But she had to establish rules that would ensure he didn’t take over her life.
She barred him from entering as she cited her list.“First, no one at work can know about this.”
“I don’t even work at your facility.I’m barely there,” he argued.Except that Knox was at West Coast every day.She wondered if he was there only to see her, to get under her skin, to make sure she didn’t stop thinking about him.But he was dedicated; he wouldn’t waste a drive over to West Coastjustto see her.
“Second, we’re not living together.”She looked pointedly at the gym bag in his hand.
He held it up.“I swear, I brought only one change of clothing.Just a couple of extras.”
First it wasonechange, then acouple.He’d take over if she let him.“And third, my girls will be here Friday night and spending the Fourth of July weekend with me.They’ll be here through Monday.”
“Great, I’d love to meet them.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.“I’m not seeing you while they’re here.I’m not even going to call you.And I’m not telling them about you.”
The gleam in his eyes burned brighter.“I’m not sure I can stand that many days without you.”
When he looked at her like that, when he smiled like that, when he undressed her with his eyes, the man made her want to melt.But she had to be strong.“I need time with my daughters.They both attend Cal Poly and they don’t get up here very often because they both have jobs down in San Luis Obispo during the school year.My time with my girls is sacred.”
He bowed slightly.“I understand.”His tone wasn’t even mocking when he asked, “Any other rules?”
She hadn’t thought of any, but she pressed her lips together primly and looked at him.“I reserve the right to add to the list if and when it’s necessary.”
He laughed at that.“I have a rule of my own.”
She raised a brow, hoping she looked imperious.“And what would that be?”
He leaned in close enough for her to scent his pheromones over the tangy Chinese food.He smiled like the sexy phantom in her dreams, all sin and danger, and his voice drizzled over her skin, heating her all the way through.“I reserve the right to make you come as many times as you beg me to.”
The man always had the perfect comeback.
She let him into her home anyway.
Thursday rolled around,and after dinner—and after the most delicious sex—they lay in bed, her body boneless, her mind a little dazed.Alotdazed.She hadn’t planned on letting him sleep over all the time, but rather using it as a reward for good behavior, maybe once a week, twice a week at most.But he’d slept in her bed every night since Sunday.And she couldn’t even say that he’d pushed his way in.He’d text and ask if she wanted him to make dinner or get some takeout.She was the one who’d never said no.As if she was incapable of saying no to him.
But then, she told herself, it was gloriously amazing sex.She couldn’t say no tothat.
Knox himself was incidental; it was the sex she craved, not him.She’d reasoned to herself that the girls would be home tomorrow for the long weekend.Then she’d have to go without sex for three long nights.She needed to make up for it now.
Wrapped in his arms, sated after at least five orgasms, she rubbed her cheek against the silky hair on his chest and murmured lazily, “You know, I miss the phone sex.”
His laugh was a rumble against her ear.“Phone sex doesn’t have to be over.I can call you this weekend.”
She shook her head.“No.The girls are here.”
“They won’t hear anything if you come quietly.”
“I don’t like to come quietly,” she muttered.“I don’t even know if I can.”
He tipped her chin to kiss her.“I love all the sounds you make for me.”Then he said, “I’m thirsty.You want something to drink?”
“Thank you.That would be great.”
She watched as he padded to the door, naked in the moonlight.He was so crazy beautiful, the toned muscles of his body, the firm butt she liked to grab onto when he was inside her.
How was she supposed to survive two days and three nights without that body?But she’d have the girls and forget all about him while they were here.
Of course, it was the company picnic over the holiday weekend.This year would be the first annual barbecue for the two companies combined, SV Displays and West Coast.It was a big family thing, so Knox probably wouldn’t be there.He wasn’t the family-gathering type and had no family to bring.But the girls wanted to go, to meet everyone she worked with.She’d be safe without Knox there.No one had guessed about them, she was sure.Even when they saw each other, they talked only about work.
