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He handed me a blush-colored robe from his wardrobe, and I placed it around my naked body, pulling my arms through the sleeves and wrapping the tie into a neat bow.
“So is this your go-to robe you supply all the women you bed?” I teased, running my hand down the smooth silk.
He pulled on his sweats, remaining bare-chested as he walked out of his room, and I followed.
“Not at all. I asked my housekeeper to get you one, seeing as you never plan to bring many clothes over.”
Oh.
I watched as he poured us each a glass of wine. His thumb brushed my fingers as he handed me one, sending my pulse to space.
I took a sip, feeling a sudden urge to ask him something I knew wasn’t any of my business. “Do you want Francesca?”
“I’ve had Francesca. Many times. If you’re asking me, do I want to marry her? The answer is no, but I should try to make it work.”
“You should,” I hinted, fiddling with the stem of the glass.
“How’s Jake?”
My stomach turned at his name.
“Jake has been pictured with TikTok influencer, Honey Jones, on her feed. So much for wanting me back.”
He rolled his eyes. “Seriously?”
Strained laughter left my lips as I took another sip of wine.
“Do you think of him when you’re fucking me?”
I nearly spat out my wine, his gaze leveling me. “Of course not! Why…” I gripped the stem of the glass and took a breath, “… do you think of someone when you’re inside me?”
“Pepper, I’m thinking about how fucking amazing you feel when I’m inside you.”
“Okay.” I sucked in a breath, feeling oddly relieved.
“It’s weird, though. Jake was all over this Honey Jones social feed like a bad case of syphilis, but he still called me three times this week.”
“Saying what?” Connor stared me down, waiting anxiously for me to respond.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t bother picking up his calls. Are you going to tell me what happened tonight?”
He exhaled with a sigh. “Do you really want to know?”
“Of course.”
He leaned in. “Really?”
“Why is it so hard to understand that I care about you?” He tipped his head to the side. “Not like that. You know, we’re friends, is all I’m saying,” I quickly added. Although, I wondered if I was lying to myself just a little.
“With benefits,” he added with a smirk. “Fucking amazing benefits.”
“Exactly, and you said I’m easy to talk to, so fire away.” I sat intently, even placing my glass down on the glass table so he knew he had my undivided attention.
“Alfred’s retirement announcement is next week after the charity ball.” He shifted, and I noticed the vein in his neck twitch. “The same day, they will announce my engagement to Francesca.” His gaze lifted to mine, and a pang of disappointment shot through me. I knew this was a fling, but this coming to an end so soon…damn.
“Well, that explains the ferocious sex.”
“Ferocious?”
