“Ugh, that’s awful.”My lips twist and nose crinkles.“I don’t know how you do it.”
Silence.His gaze is warm and attentive.He stares and stares, long enough for my heartbeat to race wildly against my ribcage.
Suddenly, the covers are too heavy and hot.The bed too empty.My body squirms with agitated need.My breasts long to be touched and a rough pulsating heat gathers at the apex of my thighs.
What is he doing to me?
“Where are you?”His question shakes the horny free of me—well, notquiteall, but enough that my desire starts to fade.He frowns, cocking his head to the side as if it will give him a better view of my surroundings through the almost six-inch phone screen.
“Our bed.”Realizing what I’ve said, I nearly swallow my tongue trying to take back the words already out of my mouth and my arousal dries up.
Fool.We’ve been doing such a great job at playing house that I’m forgetting we aren’t real.But if he’s bothered by my use ofour,he seems unfazed.
“Is that my side of the bed?”His brows arch and the corners of his mouth twist while he tries, again, to see more of where I am.
I nod, smashing my lips together sheepishlywhile moving the phone to give him a better view of the room, or more specifically, the bed.
“Why are you there?”His lips purse thoughtfully.
“I want to keep my side cool.I like cold sheets to slide under and fall asleep.”I don’t add that I’m also on his pillow because it smells like him.I’ve already stuck my foot in my mouth once and I’m not looking for a repeat.
“Why are you on my side, Paige?Do you miss me?”He’s teasing with a hint of smug.He isn’t being cocky.He’s done that before and this isn’t it.He’s more satisfied and confident in his question, which comes out sounding more like a statement of fact.
“Umm, aren’t you full of yourself?”
“Answer the question, Paige.”My lips press together and for a few beats I do think about lying.It’s something we do, but I don’t want to lie.
He leans in toward the screen, his elbows on what looks to be a desk, and the glint of his cufflinks catches my eye.He really does look mighty fine.So well put together whether in a suit, jeans, or anything else.I don’t think I’ve ever seen him otherwise.Even with scruff peppering his jaw or fatigue dotting his features, he’s a sight to behold and I’m pretty sure I’d never tire of looking at him.
“I miss you,” he says solemnly, and I’d like to believe he’s telling me the truth.
I miss you.
I swallow back the same words, not sure why he said that.He doesn’t need to say things he doesn’t mean.
“You’ve got nothing for me?”His gaze darkens.“You miss me.”
“Perhaps.”My stomach does a funny flip.
“Well, I miss my hugger.Sleeping just isn’t the same,” he confesses.
I laugh as a warmth expands out from my heart and throughout my body.I dive headlong into the moment, unpacking my feelings for him.“Yeah, well, I miss the object of my hugs.Your pillow isn’t quite the same.”
“I’m happy to hear I’m not easily replaced.”
“Yeah and go figure, I never knew I liked bossy men in suits.”
“Mr.Rothwell, Mr.Wong is here,” says a woman somewhere out of my view.
“Thank you, Wynne.Give me two minutes,” Zach says with a stern expression.The thin line of his lips tugs at my heart in a distressing way.
He never told me what business brought him to Singapore, and now he looks as if he has a lot on his mind.I wonder if it has anything to do with our deal.Did he find a property he wants to purchase and can’t because he doesn’t have access to his trust fund?Or maybe he didn’t find anything appealing and that’s weighing on him?Or perhaps our deal is taking longer than he anticipated?He still doesn’t have his trust and because of that, he’s unable to reap the benefits of our faux union.
Zach’s gaze flits back to me.“I’ve got to go.”He expels a breath while running a hand through his thick hair.
“I know.”
“Before I go, tell me about your day.Why are you in bed already?”
