Outside the legality of it all, she and Aléx, for all intents and purposes, were roommates and business partners.
You agreed to that. No need to be upset about it now.
To lift her mood, she’d put on a silk robe and camisole set that stopped at the middle of her thick thighs. Regina loved the way lingerie felt against her skin. It was silky, caressing her softly, and putting her curves on display at the same time. Every night, whether she slept alone or not, she put something soft and silky on her skin to love on herself.
Tonight, she needed to love on herself more than she ever had.
Standing on the balcony and watching the waves ebb and flow slowly against the rocks calmed the fears trying to claw their way through her system. She looked down at the square diamond sitting on a bed of small round white diamonds and the infinity diamond ring Aléx had placed on her finger today.
Her body warmed with his thoughtfulness and generosity. She hadn’t expected something like this, marveling at it as the moonlight twinkled in its facets. She’d told him it was too much, and he’d replied that it wasn’t enough.
This man was so sweet to her it was killing her. How was she not supposed to fall for him when he did and said sweet things like that?
I don’t know how you’re gonna manage, but you bet’not fall for that man. He doesn’t want love, remember? He only wants a baby and companionship.
Before she could ruminate harder on her intrusive thoughts, a knock at the bedroom door drew her attention.
Aléx walked in wearing nothing but his silk pajama bottoms, and her mouth went dry with want.
Miles of tanned skin and hard muscle filled her vision, and the memory of what that flesh felt like entangled with hers instantly brought heat up her chest, neck and face.
“There you are.” He padded lightly across the carpeted floor, his steps surprisingly quiet as he did. “I thought I’d misplaced my wife when I couldn’t find her in our bedroom.”
“Our?” Her brain tried to grasp what he was saying, but she couldn’t quite get it to work properly while he was standing in front of her, tempting her to run to him and throw herself at him.
She shook her head, willing her mouth to work. “I didn’t think you’d want to sleep in the same bed.”
He tilted his head, silently asking her to elaborate.
“We hadn’t discussed sleeping arrangements.”
He stepped closer to her, cupping her cheek and letting his thumb slide gently across the flesh there.
“Is it not customary for married people to share a bed in America?”
“No, it’s just that we aren’t the typical couple, Aléx. I didn’t think you’d want me in your bed until we were actively trying to conceive.”
He tilted her head back, making sure her eyes were on him and nothing else.
“Were we trying to conceive when I first asked you to join me in my bed?”
She tried to shake her head, but his fingers were buried in her hair, preventing her from moving. As his nails lightly scraped against her scalp, she said, “No, we weren’t.”
“Then you should know that I expect you to sleep by my side. Are you okay with that?”
It was an impossibility to her how this man managed to be so dominant and controlling and yet still insist on her agency at the same time. It was the only reason she wasn’t concerned by Aléx’s domineering ways. She knew if she wanted to, she could say no, and Aléx would respect her choice. Did she want to? Hell no.
“Yes.” Her voice was husky and nearly unrecognizable to her own ears. How could this man reprimand her and turn her on at the same time? There was something deeply wrong with her that she was this into his BS.
“Are you okay with everything that happened the last time you were in my bed happening again, right now?”
His hand had slid free of her hair, and now his strong fingers were curling around her neck, his thumb sliding against the pulse point at its base. Her heart was beating a loud tattoo in her chest, and she was certain he could feel every beat with his thumb positioned there.
“I’m waiting for an answer, Treasure.”
“I’m not ovulating yet. We wouldn’t conceive tonight.”
He pulled her into him. The hard planes of his broad body fit easily into her soft curves. His length was hard and thick againsther belly, and she had to fight herself not to drop to her knees right then and try to swallow him whole.
