Josie dug her toes into the carpet, trying to ground her nerves.She glanced at the vaulted ceilings and back to Ares.This is what she wanted.
And to be with this man felt like she was still dreaming in a cocoon of the softest, lushest sheets.
From the moment she woke up to see Ares perched on the end of the bed, this whole day had felt like a dream.
He was dressed in his crisp white business shirt and a pair of grey slacks.Kissing him first thing in the morning made her feel like a princess.
A phone call took him away, and she’d wandered through his library, taking note of the books on urban design and landscape theory.She found a sketch of a sprawling garden and then felt like she was snooping, because nothing in that room of immaculate books felt like it had been touched.
Needing food, she’d gone downstairs, tinkered with the fancy espresso machine, and made them breakfast using ingredients in the fridge.
“I didn’t expect you to cook,” Ares came behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist.“Or to use the espresso machine.Harper is the only one who can figure it out.”
“I’ve seen one or two before.Gorgeous kitchen, a fridge full of food.I couldn’t help myself.”
“Then let me clean up.”he kissed the shell of her ear playfully.
“Deal.”
When they were finished, she got to watch him tidy and put dishes away.The bright room started to get darker because the weather outside changed from a sunny winter day to a blustering one with flurries.
“What’s your favourite way to relax?”
Josie frowned.“My friends would say I don’t relax.I read or I research recipes, love coming up with new combinations of flavours or a spin on a classic.”
“Why did you frown?”
“Remembering that one of the other suggestions my counsellor made at school was to be a recipe developer.”
“But your heart was stuck on being a chef.”
“Yep.”
Ares flashed her a grin.“My brother is a genius.A world-renowned inventor, he’s brilliant when it comes to reading people and leaps ahead when it comes to developing technology, but he is awful at making presentations.He’s also bad at dealing with people.”
“He looks like he could handle anything,” Josie spun the coffee cup around in a circle.
“Yeah, and he can, but it always costs him.He needs a day or two to recover from talking to groups of people.If he has a full day of meetings, he’s down the next day.It’s fine now that we are successful, but in the beginning, it was hard.So, what’s your cost, Josie?”
The question hit her like a punch to the gut.She wrapped her arms around herself.
“I miss out on things I would like to do because I’m saving my energy for the next day of full orders that have to be meal prepped.If I was working in a fine dining restaurant, it would be physically more demanding, and I wouldn’t have to factor in all the things about running my own business.But I like that part of it.”
“There you go.You’ve decided the cost is worth it.”
“Is this what you do for your brother, for Axis Management?”
“Cost analysis is part of it, yes.I’m good at numbers, which is why I’m not designing greenspace and playgrounds,” he leaned across the counter, his lips brushing hers, before capturing them in a kiss that sent her pulse pounding with want.
She shuddered as Ares danced his fingertips along her arm, bringing her focus back to him.
“When I imagined someone tying me, I didn’t see it taking place in the morning.But this feels good.”
“Yeah?”Ares caressed her cheek.“The light coming from the windows reflecting on your hair is making it shine like black silk.You’re beautiful.”
“You keep saying that,” her pulse jumped.
“Because it’s true.Should we start?”
