~*~
Jillian had dreaded this—Lex finding out she’d chosen to use the guest room despite his invitation to put her clothes in his closet.Yes, she’d been tempted to play house.Have his and her sides of the closet.Even his bathroom had two sinks.And yes, she enjoyed sex with him.Who wouldn’t?He was an amazing, generous, and innovative lover.
Lex didn’t do small.He probably didn’t know how.He was larger than life.The ultimate alpha male.The problem was she wasn’t ready to let him take over every aspect of her life.
He knocked again.“Are you hiding in there?”
She was.He wasn’t going to like her decision.
Jillian got up and left the closet.He stood by the door, hands shoved in the front pockets of his pants, drawing attention to his gorgeous body.He chuckled, and her eyes flew to his.Jillian could feel her face grow red.His ability to make her blush was getting old.
“What are you doing?”he asked, stepping into the room.
“Unpacking.I think this bedroom is perfect for me.”She picked up the shopping bags and shoved the smaller ones inside the largest.“I’ll be out of your hair in a couple of days.”
He moved closer and stopped in front of her.Gently, he pried the bags from her hand and put them down, then lifted her chin.“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
He ran his thumb across her lips.“You’re pushing me away.”
She couldn’t concentrate with him caressing her.She moved her head, forcing him to stop.“I’m not, Lex.We’re not married yet, so Douglas won’t be surprised to see me use the guest room.”
“I don’t care what Douglas thinks,” Lex said.“And you are wrong on both accounts.First, there’s a more perfect bedroom down the hall.Second, you’re never going to be out of my hair, because every time I close my eyes and inhale, it’s you I breathe.Your scent.Your essence.When all is quiet, it’s your voice I hear.Your laughter when you’re happy.Your moans when we kiss.Your cries when you fall apart in my arms.And when you’re gone I feel the imprint you leave in my arms.”
Jillian stared at him with rounded eyes, her heart pounding hard.Surely, he didn’t mean he loved her?“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I love what we have going on here, Jillian.The sex is great, and we have a lot in common outside the bedroom.We should explore these feelings without the bullshit.”
Wow.Not exactly the declaration of love she’d expected.“The bullshit?”
“Not being on the same page.”He ran his knuckles down the side of her face.“Which will make both of us miserable.We are going to live in this house as husband and wife, so let’s agree to give us a chance.”
What happens if it doesn’t work out?Right now she was enjoying their time together while guarding her heart.Or trying to.If she let him in, would she survive?Love sucked when it was one-sided.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said.
He cupped her face and stared into her eyes.“Then don’t say anything.Go with the flow.So…”
“Yes?”
“Pack up your clothes and move into my room.”
Her jaw dropped.“So this is about me sleeping in here?”
“No, it’s about you sleeping where you belong.With me.”
Un-fucking-believable.“Goodnight, Lex.”She turned to walk away.The next second she screamed when he plucked her up and slung her over his shoulder.“What are you doing?Put me down, you Neanderthal.”She kicked and wiggled and punched him.
“It’s impossible to have a conversation with you.One second I think I’m getting through to you… Ouch.Pinch my ass again and we won’t play strip chess,” he warned.
“I don’t want to play chess.”He entered his bedroom and threw her onto the bed.Jillian bounced on it, legs and arms flailing.“Strip chess?”
“We’ll make the rules as we go.”He picked up the box and watched her lazily.
She stared back at him, studying the masculine angles of his face.He was such a beautiful man.Her heart squeezed.Would she ever get tired of looking at him?Wanting him?Needing…?No, she didn’t need him.She didn’t need any man.
But she wanted him naked and sweaty.Loving her.Making her forget her problems.“I don’t want to play chess.”She moved her leg and nudged him with her foot.“I want you.”
