Page 38 of Some Like It Royal

“When you want a man to kiss a woman, she has to let him know the overture is not only welcome, but demanded.” Victor instructed, picking up her hand and putting it on his shoulder. He glanced meaningfully at her feet. “She takes a step forward, into the man.”

Reluctantly, she slid her foot forward and that left her off balance until she practically leaned on Victor, draping into his arms, and he was the only thing standing between her and falling on her ass.

“Now smile, just a hint of one, and you look at his mouth, or his eyes, but you watch as he swoops in. Just before he arrives, you lift up onto your toes and meet him—offering both invitation and demand.” Victor dipped his head and watched her expectantly. Did he really want her to kiss him?

A cough interrupted. “I think we have it now.”

She tossed a grateful look at Daniel and stepped back, regaining her balance. He held out his hand and she took it. Daniel tugged her to his side of the study and glanced down at her. “Just forget the coach over there.”

His jaw tightened with a tension she hadn’t seen there before. He gave Victor a hard, territorial look. “And no comments from the gallery. If you want us to get this right, you let us do it our way.”

Victor spread his arms and retreated a few steps.

Heart thumping, she fought another wild grin as Daniel slid his arm around her waist. A glint of humor twinkled in his eyes and her grin grew. “We’re going to clack teeth again,” she warned him.

“No. We’re not.” He brushed his fingers down her cheek and her pulse leaped.

She slid her hand up his shirt to his shoulder, the fabric warm and soft against the taut muscle beneath. Her stomach clenched. “We’re going to bump noses.”

“No. We’re not.” A hint of a smile creased his lips as he gave her a light tug and she slid her foot forward, gliding into him until her breasts pushed up against his chest. Her body sizzled at the contact.

He dipped his head, his blue gaze holding her captive. She couldn’t think of a single objection and remembered to push up on her toes as his lips settled against hers. Her fingers closed on his shirt, fisting the fabric, and her mind soared. His mouth worked magic, massaging her lips apart, and when his tongue glided against hers, a wildfire raced through her blood. He made a low sound in his throat and his arm tightened on her waist. Somewhere between the first brush of his lips and his tongue gliding over hers, she threaded her fingers into his hair.

The masculine scent of him filled her nostrils and a curl of liquid heat skated from her nipples to her sex.

Good God, the man can kiss.

When his palm smoothed over the curve of her ass, she pulled back, startled. She stared at him, breathing ragged, her thoughts a wild cacophony of regret and longing.

“Much better.” Victor’s voice intruded and she withdrew further, aware of the branding hand shaping her bottom and the fingers curling into the back pocket of her jeans. He wasn’t going to let her go. That light, possessive touch burned through the denim.

Now what?she wanted to ask, but the words wouldn’t quite come out.

“And again,” Victor instructed, resuming his seat in the chair.

Her gaze flew up to meet Daniel’s and she saw the promise in them as he tugged her closer and her fingers slid back into his hair. He fit against her, perfectly, and her breath caught just before his lips touched hers. Knowing what to expect didn’t prepare her for the explosions rioting in her senses.

Just a kiss. Just a kiss.

But she couldn’t disguise the small moan that slid out nor miss the throaty masculine murmur of sound that matched it.

It was a hell of a lot more than just a kiss.

Chapter15

Daniel

They made their debut splash as a public couple at a small event raising money for Malibu Beach recovery before advancing to several charity events over the next week.

The photographers, having sensed blood in the water with the initial social page, followed them. It took everything in Daniel to keep the act up, particularly when all he wanted to do when he kissed her was pull her away somewhere quiet and explore just how far those kisses could take him. It was an exercise in pure sensual torture. If not for her insistence on sleeping on the sofa, he had a feeling they might have already taken it past their agreement.

“It’s working.” Martin sailed into Daniel’s office. Daniel glanced up from loading his briefcase. He’d just signed all of the outstanding papers Lucy’d collected for him. Amazingly, his secretary wasn’t ready to hang him after his conspicuous absences and constant working from home. If he wasn’t reviewing code, he was out with Alyx—holding her hand, kissing her plump, sweet lips and driving himself slowly insane.

“What’s working?” The thick vellum invitation was the one they’d been waiting for. Local problems in Japan delayed the CEO’s visit to Los Angeles, but he was scheduled to arrive Friday. The company had planned a large charity event to help promote recovery in both of their respective areas.

“You and Her Royal Hotness.” Martin slid a paper across to him. “I just got the heads-up that this is running in tomorrow’s Journal. It’s already live on their site andPeoplemagazine just put in a call. They want to meet with the Princess Alyxandretta and hear her story.”

The single sheet of paper included the Journal’s letterhead and a byline from one of their most popular gossip columnists, a woman renowned for scoring interviews with the most reluctant of celebrities. He gave the release a cursory glance.

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