‘If you want to help, please, feel free,’ he teased her gently, and she felt the colour touch her cheeks.

‘Jago, we ought to talk.’

They hadn’t resolved anything and she just knew he was going to hurt her again. After all, never, despite all his commands that she give up Freddie, had he once implied that he felt anything for her other than lust.

She had to tell him that, despite what had happened between them the night before, nothing had changed.

She still had no intention of renewing her relationship with him in the long term.

‘Talking never seems to clear the air between us,’ he pointed out thickly, moving towards her with effortless elegance and tipping her backwards onto the bed.

He came down on top of her, confident and fully in control, and she realised helplessly that he was fighting the battle with the strongest weapon in his armoury. His ability to excite her to a state of mindless desperation.

And he was winning. Despite all her reservations about the future, the truth was that this was now, and she wanted him so much.

Suddenly losing her natural shyness, she stroked her fingers through the curling hair on his chest, loving the feel of his hard muscles. He was just so strong. Her breathing jerky, she followed the line of silky dark hair with the tips of her fingers, pausing as it vanished into the waistband of his trousers. She felt him suck in a breath and realised that for once he seemed uncertain.

With a smile that was pure female seduction, she dealt with the rest of his clothing, and if it wasn’t done with quite the finesse he’d managed, neither of them seemed to notice.

Certainly not Jago, whose shocked exclamation had turned to a groan of earthy satisfaction as she explored him with incredible intimacy. Aware of the reaction of his body, she drove him wild with her mouth and tongue until he dragged her away from him with a rough groan.

He looked at her with a glazed expression and she derived considerable satisfaction from the look of stunned amazement on his handsome face. He looked positively shell-shocked. Feeling immensely satisfied that she’d finally managed to make him lose control, she leaned forward to kiss him and he caught her in lean, strong hands and moved her so that she was straddling him.

Still breathing heavily, he slid her flimsy dress up to her hips and moved the dampened silk of her panties to one side with lean fingers.

Shocked by the revelation that he didn’t even intend to undress her, Katy trembled with anticipation, a gasp of helpless excitement wrenched from her as she felt him position her to receive him.

She felt the silken throb of his erection against her and then her eyes flew wide as he slid into her, hard and strong, holding her writhing hips still as he ground deep inside her.

Cheeks flushed, lips parted, Katy moaned as she felt him move, unbelievably aroused by the force of his possession.