Awaken to Pleasure - By Nalini Singh Page 0,9

you coming?"

Bemused, he followed her into the spacious room. A small music system was arranged in wall brackets on the left, while a large sofa upholstered in blue sat against the opposite wall. However, the main feature was the floor-to-ceiling window immediately in front. Stretching from one end of the room to the other, it looked out over the sea to the dormant island volcano ofRangitoto . Tonight, the weather obscured most of the view, allowing only a glimpse of crashing breakers.

"It's so open." She walked across the plush dove-grey carpet to spread her palm against the glass.

He came to stand beside her. "It's reflective. No one can see inside, even if they get into the grounds."

Next to him,Taylor's profile was clean and pure. The curling hair around her face looked like it would be incredibly soft to the touch. The urge to reach out and test his theory was so strong that he shoved his hands into his pants pockets and clenched them tight.

"Your home's very tidy."

To him, it looked barren. "I don't live with a kid."

She smiled fondly. "He is a tad messy but I suppose muddy sneakers come with little boys."

"I'm surprised you let him go on the camp."

Her eyes moved from contemplating the turbulent sea to fix on his face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He raised a brow. "You're very protective of Nick."

"I'm his only family." Her defensiveness was clear. "I can be protective if I want."

He left the topic for now, aware how touchy she was about her brother. He'd tried to broach the subject with her while she'd worked for him, but she'd frozen him out. At the time, he'd been frustrated at having to accept that he didn't have any rights over her brother ... or over her.

Yet.

He wouldn't touch her tonight, because he'd promised her safety and he would never renege on that assurance. But, after tonight, all bets were off, because he wanted rights overTaylor. All sorts of rights.
Chapter 3
" One of the spare rooms is made up. It's to the right of the upstairs bathroom. My bedroom's across the hall if you need anything."Jackson's tone was businesslike.

Taylorknew a dismissal when she heard one. "Yes, boss." She looked from the tumultuous weather outside to the powerful man standing next to her. He could be just as dangerous as the storm winds.

"I certainly never heard that when you were working for me." His words were light but the look in his eyes was intensity itself, hot and possessive.

She knew what that look meant and had from a very early age. She just didn't want to deal with it. Heart thudding, she said an abrupt "Good night," and left.

There was no lock on the bedroom door but she didn't worry.Jacksonwould never assault her. That didn't mean he didn't want her. In the past, when life had threatened to become too bleak or lonely, she'd hugged the awareness of his desire to her, safe in the knowledge that nothing would ever come of it. She wasn't that kind of woman.

AndJacksonwasn't that kind of man. His personal code was stronger than lust or passion. He wouldn't have broken his wedding vows no matter what Bonnie had done. But now his wife was gone and he'd acknowledged the smoldering fire between them, if only with his dark eyes.

Confused by her warring emotions,Taylorstarted to get ready for bed and then realized she had nothing to sleep in. About to search the closet in the room, she heard a heavy tread outside her door. A curt knock followed.

Opening the door, she foundJacksonholding out a white shirt. "Thought you might need this." His voice was low and that banked fire in his gaze wasn't apparent.

Her heart turned over. "Thanks." Just as she took the shirt, her cell phone, which she'd dropped into the pocket of her robe, rang. Immediately, worry shot through her. "That might be Nick. Hold on."

Unfortunately, it was her stepfather. LanceHegerty , on the line. "Where are you,Taylor? No one's answering at your place. "Where's my son?"

She knew he'd said the last deliberately - a cruel reminder that Nick was only her half brother. No matter that she'd raised him, in the eyes of the law she had less of a right to Nick than Lance, his biological father.

"Why are you calling? It's late." Her voice threatened to tremble. She crushed the shirt in her hand.

"You haven't responded yet."

She knew her face was losing its color. Turning her back toJackson, she said, "I have