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

look and he pushed home his momentary advantage. “I’ve never been for a ride on one of these, you know.”

She frowned as Stan beamed and swept his arm wide. “Well then, hop aboard. Nothing like it in the world when you’re up the top, swaying in the breeze, holding onto your sweetheart’s hand.” Stan winked as he opened a side door to one of the chairs.

Steve could’ve sworn he heard Amber snort as he grabbed her hand and pulled her with him. “Come on, sweetheart. It’ll be fun.”

“A real barrel of laughs,” she muttered, tugging free of his hand but sitting beside him regardless.

He hadn’t lied when he said he’d never been on a Ferris wheel before. If he’d known how snug the seats were, he’d have taken all his girlfriends for a ride. With Amber’s thigh pressed against his and her signature scent enveloping him, this was the best idea he’d had in a long time.

“You could have set the record straight with Stan.”

“And disillusion the old guy? Have a heart.”

She tried to shift away from him, which set the chair swinging. “He’s not used to me bringing guys around.”

He slid an arm around her shoulders, surprised yet thankful she didn’t shrug it off. “A girl like you would have men falling at her feet. Why don’t you bring any of them home?”

“They’re not important enough.”

Jealousy stabbed at his gut, swift and sharp, at the thought of Amber with other men. Ludicrous, as he’d known her for the grand total of less than twenty-four hours. He pushed his luck. “Ever been on a ride with any of them before?”

She turned to face him and his heart pounded, a totally irrational response from an organ he controlled with precision when it came to the fairer sex.

“This is a first.” The wind whipped away her soft response as the wheel slowed and finally stopped, leaving them perched at the top.

However, he didn’t have time to appreciate the view when a gorgeous woman like Amber stared at him with a mouth begging to be kissed.

“Don’t you love new experiences?” He murmured, as he brushed her lips in a feather-light kiss.

A light sigh escaped her lips as they parted. He nibbled her bottom lip before easing his tongue into her mouth, taunting her to match him thrust for thrust. She didn’t disappoint as their tongues duelled, firing his rising passion to new heights. As she returned his kiss, all sense fled. He shouldn’t be doing this. She was the daughter of the opposition, she was trouble, she was business. However, as she moaned, all he could think about was the sheer, unadulterated pleasure of her delicious mouth flowering under his.

He cupped one hand behind her neck, drawing her closer, deepening the kiss with possessive thoroughness. She tasted tart and sweet like he’d anticipated and he couldn’t get enough. He’d never understood the crazy, head-over-heels physical attraction thing, preferring to choose his women with calculated precision of what they could do for him rather than acting on lustful impulse. Until now.

Amber’s fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as she arched towards him. Frustrated they couldn’t do much more than kiss perched this far off the ground, he’d give anything for a bed right about now.

Before he could think, his free hand slid up her bare thigh as it had itched to do all night, creating a trail of tiny goose bumps beneath his touch.

“Whoa.” She pulled away as his hand almost reached nirvana.

He stared at her, not moving an inch.

“I think this belongs to you.” She grasped his wayward hand and placed it firmly in his lap before tugging her skirt down. “Time to go down.”

Needing time to reassemble his wits, he turned away from her to stare at the distant twinkle of city lights illuminating the horizon. Why the hell did he lose his cool around this woman? He couldn’t keep his hands off her.

At that moment, the wheel started up again and they drifted back down to earth in silence. She bolted from the chair as soon as Stan raised the bar.

“Thanks, Stan. It was great.” He shook the old man’s hand.

“Glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Rockwell. See you round.” They grinned like co-conspirators before Steve took off after Amber.

He always seemed to be chasing after her, something he never did with women. Usually, they trailed after him, impressed by his wealth and status. So what was it about this woman that had him running around in circles?

She stopped as he snagged her hand. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Not if I can help it.” She glared at him, gold flecks glinting in the moonlight.

“It was just a kiss. Don’t get so wound up.”

“Who says I’m wound up?”

He loved her defiance, etched into stubborn muscle tensed as if to flee. “You’re tighter than a coiled spring ready to snap.”

“And you’re a lousy judge of character. Goodnight.” She spun on her heel and stalked away.

He pondered her parting jibe. Contrary to her opinion, one of his greatest skills was reading people and their motives. And he was damn good at it too. So why hadn’t he figured her out yet?

“Pleasant dreams,” he called out, already looking forward to the morning, eager to match wits with the enchanting Amber.

She ignored him, a relatively novel experience for his ego.

It didn’t sit well with him being dismissed to easily and he aimed to change all that, starting first thing in the morning.

Three

As soon as Steve entered his hotel room he noticed the red blinking light on the phone indicating he had a message. Probably Amber, giving him another serve before she went to bed? Everyone else had his mobile and wouldn’t call the hotel direct.

Surprisingly, it