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As soon as I touch the lock, he lurches forward. “Sweetheart, let me in. Please.”
I unlock and unchain the door and peek through the gap. “What are you doing?”
“I need to make sure you’re okay.”
I’m stunned by his concern. This man who last week had a swimsuit model on his arm cares about me.
I push open the door and he walks in. The look on his face is pure relief. He pulls me to him and kicks the door shut behind him.
“I’m sorry, Maddy. I don’t know if I heard what I heard, or I heard what I wanted to hear. All I know is tonight was one of the highlights in my life. It surpasses everything.”
I wrap my hands around his waist and lay my head on his chest. “You’re crazy.”
“Yes, I’m crazy. For you.” He walks farther into the room and sits in the overstuffed chair in front of the fireplace. I’m given no choice but to sit on his lap.
“I’m sorry.” I unbutton his shirt and he raises his brows. “It’s buttoned all wrong.” Once his shirt is open, I spread my hands across his chest. I love the way his hair is soft and rough at the same time. “I replayed your words in my head. Every one of them was exactly as you said. We were in two separate head spaces and interpreted them differently.”
He leans forward and flicks the switch to the fireplace on and then pulls me against his chest. His hand slips into my robe. It’s not a seductive touch. It’s a touch of affect
ion. Splayed against my stomach, he rests his palm and sighs.
“I won’t be unhappy if you’re pregnant.”
I shift forward, but he holds me to him. “How can you say that?”
“It’s easy. There have been a handful of things I’m sure about in my life. I knew I was made to be a chef. I knew when my mom walked out on us, I’d never see her again. I knew when I saw you falling down the escalator you were mine.”
“You knew?” Everything in my body melts, starting with my heart. “I’ve never been sure about anything. And when I thought I was sure, it always went to hell.”
“What does your gut tell you about me?”
I stare into the flames. “It tells me to run fast in the other direction.”
“That’s perfect.”
“It is? Why?”
“Because when you go with your gut it’s always wrong, and if your gut is telling you to cut and run, then you should stay.” He smiles, looking pleased with himself.
“I should stick around and see what you have to offer?”
“Baby, I showed you everything I have to offer. If you say it’s not enough, I may turn you over my knee and spank your beautiful ass.”
“You’re obsessed with my ass.”
He puts his hand under my knees and picks me up. “You have no idea how much I love that ass.” Ten steps back he tosses me on the bed belly down. Then he pulls the robe up and exposes my ass. “Am I forgiven?” He climbs on the bed and bites my ass. Not hard, just hard enough to get my attention.
“Did you bite me?”
“Did you like it?” He lies on his side and rubs his palm over the sting. “Answer me, Maddy. I don’t want any more miscommunications.”
“Yes. I like it.”
“Good, because this ass is mine too. I want to be your first everything.” He looks like he’s going to say more, but he just smiles at me for a second, and I can feel a shift in the air. “But not right now. Right now, I think we should spend some time taking care of our other basic needs.” He slides up to the headboard and picks up the phone.
“This is Ripley. Can you send up two cups of chamomile tea and a four cheese pizza?” He cups the phone and whispers. “Do you want anything else?”
I crawl up the bed and lean against him. “You. All I want is you.”
