Awaken to Pleasure - By Nalini Singh Page 0,36

cooperate."

Jacksoncouldn't believeTaylorwas defending him and insulting Henry, and doing it well. The other man wasn't used to trading barbs with a smart woman who didn't consider herself bound by the rules of their impolite society, which deemed that nothing must ever be said with blunt force, only covertly implied.

"How dare you..." Henry began, mouth pinched.

"Oh, go away." She flicked her hand in a dismissive gesture. "You annoy me. And if I ever hear you say anything against my husband, I'll tell everyone exactly how you got the funding for your last miserable picture."

Henry's face paled. "How do you know?"

Jacksonwas fascinated. Absolutely and utterly. He stood behind his wife, one hand curved around her body to lie on her stomach, not interfering. Delighted amazement kept him from taking over. No one had ever stood up for him. Not a single person. He was stunned at the feeling that spread through him at seeingTaylor's protectiveness.

She raised a brow. "You really should be more discreet. Now, leave." It was a regal order.

Henry left, looking atTaylorwith more fear in his eyes than he'd ever shownJackson.

"Piccola?"

"Yes." She was scowling at Henry's retreating back, her arms folded like some avenging warrior-goddess.

"What do you know?"

"Secretaries hear everything. I keep in touch with my friends in the movie business. Let's just say that Henry participated in a casting couch ... in reverse."

"But, who'd want Henry?" He was flabbergasted.

"Exactly what I said."
Chapter 8
Jacksonhad just started unbuttoning the formal black shirt he'd worn to the party, having eschewed any kind of jacket because of the heat, whenTaylorwandered in from across the hall. She had her face scrunched up in concentration and her hands on the clasp of her necklace.

"Darling, can you..." She turned her back to him and swept aside her hair to bare her nape, creamy white against the electric blue of the dress.

He walked over, hands aching to touch her. "Darling," she'd called him, like they were a normal couple.

Tonight had been an education, exposing bothTaylor's possessiveness and her protectiveness. But, the fact was, they weren't a normal couple and despite those delightful revelations, he was strung taut with desire for his sweet, sexy wife.

He undid the clasp without speaking, afraid he'd give away his frustration if he opened his mouth. Her damn dress was a husband's nightmare. He'd had to have a hand on her throughout the evening to warn off the predators. A lot of the men had had a look in their eyes that said they were just waiting until he was distracted, before they pounced. He hadn't being distracted by anything other than the feel of his wife's sleek body under his palm. She'd seemed perfectly happy to let him stake his claim so publicly, not that he'd given her much choice.

Or ever would.

When the necklace fell intoTaylor's hand, she didn't turn and leave, but bent her head to look at something in the chain that had caught her interest. This time, he couldn't resist the urge. Leaning over, he put his hands lightly on her hips and pressed his lips to her nape.

A gasp of surprise. "Jackson?"

"Yes." Since she hadn't moved, he kissed her again, his hands pressing a little more firmly. Lord but she was soft. The urge to pull her tight against his straining arousal was almost irresistible.

"What are you doing?"

"Pleasuring you ... and me." Another kiss. His hands itched to rise up and cradle her breasts. He kept them still on her hips by force of will alone.

"Sexual pleasure?" It was barely a whisper.

His gut clenched with guilt. He drew back. "I am sorry, piccola , I should not have pushed. A kiss doesn't mean permission to ask for more."

She didn't look at him but shook her head. "Push."

He froze. "Taylor?"

"I'm tired of being afraid. I want to know what the fuss is all about." It was such a Taylor-like answer that he had no trouble believing her. "And I meant what I said to that odious creature. You're a good man. You'd never hurt me so I have no excuse for fear. Show me."

He bit back a grin, passion tempered by tenderness at her bravado. "Are you sure?"

She sent him a scowling look over her shoulder. "Yes." She reached out and threw the necklace onto a small table in one corner of his room. "Jackson, what if I can't ... finish this? What if I freeze?"

"Baby, the finish line can be wherever you want. It can end with a kiss or with me inside you. Your choice." He put

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