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“Look at me. P-p-please.” I hadn’t said the word in so long that it was a tongue twister. I usually barked out orders and never pleaded.
She looked up at me with sad brown eyes.
Did she regret what we had done? Did she think I was a playboy and took a different woman home every night?
“Laura, this wasn’t just sex for me. I don’t do that kind of thing and haven’t been with anyone in a long time. I…care about you. I want to steal you away for Christmas. Will you spend the holiday weekend with me?”
The change was instantaneous. Her face lit up and her eyes glowed.
Christmas day.
“Open it already,” Steven said as he walked up to the nine-foot tall Christmas tree in his penthouse, bent down, and picked up the small red package.
I admired the view of his naked rock-hard ass until he turned around and walked toward me.
I enjoyed the frontal view even more as he handed me the gift.
Tracing my finger over the silky wrapper, my heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t used to getting presents, except from Kenny. I wanted to draw out the moment and savor every minute.
I had placed it under the tree last night when Steven brought me to his home. I enjoyed seeing the festive tree and my little gift under it. Any moment not spent in each other’s embrace over the last twenty-four hours, I had spent on the couch admiring the tree. And my gift.
Most people would have been enthralled by the magnificent cityscape. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the metropolis all lit up in green, red, and white snowflakes on the sides of the buildings.
Many would have been in awe of all the extravagant details of his two-floor penthouse, such as the architectural design of the spiral staircase leading to the bedroom or the six-foot wide wall-mounted electric fireplace in the living room.
But I preferred to look at my gift. It meant more to me than what was inside. It reminded me of a time in my childhood when I felt safe and loved. A time when I never imagined the ones I loved, my family, leaving me or hurting me.
I pushed the thoughts away. I didn’t want to think about my father today. Not now. I carefully unwrapped the gift without tearing the paper because I would rewrap it later. A keepsake.
The velvet jewelry box was heavy in my fingers. I opened the lid. Jade, as green as Steven’s eyes, came into view. The gemstone was set around a row of diamonds and hung from a gold chain.
“Oh, Steven, it’s spectacular.”
He took it out of the box and clasped it around my neck. The pendant dangled between my breasts.
“Thank you so much, but…” Was this his way of letting me know we were in a relationship? Yesterday, he had said he cared about me. But what did that mean exactly? Cared for me as a friend with benefits? Or the real deal?
I think he meant the real deal. The way he looked at me. Full of adoration in his gaze.
But I had a plan. And that plan didn’t involve men. “I can’t accept this.” My voice low as if it didn’t want to say the words.
“Of course, you can,” Steven said with a chuckle.
“It’s too expensive. I don’t feel right taking it.”
“I want to spoil you.”
“I can’t be bought.”
“You make it sound as if I was paying for your time. Laura, I care about you. I want to be with you.”
He hooked a finger under my chin and gently lifted my head until we made eye contact. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“It’s so sudden. And fast.”
“I know. But we’ve spent twelve hours a day together for the last six weeks. It’s not like we only saw each other on a couple of dates every week. We know each other very well already.”
You could never really know a person. It’s when you think you know someone that they stab you in the back. “Not completely.”
