She didn’t think she’d be able to live through that scandal again.

Maybe you’re getting way ahead of yourself.

Yes, he’d asked her to the fundraiser but it wasn’t like he’d asked her to move in with him.

And then there was the question of his lifestyle…

Which, she had to admit, thrilled her. No question about it.

Shaking her head, she sighed. So many questions. Not enough answers.

Jared reappeared around the other side of the building then, heading toward her with a smile that could devastate the entire female population in a three-county area. When he reached her, he swept her into his arms and kissed her hard and fast, his taste fleeting but heady.

“I think you must be my good luck charm.” He smiled into her eyes, making her thighs clench. “This place is perfect.”

But she thought he was the perfect one, with his gorgeous smile and devastating personality.

Releasing her, he pulled his cell phone from the pocket of his jacket and dialed a number. “I’m betting the real estate agent will drop off the key. The place looks like it’s been on the market for a while. There’re a few structural problems but— Yes, hi. I’d like to speak to Danielle West, please.”

Thinking she’d give him some room, she started to move away, but he caught her and pulled her back against him. He kept one arm around her shoulders, and she allowed herself to rest her head on his chest, hearing his heart beat through his warm cotton sweater. She breathed deeply, letting his scent envelop her.

His voice rumbled in his chest as he charmed the person on the other end into dropping off the key. She enjoyed watching him in action. He knew exactly what he wanted and he got it.

“So what do you think?” he asked when he hung up. He stared down at her with an expectant expression, as if he really cared what she thought.

She forced a smile. “It’s gorgeous. How long will it take for the real estate agent to get here?”

Jared looked at his watch. “She said it’d take her a few minutes to finish what she was doing and then about twenty minutes to get out here. Are you cold? Do you want to sit in the car?”

She shook her head, not wanting to leave his side. “Why don’t you show me around?”

They walked the perimeter of the building hand-in-hand as he pointed out attributes and faults, picking up on things she never would have noticed. He talked about where more rooms could be added while maintaining the charm of the building.

He was pointing out loose roof slates to be replaced when the sound of a car driving up the lane caught their attention.

They hurried around to the front of the building and caught sight of a young woman arriving at the front door. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of Jared. No surprise there, Annabelle thought.

After introducing herself, the real estate agent handed over the keys and a thin folder.

“I spoke to our branch manager in Philadelphia who’s done some work for you,” she said. “She said it would be okay to leave the keys with you. I’m so sorry I can’t stay. I have another showing in just a few minutes, but I’ll be back in about an hour. We can talk then. A few of the rooms had been decorated for a recent designer showcase in a magazine but none of the furniture is included with the asking price. Of course, if you like it, I’m sure we could work something out. Anything else, just let me know what you need.”

Giving her a patented Jared smile, he agreed, but Annabelle could tell he was anxious to get rid of the woman. When she’d left, he set off like a kid with the key to the candy shop, pulling her along after him with a tight hold on her hand.

Opening the front door, he walked into the foyer. “Damn, it’s even better than I thought.”

“Oh, Jared.” Annabelle felt her mouth drop open in surprise. “It’s like a fairy tale.”

The circular foyer led to a sunken area that was twice the size of the entire first floor of the shop. A grand staircase with a balustrade of dark wood to the right of the door led to the second floor.

Wandering through the first floor, Jared noted broken windows, some water damage. Looking through the materials from the agent, he said there were eighteen bedrooms on the second and third floors, but only three had separate baths.

“Have to add baths,” he mumbled under his breath. “Lose a couple rooms there. The kitchen’s huge but that’ll need a total update.”

After exploring the first floor, they headed up the staircase. The first few rooms lacked anything other than wallpaper and trim.

Jared stopped in one room to check out the bathroom, but Annabelle continued on to the end of the hall, her curiosity piqued by a large intricately carved panel of wood on the wall. Flowers and vines writhed over the surface in a pattern reminiscent of Arabic script. She moved closer to have a better look and realized the panel was a door.

She looked for a knob but found none. After a few minutes of pressing her fingers into any and all indentations, she found a hidden latch in one of the carved flowers.

The door glided open on silent hinges to reveal a curved stairwell. Up the stairs, she gasped in delight as the tower room came into view.

Rose moiré silk draped curved walls, inset with windows every few feet and a door she assumed led to a bathroom next to the entry. This room was bare, but an intricate metal spiral staircase near the back led to a loft. Climbing up, she came face-to-face with a scene out of Arabian Nights.

Panels of gold, silver, and purple fabric hung from a ring on the ceiling, creating a tent-like effect over a large circular bed dead center in the loft.

Wandering over to the bed, she ran her fingers down the drapery, marveling at the quality of the silk. Golden tassels held the panels together at the sides, and a purple comforter covered midnight-blue silk sheets.

Wow. She’d love to meet the designer of this room.

What a bed! Annabelle couldn’t help but kick off her shoes and stretch out. She closed her eyes and let the sensuous silk surround her, soothe her, seduce her into relaxing.

A small sound made her eyes fly open, and she saw Jared at the top of the stairs.

“You look like you belong there.” His voice caressed her, the intense heat in his eyes scorching. “I want to tie you to that bed and never let you leave.”

Her heart began to race and she couldn’t catch her breath. His desire was a palpable force, holding her in place as if he’d tied her hands to those silken panels with the tassels.

Just thinking about that made her body heat and moisten.

As she stared, Jared shrugged out of his coat and dropped it to the floor. She raised herself onto her elbows and watched as he walked toward the bed and stopped in front of her.

Reaching for her jeans, he popped the button, then released the zipper, the metallic rasp echoing through the room. The cool air seemed to heat around them, and she swore she’d be able to see steam rising from their bodies soon.

Instead of pulling down his own jeans, though, he grabbed the sides of hers and yanked them to her bent knees hanging over the side of the mattress.

She drew in a sharp breath as her underwear caught and followed, leaving her exposed to his hot, searching gaze. And her legs trapped.

Wanting him to touch her, she arched her hips but he reached instead for the buttons on her sweater. The little discs didn’t give him any hassle, but she felt each pluck and release between her legs.

He didn’t remove the sweater, just parted the sides so the pretty pink bra that matched her underwear was exposed. His fingers drew white-hot lines of fire over her skin, drawing her nipples into aching points that throbbed under his gaze.

She reached for him, but he caught her hands before she made contact and held them at her sides. When she murmured a protest, he just smiled.

“This bed was made for sex, wasn’t it, Belle?”

Instead of being turned off by his language, Belle’s body tightened, desire drenching her like a downpour. Her nipples tightened into unbearably hard peaks, the muscles of her pussy clenching in anticipation.

“Will you let me fuck you on this bed? Clothes on, fast and hard, down and dirty.”

Jared released one of her hands so he could run a finger down her torso starting at her chin, carefully avoiding her breasts until he reached the soft curls between her legs. He drew a few strands between his fingers, curling them around the tips, before he withdrew, causing her to groan.

“Do you trust me, Belle?”

She couldn’t speak so she nodded.

He moved then, reaching above her head.

When he untied the tasseled cords from the posts and left them dangling, she thought she might hyperventilate from excitement. He released her right hand, then brought her left one up and wrapped the cords gently around her wrist, laying the ends in her hands.

When he’d done the same to the right, he just stared, his breathing a harsh rasp in the silence.

When he reached for her again, he brushed against the sides of her breasts, sweeping down to her hips and her outer thighs. Sensation followed, pulsing over her like a wave. He touched every inch of her body but the throbbing flesh between her thighs, until she strained against the cords so hard she was afraid she’d bring the bed down on them.

At the precise moment she couldn’t take it any longer, he groaned and froze, his fingers shaking as his control began to implode.

Then his fingers moved again, arrowing straight between her thighs. He slipped two fingers between her legs and felt the wetness seeping from her. Because of her jeans at her knees, she could barely open her legs, and his fingers felt huge as he worked her.