Page 52 of BTW I Love You

‘Now she tells me,’ he said, giving a soft laugh as he knotted his tie. ‘I was being noble.’ He looked at her, his smile full of sensual promise. ‘I exhausted you last night.’

She coloured slightly, remembering the two times he’d woken her during the night.

He finished with the tie and flipped down his collar. Cradling her cheek, he pressed his lips to hers in a brief possessive kiss. ‘And, let me tell you, I deserve a medal for being so restrained.’

She grinned at his playfulness. ‘I’ll have to reward you later.’

‘I’m counting on it.’ He stood and grabbed his suit jacket off the bed. ‘Listen, there’s fresh coffee in the kitchen and some pastries.’ He shrugged on the jacket, which draped perfectly over his broad shoulders, then sank a hand into the pocket of his trousers. ‘Ring the concierge if there’s anything else you want. I haven’t got much in the place because I usually skip breakfast.’

She settled back to watch him grab his wallet and keys from the dresser, puzzled by the admission. He’d always devoured a full plate for breakfast, his appetite ravenous in the morning whenever he’d stayed at the cottage.

; ‘I could go shopping and make us dinner?’ she said, eager to keep busy during the time without him.

He hesitated for a moment before pulling some notes out of his wallet. ‘Don’t bother. I thought we could eat out tonight.’

She watched him flip out several notes, trying not to be hurt by the casual rejection of her offer.

‘But get whatever else you need,’ he said, dropping the money on the dresser.

She bolted upright. ‘I have my own money, Rye.’

‘I know.’ He leant over her to give her a quick peck on the forehead. ‘But this area is expensive.’

She could well imagine. ‘Even so, I don’t need your money.’

‘Then don’t spend it,’ he said, leaving the notes on the dresser. ‘I’ll send a car this evening. I’m afraid I’ve got a pretty busy day scheduled so I’ll have to meet you at the restaurant. But there’s someone I want to introduce you to before we eat.’

‘Who?’

He simply grinned. ‘I’ll explain later. I’ve got to run.’

And, with one more quick kiss, he was gone.

She huffed out a slow breath, and felt the aching sensation of confusion and uncertainty as she flopped back onto the pillows.

They’d made love three times since she had arrived. The first time fast and frantic, the second full of heat and passion and the third slow and tender. She could still feel the firmness, the tenderness between her thighs where he had lodged deep inside her. But, as familiar as his body was, and the exhilarating pleasure it could give her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the moody, magnetic man she had fallen hopelessly in love with during those idyllic weeks in Cornwall was only one small facet of Ryan King.

Their relationship didn’t feel equal any more. And not just because of his money or his lavish lifestyle. She had no idea how he felt about her.

A vicious shiver racked her body, despite the climate controlled temperature in the luxurious bedroom.

‘Get a grip, woman,’ she murmured.

She was getting ahead of herself as usual. She needed to make the most of her time with Rye in London. Get him to open up about how he felt. And she wasn’t going to be able to do that if she had a panic attack at the first sign of the unfamiliar. Her time in London was going to be an adventure. And, like all the best adventures, it was as scary as it was exciting.

Swinging her legs to the floor, she stood up and wrapped the sheet around her. She’d have a shower, get her stuff unpacked and then explore the apartment and the neighbourhood beyond, as Rye had suggested.

She studied the bedroom. She’d been too preoccupied last night to take in the splendour of Rye’s home properly. With its high ceilings and understated but impossibly chic interior design, the master bedroom had the same take-your-breath-away effect as the living room.

She headed for the en suite bathroom, eager to explore, and spotted the notes he’d left on the dresser. Her brow creased as she tugged the sheet tighter around her breasts.

Rye might not think of her as his mistress, but the blithe way he’d dismissed her objections to the money suggested he was used to being blasé about his wealth, and probably unnecessarily generous with the women he dated.

After the argument they’d had last night about his highhanded attitude, she’d been annoyed by the offer of money. But his attitude was probably as much her fault as his.

Right from the start, he’d made all the decisions in their relationship and she’d let him. Partly because it was in her nature to be non-confrontational. But also because she’d found the forcefulness of Rye’s character—his independence, his authority, his desire to take control—extremely attractive, because it was so unlike the other men she’d dated. But she could see now that the same qualities which had made Rye so appealing to begin with could also become an obstacle to their future happiness—if she didn’t start standing up to him.