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“Thrifty.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her.
“I wouldn’t have expected anything else.”
Nathan opened a door to show her a guest room adjoining a bathroom.
“Is this where I’m staying?”
“No. You’ll be in the master. With me.”
It had been a year or more since she’d stayed with a man. Last night, after he’d left, her place had felt empty. When she’d snuggled into him, part of her had wanted him to stay.
Next he showed her the study.
“I love it. Love it. Love it.” The room had three long but narrow windows, dozens of drawers, shelves and several cupboards. When she’d bought her condo, she’d been hoping to find a place with a room like this. There was more than enough space for her cameras, tripods, pictures, albums. “How does envy look on me?” she asked.
He tipped his head to the side. “A little green,” he said. “Maybe Andi could give you highlights that make it look not so obvious?”
She grinned.
Before they climbed the stairs, he grabbed her bag.
“The master bedroom is to the left.”
She hesitated for a moment, unsure which way to go.
“We’ll go there first.”
She led the way into the bedroom. The room was stunningly big, with a tray ceiling. Other than a nightstand, there was nothing in the room except for a honeyed-oak four-poster bed. It was covered with a navy blue comforter and the whole thing shouted dominance and masculinity. “I bet you picked this out.”
“One of the only things I purchased, yes. And you’ll be the first sub I tie to it.”
Her mouth dried.
“Bathroom and closets are through here.”
The space they entered was almost as large as her living room. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a chandelier in a bathroom before.”
“It’s gorgeous. Erin’s idea. But I keep thinking I’ll replace it with an overhead fan.”
She looked at him, stunned.
“In summer I could use more air circulation in here.”
“I think I’d rather suffer than get rid of the chandelier. The light refraction off the mirrors is stunning.”
“I’d never really noticed,” he admitted. “Give me a minute to change? You’re welcome to get comfortable, settle in, put on a robe or get naked.”
There were his-and-her closets with built-in drawers. While his was filled with suits, ties, shirts, shoes and slacks, the other was empty. He put her bag on a shelf.
Since it would be easier to find what she needed if she got organized, she hung the dress she’d selected for work, put the shoes on a rack, moved her lingerie and sleepwear into the top drawer then carried her cosmetics bag and hairbrush to the vanity. “Which sink should I use?”
He came out of his closet wearing all black, from a pair of lightweight casual slacks, to a form-fitting T-shirt to shoes. She realized it was the first time she’d seen him without his ever-present watch.
He stole her breath. Nathan looked every part a Dom, and her entire body vibrated with the need to offer what he silently demanded.
How was it possible that he was more intimidating now than he had been last night? Even his hair made him look devilish, and the evening stubble hardened his appearance.
“Ah…”
“The one on the right.”
She momentarily forgot what she’d asked.
“The sink,” he said. “Yours is the one on the right. The drawer next to it is empty, and there’s room under the cabinet, as well.”
“Thank you.” She looked away, severing the impact his gaze held over her.
“Is your paddle in the bag?”
She nodded.
“Good. Get it.”
She went into the closet, and he followed. Kelsey lost her grasp on the zipper pull and had to grab it a second time with him standing merely inches from her.
Kelsey reached into the bottom of the bag and pulled out the paddle. She put it in his outstretched hand, with the word slut facing up.
“Thank you. Are you ready?”
She shook her head. “I need a few minutes.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Maybe a brain with circuits that don’t get fried when I look at you.” Part of her couldn’t believe she’d said that aloud.
“Maybe we can get a two-for-one deal.”
In that moment, she realized she was in danger of falling for this man. Not in a small way, but in a total, complete, unrecoverable way.
She mentally shook herself.
Falling in love with Nathan Donovan wouldn’t be stupid. It would be beyond stupid. Monumentally disastrous. He was dynamic, powerful, ruthless, single-minded in his pursuit of his goals…until he achieved them. Then he moved on. Even with Donovan Logistics, he wouldn’t be there forever. He was already considering taking over a company in Dallas.
