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!”

scratches to his

clasped Kristie’s wrist and coaxed tenderly, “Kristie, open

kept her eyes closed and sobbed. She struggled against

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

cupped her face and

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

brows in confusion and

kissed her cheek and

light returned to Kristie’s

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

his arms around her and stroked her

rushed back

outside the airport, against which

before approaching the

spoke, Jefferson pushed himself away from the Maybach and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. He exuded

sky and muttered, “Hmm, it doesn’t seem as

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

smiled and opened

they were in, Jefferson started the engine and drove away from the airport. He commented, “Bet you didn’t enjoy life in Jadeborough

but someone held me back, so I had to fix that before coming back. It

can’t even get him to talk to me. I’d consider

Mr. Nicholson out of the picture.” Curtis’ gaze darkened as he continued, “I can’t rest easy as long as he’s still

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

a sigh, “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

that basket. We need another plan. Getting someone out of the picture is easy;

understood Jefferson’s words immediately and closed his eyes, deep in

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

offered. “It’s easier for me to do things in the background. If you were involved, everyone would point fingers at you if something goes wrong. It’ll be

nod in agreement. He could not think of

it to be too much