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CHAPTER NINETEEN
“I STILL CAN’T believe you managed to force me into this around-the-clock thing,” Carmen said as Rex slowed the car down, ready to turn it into the underground car park beneath the rented apartment.
“It’s not so bad, is it? My initial aim was to keep you safe, but I am enjoying playing house.”
She laughed.
“I’m serious,” he continued. “I wanted to see how we might get on, on neutral ground. Perhaps it’s just a whim, as you would call it. Humor me. Let’s be anonymous for the week.”
“Anonymous?” She stared across at him with an amused look in her eyes, making the most of the time it took for the security gate to scan his number plate, roll up and allow him to drive in. “The whole point of this arrangement is Burlington Manor, and my part of the bargain was to give you a certain number of weekends.” Her tone was teasing. “Now we are no longer at the manor, and you’re taking liberties with my time beyond what we agreed.”
Rex drove the car quickly into its designated parking space, pulled on the brake and switched off the engine. He turned to look at her. “Tell me, is it so awful being with me? Are you pretending to enjoy yourself when you occasionally let rip?”
She pouted. “No, I have enjoyed being with you. You know that. It’s just that I’m used to my own private space at the end of the day—”
“You can be alone tonight if you want to,” he interrupted. “I’ll sleep in the guest room.”
“I don’t have any of my things around me,” she continued, ignoring his offer to sleep alone.
Rex restrained a smile.
“I really don’t understand you,” she added. “You’re lucky you’re so good in bed.”
“Why, thank you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, God, your ego is so huge!”
“Hey, there’s a reason I’m doing this, you know that. I wanted to be sure you were safe.” He reached across and covered her hand with his, forcing her to let him in. “But it’s more than that. I’ve only got a short lease with you,” he said, and noticed that she rolled her eyes in response. “I’ve been enjoying our time together immensely. It’s been very special.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it. It was true. He was planning to get her on board no matter what, but the words were what he felt. “Sometimes being at Burlington Manor feels like too much of a compromise, or a barrier, and I wanted to know what it would be like without that influencing our behavior toward each other.”
She stared at him in silence for a long mo
ment. Reaching for him, she kissed him full on the mouth. It took him by surprise, but he responded instantly, and when she moved closer his arms went around her, his hands automatically trying to lift her into his lap so he could feel her against him. When his hand curved around her bottom, he groaned with longing.
She drew back and laughed. “We can’t do it here in the car. Someone will see.”
Rex didn’t really care who saw them as long as they got close again. The tension between them was evaporating, for which he was immensely grateful. “If you’re that fussed about it, I’ll take you inside first.”
“Inside our anonymous apartment?” There was laughter in her eyes.
It warmed him through. “Yes, let’s have anonymous sex in our anonymous apartment.”
“Okay, then.” She moved fast, climbing out of the car.
Rex did the same.
When they walked to the elevator and stepped inside, he looked at her.
Her lips curled. She looked aroused and mischievous.
He dropped his laptop bag to the floor and grabbed her into his arms, kissing her.
She moaned into his mouth, clutching at him eagerly. He backed her against the wall of the elevator, pressing himself hard against her. She shifted him back. They ricocheted back and forth, and she chuckled as they drew apart. The elevator pinged. Rex ducked down and snatched up his bag, then grabbed her by the hand and led her to the apartment, fast.
Once inside, he started taking off her clothes.
Carmen laughed. “This place may be anonymous but you’re not, Mr. Rex Carruthers, and you never will be.”
The teasing tone in her voice set him alight. “What if you couldn’t see me?”
