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‘We should go down’ Ahtly breathless Her back was still to him, her eyes ith apprehension in theslowly

He felt the shiver of reaction ripple through her as his lips met her shoulder, and he took a tiny slice of ti her scent as hisaway

A touch, a tiny kiss on her shoulder, that was all it had been—yet Ary at hi by the rules, felt as if she’d been branded with a curious, erotic, alesture she couldn’t interpret As if he’d sunk in his teeth, as if he’d left a mark, she could feel where he’d been, but she knew there was nothing visible to show for his touch And as they headed downstairs, as they stood apart in the lift, e, still she could feel the weight of his lips where they’d ain

She wasn’t sure which orse—fighting the sexual tension, constantly being on high alert, or the safety of being with Vaughan when he was on his best behaviour Since their lunch date, it was as if a light had been switched Vaughan was polite, so her as he hadn’t from the start

As the journalist she was

Until tonight

Tonight she could feel the rules being rewritten She felt like a pawn in one of Vaughan’s ga at his will, her eyes constantly drawn to the master, acutely aware of him by her side,

‘These are the auction itehan’s presence, Sam made his way over ‘And that fabulous holiday you donated is the crea up the prices unashamedly for us’

Vaughan didn’t even deign to respond, just shrugged his tense shoulders, taking two glasses of cha one to Amelia His face broke into the widest of smiles as a couple waved cheerfully at him, and only the tiny roll of his eyes told her it was false That al, limpse as if she was on his side, as if they really were a couple

‘How’s your piece going?’ Vaughan atte he was anywhere else but here

‘Good,’ A in her life was straightforward Because sexual frustration had done wonders for her writing skills Had given her peritimately focus on what she’d chosen not to have

And because it was Vaughan her as beautiful

The inti to life beneath her fingers now So his flashes of dry hu it with the occasional glimpse of a different side—the active brain that kept hi to her audience the softer side he usually chose not to reveal And, despite what Paul said, Vaughan alone was quite sies Amelia didn’t need to name names, to foster attention, didn’t need to add draossip that wouldn’t see the weekend out, and she’d take it to the line with her boss if she had to

Watching hilass in hand, haughty face occasionally softened with laugher, Amelia knew in a proud ht choice

His beauty was timeless, and in turn so too would be her article

If her career was on the line then that was okay—if her paper didn’t want it then someone else surely would

Vaughan had done nothing wrong—it wasn’t his fault that she loved him

‘God, I hate these things,’ he said, ages later, when Amelia had air-kissed more women than she could ever hope to remember and shaken hands with more ruddy-faced businessmen than she’d ever wanted to

But Vaughan hadn’t looked as if he’d hated it On the contrary, he’d been a social wizard, listening intently to theloudly at thejokes, yet he had still been true to hiht be, but not once had he co

‘I wish they’d just bloody get on with the auction so I can call it a night’

‘It’s for charity,’ A, think of the kids I really think you should let me use this’

‘Don’t—’ Vaughan started, but there was no stopping A man at her side and Ahts