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!”

took two scratches to

not deter James, who merely clasped Kristie’s wrist and coaxed tenderly, “Kristie, open your eyes. It’s me. Don’t be scared. There, there. Look at

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

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

cupped her face and kissed

was about to gasp for air, he let go and intertwined his fingers with hers. At the same time, he

furrowed her brows in confusion and

James kissed her cheek and said, “I’ve

light returned to Kristie’s

neck. She was still shaking as she leaned into

and stroked her long, black hair.

rushed back

the airport, against which a tall, equally familiar figure

approaching the vehicle. “Why

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

at the clear, blue sky and muttered, “Hmm,

the jokes. Get in the car.” Jefferson went around to the driver’s side before arching a brow at Curtis,

and opened the

“Bet you didn’t enjoy life in Jadeborough if you’re looking like this now. Have you settled all your matters

on Wednesday, but someone held me back, so I had to fix that before coming back. It cost me eight hundred million, but at least it’s over now,” Curtis

Shawfield is notoriously difficult to convince. I can’t even get him to talk to me. I’d consider eight hundred million a

a way to get Mr. Nicholson out of the picture.” Curtis’ gaze darkened as he continued, “I can’t rest easy as

toward me, though that’s because Old Mr. Xavier isn’t on his side. He wouldn’t dare to come after you or me during this

Curtis replied with a sigh, “Old Mr. Xavier has his hands full with Theodore’s affairs. Naturally, he won’t be on Mr. Nicholson’s side. I

put all our eggs in that basket. We need another plan. Getting someone out of the picture is easy; doing it discreetly is

immediately and closed

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

for me to do things in the background. If you were involved, everyone would point

agreement. He could

too