Chapter 3: Season 1—Seduction—Episode 3

Jax stepped out of the oversized hexagon-shaped shower set against one wall, featuring floor-to-ceiling columns and pristine glass panes between them. He reached for a towel and slung it low around his hips. Then he grabbed another and rubbed the strands of his black-as-night hair.

The opera had helped to take the edge off his earlier volatile mood. He’d easily lost himself in the music and the drama of La Bohème . . . and a few glasses of Cristal. But the after-party had been a huge bust from the moment he and Lex had entered the upscale venue, the Bayview restaurant in San Francisco’s Financial District.

There’d been plenty of opera fanatics there to gush over the cast, but also equal numbers of classical music fans who were through-the-roof ecstatic that Jax and Lex were working together on a new CD. All well and good, except when they’d been pressed to give the crowd a sample of their latest creations.

Jax had had a valid excuse for not performing—no violin on hand. But there’d been a grand piano in the corner of the restaurant, overlooking the bay, and no clean break for Lex.

He’d deflected, regardless. In his usual amiable, charismatic way. Declaring the compositions were top-secret, heightening the mystery and anticipation, and claiming their music would be revealed to this special audience only when absolutely perfected. They deserved that much from the duo, he’d added.

And then Jax and Lex had gotten the hell out. Just twenty minutes after they’d arrived.

Under normal circumstances, they would have struck up the band and invited the opera leads to join in. But these weren’t normal circumstances. And while he and Lex were playing exceptionally well on their own, they were having a bitch of time finding the right groove with each other. The old groove that had once come so naturally to them.

This disturbed them greatly. Jax knew Lex had begun to doubt they should follow through with this current project as much as Jax had.

The problem was, they genuinely wanted to reunite musically.

But a ghost remained wedged between them.

Katarina.

Instantly relegating thoughts of her and the past to the far recesses of his mind, Jax left the stately bathroom and entered the even more cavernous master suite he occupied.

Though he drew up short when presented with an ass that sparked all sorts of dark, lascivious thoughts.

In a heartbeat.

Regardless of it not being a backside he was familiar with, Jax quickly deduced that the woman leaning over his mattress, plumping the mound of pillows, was none other than his new butler. A female butler.

And Jesus Christ, what a fantastic way to meet her.

He didn’t say anything for a few seconds while she finished her work. Her jacket lay along the bench at the end of the bed he’d had custom-made for his six-foot-four-inch height. The sleeves of her dress shirt were rolled up. Her hair was loose about her shoulders. Her legs were long and toned.

And again . . . her ass.

Perfectly round. Firm. Tempting.

The hem of her short skirt rode high as she swiftly smoothed the bedding she’d turned down. So high, he could see the gap between her thighs and the slightest hint of her cheeks peeking out.

Jax swallowed a groan of lust.

He’d had his reservations about hiring a woman to fill this position. But Greta had favored her above the other candidates, and Lex trusted Greta explicitly—so Jax did as well in this case. Plus, Liliana Hart possessed excellent credentials. It wasn’t just her tenure at the Cliff House—she also came from a line of butlers. So of course she’d understand all the parameters of the job. Confidentiality and five-star, 24/7 beck-and-call service.

She’d been a solid choice on paper.

Yet Jax hadn’t seen her in person until now. Lex had mentioned her briefly on the way into the city. But hadn’t elaborated by any means.

Now Jax was stuck with the sight of her ass burned on his brain.

An ass he could imagine grabbing. Biting. Fucking.

Damn it.

This was definitely not a complication he needed. He carried enough weight on his shoulders at present.

To distract himself from his errant thoughts, he cleared his throat. Also hoping to alert her to his presence without scaring the hell out of her. According to Lex, Jax had already done that.

No such luck in not freaking her out again, though.

She gasped. Stilled.

He suspected her eyes bulged.

Slowly, she straightened and turned.

Yes, indeed. Wide tawny irises with a stunned expression flashing in them.

And . . . Son of a bitch. . .

Jax’s pulse hit the red zone.

She was easily the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Including Katarina. Which was saying a hell of a lot.

This woman wasn’t a fragile, meticulously polished, angelic vision like Katarina.

This woman was curvy in all the right places, with wildly sexy hair and a face that belonged on magazine covers.

Her chest rose and fell quickly, her full breasts pushing against the tight material of her shirt, looking as though she just might pop a button. He wouldn’t mind.

She wrung her hands at her stomach. Caught the nervous gesture and immediately clasped them behind her back.

“Mr. Sterling. I wasn’t expecting you back so early,” she said on a heavy breath, her voice low and sultry. Erotically stirring. “Mr. Alexander mentioned you would both be out well after midnight. I’m so sorry for the intrusion.”

Jax’s brow quirked. “You’re apologizing for doing your job?” he lightly jested, despite the sudden throbbing of his cock that was wholly distracting.

“This is a behind-the-scenes task,” she explained, a tinge of pink staining her otherwise perfect porcelain complexion.

Because he’d caught her bent over his bed in a compromising position? Or because he was half-naked?

She said, “You’re supposed to think of mystical elves leaving chocolates on your pillow.”

He chuckled. Again, surprising considering how hot and bothered he was.

Her skin remained flushed as she clearly did all she could to keep her gaze on his face, not his bare chest and the trickling of water from his shoulders, over his pecs, and down his abs. He felt the drops on his skin acutely now, as this very stimulating scenario heightened his senses.

Jax said, “I’ll try to pretend you weren’t here. Though that might prove difficult.” He was much less conscientious than her about tempering his physical response to what was unexpectedly standing before him. His gaze moved over her from head to toe.

Her hair was a glossy mass of plump raven curls. Her fitted shirt was opened at the neck, revealing a prominent collarbone and more creamy white skin. Her shapely hips flared enticingly, femininely, then led into those gorgeous legs he envisioned naked and entangled with his amid rumpled sheets.

Way to undress the help, asshole.

His gaze lifted. Only to lock with liquid gold irises rimmed with fiery blood-orange. Her eyes were still wide. And damn hypnotic—even for a man such as Jackson Sterling. A man who’d made love to women with the greenest of green and the bluest of blue eyes.

Liliana Hart’s were unique. Seductive. Riveting . . .

Everything about the woman was riveting, disheveled though she was. It made her even more deeply sensual. Sexy as hell.

Apparently noting he’d made a very thorough visual inspection of her, she abruptly realized she was in complete disarray and said, “I’m a wreck. I apologize for that as well. I was in the kitchen helping to prep for the party, since you and Mr. Alexander weren’t in need of me. I should have dressed before I came upstairs.” She released the hands behind her back and reached for a fat curl. “Shit.” The whispered word seemed to have escaped her involuntarily. She sucked in a sharp breath. “Sorry.”

Jax was both amused and turned on at the same time. An intriguing combination. An electrifying one.

She boldly crossed to where he stood and extended her hand to him. “Liliana Hart. Please, call me Lily. And I assure you, Mr. Sterling, I know exactly what I’m doing. I’m just making horrific first impressions today.”

Jax’s gaze narrowed on her. “That’s your opinion. You’ve put in a long day and even assisted downstairs when it’s not your responsibility. When Lex and I aren’t here and your duties are complete, your time is your own, Lily.”

Lily.

Her name had rolled just a bit too sensuously off his tongue. Turning her stunned expression into an innately heated one that made his cock twitch more enthusiastically.

Her voice was a mere wisp of air as she politely said, “Thank you.”

Her hand dropped because he hadn’t accepted it. Jax couldn’t explain why. Except that she had silky-looking skin and long, manicured fingers, which would no doubt feel sensational coiling his thick shaft. Pumping slowly.

He instinctively knew that, with this woman, the simple touch of a handshake would incite the need for much more.

She said, “I appreciate your stance. It’s just that . . . It’s a big house. And I’m not good with too much free time. I like to stay busy.”

“Suit yourself. But know it’s not necessary.”

“And please believe me when I say you won’t find me like this in the future.” She swept a hand in front of her and downward, indicating her unkempt appearance. Again, which he found so damn arousing.

“You’re fine right now. Don’t worry about it. Though . . .” He leaned in and whisked his thumb over her cheek. “Little flour or something.”

Damn it. He couldn’t keep himself from touching her. And her skin was as silky as he’d suspected. A slow burn spread through his groin, up to his gut.

“Phyllo dough for the pastries,” she said on a hitched breath.

“Right. Well.” He continued to gaze at her. He should have taken a step away, so he wasn’t seared by the nearness of her. But it wasn’t in his nature to back down.

She, however, seemed to know when not to play with fire.

“Please excuse me. I have Mr. Alexander’s suite to tend to. Then I’ll serve you both in the music room, if you wish.”

“We could use a cocktail,” he told her. Jax was in need of taking the edge off again. For completely different reasons this time, thanks to Lily Hart.

As she gathered her coat, he added, “Don’t bother getting all buttoned up this late in the evening. You’re okay as is, given the circumstances.”

“Then I’ll see you shortly.” Those tawny eyes of hers slipped. She stole a full-on peek at him. Right down to where the towel covered his cock, which was hardening by the second.

The cords of her long, graceful neck pulled taut as she inhaled a sliver of air. Now it was desire that flared in her eyes.

Completely unmistakable—and scorching hot.