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!”

James took two scratches to

Kristie’s wrist and coaxed tenderly, “Kristie,

closed and sobbed. She struggled against his hold and wailed, “Don’t

only comfort her and attempt to distract her with gentle kisses. He hoped she could

cupped her face and kissed

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

brows in confusion

Don’t be scared.” James kissed her cheek

light returned to Kristie’s

wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She was still shaking as she

stroked her long, black hair. “Okay, I

had rushed

spied a familiar Maybach parked outside the airport, against which a tall, equally familiar

before approaching the vehicle.

away from the Maybach

up at the clear, blue sky and muttered, “Hmm, it doesn’t seem as if

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

opened

the engine and drove away from the airport. He commented, “Bet you didn’t enjoy life

on Wednesday, but someone held me back, so I had to fix that before coming back. It cost me eight hundred million, but at

is notoriously difficult to convince. I can’t even get him to talk to me. I’d

to get Mr. Nicholson out of the picture.” Curtis’ gaze darkened

front toward me, though that’s because Old Mr.

“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

another plan. Getting someone out of the picture is easy; doing it discreetly is an

words immediately and closed his eyes, deep

have someone who could take over Mr. Nicholson’s position. But suddenly promoting someone would

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

in agreement. He could not think of a

too much trouble for