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“As you wish.” I set her down in the shower before turning on the faucet.
Harper shrieks when cold water cascades over her before it turns warm. “You’re crazy.”
I catch myself in the bathroom mirror, seeing that a vein in my temple is throbbing visibly. “Wash yourself.” My voice drops an octave as my eyes settle on her breasts under the soaked T-shirt. “Unless you want help?”
“Get out.” Harper slams the shower door, watching me through the opaque glass until I finally give up and stalk out of the bathroom, unable to rid myself of the sight of her wet chest and hard nipples in the translucent cotton tee.
Harper
“Get out.” I slam the shower door, watching him through the opaque glass until he leaves the bathroom. Livid, I get out of the shower, shedding the wet clothes and shoes with some difficulty. Then I return to the stall, soaping with quick efficiency. My heart is racing, and my stomach aches with the effort to keep from screaming. How dare he treat me that way?
I’m clean within minutes, but as time passes, I find myself dawdling. Now that some of the anger has washed away, I no longer want to rush into a confrontation. Why was I so eager to face him again? The first round certainly hadn’t gone in my favor. I’m still fuming at the treatment, but perhaps it would have been wise to give him time to calm down too. He had shown a depth of anger I’ve never seen before. Surely, he’s realized that by now and is trying to regain control?
Clinging to that hope, I force myself from the shower. I hurry and dry off quickly, instead of drawing out the process. It only hastens the realization that I have nothing to put on. My clothes are soaked and dirty. A quick glance at the door shows no robes on the hooks, indicating Irina has already collected them for washing.
The plush bath sheet isn’t exactly adequate armor in which to face Jayson, but the alternative is even less appealing. No way am I going into the bedroom wearing nothing. The towel is long enough to wrap around me twice, and I tuck the end as securely as I can. After running a comb through my damp hair, I can’t find any remaining reason not to leave the bathroom. Taking a deep breath for fortification, I walk from the room, closing the door behind me with a soft click.
It appears Jayson took advantage of my absence to remove his wet shirt. I swallow thickly at the sight of his bare chest, feeling a stir of something other than offense.
He seems to have regained control. “I owe you a huge apology, Harper. I had no right to treat you that way.”
I acknowledge his apology with a nod. “Thank you.” Then I look up. “Why did you react so strongly? You know my major was botany. It shouldn’t have shocked you so much to find me in the garden.”
Jayson runs a hand through his damp hair, further tangling it. “I suppose I could say the sight of my wife on her knees in the dirt made me angry.”
I nod. “I can see why. You’re used to glamorous women, and I try to live up to that as much as possible.” I shrug. “I just couldn’t resist the allure. I’m sure you don’t understand the attraction, but I have missed it so much.”
Jayson’s expression tightens. “I saw what was so attractive about the garden, Harper.”
I blink. “I don’t understand…” I trail off as she realized what he means. “Angelo?”
“Is he your lover?” Jayson delivers the question in a distant tone, but his body radiates tension.
“Of course not.” I walk across the room, heading toward the dressing room. “He’s just a boy.”
Jayson follows. “He isn’t much younger than you. You must find him attractive.”
I face him. “Yes, he’s handsome. He has the body of a Greek god. Is that what you want to hear?”
He flinches. “No.”
“Then stop this. I haven’t slept with him, and I have no plans to do so.” My hand trembles as I reach for a simple sundress. “He’s a nice boy, but no matter how attractive, I don’t want him.”
“Why not?” rasps Jayson.
Unable to look at him, I keep my gaze centered on the line of clothes hanging before my eyes. “He isn’t you,” I whisper.
His ragged exhalation is the only sound for a long moment. The extended silence is unnerving. I busy myself with removing the dress from the hanger and replacing the hanger with exaggerated precision. When he cups my arms in his hands, I sag against him, knowing I’d been waiting for him to touch me.
As he turns me around to face him, I drop the dress and wrap my arms around his neck. Despite the complications, and how it’s going to break my heart, I want to be with him. Long after their marriage ends, I will have this memory.
“Harper mou.” Jayson examines my face intently. “You are sure you want this? I worry I can’t stop if you change your mind, so please be certain.”
I lick my lips. “I’m sure.” Without hesitation, I take the hand he extends and walk with him back to the bedroom. I drop my towel near the bed and watch with silent appreciation as he throws off his remaining clothes. Here is the body of a true Greek god. Every smooth plane and rounded angle represents perfection. When he touches me his hot skin burns under my fingers, but it doesn’t hurt me.
Jayson lifts me onto the bed, lying down on top of me. As he caresses and kisses me, I drink him in, and my body reaches to his hands. I want to remember everything, to feel everything. The softness of his lips, the heat of his breath. The way his skin tastes. His eyes half-closing with pleasure as he touches me, the knitting together of his eyebrows. The soft reaching of his lips. He kisses down my body, hungrily and expertly. When he finally positions himself between my thighs, poised to enter, I clutch his muscular ass tightly, lifting up to meet him.
I wince at the pain as he enters me. Jayson freezes, looking down at me with an expression of mingled surprise and wonder. “Harper, mou. Are you a virgin?”
