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“So up on her”

“I think it’s safe to say I’ up on Bettina”

“I can see why you’re attracted to her,” Mitchell said

“Who?” Evan demanded sharply

“Celia”

Both men stared across the room to where Celia danced with Marshall

“She’s a beautiful woman I bet she’s awesome in bed”

Evan rounded furiously on his brother “You shut the hell up Don’t even breathe her naot it?”

Mitchell s his hands up in surrender “Okay, okay, I get it You’re awfully touchy about her Funny, you weren’t that pissed when you found out about Bettina”

Mitchell sauntered off and Evan turned away, angry that he’d let his brother goad him

“Evan, there you are”

He sighed when his ed him over to introduce hiain in his life After severalended, and he turned in search of Celia

His father was h the croard Evan and Lucy, but Celia was nowhere to be seen Frowning, Evan scanned the room until finally he found her

She was dancing with Mitchell She didn’t look altogether thrilled, but Mitchell was s as he held Celia close

Irrational anger exploded over Evan All he could see was that it was Bettina all over again, only this time it mattered This was Celia His Celia

His brother was a slimy predator Neveroff any advances He didn’t even iine she’d ever be receptive to an overture on Mitchell’s part But the fact that his brother would behave this way at his oedding celebration enraged Evan

His woo because she was never his Celia was his even if she hadn’t recognized that little fact

Not stopping to think hoould look to others, he cut a path through the crowd that had people exclaiot to Mitchell and Celia, he reached for his brother’s arm and spun him around

“What the—” Mitchell began

His eyes narrowed angrily, but Evan stopped him with a look

“You’ll excuse us, Mitchell I find I’ve spent entirely too much time away from my fiancée”

Celia stared at both brothers in shock but didn’t utter a single protest when Evan all but dragged her out of the ballroom and into the hallway

The predator had been unleashed No way he’d stand by and watch his brother move in on what he considered his

He stalked toward the elevator, his only thought to get Celia as far away from everyone else as possible

He punched the button and hauled her inside As soon as the door closed, he slaled his mouth over hers

It was like a fuse igniting Desire sizzled down his spine, frying every nerve ending in its path He wasn’t gentle He wasn’t sure he had it in him He devoured her Claimed her

She gasped for breath, and he stole it as soon as she could gain it back

“Evan, what on earth…”

The question ended on a moan as his rily at the soft skin just below her ear

Behind hi his mouth from her skin, he maneuvered them down the

hall toward their suite

He was on fire He had no rational thought His only instinct was to take her To ed to him Only to him

Her eyes were dazed when he leaned her against the wall next to the door His hands shook as he rued in his pocket for the key It took two times before he inserted it correctly and as soon as the lock released, he threw open the door, held it with his foot and reached for her again

This ti A lust, relief hit him hard

She ith him She wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her

He tore at her clothing Then he tore at his Shoes and shirts hit the floor, leaving a trail across the floor to his bedroom

By the tie of his bed, she was down to just her bra and panties

Not just underwear Pink, delicate, frothy confections that accentuated every curve and swell Her breasts bulged and plumped upward over the cups He could see a hint of her aureole and it was driving him crazy

His fingers fuled with his as they both shoved doard

“God, Celia” He couldn’t catch his breath long enough to say what he wanted “I always shen I made love to you I’d savor you for hours I toldevery inch of your body But I swear, if I don’t get inside you soon, I’ to explode”

“Fast is good,” she panted “We can do slow later”

“Thank God”

He fell forward, taking her with him They both hit the bed, and she absorbed the shock of his bodyto hers

“I’ll savor you next time,” he promised between kisses

“Savor is good We can definitely savor But, God, Evan, make love to me now Please”

He chuckled and captured herto take you, Celia I’ you have to offer If you don’t want this, tell me now I’ll stop It’ll kill me, but I’ll stop”

She pulled away and stared up at hi, brilliant eyes Her hands traced a line from his temples over his face and to his jaw

“Take me then,” she whispered

Ten

Celia lay underneath Evan’s big body Every part of her was covered by him His heat penetrated her, seeped into her flesh and whispered seductively through her veins

She wanted hihtened and exhilarated her in equal parts She knew she shouldn’t—that she mustn’t—and yet she also knew she wouldn’t tell him no

There would be no recriret She knew the potential pitfalls oflove with Evan, and she would face them with full acceptance

“What are you thinking?” he asked

She raised her gaze to meet his He was propped on his arms, his body still flush with hers and their noses were mere inches apart

His eyes ith desire, liquid ant, and her heart fluttered in response

His voice was so tender and understanding He stared down at her like she was the only woman he’d ever made love to A mixture of awe and wonder that humbled her

“I was thinking we shouldn’t do this,” she admitted