But this isn’t suspicion. This is protection—hers and mine.
“Look.” I soften my tone. “Text your roommate. Stay the night. You’re half-drunk, and I’m not sending you out into Manhattan in a taxi alone.”
“But Sam...” Her voice catches. “I want you.”
She looks so small in my massive bed, all tumbled curls and trust.
“We’ll sleep. Just sleep. I’m going to shower,” I say. “Cool off. Five minutes.”
In the bathroom, I let cold water pound against my shoulders. Getting rid of my raging erection is going to take more than a cold shower, but it’s a start.
Even now, the image of her on my bed burns behind my eyelids.
When I return in pajama pants and a fresh T-shirt, I’ve got my control back.Almost.I slide into bed, keeping to my side, a careful distance between us.
But she has other ideas. That sweet ass curves against me like it belongs there. She’s still naked.Of course she’s still naked.
Because the universe wants to test exactly how much willpower I have.
“Sam?” Her voice is drowsy, innocent. Nothing like the moans from earlier.
“Mmmm?”
“Thank you. For being...” She yawns. “A gentleman.”
I wrap an arm around her waist, keeping her close but safe. Tomorrow I’ll deal with consequences.
God help me.
CHAPTER 11
BIX
When my eyes snap open in the dark, I’m completely disoriented.
My head throbs faintly. I feel the weight of a man’s arm slung over me.
Where am I?
Then it all comes back. The noodle bar. The Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Sam flirting with me.
Making love, but him stopping when he realized I was a virgin.
Maybe it’s just as well. I was drunk on more than Champagne. I was giddy with the excitement of seeing Slayer perform live, and then performing myself on that very same stage.Unbelievable.
And then, of course, the night ended with one more surprise as well.
Sam.
I slide carefully out from under his hold, pull on a T-shirt I find on a nearby chair, and pad barefoot to the living room to get my red diary. Then I tiptoe back to the darkened bedroom and drop into the sleek white desk chair.
I begin by considering all the exceptional events of the day.Hearing Slater perform. Performing on a true stage for the first time since Hilary's death. I always knew I'd have to face the stage solo one day. And Zaza's push was what I needed to get over the hump.
And then there's meeting Sam at the noodle bar tonight. I never thought billionaires hung out in those kinds of places. But it appears they do. I grab a pen.
Then I scribble words in a half-delirious rush near my earlier birthday-wish entry.
