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the morning, the mission over and done with her hands empty. Make him burn. Pants stay on. But more
than that was her own self respect. She was a virgin by choice. She’d never
liked anyone enough to give it up and doing so now, giving it to the man she
was planning to steal from, was wrong in so many ways. Despite the attraction,
despite the fact he made her feel hot and shaky and nervous and desperate for
more of his kisses, she couldn’t.
    Not
on the first date.
    Not
a handful of hours after meeting him.
    And
certainly not like this.
    “It’s
not your fault,” she said as she pulled her bra up to cover everything and then
wrapped her arms around her bare belly. “I’m just as much to blame.”
    “No,”
he said, passing her across her shirt. “I simply assumed. But of course this
changes things.”
    Of
course it did, just as she knew it would. Innocent. It would make him see her completely differently. Just as Lyra and Penny said
it would. The fact that it was true was just an added bonus. But she needed
time to think, to work out how she’d almost let him seduce her when she’d
promised herself she would not. So Rachel pulled her tee shirt over her head,
smoothed it down and shot him a look.
    His
hair was in disarray, his shirt rumpled, the top few buttons undone. Had she
done that? She couldn’t even remember. He looked so gorgeous. So attractive.
His eyes so piercing, the angular set of his jaw…she swallowed and took a deep
breath.
    “It’s
fine,” she said after a moment. “Only I think maybe you should leave. I’d like
some time alone please.”
    “Of
course.” He stood up, grabbed the suit jacket he’d shed when they sat down to
dinner and then paused at the door. “I will see you tomorrow?”
    “I’ll
be here.” Where else would she be, she thought, the mission may have just been
compromised. Well, more than that… almost freaking over, but there was still
work to be done. She could not forget that! Not now, not in the days to come.
    “And
you will text me if you need anything? If anything is amiss?”
    “Of
course.”
    “Because
it is no bother. It would please me, Cara .”
    “Yes,
Dominic. I promise.”
    He
nodded and left the room, shutting the door with a soft thud. Rachel followed
him over, locked it, and rested her head against the wood. It felt cold against
her forehead and it was then she realized just how hot she was. How flushed.
    She
made her way into the bedroom and flopped down on her enormous bed, sinking
into its contours. Her breasts ached, her thighs felt sticky and she wanted…no,
she needed something to ease the pressure she felt down there. But even as her
fingers went to the waistband of her jeans Rachel halted. She’d never really
been a fan of masturbating. Oh, she’d tried it more than once but she was
almost certain she’d never managed to make herself orgasm. So like she’d
stilled Dominic’s hand, she stilled her own, turned on her side, and tried to
think.
    Nothing
clarified itself, not then and not in the long hours that followed. Not as she
showered and changed into the silky pajamas Lucinda had sent her way. Not as
she lay in bed trying to find patterns in the sheer bed curtains, and not even
as she’d counted the hours until dawn. By morning Rachel knew one thing and one
thing only.
    She
desired Dominic intensely.
    The
attraction she felt for him was not going to go away and she was vulnerable.
Very vulnerable to his charms. It was highly likey now that he knew about her
virginity that she would not be able to stop another seduction. He’d be
gentler, more careful, and he’d set her on fire all over again.
    She
could not afford to let that happen and she certainly could not afford to let
things drag on. She had to pick his pocket, and then she had to get to his safe
and get to it soon.
     
     

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    Dominic
needed a little distance. Really, he did because he was becoming obsessed. It
had just hit the thirty-hour mark since he’d