Shameless by Ann Major Page A

like a star. Like Stella—”
    â€œYou clean up nice, too,” she murmured as he folded her into his arms. Maybe it was best not to think about those stories when she didn’t have to. “There are so many beautiful, elegant women here. Have you…dated any of them?”
    He frowned. “A few.”
    â€œQuite a few?” she asked, feeling even more insecure.
    He was silent for a long moment. Then he touched her hair and tilted her chin up so he could meet her troubled gaze.
    â€œYes.” He hesitated. “None of them were you.”
    She rested her cheek against his chest.
    â€œYou’re different, Celeste.”
    â€œYou’d say that to them, too.”
    â€œMaybe. But this isn’t a line. I’m telling you the truth. I don’t care who you are or who you’ve been or who you’ve been with before. I don’t care where you came from. I need you. Just you. I don’t know why. I just do. Honey, you’re so damn beautiful and so sweet…not to mention the things you think up to do in bed.”
    â€œI’ve got a good idea for tonight.” She whispered a fantasy into his ear.
    He chuckled. “Hold that thought.”
    â€œPromise you won’t think I’m kinky.”
    â€œIt’ll only seem kinky the first time.”
    The music started and his powerful body moved slowly against her petite frame. As always they were a perfect fit. For a few magic moments she forgot everything but Phillip, but then she grew aware of Mercado’s darkening stare. The voices from their table were growing louder.
    â€œRicky looks so unhappy and the guys, I mean, except for Luke—”
    â€œHold your head up,” Phillip whispered. “Look at me. Forget Ricky and the guys. They’ll work out their issues about Mercado. He told me he doesn’t work for his family and I believe him. And besides, Luke’s holding down the fort while we dance.”
    She stared so deeply into his silver eyes and forced herself to forget the tension they’d left behind at their table. He was so gorgeous, he mesmerized her. Just looking at him, even in front of all these people, she was sure she lost a piece of her soul to him forever.
    â€œYou have nothing to be ashamed of, Celeste. You are as classy as any woman here.”
    Would he believe that when he found out Vegas loansharks were hot on her trail? And what if it turned out they’d killed his cow?
    Soon she forgot Nero and The Pope and the guys, and surrendered to the music. Not that Phillip and she really danced. They held each other tightly, their bodies swaying as other beautiful couples swirled around them.
    Every woman seemed to cut her eyes at Phillip. Oh, dear. He was so dreamily handsome in his dark suit, dress shirt and dark tie. He didn’t have an elegant body as did some of the men at the club. He was too powerfully built and hard-edged. But in his suit he could almost pass for a gentleman.
    What woman wouldn’t want him? Oh, why had she picked such a flashy dress? The other women were dressed far more conservatively. Next time she’d wear black…long sleeves…
    If there was a next time.
    â€œI think this is a waltz,” Celeste said a little nervously because the other men weren’t crushing their elegant dates and wives to their bodies as sensually as Phillip held her. She didn’t want to make a spectacle of herself. “One, two, three. One, two, three…”
    â€œI don’t give a damn what kind of dance it is as long as I get to hold you,” he murmured, pressing her even closer so that they were thigh to thigh.
    â€œWe could have stayed home and done this,” she murmured in a shaky tone.
    â€œThings would’ve gotten a whole lot wilder at home.”
    His arms tightened around her. She laughed, remembering how he’d caught her on the back porch last night, carried her inside and stripped her in the living