Chapter 41：James

Mia Donovan, the naive girl from the small town of Mystic Spring, with a contagious smile and sexy body, was a hot mess. Her long, dark hair rested luxuriously over his naked skin, draping over him like a seductive lover. Her face was snuggled at the nape of his neck while her naked body lolled on top of him with a sort of careless abandon any man would find alluring.

She was still breathing heavily, exhausted from their unexpected morning sex. Well, unexpected on her part. For James, however, he'd known since he'd made the offer for a contract that morning sex with her was part of the deal. Honest to God, what man wouldn't want to make love to such a beautiful, luscious body? The body that had innocently, seductively enticed him since the first time he'd met her? The body that obeyed his every command?

Sex with Mia Donovan was definitely amazing, and James hadn't had that in a long time. Not, in fact, since his first time with his ex-wife Whitney when he had been twenty-one, after they'd had their first date.

The heat and softness of Mia's body and breath tugged a warm feeling deep in his heart. She felt good in his arms, as though she'd always belonged there. She was a perfect fit; one that made him smile, one that made him feel complete, whole, and just awesomely content.

He certainly didn't want to get emotionally involved with the opposite sex—with Mia Donovan especially. She was just his mistress, after all. Their contract, and hence their relationship, was just that—sex. Nothing else.

To get emotionally involved was to ask for trouble, and James certainly didn't want trouble where his feelings were concerned. Besides, he'd had that particular shit with Whitney, and look how it had turned out. Screwed. So fucking screwed. And that repulsive woman was still screwing with him, taunting him whenever and wherever she had the chance, provoking him with her presence and extravagant lifestyle and, of course, her refusal to see her own daughter, not even once after she'd run off with another man.

Even during the tumultuous period of their separation before the Gordian knot of their relationship was finally cut, she'd caused a lot of trouble, not only for him but for his entire family as well. She'd always disliked his old man Liam Maxwell, and even Scott and Eric were both on her blacklist.

The fact that she disliked his family background immensely shocked him. Why the fuck did she agree to marry him in the first place? Her decision and her way of thinking was a mystery to him, and he wasn't in any mood—either in the past, now, or in the future—to find out.

Even though his thoughts were dark and dismal in regard to the opposite sex, James, without thinking, moved his hand and cupped the back of Mia's head, his fingers and thumb intertwining with her long hair. She had lovely hair, and it was only natural he buried his nose in that long softness to inhale the scent.

What was it? That beautiful scent. He needed to find out.

Mia lifted her head then and stared at him.

James watched her with interest. She had that particular radiance on her face again, that look that James knew she wore whenever she wanted to be ravished by him. He'd seen it the first time when she ran into his room naked that first day and once again in his office back at the mansion when they'd been negotiating the deal. She'd worn it yesterday, too, after she'd signed the contract. That had been why he couldn't stop himself from taking her, even though her words had suggested otherwise—that she had been afraid, unsure, and tired.

He knew she was afraid of him and what would happen after the contract was signed and sealed, that she was unsure of the process, and she was tired from her journey. But that particular look on her face—the please fuck me face—that irresistibly lewd expression that begged him to ravish her without her uttering a word, that was the point of no return for him. He had surrendered to the inevitable and took her. He'd known he'd been rough with her, but God, it had been great sex, even for her first time.

This morning, too, she had that please fuck me expression clearly on her face. Oh, the excitement he'd seen in her eyes and the seductive yet defying voice when she was disobeying him—that had turned him on in an instant. He felt like an elephant in heat, ready to stamp her and brand her with his kisses and bites. He'd been ready to fuck her in the most primal way. The thrill of chasing her and then aggressively taking her was exhilarating, and the sex was some of the best he'd ever experienced.

With the reminder of this morning's game combined with that particular look on her face, James couldn't help himself and drew his head to her again. His lips met hers with a searing kiss.

She groaned. "Mmm…"

He loved it when she made those erotic sounds. To him, they were a type of pleasure meter that gave him indication of how much she enjoyed being with him.

Encouraged, James arrogantly kissed her more passionately, his tongue wild in her mouth; stroking her, licking her, and dancing with her. God! She tasted good. He was completely addicted to Mia Donovan, and that was fine with him.

When he drew his head back, she looked beautifully dazed. Her eyes were bright, cheeks flushed, and her lips red and swollen with moisture from his kiss.

She lay there staring up at him, breathless. James couldn't take his eyes off her as he stroked her cheek. Once she'd calmed down and her breathing evened, without a word, she pushed herself off him and moved over to the other side of the bed, intending to get up. He wouldn't have any of that, however, and caught her arm in an instant. He easily pulled her back to him, tugging her tight in his embrace.

"Huh!" She made the sound as she pulled a face.

James couldn't help but think how pretty she was with that particular expression. The woman was disarmingly beautiful in every countenance.

"What's that smell on you, Mia?" he asked, burying his face in the nape of her neck. God, he loved that scent. It suited her.

Mia tried to push him away. He held on tighter as she said, "I would have thought you'd have figured that out already, Mr. Maxwell."

The way she said it made him laugh. She was exceedingly good at making him laugh, even though he knew she didn't intend it to be funny in any way.

"If you really want to find out that much," she continued, "the bottle is still in the bathroom." She even pointed toward the door, an indication for him to let her go.

Like hell he was going to fall for the bait. He licked her soft skin instead, and she gasped in response.

"Are you going to disobey your boss?" he teased. "This boss demands you tell him what that scent is." He wanted to play with her. It was entertaining.

Mia pulled a face again. "Are we still playing that game?"

He laughed. "Nope. On to another game then."

She stared at him. "James?"

"Hmm," he responded as he flipped her on her back.

"We just did it, you know," she said, blushing intensely.

"I know," he said, his hand on the bedsheet, intending to pull it away from her body. He didn't get very far though. Mia tightened her grip on the soft material as she glared up at him.

"What are you doing?" She sounded panicky.

Shit! James certainly didn't want her to be terrified of him. He didn't want her to hate the sex or him.

Thus, he gave her a smile, hoping to ease her fear. "Are you sore?"

She bit her lip as she lightly shook her head. "No, not really. Just… Is it normal? To have sex so often in a day?"

He laughed. "I can go all day if that's what you want."

She widened her eyes in shock and uttered quickly, "No, of course not. I'm already exhausted."

"Such a weakling," he said, shaking his head. "You'll get used to it."

"I won't get used to it," she said, looking very adamant. "I'm sure I won't."

"I know you will," he confirmed. Without further ado, he claimed her lips once again and passionately kissed her.

Mia couldn't fight him off. The handsome billionaire was too strong for her to battle with. Not to mention that fact that he was also too bloody tempting for her sake, and in the end, she succumbed to his ardent lovemaking once again.