Jan Colley - Mistress & a Million Dollars / Satin & A Scandalous Affair

“Briana?”

She glanced at him then. He looked cool and calm, yet she sensed he was anything but. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him. So what harm would she do in sleeping with him? It wasn’t as though she would be doing anything against her will.

On the contrary…

“It’s a deal,” she heard herself say.

He scowled. “It is?”

“You don’t have the money?” she said with a rush of disappointment that was about more than just getting her father out of trouble.

His dark brows straightened. “I have it.” Just as quickly a considering light came into his eyes. “But now that I think of it,” he drawled, “a million dollars for one night is a bit too much money—even for the face of Blackstone’s.”

Her lips tightened. He’d been playing with her. “Fine. That’s it then.”

“No, I’d say it’s worth a month of nights together, don’t you?”

She stiffened in shock. “No! I can’t. A month is too long.”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “That’s my offer. Become my mistress for one month and I’ll give you a million dollars.”

She swallowed hard. “That wasn’t what I agreed to, Jarrod, and you know it.”

“You agreed to sleep with me. True. But we didn’t mention a timeframe.”

She shook her head, not understanding him. “Why can’t you be satisfied with one night?”

He didn’t move a muscle. “Can you?”

She winced inwardly. Could she do it for one whole month? One night was so different. Or was it? Wouldn’t only one night make her feel as if she really were selling herself? Wouldn’t being his mistress for a month make her feel better about it all? Or was she just kidding herself?

“Briana, you want the money. Don’t deny it.” He waited a moment. “And I want you.”

She cleared her throat and ignored an inward shudder of heat that couldn’t be attributed to the brandy. “Who said I want the money?” she asked, trying to put him off the scent of her father’s trail.

“You don’t? Then it must be me you want,” he mocked, his smirk saying he’d backed her into a corner.

Mentally kicking herself, she raised her chin. “I’m not denying the money wouldn’t come in handy.” She saw the hard look that entered his eyes. “And I don’t deny that sleeping with a man such as yourself wouldn’t be a—nice experience.”

He smiled sardonically. “I’m glad you think so.”

“But a month does seem a bit too long.”

He swirled the brandy in his glass, then looked up at her. “Take it or leave it. But let me tell you, if you leave it, there won’t be another chance.”

Suddenly a feminine power settled over her, giving her confidence. “You might want to rethink that, Jarrod. After all, I’ve got something you want—my body. And if in a month’s time I say I want you, I’m pretty sure I won’t have to beg.”

His nod acknowledged her words. “Oh, I don’t deny that. But next time there won’t be any money involved, sweetheart. It’ll be just you and me. I won’t be offering a million dollars again.”

She gritted her teeth. He was a clever devil. Somehow he sensed she wouldn’t walk away from the money. What he didn’t know was that she couldn’t walk away from it. Not if she wanted to help save her father.

So what if she accepted Jarrod’s extended offer? The month would go fast. She had quite a few modeling engagements around the country to give her a break from Jarrod’s overwhelming presence. At least there was that.

And perhaps she could even prove to him that she wasn’t like her sister, she thought, then immediately rebuked herself. Why would she even want to? She owed Jarrod Hammond nothing.

She placed her glass of brandy on the coffee table in front of her. “I’ll give you until the end of the month. That’s three weeks. Take it or leave it,” she said, putting the ball back into his court.

A moment crept by.

Static crackled the air between them.

Then he drained his glass and put it down next to hers. “I’ll book a room,” he said, about to get to his feet.

Her eyes widened. “What? Here?”

He stopped with a frown. “I thought it might be easier for our first night together.”

“For whom?”

“You.” He watched her in silence for a moment. “If you like, we can go back to my apartment…or to yours.”

That was the last thing she wanted. “No,” she said quickly. “A room here will be fine.”

“Good.” He stood up. “Wait here. I’ll send you a note to say what suite I’ll be in.” He glanced around at the other patrons, then back at her. “I’m sure you don’t want your reputation to suffer if somebody sees us going up together.”

“Not to mention yours,” she managed to say, still reeling from what tonight’s outcome would be.

His eyes darkened. “I don’t give a damn about my reputation, Briana. It might be wise to remember that.” He strode off.

Three

It was silly to feel so nervous, Briana told herself as she tapped lightly on the door to the room fifteen minutes later. Heavens, she’d paraded in front of prime ministers and heads of state, done photo shoots in the middle of huge crowds, stood practically naked backstage at fashion shows, yet nothing made her feel as exposed as she did right now.

And was it any wonder, she decided when Jarrod opened the door to the deluxe suite and she met the full power of those intense blue eyes. Her stomach did a slow somersault.

And just as slowly, he reached out and curled his hand around her wrist, drawing her into the room before closing the door behind them. There he stood looking down at her, his hand still holding her, his palm warmly touching her skin, his thumb resting against the tender inside of her wrist where her pulse raced. She could feel him through every living cell in her body.

And then his gaze dropped to her mouth. He was going to kiss her. She could even feel herself lean just the barest hint toward him. Suddenly she wanted those lips on hers…wanted that body against hers.

“Have you eaten?”

His words snapped her out of her trance. Dismayed at how easily she would have succumbed, she stepped back, letting his hand drop away from her. “Just some finger food at the cocktail party,” she said, walking casually into the suite. A wall of floor-to-ceiling glass drew her attention to the city lights below, but Briana only gave the view a quick glance. The world was out there but tonight that’s where it would stay.

“You look disappointed a moment ago.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs as she glanced across at him. “I did?” She shrugged. “I thought—”

“That I wouldn’t waste any time getting you into bed?” A seductive glint entered his eyes. “Briana, being in your company, looking at you, isn’t wasting time. Far from it.” A smile touched his lips. “The ravishing comes later.”

Her breath quickened. He made it sound so…ravishing! “Yes—well—”

“Unless you’d like me to start now instead of ordering you some food?” he drawled.

She sent him a wry look. “No thanks. I’d prefer soup.”

His lips twitched. And then his gaze swept over her and awareness danced between them again, and for a moment she thought he really was going to come over to her and ravish her on the spot. And she wanted him to. Dear Lord, she did.

He broke eye contact and strode toward the phone. “I’ll order room service,” he said, his voice sounding gruff.

Knowing she had affected him, her heart skipped a beat. “I’ll just go and freshen up.”

He indicated across the width of the room. “The bedroom’s that way.”

The bedroom .

Carrying her small purse, she took her time to walk across the room, while fighting every instinct to break into a run and lock the door behind her like some frightened virgin. Wouldn’t that go down well, she mused with a dash of humor.