up her rib cage to just below her breasts.
She held her breath, dying for his touch. Her nipples strained against her bra. She fought the forbidden urge to pull off her sweater and feel her naked breasts against his bare chest. Her heart pounded against her ribs.
She felt his hand slide to her back and felt the catch of her bra release. One. Two. Three seconds later, she felt his palm cupping her breast.
Gwen sighed against his mouth.
His thumb brushed her nipple and she gasped.
“You feel so good. So good,” he said, French kissing her again.
He rocked inside the cradle of her thighs, sending a shower of sensations firing through her bloodstream. She was shocked by the carnal need he drew out of her. Images of their bodies, naked and hot, writhing together, singed her mind. She could taste his wanting, his need.
His hand slid underneath her jeans and panties, grasping her naked bottom at the same time she felt him caressing her breast.
“Oh, my—” He broke off and thrust his tongue into her mouth.
His heat pumped up her heat. She gave in to the urge to slide her hands beneath his sweater and feel his smooth, sleek skin.
“You make me so hot,” he said against her mouth and swore. “I haven’t gotten this worked up since I was a teenager.”
She rippled against him, desperately seeking more.
He slid one of his hands between them. Seconds passed and he guided her hand down to touch him intimately. He was large and hard. She stroked him, driven by his desire, by her desire to please him.
His breath caught, and she loved that he was just as affected as she was.
“Are you sure you want this?”
His voice whispered over her like a warm California breeze. Did she want this? Should she? How crazy was this?
“Too fast,” she said breathlessly when a drop of rational thinking trickled into her brain. She pushed away from him and shook her head. “Too crazy. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
He covered her mouth with his hand. “No apologies, ” he said, and she was compelled to look at him. She felt the searing connection with him again, and fought it, again.
“We’ll be lovers,” he said with a confidence that should have sounded arrogant but instead was just rock-hard certain. “It’s just a matter of time.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips over her cheek. “Sweet dreams, Gwen,” he said and walked away.
Gwen stood there for several breathless seconds. “Oh, wow,” she whispered and slid her fingers through her hair, clutching her head and closing her eyes. She racked her brain for when she’d felt this way before, but her brain would produce nothing.
She and Luc were from different worlds now. She should not give in to temptation, but she didn’t know if she could let him pass by. The combination of his honor and his pragmatic understanding of Hollywood that meshed with the masculinity and power he emanated fascinated her. Gwen had the feeling that once she gave herself to him, she would never be the same, and she wasn’t sure what her world would look like after she made love with him. Should she resist? Could she?
The next morning, Luc joined Gwen as she cared for the horses. She spent extra time with the expectant mare, now known as Pyrrha.
Pyrrha pricked up her ears when Luc stood at the door to her stall, and she walked toward him. “Hello, beautiful,” he said to her, holding out his palm.
Pyrrha whinnied and allowed him to stroke her. Feeling Gwen’s gaze on him, Luc looked at her. Irritation furrowed her lovely face. “Problem?” he asked.
“I can’t believe it,” she said.
“What?”
“Even the horse recognizes that whole alpha thing in you,” she said.
“Smart horse,” he said and grinned.
She met his gaze and clearly tried, very hard, not to smile. Her lips twitched and she began to laugh. “You’re terrible.”
“I can show you terrible,” he said, ready to show her.
She inhaled quickly and glanced away, looking at Pyrrha. “She’s looking much better. The vet says the baby’s heartbeat is strong. I just hope we can keep her happy during her confinement.”
“I’m sure you’ll have to name that foal, so you may as well start planning.”
Gwen sighed and met his gaze. “You make it seem possible.”
She made him want to make her believe in a lot of things. Himself. Herself. Luc wondered if his knight instinct was kicking in. It didn’t matter. He wanted her and was determined to have her.
Three hours later, a crew from Entertainment TV showed up with cameras and a reporter. The reporter, a brunette named Trina with big breasts and hair extensions, appeared torn between her awe of Gwen and her hopes of making an impression on Luc for career purposes.
After a few general questions, Trina gave a huge smile. “I’ve saved the best for last. I want to ask Gwen some questions about you and ask you some questions about Gwen. We’ll see who wins,” Trina said. “Mr. Hudson, go amuse yourself while I ask Gwen some questions.”
“What do you mean?” Gwen asked.
“I don’t want Mr. Hudson to hear your answers until he has answered the same questions. You can go out on the front porch,” Trina said. “This shouldn’t take long.”
Considering the temperature was hovering at nine degrees that day, he hoped it wouldn’t. For a second, he wondered if Gwen would be able to keep up their charade without his presence as a reminder.
She reached out to take his hand and pulled him toward her. Kissing his cheek, she smiled into his eyes as if she really meant it. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I won’t reveal too many of your terrible secrets.”
His gut tightened at her playful, seductive expression, and he forced himself to remember that he was staring into the face of an Academy Award–nominated actress. Luc had learned that actress was another word for liar. Gwen would be fine with Trina.
Throwing on a jacket, hat and gloves, Luc wandered outside to brave the elements. Despite the cold temperature, the sun shone brightly. He walked down the steps of the porch into the yard. Snow crunched beneath his boots.
He inhaled a deep breath and felt the chilly air sweep throughout him. Although the temperature left a lot to be desired, the sound of complete quiet soothed him. No traffic, no office sounds, no senseless chatter. Just quiet and peace.
Gwen made a good point. This place offered something more rare than diamonds. He stood there for several moments and just soaked it in.
“Mr. Hudson?” one of the cameramen called from the doorway. “Trina is ready for you now.”
Struck by the contrast of the purity of Gwen’s surroundings and the lies they were fashioning inside her home, he felt a twist of the same resentment Gwen had expressed when he’d told her the press would be invading her house.
Returning to the house, he sat down and answered Trina’s mostly inane questions. Then the entertainment reporter ambushed him. “What made you fall in love with Gwen?”
He paused a half beat, since he hadn’t formed a prepared response for this question. Then he went with his gut. “You can look at her and see how beautiful she is. That’s obvious. But that’s attraction, not love. She has amazing depth and humility. At the same time she can make me laugh. When I’m with her, the world is better than I thought it could be.”
Complete silence followed for a full moment. Luc glanced at Gwen, standing just a few feet away. He caught an unguarded expression of surprise and longing on her face. He felt the same