Romance Me (Boxed Set) (74 page)

“What?” she shrieked. She shoved him away, stood, and slipped into her robe. After tying her belt, she propped her hands on her hips. “Okay, now you're just playing with me.”

Rhys threaded his fingers behind his head and shrugged.

“When?”

“The night after you accosted me on stage wearing nothing but your bikini. Grace called the theater to check in with you, and Max answered the phone. I have no idea what was said or if and when they've ever met in person. All I know is that he's been walking around in a daze, muttering her name. He's reverted back to his old ways, nothing like the new-and-improved Maxwell Dalton, magician and host of the getting-to-be-quite-famous Dalton Theater.”

Still trying to imagine Grace with Max, or heaven forbid, Lucy with Jamie, Melina walked to her dresser and touched the little box she'd set there earlier. Smiling wickedly, she decided to wait a little while longer before she gave it to him. “Well, I suppose he deserves some time off for good behavior. Let's not forget we're together because of him.”

Rhys snorted. “Let's not forget he's the reason I didn't get into your pants when you were sixteen.”

“Like that would have happened.” When he stared at her, she smirked. “Okay, it would've definitely happened. But who can blame him for being jealous of you? He felt bad and tried hard to make amends.”

Eyes wide, Rhys stood and waved his palm in front of her face. “Hello? This is the same man who copped to taking an ax to Metamorphosis.”

Melina smacked his hand away. “Impulsive, but determined. He knew you weren't going to be happy with Seven Seas so he made sure it didn't happen. Then he worked like a madman to get you guys signed at the Portofino Casino. You both did.”

“I suppose,” Rhys grumbled. “In any case, the meeting with the attorneys to nail down the final contract went well today.” He lit up. Rubbing his hands together, he started untying her belt. “Now I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor—at home and in my bed with my own little sex dynamo—while he has to slog through standing-room-only performances in the newest luxury resort in Vegas.”

Melina rolled her eyes. “Yes, I'm sure all that fame and female attention will get old eventually.” He knelt in front of her, peeled back her robe, and kissed her stomach. She ran her hand through his hair and peered down at him. “Sex dynamo, huh?”

“Hey, you're the one who bought the crotchless underwear and crop. I was just your hapless victim.”

She jumped on him and pushed him down at the same time, digging her fingers into his ribs even as he did exactly what she wanted him to. Flipping her onto her back, he covered her with his body and pinned both wrists above her head with one hand. “I love that this is your favorite position,” he whispered, then laughed when she tried to knee him. He easily deflected the blow, pushed her legs apart, and rubbed the hardest part of him against the softest part of her.

They moaned together, and he took that as his cue to get busy with his free hand.

“Before you—” She gasped when he sucked her nipple into his mouth, then flicked it with his tongue. Tangling her fingers in his hair, she tugged to get his attention. “Before you distract me with sex, can I ask you a serious question?”

He groaned dramatically and dropped his forehead lightly on her chest. “If you must, but make it quick. I have a wife to satisfy.”

“Be honest. Do you have any regrets about leaving the act?”

He sighed then met her gaze. “Just one,” he said.

She jerked in surprise, inadvertently rubbing against his erection. He bit back a moan even as he shook his head. “Don't look like that. I love my life. I love our home, love being able to travel with you when we want, love that I get to manage my brother's flourishing career and charge him an obscene amount of money for the tricks that I invent for him. Most of all, I love that I can have all that and you can be happy studying your bugs at UNLV. I love you.”

“Then what's your one regret?”

He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

She smiled. This time when she rubbed against him it was deliberate. “That's okay. That pair of cuffs has bad memories, anyway. Think how fun it'll be to find our new favorite pair.” It shouldn't be hard, she thought, given the assorted restraints that now waited on her dresser. But for now, she wanted only to enjoy his touch.

THE END

Bedding The Bad Boy (Bedding The Bachelors series, Book 2)

Identical twin and Las Vegas performer Max Dalton has always been the number one bad boy in his family, and he's appreciated the women and fame that comes along with his reputation.

Grace Sinclair is on a mission when she comes to Vegas, one that involves asking Max, her best friend's brother-in-law, to give her the pleasure no man's ever been able to. She suspects Max has more layers than he lets people see, but she's determined to keep her heart safe even as she offers him her body.

What neither of them plan on is love--or the triangle the media stirs up with Max's blonde bombshell actress friend.

Will Grace see beyond Max's bad boy façade long enough to trust him with her heart? And will Max figure out what he really wants before he loses the one woman who makes him believe in love again?

About the Author

Virna DePaul

Virna DePaul is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of steamy, suspenseful fiction. Whether it’s vampires, a Para-Ops team, hot cops or swoon-worthy identical twin brothers, her stories center around complex individuals willing to overcome incredible odds for love.
Bedding The Wrong Brother
, which begins the Bedding The Bachelors Series, is a #1 Bestselling Contemporary Romance and a USA Today Bestseller. Her PNR series with Random House includes
Turned
and
Awakened
. She loves to hear from readers at
www.virnadepaul.com
.

CONTACT VIRNA HERE

Website:
www.virnadepaul.com
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Twitter:
@virnadepaul

Email: [email protected]

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Titles by Virna DePaul

The Bedding The Bachelors Series:

Book 1: Bedding The Wrong Brother (Rhys)

Book 2: Bedding The Bad Boy (Max)

Book 3: Bedding The Billionaire (Jamie)

Book 4: Bedding The Best Friend (Ryan)

Book 5: Bedding The Biker Next Door (Cole)**

Book 6: Bedding The Bodyguard (Luke)**

Book 7: Bedding The Best Man (Gabe)**

Book 8: Bedding The Boss (Eric)**

**Coming Soon

Other Books By Virna:

Paranormal Romantic Suspense:

Para-Ops Series

Wraith’s Awakening (A Para-Ops Prequel)

Chosen by Blood (A Para-Ops Novel, Book 1)

Chosen by Fate (A Para-Ops Novel, Book 2)

Chosen by Sin (A Para-Ops Novel, Book 3)

Belladonna Series

Turned

Awakened

Contemporary Romantic Suspense:

Dangerous to Her (Harlequin Romantic Suspense)

It Started That Night (HRS)

Deadly Charade (HRS)

Shades of Desire (HQN: Special Investigations Group, Bk 1)

Shades of Temptation (HQN: Special Investigations Group, Bk 2)

Shades of Passion (HQN: Special Investigations Group, Bk 3)

Novellas:

A Vampire’s Salvation (Loveswept)

Wild For Mr. Wrong

Molly Wants A Hero (Harlequin Special Releases—Love Bites, anthology by Lori Foster)

Erotic Romance Novellas:

Arrested by Love (Loveswept) contains the individual novellas:

Copping to It (Red-Hot Cops Series Novella 1)

Cop Appeal (Red-Hot Cops Series Novella 2)

Copping Attitude (Red-Hot Cops Series Novella 3)