Dear Sweetheart novel

She continued to back away from him until her calves hit the couch, causing her to lose her balance and fall.

James loomed over her on the couch, and Kristie’s body stiffened in response. She stammered, “Get back. Don’t come near me…”

In response, he tucked her loose hair behind her ear and brought his lips closer to her face.

“You’re taking advantage of me again.” Kristie pressed her palms on his chest to keep him away. Her eyes reddened with tears as she pleaded between sobs, “Don’t force me to do this. I have a boyfriend. I don’t want to cheat on him.”

Her words drew a chuckle from James, who teased, “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. You won’t be a cheater as long as he doesn’t know about this. I can keep a secret.”

“You’re too much!”

The rest of Kristie’s protests were swallowed by James’ passionate kisses.

She breathed in his familiar scent and eventually gave in to pleasure.

Kristie hooked her legs around his waist to bring herself closer to him.

The couch proved too squeezy for both of them, and James stopped himself from taking things too far. Instead, he carried Kristie to the bedroom.

Kristie looked at him through half-lidded eyes. She simply could not tear her gaze away from his perfect abs as he took off his clothes. Her hands moved toward his torso, unbidden.

The feel of his rock-hard muscles drew an amazed gasp from Kristie. “I didn’t know you hid such a hot body under those clothes!”

James leaned over her and whispered in her ear, “It’s all yours.”

His flirtatious words brought a furious blush to Kristie’s face.

She buried her head in his chest and reveled in the warmth of his body. Still, once she closed her eyes, traumatic memories of her helpless shrieks suddenly filled her mind. Her body began shuddering uncontrollably.

“No, no…” She curled into herself and flailed around, screaming, “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!”

to

“Kristie,

sobbed. She struggled against his

James’ heart. He could only comfort her and attempt to distract her with gentle kisses. He hoped she could think of herself instead of her

her face and kissed her

to gasp for air, he let go and intertwined his fingers

in confusion and

scared.” James kissed her cheek and said, “I’ve

light returned to

gazed at him and abruptly sat up, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She was still

stroked

rushed back from

immediately spied a familiar Maybach parked outside the

in concentration before approaching the vehicle.

from the Maybach and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. He

clear, blue sky and muttered, “Hmm, it

Jefferson went around to the driver’s side before arching a brow at Curtis, deadpanning, “What? Do you need me to open

smiled and opened

from the airport. He commented, “Bet you

me back, so I had to fix that before coming back. It cost me

get him to talk to me. I’d consider eight hundred million a pretty

have to figure out a way to get Mr. Nicholson out of the picture.” Curtis’ gaze darkened as he continued,

front toward me, though that’s because Old Mr. Xavier isn’t

“Old Mr. Xavier has his hands full with Theodore’s affairs. Naturally, he won’t be on Mr. Nicholson’s side. I have no idea when Theodore will wake

unknown, so we can’t put all our eggs in that basket. We need another plan. Getting someone out of the picture

Jefferson’s words immediately and closed his eyes, deep

“I have someone who could take over Mr. Nicholson’s position. But

me deal with it,” Jefferson offered. “It’s easier for me to do things in the background. If you were involved, everyone would point fingers at you if

nod in agreement. He could not

it to be too