Page 33 of One Hot Deal

I have no idea, but before I can say that, Derek speaks up."You're right next to Diana's room."

"And your room is on the other side of hers?"The girl sounds too pleased with that idea.

"That's right."He turns to me."Let's show Pippa to her digs."

Derek leads the way since he somehow knows where our rooms are.But it's no mystery how he got that information.He is my bodyguard, so he would have discussed with Hugh and Rosalyn where everyone would sleep.And of course his room is adjacent to mine.It makes perfect sense and means nothing, other than that Derek excels at his job.

Pippa is thrilled when she sees her bags are already waiting for her in her room.Derek hovers just outside the doorway, out of our sight, while I make sure Pippa has settled in well enough.She begins to yawn more often, and I know she will fall asleep the second her head meets the pillow.So I shut the door behind me, but linger near the door until Pippa shuts off the light in her room.

Derek gestures toward my room."You're next, Ms.Sangster."

"Please call me Diana this week as I've asked you to do before.We're on holiday, after all."

"Youare.I'm still on duty."

"But this is your sister's wedding week."I open the door to my room but don't cross the threshold yet."You shouldn't be working.I don't need protection here at Sommerleigh, so I order you to take the week off—and to call me Diana from this moment on, even after we go back to London."

"Okay.But only if you call me Derek."

"Agreed."I take two steps into the room, then face him."Good night, Derek."

"Good night, Diana."

He saunters to the door of his room, winks at me, then disappears into his assigned quarters.

I shut my door and set about unpacking my clothes.Instead of a dresser, I discover I have a walk-in closet that isn't enormous but offers plenty of space for my belongings.Only after I've finished unpacking and changed into my nightclothes do I notice what appears to be a doorway beside my bed.It must be a false door, or perhaps a remnant of a doorway that used to connect this room to the one next door.The most intriguing possibility is that the doorway leads into a secret passage.

I can't resist investigating the door, and I tiptoe up to the barrier to place a hand on the knob.Excitement ripples through me, which is a barmy response.But the idea that I might uncover some sort of secret drives me to press on, and I twist the knob carefully, slowly, all the while wondering what might lie beyond it.

The mystery is irresistible, so I pull the door open.

Derek stands on the other side, completely naked, facing me.He doesn't blink or move, his focus fastened to me.

And I enjoy a full-frontal view of his body.I'd known he had muscles hidden beneath the suits he always wears, but I had no idea how impressive his physique was.I know now.My eyes move of their own volition, taking in every inch of his body, from his thick biceps to his powerful thighs.But the part of him that seizes my focus hangs between his legs.I had gotten a glimpse of his cock twice, but now I can appreciate the full view of that beautiful dick, which seems to be swelling and thickening with every passing second.

"Diana," he snaps.

I blink rapidly and force myself to look at his face, though I feel somewhat dazed.It's ridiculous, but the sight of his nude body has short-circuited every neuron in my brain.And if he suggested we should get a leg over right now, I'd jump at the chance.

Chapter Thirteen

Derek

"What?"Diana says, finally managing to speak after several seconds of staring at my body.Her lids flutter, and her lips have fallen open just a touch.Her tongue flicks out intermittently.

"If you keep staring at my dick, I'll need to drag you onto the bed and fuck you."

Do I want to do that?Hell yeah.Diana is the sexiest woman on the face of the earth.For reasons I can't figure out, she has spent months trying to convince herself she doesn't want me.It's bullshit, and I'm sure she realizes that.We want each other with a lust too powerful to deny.We've given in to it twice, and if I have my way, we'll give in many more times.

She's wearing sky blue PJs with puffy clouds on them, and even that turns me on.

"Why are you in the closet?"she asks, as her gaze wanders down to my dick and her tongue traces the outline of her lips, which have turned a darker shade of pink.

I can't help it.She looks so adorably confused that I chuckle while I stride up to the open doorway."This isn't a closet, Diana.We have adjoining bedrooms."

"What?I don't understand."

I hook a finger under her chin and rub my thumb over her lips."Adjoining bedrooms.That means this door connects our rooms.The happy couple arranged this, but I thought it was a good idea so I could stay close to watch over you, to do my job.But then you announced we should both just have fun this week."I skim my gaze over her, noting the way her nipples jut against the satin fabric of her PJs."Didn't expect you to open the door."

---