THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,51

ready. By then, he hoped things would be obvious. But when the time was right, he would explain in earnest why for him, she mattered. And he intended to make his intentions clear, one day at a time. What was in his favor was that she had already agreed to spend the remainder of the cruise with him as a pretend couple. Now he wanted to make the pretense real.

“I want to show you what you’ve been missing out on,” he said when they reached her cabin door. She leaned back against a wall, studying him. He liked that and didn’t want her to ever take anything at face value.

She nodded slowly, as if she was contemplating what he’d said. At least she hadn’t questioned his abilities. Evidently their passionate kisses in the limo had convinced her that he could deliver. “So, it will be about sex and nothing more.”

He intended to use every moment he spent with her to prove that for them, it would always be more than just sex. But again, she didn’t need to know that now. “It will be about treating you to the pleasures you’ve been, so far, denied. You never should accept anything less.”

Before she could question what he’d meant, he quickly asked, “So… Are you going to invite me inside your cabin, Monica?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LANDON’S QUESTION MADE MONICA’S pulse rate spike. What was she to do? He’d moved to lean against the wall now too, looking sexier than any man had a right to look, and the expression on his face left no doubt that he was hungry enough to eat her alive.

The very thought made a flare of arousal rush through her. Goose bumps formed on her arms and her mouth suddenly felt dry.

“Monica?”

She hadn’t answered and she couldn’t. Instead, she acted, unlocking and then opening her door. He followed her.

Monica had barely stepped inside when Landon reached out for her, and she walked into his arms without hesitation.

“I want to pleasure you tonight,” he said, his deep voice husky with warning…and promise.

“Do you think you can, Landon?”

A confident smile eased on his lips. “Oh, yes. Will you give me the chance to prove it?”

The thought of what he would do had sensations flooding her stomach. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Then, giving her a heart-stopping smile, dimples and all, he framed her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers.

An overwhelming burst of sexual need consumed Landon the moment his mouth touched hers. When she parted her lips, he went for her tongue with a hunger he felt in every part of his being. This would be a night she would never forget. He wanted that for her. He wanted that for them.

The kiss went on forever, and her low whimpers of need were driving him crazy. He finally released her mouth and leaned in, whispering close to her ear, “I want to make love to you, Monica. And I will give you immense pleasure. I promise.”

She eased closer to him and there was no way she could miss his aroused state. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she brought her lips close to his and whispered, “Do it.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. Without a word, Landon swept Monica into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. Once there, he placed her on the bed, then stood back a little, waiting. He needed to know she really wanted this, that in the morning, she wouldn’t regret her decision. He wanted her to feel more passion with him tonight than she’d ever felt before—or would ever feel again. When he was inside her, he wanted to stake a claim, wanted to brand her as his. Totally and completely.

Easing off the bed, she moved towards him. “I want to undress you, Landon.”

Her words broke the silence between them, and he repeated what she’d told him moments ago. “Do it.”

He fought with his self-control as she reached for his shoulders, and slowly began rubbing her hands all around them before easing his jacket off and tossing it aside. Then, pulling him forward, she placed a kiss on his chin, his throat, and the part of his chest exposed through his shirt. His breath caught when he felt her tongue glide over him, licking him for a torturous moment before straightening to undo the buttons on his shirt.

Her touch was nearly driving him insane, but he refused to give in to his desires. Tonight, and any time they made love it