He chuckled. Gathering his strength, he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the bathroom. “Now time to clean up the princess. Come on, honey. Let’s get you soapy and warm. Soothe those tired muscles.”
He washed her with care, making sure to clean her all over. She winced when he tenderly washed her ass, but he wanted to make sure he hadn’t hurt her. Once he’d seen to every part of her body, he cleaned his own while she watched with sleepy eyes, the water running all over her. She should have looked like a drowned rat, but instead she looked like a sexy siren. A tired, sexy siren.
After the shower, he dried them both off and carried her back to the bed.
“I can walk,” she tried to protest.
“And I can carry you. I’m bigger; I win.” He snuggled them under the covers.
She yawned and closed her eyes, asleep before he knew it. He hugged her close and fell asleep, at peace for the first time in forever.
When Derrick woke, it was to empty arms. The room remained dark, and he could see by the clock that midnight had just come and gone.Where…?He heard the sound of the toilet and the sink before Sydney returned to bed. To him. He feigned sleep, more than satisfied when the stubborn woman snuggled back into his arms and sighed against his chest.Oh yeah. I am all the way gone.
The next morning, he ordered room service while she sat in a robe and glared at him.
“Don’t think that just because I let you get away with last night, manhandling me is going to become a trend.”
He raised a brow but said nothing. His silence seemed to annoy her, so he continued to watch her, wondering how best to handle her this morning. She seemed defensive, no doubt worried about the bomb he’d dropped last night. Most women would have died for a tender confession. Not Sydney.
He figured he’d have to undergo a few tests and couldn’t wait to meet and conquer each one.
Sydney sniffed. “Sure, the sex was great. I wanted to try anal. I mean, I had once before, but it wasn’t that great. Last night was… I liked it. A lot. But we’re done now.”
Linking his hands behind his head, he sighed and closed his eyes.
“Derrick. Did you hear me?” People in China probably heard her. “I said we’re through.”
Someone knocked at the door. He didn’t open his eyes. “Hey, Syd. Could you get that?”
She muttered, “Jerk,” and stomped across the room. Then the door opened. After a moment, the door closed and the smell of bacon and fresh coffee filled his senses.
He opened his eyes and saw Sydney staring down at him, lust, affection and annoyance darkening her gaze. The woman loved him. She just didn’t know it yet.
Grinning up at her, he blew her a kiss and scooted around her to the table where the breakfast tray sat. “Come on, baby. Let’s eat. I’m starved.”
“You should be after all the screwing we did last night.”
He tsked. “Now Syd. You know that was making love. I love you.”
She glared. “If you say that one more time, I might smack you.”
He feigned hurt. “But it’s the truth. How could Inotlove you?”
“Oh, let me count the ways.”
“You’re beautiful.”
“Shallow, but there is that.” She took a bite of toast.
“Smart, successful.”
“Okay, now I get it. You want me for my money.”
He ignored that. “You go after what you want and don’t let anything hold you back. I remember all those calls we shared. I like how you sell yourself, how you can convince anyone to believe in you.” Hmm. “So Sydney, tell me what I have to do to sell this relationship to you.”
She paused around the next bite of her toast. “What?”
“Pretend you’re me. Now sell Derrick to Sydney. What would you focus on to get your attention?”
