Chapter 18

Mia

The moment I saw those burning Prussian-blue eyes and his dark face, I wanted to weep with both delight and trepidation. I knew the moment I saw the look on his face that he was going to ravish me again. But so early in the morning? When we’d just done so last night?

I couldn’t help myself and voiced my confusion. “James? Are we doing this again?”

He chuckled. “You’re finally awake,” he replied, ignoring my question. “I was beginning to wonder.” He returned his attention to my breast.

I couldn’t have that. “James?”

He continued to ignore me and guided my leg up. He met my thigh with a kiss of his eager lips and then another and another and then some licks of his tongue.

His tongue was hot and wet, and I groaned in response as he moved ever closer to the forbidden area.

“Oh, James,” I whispered. “It’s early in the morning.”

He finally turned his attention to me with an amused look. He moved up so that we were face-to-face. Then his lips found mine, and he kissed me, plunging his tongue into my mouth, wildly and passionately devouring me.

My body shuddered under his fervent kiss, and I thought, Yes, our kisses are definitely like lightning. His tongue was wild in my mouth, stroking me and licking me. I became mindless.

“Ngh…” I groaned as my body shook.

When he finally released me, my lips were sore and I was breathless. I watched him as he smirked at me. He looked so pleased with himself.

“Refuse me, Mia,” he commanded.

“Huh?” I was confused and couldn’t help but show it on my face.

He chuckled. “Refuse me,” he demanded again.

Then it hit me. The billionaire wanted to play a game. Was this another side of him I’d yet to discover?

The urge to see a different side of James was strong within me, and I smiled.

I was merely his mistress after all, and therefore, I couldn’t really disobey his order now, could I? Thus, I played along.

“You want me to refuse you?” I asked. “Is it a game?”

He chuckled. “Very clever,” he stated, stroking my cheek.

Instantly, I put my hands about his chest and shoved him back. Then I slipped out of bed, dragging the sheet along with me to cover my naked body for decency’s sake. “I’m not playing any games with you, James.”

He grinned as he watched me standing there, my head held high, my eyes haughtily staring at him.

“I’m going to shower now,” I declared, heading toward the bathroom.

Suddenly, I felt butterflies in my stomach, and I hadn’t a clue why. I knew it was excitement, but I didn’t know why challenging him made me feel this way.

At the door, I turned slightly to see what he was up to. When I saw him getting up from the bed and heading my way, I sucked in my breath. My whole being tingled, and I hastily slipped into the bathroom.

My body sparked with a thrill when I saw him charging toward me with a dark look in his eyes. I quickly shut the door in his face and then locked it as he grabbed the handle.

My body shook and buzzed, and my heart raced as I stared at the closed door, James on the other side. I felt the urge to laugh and found it hard to hold back. I managed somehow as I stood there. I’d just provoked James Maxwell and thought what a wonderful feeling it was.

He banged his palm on the door as he ordered loudly, “Mia, open the door!”

I took a step back and slowly smiled. I didn’t reply to his demand as I waited to see what he’d do next.

“Mia?” His voice was louder this time and more demanding. “I said open the door, Mia. You’re not getting away, sweetheart.”

I nervously bit my lower lip as I clutched the bedsheet against me. Shit! My body was still buzzing. What the heck is wrong with me? The thought of being chased by James and then getting caught and ravished was exciting. Was that even normal?

No, it couldn’t be. I needed to cool down. James needed to cool down.

“Go and calm yourself down in your own shower, James,” I said loudly. I hoped he didn’t hear the nervousness in my voice.

His reply was a sarcastic chuckle. Then came another bang at the door that made me jump.

Was this part of our game too? I wondered. Heck, he did want me to refuse him, and I was doing just that and enjoying it too.

“I said open the door, Mia,” he demanded again, his voice rough and dark.

I shut my eyes, knowing he must be very frustrated indeed. And why wouldn’t he be? Especially with what I’d glimpsed of him as he marched toward me. His manhood was fully aroused and sticking out like a…

I tried to shut the image out of my mind, but it was so hard. Was it even possible for a man’s thing to become that big? It was just ridiculous. I wondered if most were like his.

I licked my lip and tried hard to calm down, knowing what that giant thing could do to me. I was still flustered when I realized it was quiet on the other side of the door. Curious, I took a step forward and leaned in to listen carefully. Nothing. All was quiet. James, I presumed, had left.

So he finally gave up? I would have thought he was more persistent than that.

Much more relaxed now, I threw away the bedsheet and headed into the shower. There, I turned it on and then stepped in, allowing my body to be rinsed clean. Once I was all wet, I picked up my own shower gel I’d brought along from home and squeezed a big drop onto a shower sponge.

As I continued to clean myself and inhale the sweet frangipani scent, I wondered if Mr. Maxwell always liked to have his house stocked. As I’d discovered yesterday, there was enough food to feed a small family for a week, as well as bathroom essentials such as spare toothbrushes and toothpaste. In a way, I felt quite blessed staying in his apartment.

Suddenly, my mind drifted off to Andy again, and my high spirits disappeared.

“Soon, Andy, you’ll be free of that Matt person,” I whispered under my breath as I allowed the water from the shower to pound down on me. Today I’d get to see him for the first time in months.

With a big fluffy white towel wrapped securely around me, I stepped back out into the bedroom. Sure enough, James wasn’t around, and I quickly went in search of my backpack to find my clothes. After retrieving panties, a bra, a pair of jeans that was obviously ripped about the legs, and, of course, a loose T-shirt that was also damaged by that naughty canine Alfie, I rushed back into the bathroom and got dressed. A few minutes later, as I stared wide-eyed at myself, I wanted to laugh. I looked like some street-rock chick, wearing a ripped shirt and jeans with long wet, wavy black hair. I shrugged my shoulders and thought I looked rather fetching.

Turning on my heel, I headed out the door.