Susan Mallery - The Substitute Millionaire

“I had plans for later,” she said, deciding going for casual was best for both of them. “I guess I can cancel them.”

“I appreciate that. Do you snore?”

She laughed. “No, do you?”

“I’m a very quiet sleeper.” He shifted so that he could kiss her. “Not that I expect either of us to get much sleep tonight.”

Sometime after two in the morning, he watched the moonlight on Julie’s face and knew he’d made a mess of things from the beginning.

It wasn’t supposed to have been like this. He wasn’t supposed to like her. From what he’d been told, Julie Nelson was a gold-digging bimbo who needed a good lesson and he’d been just the man to volunteer to teach it. He’d expected a vapid, over-accessorized bitch. Instead he’d found a beautiful, funny, intelligent, sincere woman who made him laugh and want to believe in possibilities again.

Right now he should be feeling as if he’d done the world a favor. Instead he felt like a total jerk. He’d just created a hell of a mess and he had no idea how to fix it. He liked Julie. He liked her a lot.

How was he supposed to explain that he wasn’t Todd Aston III, and that she’d just been set up to take a fall?

Julie stood in her kitchen and held on to the edge of the counter. It wasn’t that the world was spinning so much as she thought it might at any moment. She half expected a bolt of lightning to come crashing through the roof, or at the very least, hear the ghost of Christmas Past.

There was a man in her bedroom.

Right now, even while she was supposed to be making coffee, Todd lay asleep in her bed.

Until he had stepped inside last night, her place had been a man-free zone. After what had happened with Garrett, she’d wanted to keep it that way. She’d rented it after law school, furnished it with girlie stuff and her mattress had been practically virginal.

Not anymore, she thought with a grin as she reached for the can of coffee and the scooper next to it. She had languid, morning-after glow and a couple of sore muscles to prove it.

She added water and flipped on the coffeemaker, then leaned against the counter. In theory she should probably be having regrets or even second thoughts. Last night really wasn’t like her at all. She was more sensible, more careful, much less impetuous. Which she would go back to being very soon. Right now she just wanted to wallow in the hot memories of what they’d done.

She felt good—too good to feel bad.

“Morning.”

She glanced up and saw Todd standing in the doorway to the kitchen. He’d pulled on his slacks and his shirt, but hadn’t buttoned the latter. She could see bare skin and tapered muscles. He also looked mussed, unshaven and too sexy for words.

Unexpected shyness gripped her. “Hi,” she murmured, then cleared her throat. “I’m making coffee, which you can probably guess.”

“Good. Thanks.”

His dark gaze settled on her face. She had to fight the need to smooth her hair, even though before entering the kitchen she’d stopped in the bathroom to wash her face, brush her teeth and make sure her hair didn’t look as if it had been attacked by angry birds.

She had no idea what he was thinking. He probably did this sort of thing most mornings, woke up in a strange bed. She could let him set the tone. Except that wasn’t her style. She was far more take-charge. Her sisters would be happy to provide testimony on her behalf.

“So I’m out of practice,” she said with a shrug. “The whole strange-guy-in-my-bed and all that. I didn’t expect last night so I certainly didn’t prepare for this morning. What would you like to do? Shower? Leave? Get my phone number?”

He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the door frame. “You’re honest.”

“As I was last night. It’s kind of something that sticks with me. I like to think I’m a trendsetter. Plus, I’ve never understood the thrill of lying. The truth comes out eventually.”

“Interesting point. What are your plans for the day?”

Plans? It was a Saturday. “I, ah, have to run some errands. I brought some work home and I’m meeting my sisters later for lunch.”

“Busy lady.”

“It happens. And you? What are you doing today?”

“Meeting my cousin, but that’s not until later.” He glanced down the hall, then back at her. “Can I take you up on that shower? Maybe borrow a toothbrush?”

“Sure.”

This was so weird, she thought as she moved down the hall and opened the small linen closet by the bathroom. There was a single unwrapped toothbrush, which was, unfortunately, bright pink.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“I’ll survive. Do your razors have flowers on them?”

“No, but they’re mostly purple.”

“Such a girl.”

“Would you be more comfortable if I were a guy?” she asked.

He shuddered. “No. Although it would have made for an interesting conversation.”

She handed him a couple of towels, then pointed to the bathroom. “Have at it.”

“Okay, thanks.”

She returned to the kitchen and reached for a mug. There was a man in her bathroom. A soon-to-be naked man who would shower and use her soap and it was all very strange. She should—

“Julie?”

She set down the mug and walked back into the hall. The bathroom door stood partially open.

“What? Is there a problem?” she asked.

“Sort of.”

She paused just outside the bathroom and opened her mouth to speak. But before she could say anything, he grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.

He was naked. She grasped that much right before he drew her close and kissed her. Naked and hard and apparently still in the mood, she thought happily as she parted her lips and let the games begin. His tongue teased hers before he shifted his attention to her neck.

“You’re wearing a robe,” he murmured against her skin.

“Yes, I am.” She sounded breathless, which made sense. She was breathless.

“That’s gotta go.”

He was a man of his word. He tugged the tie loose, then pushed the robe off her body. She was naked underneath—a good thing what with the way he immediately began to caress her breasts.

His touch was inspired, she thought as her mind began to fog as passion and need took over. In a matter of seconds she was wet and swollen and hungry for him to be inside of her.

While he bent down and licked her tight, sensitive nipples, she rubbed his shoulders, his back, then kissed the top of his head.

He straightened. “Okay, time to shower.”

Shower? “What?”

He took her hand and guided her into the tub, then pulled the curtain closed. He urged her under the spray, then reached for the soap.

After lathering his hands, he began to wash her all over. The soap made her skin slick. His fingers glided and slipped as he first cleaned her, then teased her.

He washed her back, her hips, the backs of her legs, before rinsing her off. Then instead of turning her, he just moved in close and with her back pressing against his chest, began to run his hands up and down the front of her body.

He caressed her neck, then did a thorough job of cleaning her breasts. The combination of soapy fingers against her nipples and pounding hot water made her weak and hungry with need. She covered his hands with hers to keep him in place while she leaned her head against his shoulder.

“There’s more,” he whispered in her ear. “Much more.”

Without warning, he stepped back, then turned her. He lightly kissed her on the mouth before dropping to his knees and pressing another opened-mouthed kiss to her stomach.

Her muscles clenched in anticipation. The water ran down her body. He urged her to put one foot on the edge of the tub, then he leaned in, parted her flesh and licked her. She cried out as his tongue circled the very heart of her, before moving across her swollen center. She felt his lips, his breath and the steady pressure as he pleasured her.