Page 63 of A Billionaire After Dark

“Nash.” The word came out of her mouth on a sigh as her nipples tightened.

His eyes lifted, their bluish-purple depths hot and glittery. “Do you have any idea how much I want to make love to you right now?” Heat settled in her bones and pooled between her legs, and she slowly shook her head. “You’ve totally captivated me, Eden. All I can think about is you… and being deep inside you.”

His eyes grew even more intense. For a moment, she thought he was going to take her right there. And the crazy thing about it was she would’ve let him. But instead, he reached for her bathing suit top and helped her put it on. Once she was covered, he got up and pulled her into his arms.

He kissed her, long and deep, before he rested his forehead against hers. “I had plans to take you to dinner. But now, all I want to do is take you to bed.”

Eden smiled. “And who says we can’t have dinner in bed?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Ihave to hand it to you, Grayson.” Deacon sat at his desk staring at the screen of his laptop. “These photographs were worth the wait. Did we sign this woman to an extended contract with French Kiss? I want her in the fashion show this fall.”

Since Grayson seemed to be distracted by something outside the window, Nash answered the question. “I had Madison sign a contract while in Fiji for these pictures, but we haven’t signed her for an extended contract yet.”

“Why not?”

“Her best friend wouldn’t let her. She wants Madison to get an agent first so we don’t try and screw her.” Nash couldn’t keep a grin from spreading across his face at just the thought of Eden going to bat for her friend. She’d been like a protective mother tiger with her cub. Which made Nash wonder what she’d be like with her children. Probably much like his own mother. No one messed with Althea Beaumont’s boys. The thought made him smile even more. It was nice to think of his mom without sadness.

Deacon stopped looking at the pictures and turned his attention to Nash. “And you find it amusing that we’ll now be sucked dry by some agent.”

Nash laughed. “Stop being such a tightwad, Deke. We both know that Madison has what it takes to sell whatever she puts on. She should get paid well for it.”

The scowl remained for only a second longer before Deacon nodded. “Fine. Just don’t let her agent skin us alive.” He sat back in his chair and studied Nash. “So it looks like you enjoyed Fiji. This is the first time I’ve seen you smile—really smile—in a long time.”

Enjoyeddidn’t come close to describing his feelings about the trip. The week spent in Fiji with Eden was indescribable. Once Nash had made sure the photo shoots were on track, he spent the rest of his time with Eden exploring the islands. They had lounged on the sandy white beaches and trekked through the vibrant green jungles. They had snorkeled through a school of neon-colored fish and paddleboarded on the crystal-smooth waters of a turquoise cove. They had eaten dinner surrounded by flickering, golden-flamed tiki torches and danced beneath a canopy of brilliant white stars. But the times Nash enjoyed the most were the times spent in the hotel’s mosquito-netted teakwood bed.

It wasn’t just about the sex. He loved the hot rush of desire and mind-blowing release he found with Eden, but he loved just lying with her even more. Talking to her. Touching her. Just listening to her breath. He had always thought it would be hell to be so controlled by a woman, but now he realized that control was overrated.

“Yes,” he said. “I enjoyed Fiji very much.”

Deacon studied him for a moment more before he nodded. “Good. Everyone needs to get away occasionally.” He glanced at Grayson. “Did you enjoy Fiji, Gray?” When Grayson didn’t turn around, he looked at Nash. “What’s going on with him? He’s usually only distracted when he’s sketching. Where is his sketchpad, anyway?”

It was a good question. Now that Nash thought about it, he hadn’t seen Grayson drawing since they returned from Fiji. And his little brother rarely went anywhere without his sketchpad.

“I don’t know,” Nash said. “Maybe he turned in his sketchpad for his camera. He took as many pictures as the photographer did.”

Deacon looked back at his laptop. “Miles certainly did a good job. I think we should use this one of Madison in the blue bikini for the cover.”

Nash got up and walked around the desk to look over Deacon’s shoulder. “That’s a good one, but I think the pink suit at sunset would be more eye-catching.” Before they could argue over their choices, Grayson finally spoke.

“We’re not using Madison for the cover.”

“What?” Nash and Deacon said in unison.

Grayson turned. “We’re not using Madison for the cover. We’re using one of the photos I took. Last series of pictures, fifth in the second-to-last row.”

Deacon exchanged glances with Nash before he clicked over to the last page of photos. He scrolled down and then clicked on the fifth photo. When it popped up on the screen, Nash knew that Grayson was right. The bright orange bikini fit the tanned, lithe body of the model to a tee and popped against the background of navy-striped lounge cushion, turquoise waters, and azure sky. Nash knew all the models, but he couldn’t place this woman. Especially when her face was half-covered by a floppy beach hat.

“Who is she?” Nash asked Grayson.

“Chloe.”

Nash was surprised. Chloe made no bones about her dislike of Grayson and had spent the majority of the trip avoiding him. Obviously, she had gotten over her anger, and Nash would’ve asked his brother what had happened to change her feelings if Deacon hadn’t been sitting there.

Deacon didn’t know anything about the events preceding the trip to Fiji, and on the flight home, Nash and Grayson decided that their big brother didn’t need to know. Deacon wouldn’t be happy that they had hired a former escort to model bathing suits, or that Grayson had beat up a thug who would no doubt want revenge, or that Nash had gotten his baby brother involved because he’d hired the escorts to begin with. Of course, they would have to tell Deacon eventually. But for now, that can of worms would remain closed.

Deacon’s phone rang, and while he answered it, Nash wandered to the window and stood next to Grayson. “It’s a perfect picture, Gray. I’m assuming you got Chloe to sign a release.”

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