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We’re shown to a suite, then the man says, “Take an hour to freshen up while I arrange breakfast and have Maria bring you something to wear.”

“Thank you,” Rowan replies.

After we enter the room, he shuts the door behind us. I turn my head and look at him.

The corner of his mouth lifts, and stepping into me, his arms wrap around me, and he pulls me into his chest while letting out a sigh.

Chapter 25

Annie

Rowan holds me for a minute or two, then pulls back and says, “The man is Luis Trejo. He supplies certain services that are valuable in my world.”

Curious, I ask, “What kind of services?”

“Sanctuary for twenty-four hours. Arranging air, land, and sea transport. Holding safe-deposit boxes.” He lifts his hand and brushes his thumb over my cheek. “I discovered him a few years before I turned on Bastien and put plans in place for my escape from the Bratva. When I had to turn everything I owned over to the FBI, this is the one thing I kept for myself.”

“You’re a man of many surprises,” I say.

A knock at the door draws our attention, and when Rowan opens it, a woman stands on the other side. She pushes a cart filled with clothes and various kinds of shoes into the room, and without saying a word, she leaves again, pulling the door shut behind her.

“Let’s get cleaned up,” Rowan says as he begins to go through the stack of clothes on the cart. There’s everything from black combat-looking shirts and pants to dresses.

Underwear has become a luxury on this trip.

He grabs a pair of cargo pants and a T-shirt for himself. Of course it’s black.

I move closer, and when Rowan holds a dress up to my body and his mouth curves into a smile, I don’t bother looking any further.

“Do you want me to wear this?” I ask.

He nods. “I’ve never seen you in a dress.”

I take it from him, then look around the suite. There’s a big bed that’s covered in pristine white silk, a sofa, a coffee table, and a TV in the main part of the room. A short hallway that has lots of closet space leads to a bathroom.

There’s no door between the bathroom and the bedroom. Shit.

“Come, Annie. We’re just going to shower. I promise to behave.”

I chuckle as I follow him. “That remains to be seen.”

I notice everything we could possibly need to freshen up is on a counter, and setting the dress down, I reach for a toothbrush and toothpaste. I squirt some toothpaste on the toothbrush, and when I shove it into my mouth, the sharp taste of mint hits my tongue.

Rowan joins me, and while we brush our teeth, we stare at each other, and for some reason, it feels like I’m sharing something very intimate with him.

Once we’re done, he turns on the faucets so the water will warm, then he begins to strip out of his clothes. As one piece of clothing after another is dropped to the floor, I find myself staring at the masterpiece that is his strong body.

With zero shame, he steps into the shower, the drops pelting down on his skin like rain.

When I lost my virginity to my ex, we did the deed with the lights off. A man has never seen me naked before.

Rowan begins washing his chest and arms, his eyes resting on me with a look of patience.

Sucking in a deep breath, I toe my sneakers off and remove my socks. I take hold of the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head, then reach for the clasp of my bra, which I’ll have to abandon today. It’s stretched out from all the wear.

I glance down as I pull the fabric away from my breasts, and dropping it on the shirt, I undo the button of my jeans. Then I gather my courage, and as I tug the zipper down, I look at Rowan.

He’s stopped moving, and there’s an expression of pure amazement on his face as he stares at me, his erection jutting from his body.