“You were obviously so satiated after I fucked you to sleep that you were halfway to comatose.”

Hearing the self-satisfaction in his tone she pinched his bicep. “No one likes a smug bastard. What time are you leaving for the gym?”

“Same time you’re leaving for the studio, half seven. So I suppose we better get up.” He swatted her arse then jumped up before she could return the favour. One thing Connor adored Jaxx for was that she didn’t take ages in the bathroom. Also, she didn’t mind sharing it while she used it. This morning, though, she made him agree not to join her in the shower because they’d learned during their stay in France that there was no way they could be together in the shower without something sexual happening, and this morning they didn’t have time.

As usual, Jaxx was washed and dressed within twenty minutes. He was glad she wasn’t someone who lathered herself in make-up except when working; in his opinion she didn’t need it and looked more stunning without it. Another thing he liked was that despite the industry she worked in she didn’t skip breakfast, even if all she had time for was a slice of toast, she didn’t start her day on an empty stomach. What Connor didn’t like about this morning was that he was leaving a humungous animal in his apartment for the day. Jaxx assured him that he wouldn’t get back to find that Bronty had done a Turner and Hooch to the place, mostly because she didn’t believe he knew he was a dog which was something she was going to look into. He also didn’t like the thought of her being away from him while the person responsible for trashing her own apartment was waltzing around and so far had gone undetected. He still believed it was Anita but Jaxx still wasn’t convinced.

Hoping to avoid Anita’s watchful eye, he took Jaxx out the side door of the building, telling the guard Chino that she would be using this as an entrance and exit from now on. But Connor still couldn’t relax. “Maybe I should drive you to the studio and then pick you up once you’re done,” he said as they approached her Audi.

“You are kidding, aren’t you? No of course you’re not,” she grumbled. “I’ll be alright. It’s not like anyone has tried to hurt me, it was my apartment that they went after.”

Yeah, but they had both pissed Anita off badly last night so it wouldn’t surprise him if she took things a step further after that. He shackled Jaxx’s wrist with his hand and tugged her to him so sharply she dropped her handbag. “Look, I know that I can go over the top and be way too overprotective when it comes to you -”

“Did you honestly just admit that?”

“- but I feel uneasy and I can’t shake it off.”

“Now you’re just being paranoid.”

“It doesn’t mean Anita’s not following you. Luke said she knew what day you walked Bronty so -”

“Maybe you’re right and I’m being tailed by Anita the Vengeful but, in that case, won’t I need my car so I can ram the thing into her?” She pulled her hand free and bent to pick up the handbag. She heard him groan. “What?” she asked as she straightened.

“How great thou arse.”

“Ah, so my randy bastard’s back. I like him better than the paranoid one.” Just as she was about to unlock the car she was caged against it from behind. Yep, randy bastard was definitely back. He cupped and shaped her arse then spanked it. Of course he spanked it. Why wouldn’t he spank it? “Alright this S and M shite stops now.”

He whispered into her ear, “Deny it if you want but you like getting your arse spanked. You get wet as hell every time I do it. Oh and I haven’t even started with the S and M stuff, babe. One night I’m going to tie you to my bed and have my wicked way with you, and you know what? You’ll love every second of it. I bet you’re getting wet just thinking about it, aren’t you?”

She was. “Do you really want to get me all horny and then send me off to a studio full of male models?” She was spun around so fast she stumbled. A chuckle burst out of her. “You are so easy to wind up, McKenzie.”

“And you are such a tease, Carter.” He merged his lips with hers. The kiss was punishing and possessive. “Remember: take a different route to the studio and be alert, alright.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“Sir? I actually like the sound of that. Lord and Master might be better though.”

Chuckling again she shoved him away and got into her Audi. At the same time he jumped into his Aston Martin convertible and beeped at her as they went their separate ways. Jaxxon sighed as it occurred to her that when they literally went their separate ways in every sense of the phrase it wouldn’t be anything like the easy, playful manner of just now. Or, at least, it wouldn’t be for her.

First thing on her schedule was a conference call with the fashion designer and his team from Milan who were still trying to negotiate some sort of deal for Jaxxon to model a special clothes line which they wanted to brand with her name. Apparently they weren’t fazed by her decision not to go to Milan to meet with them and, after some hounding on their part, a conference call was arranged. Sadly for the designer, this kind of thing wasn’t for her and she told him as much in the most frank way possible.

Next on her schedule was the shoot for the Allure line of the new season. It didn’t escape her notice that Tony wasn’t barking at her to move this way and that way like he usually did, so she guessed he was worried about her after what happened to the apartment. She was surprised that he wasn’t sulking because she was staying with Connor rather than in his annexe, and just when she thought the bloke was being mature about it he made a snide comment. So she flipped him off. And he laughed.

When it was time for the next lot of shots, which were to mostly concentrate on the eye products, Jaxxon went to have her make-up re-done into a different look. Kieran used a lot of smoky colours this time, making her seem like some sort of dark seductress which she didn’t like, but of course he saw that as a positive because it meant that she would have on her frustrated look by the time she got back to Tony.

“Ooh, maybe this will cheer you up,” said another of the make-up artists, Lorna.

Jaxxon gaped as a vase filled with a display of burgundy-red roses and a black box with a black lacy bow – which she guessed contained chocolates – was set in front of her.

“Who’re they from?” asked Kieran.

She plucked out the envelope that sat within the bouquet and tore it open. The card read: ‘They won’t taste better than you, C’.

“C? Oh, they’re from Connor McKenzie. You know you haven’t told me much about him.”

“I can tell you that he doesn’t do flowers and chocolates.”

“Luv, they all revert to the traditions when the right girl comes along. The two of you really do suit. And I don’t just mean ’cause of how crazy you both are, I mean you look good together as well. That’s always a bonus.”

“What’s that noise?” asked Lorna, flicking aside her purple hair to cup her ear. “Sounds like bells ringing. Church bells.”

“Stop taking the piss, there will be no wedding,” said Jaxxon.

“Did someone say wedding? Who’s getting married?” Louisa strutted over to Jaxxon and examined her ringlets. “No, they don’t need touching up.”

Lorna nodded in agreement. “We were just asking when the big date is for Jaxxon and Connor McKenzie.”

“He proposed?”

Jaxxon held the hand up that Louisa was trying to snatch. “See – no ring. They’re just trying to wind me up. And they’re succeeding.” She briefly contemplated ragging out Kieran’s spiky hair and shoving it down Lorna’s throat.

“Is that who the flowers and chocolates are from?”

“Yes,” verified Kieran. “You know what, Jaxxon, you should make sure your wedding bouquet looks something like that – it’ll be like a tribute to the first time he sent you flowers.” He knew he was pushing it but it wouldn’t be a normal day if Jaxxon didn’t tell him to sod off. It was part of his routine.

“Wedding bouquet?” echoed an extremely aggravated Ollie as he paced to Jaxxon. “McKenzie asked you to marry him? And you said yes?” Oh he’d skin the prat.

Jaxxon put her hand over her heart and said her speech in a rush. “How could I say no? You were right when you said it was about more than just sex, I love him. I don’t want to be without him.” At the sight of his blazing-red cheeks, she burst into laughter and everyone joined in, other than Ollie who looked a mixture of relieved and annoyed.

“Bloody hell, girl, you had me panicking then.”

“Don’t you like Connor?” asked Kieran.

“Oh don’t get him started on Connor,” groaned Jaxxon.

“It’s not that I don’t like him,” said Ollie.

“So am I the only one who doesn’t like him then?” Bruno winked at Jaxxon as he came to stand beside Ollie.

Kieran snorted. “Your opinion of Connor doesn’t count, it’s biased.” He gestured for Ollie to continue but the man was struggling for words. “Oh, I get it,” chortled Kieran. “Daddy doesn’t like his little girl having a sex life.”

“Is it a good sex life?” Lorna asked Jaxxon, waggling her eyebrows.

“With the sexual tension those two throw about when they’re in the same room it must be,” said Louisa. “Aren’t you going to open those chocs, luv?”

Jaxxon didn’t answer – there was no point, Louisa already had the box in her hands and was now opening it.

“Mmmm, dark chocolate.”

“Ew, I don’t like dark choc.” Jaxxon shook her head in distaste.

“Dark chocolate’s the healthy chocolate option,” said Kieran. “The cocoa level’s -”

“Kieran will you sod off with that mascara and eyeliner before I end up looking like a bloody panda!”