Page 21 of One Hot Deal

He shimmies even closer and lays his arm across the sofa's back."When I roll that sausage over, I'll rub spices into its skin, using my fingertips to gently caress the casing."

"No one handles sausage that way."Now I sound slightly breathless, and I feel warm all over while slickness gathers between my thighs.

Derek lowers his head until his lips graze my ear."I'll get some butter and hold it in my hand until it starts to soften and warm up, dribbling between my fingers.Then I'll lay it in the pan and lick my fingers clean while I watch that butter melt for me."

His demonstration of innuendo has transformed into seduction.I should tell him to leave off, but I can't convince my vocal cords to work.My body wants him to do to me all the things he's saying about food.I would melt for him so easily, and that fact unnerves me.But the desire rising inside me overpowers my unease.

"I'll use only sweet cream butter," he murmurs."The sausage and potatoes will be drenched with it.I could eat those bangers and mash straight out of the pan, using my fingers to devour every last bit."

Can't speak.Can't move.Perhaps I desperately want him to do everything he just described, and do it on my body, but I can't let him.That would violate our deal.We are having sex only so I can get pregnant.That means we do not need to indulge in the kind of steamy, sensual love-making that he has just visualized for me.

"Bangers are my favorite," he whispers."Don't you love them too?They're so thick and long, and they slide—"

"That's enough, Derek."My breathless tone seems unlikely to convince him I mean that.

"Mm," he murmurs."If you made this meal for me, it would taste so damn good.Maybe one day you'll take my bangers into your mouth and eat them up."

I know what he means.And I experience a disturbingly powerful urge to give him what he suggested by swallowing his cock, right here on the sofa.

He skims his lips down my cheek, stopping millimeters from my mouth."No reason why we can't have fun while getting you knocked up."

"I told you—"

The doorbell rings.

My heart thuds, and I spring to my feet.

Derek sighs and slumps against the sofa."What's going on today?You never get this many guests."

"How would you know?You don't normally protect me on the weekends."

"But my people report back to me about that stuff.It's all part of ensuring you get the best security possible."

"Oh.Yes, that makes sense."

I whirl around, intending to jog toward the door, but I trip over the end table and nearly fall down.

The front door swings open, then slams shut.

Derek has just caught me around the waist to halt my fall.

Pippa pushes the door shut and turns toward the living room.Her jaw goes slack, and her eyes widen a touch as she takes in the sight of me and Derek.But her lips tick up in a mischievous little smile.

I stumble sideways to shake off Derek's arm.Straightening my spine and my clothes, I hurry over to Pippa."What are you doing here?I said I would make arrangements."

She hunches her shoulders."I didn't want to wait, so I used the last of my allowance to buy a bus ticket.Please don't send me back."

"We will discuss this later."

Her gaze moves past me, and she smiles in that mischievous way again."Who is that?"

My bodyguard marches over to us and offers Pippa his hand."Derek Hahn.Diana didn't mention she had a daughter as pretty as she is."

Pippa blushes a little as she shakes his hand."I'm Pippa.Diana is my aunt."

"Really?"Derek glances at me."How come you never told me about your niece?"

I huff."Because it's none of your concern.Pippa, please go upstairs.I need to talk to Derek."