pulled up at that moment and his driver came around to open the door for them. Since the man was waiting, James sighed and put his hand around her back once again, leading her down the last few steps. “You’re going to pay for that, my dear.”
She laughed again and looked over her shoulder at his big, strong body. “Ah, the tough guy suddenly afraid of a little piece of furniture?” she asked. “I thought you big, American types were all strong and daring, not afraid of anything.
He didn’t have a chance to respond since she slipped into the back seat of his limousine at that moment. Besides, he was struck by her legs, revealed when she slid her cute little bottom onto the leather seat, then swung her legs into the vehicle. Models and actresses would pull that move off and ensure that their dress rode up their legs to show off their muscular limbs. But as Julianna did it, there was only a brief glimpse of her long, slender leg, but even that brief view had him aching and hard once again. He almost groaned as he followed her into the car, gritting his teeth because he knew it was going to be a long drive to her house.
He sat down next to her and gave his driver her address. Julianna didn’t wonder why he had that information already memorized, but was still feeling fabulous since he’d asked for her help in decorating his house. “How big is your new home and what kinds of pieces are you looking for?” she asked, mentally going through her inventory and trying to think of pieces that would work for a man of his size.
He thought about some of the antiques he’d seen in the past and tried to picture them in his new home. Or what his new home would look like once it was completed. It was an older house that was currently under renovation. Some of the rooms were so damaged that they had to be completely gutted in order to make them safe enough to live in. “I’m a real estate guy, which means I build houses. I know what I want in my own house, but honestly I have no idea how to describe it or even how to achieve it. Why don’t you come tour the house tomorrow and then you can tell me what might look right, with the understanding that many of the rooms are stripped back to the original wood so it will be hard to get a good idea of what the final effect will be?” he suggested, but his mind was no longer on the house. It was on her, on her lips and what they looked like in the darkness and he was wondering how he could kiss her, wanting to feel her lips against his and taste her sweetness. She looked so incredibly beautiful sitting here in the dim light and all she wanted to do was talk about antiques.
Julianna glanced back at him and instantly the pieces she’d been considering for him disappeared from her mind. Instead, the thought of what it would be like to be kissed by him shot through her, keeping her still and, not really apprehensive, but somehow anxious. She wanted it so badly, she could almost taste the sudden tension in the air and she sucked in some air, wanting to clear her mind but all she got was more of his scent. More of that masculine muskiness combined with the spicy smell of his aftershave.
With a jerk, he pulled her into his arms and Julianna went willingly, enthusiastically even. Her face was already turned up to his and she grabbed the lapels of his jacket to pull herself higher to meet his kiss. She wanted this more than anything she could remember in her life and when his lips finally touched hers, she opened her mouth, eager for his explorations. His hands dove into her hair, dislodging the pins that held it neat and smooth. He pulled her head back to give him better access, but she was just as willing, the heat driving her need as if it were a physical force.
With wanton abandon, Julianna kissed him back, her mouth hungry for his kiss, eager for the touch of his hands on her body. No longer was she able to ignore the pull of this insane attraction to a man who was completely