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He made a mental note to order more groceries for her just as a cat pushed against the back of his legs and gave a pitiful meow.
He bent and stroked a hand over the tabby fluffball, its feather duster of a tail making him smirk. “I bet you just hang around expecting treats and pats all day without doing any work to earn them.”
“Mrowww.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
He reached for the closest tin of cat food and undone its ring-pull before he followed the trotting cat into the laundry where its dish was located. He poured the food and watched as the cat gobbled it down as though it was its first ever meal.
He smirked as he returned to the kitchen and disposed of the can into the trash. At least Harper wasn’t completely alone here.
“I see you’ve met Tibbles.”
He swung around, his eyes widening and his pulse escalating at seeing Harper. Though her gorgeous body was concealed thanks to a bathrobe, it didn’t impede her sexy vibe. With her hair sticking out from where he’d dug his fingers through it, her face flushed and her brown-gold eyes glowing.
Little wonder. He’d lost count of how many times she’d shattered beneath him.
He managed a chuckle even as his dick thickened and expanded once again. She was truly a vision, one he’d love to wake up to every morning. He cleared his throat and focused on her query. “If Tibbles is the tabby cat I just fed, then yes, I most definitely have.”
She glanced toward the laundry. “He would have been distraught that I’d missed his early morning breakfast.” She smirked. “But it seems he’s trained you in my stead.”
“Enslaved to the cat.” He shook his head. “I never thought I’d see that day.” He sobered a little, aware there was much to be said before she decided to get rid of him and go back to just the company of her cat. “Mind if we talk?” he asked. He nodded toward the instant coffee he’d dragged out of the pantry. “I was making us coffee.”
She looked down and rubbed the back of her neck. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Us.” He found some cups and put two on the countertop before he spooned in the coffee. “Milk and sugar?” he asked.
“Just milk, thank you.” She thrust a hand through her hair, her lips twisting a little. “I feel like that is something you should know.’
“How you like your coffee?”
She nodded. “It’s as if I’ve been sleeping with a stranger.”
He stirred milk into her coffee, keeping his voice neutral. “It would have been that way no matter who won the bid.”
“Unless I chose not to sleep with any other man who did.”
He placed the teaspoon into the sink even as a jagged flash of something too close to envy slid through his bloodstream, leaving behind a toxic note. “If the sheikh had won would you have slept with him?”
She accepted the coffee he handed her. “He didn’t win, so it’s a moot point.”
“But he wanted you. And you wanted him.”
Her knuckles whitened on the cup handle. “I never said I wanted him.”
“It was pretty clear from where I was standing that you hoped he’d win.” He picked up his cup and acted bland while inside he hid a noxious mess of emotions. He took a sip and resisted wincing. He’d gotten too used of the freshest coffee bean blends. “When I won, you all but froze on the stage.”
She blinked. “That’s because I hadn’t imagined anyone bidding that insane amount on me.”
“Not because you’d banked on the fact the sheikh would win?” he asked hoarsely, his throat dry.
She put her untouched coffee down. “What does it matter now?” she said with narrowed eyes. “You won me. The sheikh lost. End of story.”
He exhaled slowly. “You’re right. It’s time I moved on.”
“It is,” she agreed.
For fuck’s sake. He was acting like he owned her. He reached out and cupped her chin, his thumb stroking. “I’m sorry.” Her lashes swept low, and with a rough growl he leaned in and kissed her, a gentle reminder of how good they were together.
