“We could at least pretend.” I gave him a rueful smile. “Give Lenore something to listen to. This could be our last night together.”
“Then why are we quarreling? Come with me.” Christian took my hand and led me into the bathroom. After turning on the shower, he closed the door.
“I can’t take a shower,” I reminded him.
“There are some things I don’t want that woman to hear. Like our private conversations and us being intimate.”
“What about that time we had sex on her desk?”
He winked. “That was entirely different. After the auction, I was stickin’ it to her.”
“Actually, you were stickin’ it to me.”
Christian lifted my chin with the crook of his finger. “So we can’t do everything. It doesn’t mean we can’t feel these feelings for each other. It doesn’t mean I can’t bring you to pleasure and you the same for me. We’ll just have to learn new and creative ways, and I’m an eager pupil.”
“But—”
He pressed his finger over my lips. “I’m not about to discuss bringing in a third party because you’re afraid I’ll go to another woman’s bed. You won’t lose me to this. I give you my word. My whole life, I’ve only known sex and infatuation.”
“That makes me feel better.”
“Don’t you see? I have something with you I’ve never known before. Intimacy. I used to think love was a blight on humanity, but I’d never known it for myself. I only saw others brought to ruin by it, but I never understood how good it felt to be ruined.”
I placed my hand over his raven tattoo. I had no choice in the matter, but Christian did. It would be remiss of me not to offer alternatives to save our relationship, but as I gazed into his onyx eyes, I was relieved he didn’t accept the offer.
“What if Sparrow was wrong?” I asked. “What if I become invisible to you?”
“Then that’ll make sex in public even more interesting.” He gave me a squeeze and kissed my cheek. “My invisible lover.”
I laughed against his chest before stepping into the bathtub. “I can sneak under your table during important business meetings.”
He got in and closed the cheap curtain. “Aye. Now you’re talking.”
Water sprayed his back and wet his hair. I grabbed the tiny bottle of cheap liquid soap and lathered up his shoulders, chest, and down to his stomach. He still had on his tight black boxer briefs, but this was better than sex. It was his company, his sensual touch, the stories we shared, the deep massages, and even the wicked banter that brought me closer to him.
He leaned over so water hit me in the chest, then opened the front of my gown and gazed at my breasts. Even when the fabric moved back to the original position, my hard nipples were easy to see. “I can’t say I have any complaints about the dress you chose for all eternity.”
Instead of kneeling, I sat on the corner edge of the tub and slowly pulled down his shorts. Water clung to him as it hit us like a gentle rain.
“Can we finish what we started?” I stroked his semihard shaft, which jumped at my touch.
“Only if you promise to throw me on the floor again. I like it rough.”
After we spentan hour in the bathroom pleasuring each other, Christian made the bed so we could lie together.
I snuggled close against his naked body, missing how he used to make me warm. “So after buying a computer and contacting Wyatt’s friend, you had time to stop by the store and buy mint-green sheets and a new blanket?”
“You know how I feel about hotel linens.”
“I’m just trying to imagine you picking out blankets and pillows at Macy’s.” I refrained from laughing as I stared at the hotel comforter and sheets piled on the other bed. “What stopped you from buying a whole new mattress?”
“Don’t think it didn’t cross my mind. Do you know how many mites are living in this thing?”
“No, but I’m sure you do.”
“Enough to repopulate the entire planet. They have cities in here and favorite vacation spots.”
“I love your pillow talk.”
