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 his body, both deep

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

her eyes closed and sobbed. She struggled against his hold

to distract her with

her face and kissed her

he let go and intertwined his fingers with hers. At the same time, he pressed more of his weight into her

brows in confusion and slowly opened

scared.” James kissed her cheek

returned to

wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. She was still shaking as she leaned into his embrace and croaked, “Hug me

and stroked her long, black

rushed back from

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

concentration before approaching the

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

muttered,

went around to the driver’s side before arching a brow at Curtis, deadpanning,

opened

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

before coming back. It cost

difficult to convince. I can’t even get him to talk to me. I’d consider eight hundred million a pretty sweet

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

because Old Mr. Xavier isn’t on his side. He wouldn’t

his temples, 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 have no idea when Theodore will wake up

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

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

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

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 something goes wrong. It’ll be a waste

He could not think of

too much