Dazzle her: Laws of Seduction Book 3 Read Online Free

expected under the circumstances, I join James in the kitchen, and he pours me a cup of coffee.
    James regards me with no expression for a few seconds before breaking the tense silence. “Lainey, I swear there is nothing between me and Elizabeth.”
    I remember the text messages I found on his phone yesterday. “I find that a little hard to believe when she is calling you at 7 a.m. Put yourself in my shoes, James. What would you think if another man told you he was in a serious relationship with me, exchanged texts with me daily, and called me first thing in the morning?”
    His brow draws together. “I know it looks bad. No matter how many times I tell you that nothing is going on between me and Elizabeth, what it really comes down to is whether you are going to trust me. We have not been together that long, and the trust between us hasn’t had a chance to grow, but I am asking you to trust me. Can you do that?”
    Could I give him the blind trust he is asking of me? He is right. The trust in our relationship has not had time to grow naturally. I recall the times when he has broken my budding trust. My mind flits back to the morning after our one-night stand and then to the week after our first weekend in the Hamptons. Both times James blew me off without explanation, and it had hurt. Sure, the circumstances are not the same, but if I trust him implicitly like he is asking, then I would have to let down the walls that are protecting my heart. Then I think of our lovemaking the night before, and how he had tied me up. That had led to the best sexual experience of my life. I had trusted him with my body. Couldn’t I do the same with my heart?
    I am startled when James’s empty coffee mug slams down on the counter, and I jump back in surprise. James rakes his fingers through his hair in a gesture that I am beginning to recognize as him at his most agitated. “Lainey, if everyone at the office knew that we were in a relationship, this Elizabeth thing would blow over. I am sure of it.”
    Guiltily, I remember that I had promised to think about revealing our relationship. The idea still makes me cringe inside, but maybe he is right. Sneaking around doesn’t seem to be doing our relationship any good, and coming out as a couple would put us on firmer footing. I would just have to deal with the gossip. Besides, we would be the talk of the office whether we were open about our relationship now or later. There was no point in delaying it. I want to be in a relationship with James, and my fear of being pitied after he dumps me no longer seems like a valid concern compared with the damage it is doing to our relationship now.
    I set my coffee down next to his empty mug and take a few steps, closing the distance between us. When I am close enough to touch him, I reach up and brush my fingers through his unruly hair and slide my hand through the silky strands until I am cupping his cheek. “I don’t want to fight. You’re right. I need to trust you more. I can’t promise that it will happen overnight, but I will try harder.” I watch as the tense, worried expression leaves his face and is With d by a look of relief.
    “Baby, that’s all I ask. What about the office?”
    “Can we wait until tomorrow? I need a little time to prepare myself mentally. Plus, with all the chaos from yesterday, I would like to have a day to get settled.”
    He looks down at me with a pleased glint in his eye. “Just 24 hours, and then everyone will know that you are mine.”
    “Possessive much?”
    “Baby, you have no idea.” He reaches down and grips my ass tightly. He slides my dress up with his fingers until his hands touch the bare skin on the back of my thighs.
    I gasp as he slides his hands higher, but I fight to keep my voice steady. “That reminds me. Have you seen my panties?”
    James’s stubble scrapes the side of my neck, and a frisson of pleasure ripples through me, making my nipples tighten in anticipation. His hard arousal