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“I couldn’t care less about that,” he tells me, his mouth turning up on one side. “It was all about the company.”
“I’m sure it was,” I say sarcastically.
“I mean it. I know you didn’t enjoy having to be my trophy girlfriend for the night, but you were amazing. Everyone thinks you’re beautiful and charming … and that you’re good for me,” he explains and scoots closer.
“They do?”
“Yes, they do.” He clasps my hand beneath the sheets. “And I wholeheartedly agree. Though I think I’d add ‘unbelievably sexy’ to the list.” Then he brings our hands up to his lips and presses a kiss over my knuckles. He turns my wrist over and kisses me there too, lingering and staring me down the whole time.
And my ego says,eat that, mean girls, because the way he’s looking at me right now makes it hard to believe he doesn’t mean what he’s saying.
However, my heart’s still crying,Tenley’s right. I can’t risk being this vulnerable with him again.
I try to speak, but the words catch in my throat at first. “Blake, this is getting so confusing for me. I don’t … what are we doing?” I finally get out, my voice barely a whisper at the end.
He blinks and loosens his grip on my hand. “We’re sticking to the ground rules,” he says after a second, his tone different now. “I’m sorry. I keep crossing the line. But I’ll be more respectful of your boundaries from now on. I promise.” He gives me a sad smile before he rolls over and turns off the lamp on his side, then leans down to kiss the top of my head.
“Goodnight, Loren.”
My face falls, and I’m grateful he can’t see my expression in the dark. For the first time, I’m kicking myself for being the kind of girl that makes safe decisions and instills stupid rules, because every bit of me wants everything he has to offer.
“Goodnight, Blake,” I return, not even bothering to hide the disappointment in my voice. I can’t help but wonder whether he’d be so respectful of my boundaries if I looked like a Mardi Gras ball queen. Then I turn to face the wall and pray he won’t hear me crying myself to sleep.
CHAPTER 21
Blake
Those roses getme every time.
I inhale deeply, letting Loren’s intoxicating scent fill my lungs. She’s still asleep, so I’m getting my stalker-sniffing in while I can.
Goosebumps line my skin as I stare at her. She’s so beautiful that it hurts right now. She fidgets a little, making some of her hair fall into her face. I reach over to move it. But it feels so soft between my fingers, like silk, and I can’t let it go. Her dark eyelashes curl up from her cheeks, and she purses her lips. All I can think about is how badly I want to kiss her without having to hold back for once.
My date with Loren last night was incredible. She was unbelievably sexy, not to mention altogether charming, witty, and funny. Everyone in my work family had fallen in love with her by the end of the night. She’d made it easy to keep my promise to forget about all the other women in the room, and knowing she’s having my babies only made her even more desirable, if that’s even possible.
Her eyes finally flutter open, and she smiles and blushes adorably when she notices the way I’m staring at her.
“Morning,” she rasps.
“Morning, beautiful,” I return, and her cheeks grow red.
“Were you watching me sleep?”
Now I’m blushing. I drop the lock of hair I’ve been holding.
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
Because I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my entire life.
That’s when it hits me—I don’t justwantLoren. She’s theonlywoman I want, possibly ever again. Sure, I’ve probably been thinking it on a subconscious level for a couple of weeks now, but it’s the first time I recognize this for what it is. I still don’t exactly understand why her touch feels so good, but every other physical encounter before her seems empty and pointless now. I’ll never be able to recreate that connection with anyone else. And the mere idea of having her in my arms again is driving me crazy.
“I was sort of cataloging your features, I guess. Trying to imagine what our babies might look like,” I lie, reaching over to palm her stomach. Because I’m not allowed to say what I’m really thinking.
She smirks. “I’ve been trying to picture that too. We’re so different. It ought to be interesting.”
“I can’t wait,” I whisper, to my own surprise.
