Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

Selena turned her head slightly, dodging his kiss. Men, once they sense a little leeway, tend to push their luck, and lately, since she hadn't been so obviously resistant, Everett had become insufferably clingy. She was getting pretty worn out from it all. "Everett, you've got an early flight tomorrow. You really should hit the hay early tonight," she said. "Besides, I still need to finish packing for you and little Mateo."

She tried to wriggle out of his embrace, but he easily caught her wrist and pinned her gently against the cabinet. His cool fingertips teasingly brushed her lips, his voice a low murmur filled with desire as he whispered in her ear, "Ava can handle the packing. You don't need to lift a finger. And come on, you know what kind of energy I've got, right?"

Even after a night of passion, he'd bounce back, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, unlike her-she was getting softer with every encounter, often drifting off before anything much happened. Selena's cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. If there was one thing that hadn't changed about this guy in the past three years, it was his nerve-thicker than ever.

Annoyed, she turned her face away, refusing to humor him. Everett took her silence as a green light. This business trip was going to have him away for at least a couple of weeks, and now that he knew what missing her felt like, he wasn't keen to part. But times had changed. He couldn't just whisk her away with him anymore, especially with little Mateo in the picture. The kid was too young and clung to his mom like Velcro. So he had to make the most of their time before he left.

"Mommy-" Little Mateo's tiny feet padded toward the master bedroom. Everett felt a headache coming on. Even if it was his own son, or even royalty, nothing was going to derail his plans tonight.

Before the little one could push open the heavy door and burst in, Everett scooped Selena up with one arm and swiftly ducked into the walk-in closet. The door closed with a soft click behind them. "Huh? Where's Mommy?" The little boy, puzzled by the empty bedroom, wandered around in confusion.noveldrama

Selena pounded on Everett's shoulder, insisting he let her down-she'd promised to tuck her son in tonight. Everett obliged, but instead of lowering her to the floor, he set her on a glass display cabinet. From behind, his frame nearly enveloped her entirely, leaving just her straight, slender legs dangling helplessly from his lean waist.

Cradling the back of her head with his hand, he playfully nibbled on her lips, teasing, "We haven't had fun here in ages. Changing things up tonight sounds good, don't you think?" Selena, unable to escape his hold, pinched him without hesitation. "You old rascal!"

Everett

"Old rascal?" Everett raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. "I'll own up to being a rascal. Comes with the territory when you're with

the missus. But old? Where on earth

did Mrs. Bennett get that idea?"

His face still bore that lazy, noble charm-the perfect picture of a refined rogue. "But really, have I done anything lately to irk Mrs. Bennett? Hmm?"

With practiced ease, his actions

spoke louder than words. Selena's breathing became erratic, and her knees turned to jelly. She had no choice but to lean on his shoulder

for support, lest she g

Meanwhile, little Mateo, as determined as ever, kept searching until he reached the closet door, his tiny hands patting against it.