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Something melted inside Rowan. That was no admission of love, but it was something much deeper than body driven lust. Maybe she could make the calls from Japan, although the time difference would make that problematic.
Lysander shook his head again. "Never mind. Clearly your job takes precedence. I will not ask you to compromise it again."
"Lysander."
But he'd turned away and was already making a call on his phone. That he was telling his personal assistant to take Rowan's name off the flight manifest, and cancel the employee fill in for her, made her heart twinge and her brain ignite with irritation in equal measure.
He had been so confident she would drop everything, he'd already made the arrangements for her to travel with him.
It was actually the pain in her heart that prevented her from chasing after him and apologizing. Or, worse, offering to figure out a solution that didn't leave her org hanging.
This arrangement of theirs was supposed to be no strings. More than sex. Less than love. No long term commitment.
Only her heart was already involved, bound to him with indelible bonds he had never asked for. And that scared her to death, considering how determined Lysander was to keep their relationship in the temporary category.
Rowan knew with everything in her that her feelings wouldn't end when their arrangement inevitably did.
CHAPTER 26
Lysander joined Rowan for dinner but refused to be drawn into personal conversation.
Honestly, she didn't try very hard. Rowan was too busy attempting to come to terms with the reality that she was deeply in love with a man destined to let her go.
Seemingly unbothered by her own silence, Lysander reverted to his cold, ruthless business mogul persona. When the last dish had been cleared away, he excused himself to make some calls.
Eventually, Rowan went to bed. Alone.
How had they gone from the idyllic bubble they had ended the cruise in and brought back to Athens to this? Him so cold and aloof? Her so freaking doubtful and confused?
It took her a long time to fall asleep and when she did, it was fitful, not deep. She woke immediately when Lysander climbed into bed beside her.
He didn't reach for her like he usually did. Not to hold her. Not to initiate lovemaking. He didn’t shift restlessly either. His breathing was even and deep. Was he already asleep?
Unwilling to let the distance between them remain, Rowan slid across the bed and put her hand on his chest. He said he found comfort by her presence in his bed. Maybe they both needed that comfort tonight.
Rowan softly kissed his shoulder and then sighed as she snuggled into his side. The unresolved conflict between them didn't stop her needing his closeness.
Lysander exploded up and came over her, kissing her with angry passion. Rowan's desire rose to match his and the kiss grew carnal as their hands roamed over each other's bodies.
"You are not my mistress," he growled as he surged into her body. "Even if you allowed me to support you in every way, you would be my girlfriend, not a woman kept in the sidelines of my life."
Oh, man. He expected her to talk now? To think?
Only, he clearly didn't, because when she tried to speak, he kissed her, pushing her words back with his thrusting tongue.
They were up for hours, sating their bodies with sensual pleasure in silence broken only by their erratic breathing and moans.
Every time she tried to talk, he stopped her. And part of her was grateful because Rowan was afraid she'd confess her love if she managed to say anything at all.
~ ~ ~
Lysander was gone when her alarm woke her the next morning. She didn't remember him kissing her goodbye, but that doesn't mean he hadn't.
Rowan had fallen into a deep, exhausted slumber after their last bout of lovemaking. She moved sluggishly as she got ready for work and would have been late if she had to make her own breakfast.
Thankfully, she didn't.
Helen had made her breakfast. It was waiting on a tray when Rowan came out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. Vacillating between whether to text Lysander and tell him to have a safe trip, or not, she ate as she got dressed, and did her hair and makeup.
