Their affair had lasted almost two years. Because they kept their sexual rendezvous private, no one knew of their relationship, and they preferred it that way. When she met and fell in love with a man ten years her senior, who was equally wealthy, she ended things between them to devote all her time and attention to the man she eventually married, Ivory Axlewood.
By the time their relationship ended, Drew had become highly skilled at pleasing women. In addition to enhancing his bedroom skills, Valerie had shared business tips that her husband had taught her during their marriage on how to achieve success. Thanks to her, Drew began investing his money, buying real estate and thinking long-term instead of short-term. It was during that time that he first considered starting his own trucking company.
Although it had been years since he had seen or talked to her, he knew she and her husband were still together and had twin sons. His friendship with Valerie was one he would always cherish.
“Eden?”
When she glanced up at him from her meal, he said, “I want to explain why I said no.”
“I already know why, Drew. It’s because of the nine-year difference in our ages.”
He would admit that when they’d first met, the age difference had been a factor, but there had been a sixteen-year age difference between him and Valerie. Also, at the time, he was only a year older than Eden was now. He would not only be sexist but hypocritical to make age an issue. On the other hand,he’d been involved in numerous sexual encounters before his twenty-first birthday. She hadn’t indulged in any.
“Our age difference isn’t the reason, Eden. It’s about our experience level.”
“And that’s why I need you to teach me what I need to know.”
He didn’t say anything, knowing his answer would remain the same. For some reason, the roles of teacher and student didn’t sit well with him when it came to her. It sounded too mechanical and emotionless. If they became involved, he’d want it to feel natural, spontaneous, not planned or practiced.
Why would the type of relationship they shared matter when chances were their paths wouldn’t cross after their time spent together here ended? He figured that in another year, her career would have taken off. Vogue would have been just the beginning. He could see her gracing the covers of Cosmo, Elle, and other fashion magazines. There was a chance that, when it happened and other celebrities surrounded her, she would have forgotten all about the truck driver who had kept her protected during the Christmas holidays one time in her past.
That was fine with him. Paths were to be crossed and not intertwined. He thought of other women he had met for a brief period, with whom no lasting connection had been formed. And it would probably be that way with him and Eden. There was no way it could not.
“…I want my first time to be with someone who knows what he’s doing and won’t hurt me.”
Those words, spoken in her soft voice, had almost gotten to him, had made him nearly cave to what she had asked. The thought of any man making her first time a bad experience didn’t sit well with him. But then, regardless of whether he was her first or someone else was, her first time would inevitably involve some pain because of her virginity. He had never hadsex with a virgin, and he didn’t intend for her to be his first. He preferred experienced women in his bed.
He and Eden ate the rest of their meal in silence. When they had finished, and she stood to assist him in clearing the table, he told her that he would take care of it. She nodded and then said that she would use that time to take a bubble bath.
A short while later, the scent of jasmine filled the room as he watched a football game on the television. The fragrance had him imagining what she was doing in that bathroom and how she looked naked. He’d bet that she looked absolutely stunning amidst all those bubbles. He was still having flashbacks of seeing her curvy backside when she’d been peeking in the refrigerator and those smooth, slender thighs when she had reached for plates. The sight of those blue panties was still playing havoc with his mind.
After her shower, she appeared wearing one of those short caftans and started to fold her laundry. He tried not to notice how beautiful her legs and thighs looked. Why did she have to look like walking sex, and why did he have to feel so damn horny? Moments later, she passed by, carrying the folded laundry to her bedroom. It was a good ten minutes later before she came out briefly to say goodnight. Ten minutes. He had timed it.
When she closed the door, he released a deep breath. This was the first time that he and a woman were together, and she had gone to bed without him.
He pushed aside the thought that she had given him the chance to share her bed, but for all the wrong reasons. At least, his mind thought they were. Certain parts of his body were rebelling against that decision. The football game ended. The team he’d been rooting for lost, and he was sitting there feeling horny as hell. Getting up, he went to the closet to get sheets and blankets to convert the sofa into a bed. Hopefully, at some pointduring the night, his body would stop throbbing, and he would get a good night’s sleep. But first, he would read the article about her in the latest issue of Vogue magazine.
**
Eden was convinced this was one of the most comfortable beds she had ever slept in, although it was way too big. She had too much space, and it seemed to swallow her in the center. While lying on her side, she gazed out at the lake and looked forward to waking up to the view every morning. Although Drew had turned her down, she would enjoy waking up to him as well. She was trying hard to understand his position and could only accept the one he had made. She would find another way, with another guy. But someone new wouldn’t have Drew’s expertise. What a downer.
Still, she was consumed with thoughts of him. Intimate thoughts. Naughty thoughts. There had been so many that she couldn’t remember when she had finally drifted off to sleep. However, when she woke up to daylight the next day, she heard the sound of the shower going in the bathroom. That meant Drew was up already. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and saw it was after eight o’clock. Had he jogged five miles this morning like he had on those other mornings?
It was another twenty minutes before she heard the sound of the shower ending, and then ten minutes more before she heard him leave the bathroom. Then she thought it was safe to enter. To make sure he didn’t unexpectedly return, she locked the door that opened to the living room area. After completing her morning rituals, which included brushing her teeth and washing her face, she changed into a pair of jeans and a top before walking out of the bedroom.
“Good morning, Eden.”
She glanced across the room to where Drew stood by the window. The rate of her breathing increased the moment their gazes met. Sexual chemistry she could only feel with him seemed to overtake her senses. All five of them. He was simply dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt. And why did his greeting sound like a throaty whisper?
“Good morning, Drew. Did you go jogging this morning?”
“Yes. It’s cold as the dickens outside. Tomorrow I will do a better job of layering up. I ordered breakfast, by the way.”
Since she was intent on eating her granola bar and drinking a glass of orange juice, she shouldn’t ask, but did so anyway. “What did you order?
“Biscuits, pancakes, both bacon and sausage, and eggs. Scrambled for you.”
“That’s too much food.”
