gaze widens.

I yank her toward me, puppy and all, lower my lips to her taunting mouth.

9

"I could give up chocolate, but I am not a quitter."

-From Amelie's diary

Amelie

Warmth, heat, the hardness of his chest digging into my breasts... But his lips…his lips… They’re soft and coaxing…and completely not what I expected. Not after how he’d grasped my shoulder… Certainly not, after how he’d kissed me that first time…all demanding and dominating… Oh, he’s still ruthless, hellbent on taking from me… But with his mouth, he seduces me. He nibbles on my lower lip and I part them. He swipes his tongue across the seam of my mouth, and a moan trembles up my throat. He releases my shoulder, only to cup my cheek. His warm breath mixes with mine and I draw of his in greedy gulps. I want to bottle that essence of his, roll around in it, absorb in it, bathe in it, let it tease my core, slink up my channel…Argh!Everything in me wants him to lick me down there with as much finesse as he’s demonstrating with his very able mouth. "Wes," I hear myself plead with him…Did I say that aloud or was I simply thinking it in my mind?He tilts his head, easing his tongue over mine. A ripple of pleasure darts up my spine. All thoughts drain from my head. I move in closer, strain against his chest. Bring my arms around his—a whine cuts through the air.

I pull away, but he holds me in place. "Ignore him."

"But…"

"The pooch will survive."

"He’s getting restless," I insist. "Did you take him out earlier?""

"Open the door and let him out."

"No." I stare at him. "Out here?"