Page 29 of Their Diamond Ring Ruse

Lily could see him so clearly. This real version of him that he kept hidden beneath so many layers. He wore his ruthlessness like a badge of honour, but beneath that veil was a man who was trying to protect a world that she could tell had been cruel to him. She wouldn’t say it out loud, though. Something told her he would deny it if she did.

This man had a beautiful heart. She had seen glimpses of it before. Now she was certain it was there. He just protected it with impenetrable armour.

And that was when she realised that she was in serious danger of falling for her fake fiancé.

Lily stared into those soulful, heartbroken eyes, not realising she been leaning closer and closer to him until a large hand wrapped around the side of her neck. His thumb stroked her cheek, making her rise with him as he stood, moving into her space beside the table. The hand on her neck skated along to grasp her chin, and his thumb caressed her lips before sinking to her mouth. She flicked her tongue against the pad, watching Julian’s gaze become stormy. He pulled his thumb free, trailing it over her bottom lip. She closed her eyes. A shiver racked her body. Julian was so close his breath ghosted over her lips.

‘I want to kiss you,’ he whispered.

Say no.

‘Please...’ she breathed.

But he didn’t. Not immediately at least. She stood there, head tilted up to his. His face so close. Tasting the air between them. The only contact: his fingers holding her chin. She felt possessed, but it didn’t bother her. Oh no, she craved more. Then, as if he understood what she couldn’t say, couldn’t ask for, he touched his lips to hers, spreading a liquid warmth through her that pooled in her belly.

Softly, gently, his lips stroked hers. Caressed hers. Sending wave after wave of scalding pleasure over her. But she wanted more. Julian was making her wait. Taking his time. Giving her so much, but only releasing it as he wished to. Warm, wet bites had her moaning in desperation. Begging.

And then he gave her a little more. His free hand moved to her hip. Fingers dug into soft red fabric and flesh alike as he drew her flush against his body. His heat was engulfing her. She savoured the hardness of him. That coiled wildness held at bay by an iron will.

And then he slid his tongue into her mouth and she ignited. She wasn’t aware of anything but Julian’s mouth now. Couldn’t control her body.

Smooth, silky strands flowed between her fingers and she realised she was tugging on his hair. A deep groan rumbled in his throat and his kisses grew harder, his tongue urgent. Demanding. The hands on her hip and chin disappeared and she was being lifted into the air, but she didn’t open her eyes to see where they were going. She couldn’t bear to. All she cared about was keeping her hands around his neck and their mouths fused together.

She heard a door close. The office door. They were in her office. Away from prying eyes. Completely alone. This wasn’t part of the show. This was for them. She should stop it, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t think of anything except that she burned for Julian.

Solid earth materialised under her feet, but it didn’t matter because Julian was kissing her even more furiously now. Like a starving man having been denied food all his life finally finding nourishment. Her heaving breaths were rapid, and yet still she had no air. Her body was trembling. And even though she matched the ferocity of Julian’s kisses, it wasn’t enough.

‘Julian...’

Was his name a plea or a prayer? She didn’t know—but he did. Her back met the wall. She felt his thigh between her legs, propping her up, his hands skating over her breasts, his thumbs teasing her nipples. Lily moaned loudly. Sensation arrowed through her. Making her hips grind against him. She had never done this with a man before...

‘Good girl,’ he growled into her ear, before his teeth grazed the lobe.

His crazed, open-mouthed kisses covered her neck, her shoulder, and never once did his hands leave her breast. Hoarse moans and mewls flowed from her. And then without warning his hands dropped to her thighs and suddenly hoisted her up. She gasped as her sex pressed against the force of his hardness. It was the first time she had ever felt such a thing.

Her virginity was not something she held on to as some sort of treasure, rather that Lily hadn’t wanted the intimacy when she was younger and definitely didn’t want it with Lincoln, but now she found herself wishing Julian would take it.

She looked down at him through her lashes just as he was looking up at her through his.

Caught.

They were caught in a trap of their own making. The beast in him seemed barely tethered as he ground his hips against her, making her pulse race. Climbing to a height but she wasn’t afraid of the fall. She craved it.

‘Give it to me, Lily.’

His voice was low. Gravelly. Strangled. Raw.

And then she shattered. Plummeting through pleasure the like of which she had never known before. And Julian was kissing her again, until suddenly she found herself on his lap in a chair with no idea of how she’d got there.

He held her until her senses returned, and with it her voice of reason.

What had she done?

She had lost control so spectacularly. Lily couldn’t think of a thing to say.

He dropped a kiss on her head and she had to hold in a sigh. This felt so good. Why shouldn’t she indulge in whatever this was? She hadn’t ever experienced attraction like this.

‘I made dessert...’ she said, and half laughed.

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