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Chapter Twelve
Her stomach clenched with nervous tension, Susan leaned on the staircase’s ornately carved banister. The foyer and living room boasted old wealth and good taste.
“We’ll go upstairs in a moment. Let me show you the first floor.”
“Is this your family’s furniture?”
She couldn’t stop admiring the mix of comfortable sofas and chairs with the antique pieces spread around the huge rooms, the pricey Oriental rugs, and the valuable paintings on the walls.
“Yes, our first tenants, a family with teenagers, brought their own stuff, and my father had our things locked into two rooms in the basement. The next tenants, a middle-aged aristocratic couple from France, wanted a furnished place, so Dad put back the stuff in place. Not sure what will happen next.”
Royce took her hand and tugged her toward the ultra-modern kitchen, featuring a quartz countertop, a tile mosaic on the walls, a huge refrigerator, and a six-burner range, not to mention a center isle as big as a bed.
“I could spend hours cooking in this place. Too bad you don’t have a wok.”
“Who said so?” He opened a cabinet and pointed at the piece.
“Oh my, I’ll cook for you tomorrow.” She glided her hand on the shining quartz. “It must be a pleasure to use this counter.”
“I can think of a better way to use it.”
His smile turned wicked as he grabbed her waist and lifted her up onto the polished surface.
“Royce, it’s a kitchen counter.”
“Seriously? I call it a lover’s surface.”
With a swift move, he pushed her down, her head cushioned on his arm, and leaned over her to crush her mouth in a searing kiss.
She interlaced her fingers behind his neck and returned his kisses with the same ardor.
When he raised his head, he peered into her eyes, and then covered her face with warm kisses. “In the car you said you want to spend your life in my arms. Care to repeat it please?”
She cradled his face. “I want to spend my life in your arms, Royce. I mean it.”
“Can we start now?” He nuzzled her neck.
“Right now.”
He helped her up to a sitting position and glanced at her dress that had hiked to mid-thigh and the high-heel boots reaching mid-calf. His hand closed on her knee and stroked it. Holding her gaze, his palm caressed her thigh, moving upward, and slowly sneaked under her dress until it reached the edge of her lacy underwear.
She shivered, and lowered her head onto his shoulder.
“Don’t shy away from me. I’ve been dying to make love to you for ages.” With a fingertip he lifted her chin.
An inferno raged in the pit of her belly and tingles sprouted in different parts of her body—feelings she’d never experienced. Was it a normal reaction? Her first fiancé had brought her to his apartment after their engagement party and slept with her. All she remembered was pain and disgust. She’d pushed him away and cried she hated him. And she’d never let any man touch her again, not even Kasem.
Feeling shame, she averted her gaze. “I’m not a virgin. Ruang claimed I belonged to him on the night of our engagement, but I’m a silly inexperienced girl who may disappoint you.”
“Never. You’re a gem I want to cherish forever.” He withdrew his hand and helped her down. “Let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you my room and the rest of the second floor.”
He kissed her again. His arm around her waist, he ushered her toward the sumptuous staircase, and slowly climbed, pausing to kiss her a few times. When they reached the landing, she chuckled, “I’ll call it the staircase of kisses.”
“I’ll make sure you have good memories of every room.” No smirk underlined his words.
Was he planning to kiss her in every room? She tossed him a quick look.
“This was my parents’ room, the master suite. Dad continued to use it.”
