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I pull from his arms and grab the blanket, then sit up as I gaze at him. He scoots to his back, throwing his arms behind his head, utterly content at lying here naked beside me. He has no reason to feel anything other than pride at having his body on full display. I force myself not to trail my eyes down his perfection. If I do, I’ll forget what we’re talking about. I now understand the meaning of a sex coma.
“I spoke to my siblings. I had the card.”
“I’m sure your siblingsdidpay for an escort. It just wasn’t me.”
“But . . . I don’t understand.”
“I was coming to talk to you about something else. But I’m not a man to waste a great opportunity.” His cocky smile that has gotten him out of more trouble than any other man on the planet shines clear. He’s in no way ashamed of the deception.
“You weren’t hired by my siblings? Then who was?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know, but I’m glad I came when I did.”
“If you weren’t sent by my siblings, how did you know where I was?”
“This is going to sound weird. You might want your morning coffee.” He rises from the bed, not bothering to cover himself. I can’t help but peek at him. To my amazement he’s semi-hard. Idon’t know how the man is so damn virile. I quickly look away as he brings me coffee. I clutch tightly to the blankets with one hand and take a long drink, keeping the cup at my mouth for a long time while I try to sort through what I’m feeling.
I guess the bottom line is that I’m not that surprised. This man is far too wealthy to be a gigolo. I think I bought this explanation because I wanted to buy it. I wanted a reason to be with him, a reason that wouldn’t leave me feeling guilty. I still need to know how he found me though.
“Start explaining,” I demand.
“I’ll give you the shortened version. About fifteen years ago, my brothers and I each got three packages. We were in college. We tossed them aside never opening them. When our grandfather died, the packages were sitting on his desk. I opened my box.” He stops speaking and I gaze at him in confusion.
“That’s far too short of an explanation. I need more. What does this have to do with me? That’s years before I met you,” I point out.
“I know. That’s the strangest part of all of this. You met Gramps, but he didn’t know much about you, and the woman who left the boxes knew nothing about me, my siblings,oryou.”
“Okay,” I say, even more confused now.
“Inside the box was a map. It’s a game, and I’m supposed to follow the clues and see where it leads me.”
“Blaze, what does this have to do with me?” I demand, growing more frustrated.
“Your name was in the box, yourrealname. That’s why I didn’t know who you were at first. I didn’t know you as Courtney, just Cori. But somehow your name was in the box and it told me to find you to help me complete the game.”
I’m in shock as I stare at him. “This isn’t possible.”
“I agree it isn’t, but I have it all here, and trust me, your nameispart of it. I want to walk away from this, but I can’t, and apparently, I need your help.”
“Are you telling me the truth?” I demand. I don’t remember Blaze being a game player. A lot can happen in ten years though.
He gazes at me for a few moments, making me want to squirm, but then moves over to his bag and pulls out an envelope, placing it directly in my palm. I feel like I’ll be playing with fate if I indulge in this insanity, but my curiosity is too great for me not to look. I don’t know what to expect when I open it.
I pull out a map and carefully open it, spreading it atop the covers as I look at the symbols, lines, and key in the bottom right hand corner. This is an elaborate map. The room’s silent for several moments as I try to figure out the hidden clues. I’m lost. It makes no sense to me.
“Can you help me?” Blaze asks. He sits too close to me on the bed and I don’t know what to say. This isn’t at all what I was expecting. It’s something out of a movie. It doesn’t happen in real life. Our eyes connect and warmth spreads through my entire body.
The expression in his eyes changes and he leans closer. I once again find myself losing control — pushing closer to him — wanting the touch only he knows how to give with utter perfection. I regain some of my senses and pull back from him. We aren’t going to solve anything by having sex again.
“I know nothing about this, Blaze. I can’t help you with it,” I say, my voice quiet and breathy. I clear my throat.
“Neither can I, but maybe together we can.”
I hate how intrigued I am at the idea of deciphering the map. But now that I’m facing it, the thing’s like a puzzle I need to solve. I don’t have time for this with my classes and students, but I want to solve this riddle — even if it means spending more timewith the man who broke my heart so completely I haven’t been able to have another serious relationship since.
“Can I keep it and examine it?” His eyes narrow the slightest bit as he studies me. Then he smiles again as he leans against the headboard, his body relaxed.
“I think this isdefinitelya duel project.” The cretin picks the map back up and carefully folds it before setting it on the nightstand out of my reach. I want to reach over his body and yank it away. I’m far too civilized to do this though.
