The Contract by Marsh, Nicola (read aloud books .txt) 📕

any semblance of normality. My father was too busy making money and Mum was too busy spending it. Gran accepted me for who I was, not someone she expected me to be. She encouraged me to become a lawyer and follow my own path, understanding my need to prove myself.”

“Sounds like a remarkable woman.” Remorse tugged at her conscience for her harsh judgment call yesterday. She’d accused him of being a man living off the wealth of his family, yet he seemed to despise doing that if his comments regarding his parents were any indication. Time to make amends. “I think you take after her.”

He fixed her with those striking grey eyes that reflected the overcast sky. “Was that another compliment? Careful, you might break your record.”

She smiled, relieved she’d lightened the moment. “Who knows, I might go all the way and say I’m actually enjoying your company?”

“I’m hoping you’ll go all the way.”

The swift change in his tone, combined with the blatant desire in his eyes, startled her.

She turned away and leaned on the railing. “What’s this grand plan you have for saving the carnival?”

Her breath caught as he came up behind her and spread his arms either side of hers, effectively trapping her. Heat radiated off his body, setting her nerve endings alight as she struggled to maintain composure.

“Is there anyone special in your life?” He whispered, his warm breath caressing her ear as goose bumps peppered her skin.

Idiot. She wouldn’t have responded to his kisses, twice in the same day, if she’d been involved with anybody. “No,” she muttered as he leaned closer, almost pinning her to the rail.

“Would you like there to be?” His arms brushed hers, the light smattering of hair rasping across her skin as her pulse raised another notch.

“Depends who’s offering.”

She wished she could turn around and read his expression. Was he serious or toying with her inexperience? Not that it mattered. She could never get involved with a fancy-schmancy lawyer. Their worlds were too different, besides the salient point he’d come along to turn hers upside down.

“What if I could offer you everything you’ve ever desired?”

She battled the urge to whirl around as he finally touched her, his thumb tracing lazy circles on the back of her hand, gripping the railing so hard her knuckles stood out.

“Money means nothing to me,” She bit out as he covered her hands with his, fingers intertwined.

“Who said anything about money?” He kissed her neck, a brief touch of his lips that left her needing more. So much more.

She wouldn’t turn around. She couldn’t.

“You’re talking in riddles and I don’t like it,” she said, her unruly hormones battling with her common sense, urging her to take advantage of the moment while her voice of reason screamed ‘leave me alone’.

He didn’t answer, trailing delicate, soft kisses up her neck to her ear lobe as her heart pounded. She couldn’t think straight, the touch of his hot mouth sending her wavering resistance flying overboard.

Time ceased to exist as he pressed against her, rocking ever-so-gently in time with the shifting deck beneath them. Her body burned, needing to feel his bare skin against hers, aching for him to assuage the deep-seated yearning he’d started within her.

They swayed together for what seemed like an eternity, hands interlocked and his groin spooning her, though he didn’t push and his patience shattered any lingering doubts. Why couldn’t she live for the moment? She’d never done anything as wildly romantic as this, sailing on a yacht with a drop-dead gorgeous man who didn’t hide how much he wanted her.

He turned her around, his gaze daring and her pulse skittered. “I have a solution to all your problems.”

“I bet you do.”

Amber stared, transfixed, drowning in the endless depths of his eyes, which had darkened to almost-black. She inhaled sharply, his masculinity combining with the tang of salt air, sending her already precarious senses spiralling dangerously out of control. She wanted him with a ferocity that terrified.

As she reached for him, her common sense kicked in. What the hell was she doing? Steve Rockwell was technically the enemy and she had to stop fraternising.

She pulled away, her brain insistent on being sensible while her body screamed for more. Resisting the urge to wrap her arms around him, she shrugged out of his embrace and walked to the other side of the boat, putting as much physical distance between them as possible. She had to, with her willpower at an all-time low.

“You were saying?” She steadied her breathing and aimed for nonchalance, hoping he would go along with it.

He stared at her, his passion-glazed eyes doing little to calm her rampaging hormones. “I can’t remember. I got side-tracked.”

“You mentioned a solution to my problem?”

She tried not to stare as he lifted a hand and ran it through his hair, giving her a tantalising glimpse of tanned, washboard abs. For a lawyer who spent his days behind a desk, he had the body of an athlete, a well-toned athlete in his prime. Her fingers itched to slide down the lean, smooth hardness of his stomach. And lower.

“Oh, that.” He grinned, a devilish glint in his eyes. “It’s simple. Marry me.”

Four

Despite the warmth of the sun as it burst out from behind the clouds, a sudden chill made Amber shiver.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. Marry me.”

She took a steadying breath, hoping he had a logical explanation for his ludicrous suggestion. “You brought me all the way out here to ask me that? I thought you had a serious solution to my family’s problems.”

“I’m deadly serious.” He thrust his hands in his pockets, his low, steady voice and confident posture only serving to rile her further.

“You’re crazy. Is this some warped,