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!”

her struggles, James took two scratches to his body, both deep enough to draw

wrist and coaxed tenderly, “Kristie, open your eyes. It’s me. Don’t be scared. There,

struggled against his hold

to distract her with gentle kisses. He hoped she could think of herself instead

cupped her face and kissed

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

confusion and

her cheek and said,

light returned to Kristie’s

neck. She was still shaking as she leaned into his embrace and croaked, “Hug me tightly. Don’t

and stroked her long, black

Curtis had rushed

immediately spied a familiar Maybach parked outside the airport,

before approaching the vehicle.

Faymon?” As he spoke, Jefferson pushed himself away from the Maybach and adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. He exuded elegance by the

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

arching a brow at

and opened

and drove away from the airport. He commented, “Bet you didn’t enjoy life in Jadeborough if you’re looking like this now. Have you settled all your matters

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

difficult to convince. I can’t even get

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

agreed. “Ditto. Still, Mr. Nicholson is putting up a polite front toward me, though that’s because Old Mr. Xavier isn’t

hands full with Theodore’s affairs. Naturally, he won’t be on Mr. Nicholson’s

in that basket. We need another

Jefferson’s words immediately and

Curtis piped up, “I have someone who could take over Mr. Nicholson’s position. But suddenly promoting someone would be

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 a waste of our

only nod in agreement. He

to be too much