Page 34 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“Mine too.”

Although there was a pang of sadness that went with that. Isabella had lost her mother when she was ten to an undiagnosed heart condition.

Christian tilted his head, acknowledging her pain. “I’ll only be a minute.”

He grabbed his suitcase and headed into the bedroom.

Isabella walked out into the private garden while she waited for Christian to get dressed, her lips and body still tingling from their earlier kiss.

She sensed Christian appear, his hands sliding around her waist, his lips peppering kisses along her neck. Isabella tilted her head away, allowing him greater access.

Christian’s stomach growled, making Isabella laugh.

“Sorry,” Christian said, drawing back and taking Isabella’s hand, leading her back into the villa.

“Don’t apologise. I’m surprised you’re still standing. It’s a long flight.”

“I slept for most of it,” Christian admitted sheepishly. “Hence, I missed dinner.”

“What, no work? Who are you, and what have you done with Christian Dupree?” Isabella asked.

She had to admit, this Christian seemed more relaxed than the man she’d met five months before.

“Ha, ha,” he said, as they took their seats at the table, and uncovered their food.

“You remembered,” Christian said, looking at his food and the wine.

“I remember a lot about that night,” Isabella said coquettishly. “It’s ingrained in my memory.”

Christian looked pleased at her words, pouring them a glass of wine.

“Mine too,” Christian admitted. “I’m glad to be back.”

He raised his glass in a toast, clinking it with hers. “To a wonderful weekend.”

A warmth spread through Isabella’s body at his words. Was Christian feeling their attraction as strongly as she was? Not that it could go anywhere. Their lives were a million miles apart... not just in distance, but their worlds. Christian was a billionaire businessman, working in The City, travelling all over the world. Isabella, yes, she was a millionaire and extremely wealthy in her own right, or at least she would be when she hit thirty and inherited her family’s wealth. But that meant nothing to her anymore. Her life was in Thailand, with May, Arkhom, and Kalaya. Her business may be small, but it was her success. She’d proved to herself she wasn’t the airhead socialite they’d portrayed her as in the press. She was a person with her own dreams and aspirations. Dreams she was now living.

“I’m glad you’re back, too.” Isabella raised her glass and took a sip.

They spent dinner catching up on the past five months. Isabella knew some of what Christian had been doing, as he’d kept her up-to-date in his messages. It felt good to talk about their experiences out loud.

When they finished eating, Isabella began clearing their plates back onto the trolley. Christian joined her, she was pleased he didn’t question why she was doing it. Maybe she’d read him wrong. Christian wheeled the trolley into the private kitchen and through another door.

“A villa secret... that way the monkeys won’t have the plates and leftovers all over the path. Tom can collect it without disturbing us,” Christian explained.

Monkeys... Isabella remembered how she’d turned up for an early morning class and watched two monkeys devouring the leftover takeaway a guest had put on their balcony. They had no fear.

Christian grabbed her hand and pulled her into his body, refocusing her attention. His hand sliding up and along her jaw.

“What have you done to me, Isabella King?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Isabella said, sliding her hand up his chest and resting it above his frantic heartbeat. Raising herself up on tiptoes, Isabella placed her lips against his, her tongue sweeping into his open mouth and letting him know she was with him one hundred per cent.

Christian swept her body backwards, pinning her against the wall, his hand sliding down her thigh and raising it before wrapping it around his hip, allowing her to feel the strength of his desire. Isabella moaned into his mouth, their kisses becoming more desperate.

Christian’s hands moved to the zip of her dress, lowering it before pushing it down to her hips, not once breaking their kiss. His hands moved behind her, making quick work of her bra, before dropping it to the floor. Isabella drew in a sharp breath as he cupped her breasts, his thumbs teasing the pebbled peaks.

Ripples of pleasure fired low in her belly as Christian let out a low moan. He tore his mouth from hers, his lips travelling down her throat, across her chest, before drawing one of her full breasts into his mouth. Isabella’s head fell back against the wall as she let the pleasure of Christian’s touch wash over her. She thought she’d imagined the power this man had over her body, but his touch was firing up her memory and bringing it back to life.

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