Page 62 of Unbound Boxset

A beat passed. “We build things, then ship them.”

“Construction?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re not ready to take over?”

Another beat passed. Julianna knew he hid something, but didn’t push. After all, she had her own secrets. “I have nothing to complain about. I grew up with a solid foundation and my parents were always there for me. Let’s just say I felt separated from other kids. I was in a different social level so I became isolated. Of course, as I got older, I realized that was bullshit. You can be friends with anyone you want if you choose.”

“Are you talking about rich versus poor?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded. “I know what you mean. I grew up with the pressure of socializing with ‘my kind.’ I made a friend in school once. We hung out and played together, and I invited her over to my house for a playdate. Once my mother found out her background, she told me I wasn’t allowed to see her any longer. Explained I had a responsibility to learn only from friends at my own social level.” She huffed out a disgusted breath. “So embarrassing. After Mom’s lecture, I ignored my friend. I still regret how I hurt her feelings. I wish I’d been strong enough to stand up to my mother instead of just accepting what she told me as law. I was literally raised to be a spoiled brat.”

“Is that why you want to marry someone at your social level?”

She hesitated with the truth. And decided to hold back. “Yes.” She gave no further explanation, almost wanting him to disapprove of her. Anything to keep some emotional distance between them.

“You may not have had a choice then. But you do now.”

The words stung like a hive of bees. She took the pain because she knew she deserved it. He was right. Pretending she was stuck on the path before her was a sheer cop-out. She could turn her back on her father’s plea and do what was best for her. She could sell the property and walk away. Make a life somewhere else on her own terms.

Her father’s face haunted her. To keep the family home and name alive. Ridiculous, these days. She was a heroine straight out of Victorian fiction.

Jack was right, though. Still her choice.

Julianna decided to play her own games. There was no need to hunker down for a heart-to-heart talk with a temporary lover. It was time she embrace her own sexuality, with this man who was teaching her the carnal arts. She sat across from him, topless, while he called the shots.

Not anymore.

“This crab is delicious.” Her obvious change of subject seemed to amuse him but she vowed to change the expression on his face. The meat was tender and cold against her mouth. She dipped a claw in butter, then brought it slowly to her lips and nibbled at the jagged edges.

Suddenly, he seemed less than amused.

He watched every motion with a growing hunger, and a jolt of satisfaction raced through her at the ability to make this man want her. Power urged her on as she darted her tongue out and caught the crab delicately between her teeth. Without pulling her gaze from his, she opened her mouth and sucked on the meat. As it disappeared behind her lips she emitted an earthy moan.

His muscles locked. Julianna heard a ragged breath but he didn’t speak or try to stop her. She licked the dripping butter off of every finger, scraping her teeth lightly against her skin. When they were clean, she pushed her hair behind her shoulder. Then she slowly allowed her moist fingers to trace the collarbone of her neck, caress the swell of her breasts, and drop lower.

He sucked in his breath. Driven by an extreme urge to push him, to make him want her, she allowed her fingers to touch and stroke her breasts with delicate motions. She let her head fall back a bit and felt the cool breeze drift over her heated skin, allowed her thumb to play over the ruby hard tip and coax it to rise.

He muttered a dirty curse. “I knew I created a monster. Look at you. Look at what you do to me.”

Her gaze fell to his erection straining against the white shorts. Ocean-blue eyes glittered with a mad hunger and spurred her on. She dropped her voice to a naughty whisper. “Why don’t you look at what you do to me?”

She pulled up her skirt and parted her legs.

Jack gripped the table and swore. “Show me, love. Show me what you did on the cliffs the first night I took you.”

The wildness took hold and tore through her. She slid her hand downward, parted her swollen lips, and pushed her finger inside.

He urged her on. She moaned as her body reached for release. She used her wetness to coat her clit and applied the steady moving pressure to make herself come. Julianna slipped lower in the chair, hooked both feet behind the legs of the table, and pleasured herself.

He sensed her approaching climax and jumped from his chair. With one fast movement, he caught her around the waist and pulled her up, catching her hand firmly in his. Hard, choppy breaths floated past her ear as he held her against his rock-hard body.

“I won’t let you finish this time.” He ripped the skirt down her hips and gazed at her naked body with an odd possessiveness. “Go stand by the railing and don’t turn around. We’re setting sail.”

Her knees trembled when he left, but she obeyed. Julianna clasped the cool rails of the deck as she heard him release the ropes. Silently, the boat glided away from the harbor into the blackness before her.