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Her s and an adorable di in her cheek It fascinated him Made hiue

"I’ that about you I pity the person that ever tells you that you can’t do soo over too well," he admitted

"I’ll try not to be the person who pisses you off by telling you no, then"

His smile faded and he stared intently into her eyes "I hope to hell I never give you reason to tell nore that word Unless it has so Or if itaway fro So use it wisely and only if you mean it Because I take that word very seriously"

Her eyes went soft and she leaned further into hily to his His balls ached, his dick was stiff as a board and his teeth were clenched tight as he sought to control his physical reaction to her nearness

This woman did it for him He had no explanation for why He barely knew her, but he knew he had to have her Kneould have her Knew they were going to be tangled up and that he had no desire to extricate himself He also knew that this woman was different from all the women who’d come before her

That part scared the shit out of him and excited him all at the same time

What if she was the one? That woman hen a e that he was done for Like Mia was for Gabe Like Bethany was for Jace The one

He couldn’t even wrap histhere It was too soon The entire situation was crazy He wasover her life He hadn’t thought beyond that to "what next?"

Because what the hell was next?

Other than getting Josie in his bed, under his hand, submissive, fully submissive to his every need and desire Just as he would see to her every need and desire Wasn’t that enough? It had to be because he wouldn’t let himself think beyond that

His driver pulled to a stop on the side street to his apartot out to open the door for Ash

Ash stepped out first, sliding away fro his hand to help her from the backseat He tucked her into his side and then collected her overnight bag fro toward the entrance

"You live by the Hudson," Josie said faintly, staring in the direction of the river

"Yeah Nice view froet you inside"

They rode the elevator to the top floor and he carried her bag inside, guiding her toward the bedroohtly when they entered the lanced sideways, caution reflected in her eyes

He tossed her bag onto the bed and then pointed toward the bathrooed into what you’re sleeping in I’ll be in the kitchen fixing you a glass of wine Take your ti?" she murmured

He put his hands to her shoulders and let his pallide down her shoulders "In aze

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead, feeling particularly tender toward her Perhaps it was the vulnerability The worry and fear he could see in her eyes

"When we talk, Josie It will be in my bed You in my ar It’s why you’re changing into your nightclothes You won’t wear theht, you need that barrier because you’re still not sure of ht, you will be"

He kissed her one last ti her in his bedrooe

He went into the kitchen, taking his tilasses and opened a bottle of wine He remembered that she didn’t drink much in the way of alcohol, but she had lass of wine, and it would ht He didn’t know for certain, but he i with color Vibrant and flavorful Nothing devoid of warmth like white wine

He frohen he realized his own dinner had been interrupted, and since he’d gone straight to Josie’s and met her upon her arrival, it was likely she hadn’t eaten either

He ruour bread and crackers fro sweet Didn’t all women enjoy chocolate?

His housekeeper often left hi was chocolateThere were five individual dessert dishes on the top shelf of the fridge, so he pulled two of the single-serving containers out, added them to the tray and then yanked spoons from the drawer

Satisfied that he had all the bases covered, and that he’d given Josie enough tiet over any nerves she was feeling, he headed back toward the bedrooed in the e of her in his bed Coed

She earing silky, hot pink paja her entire body Buttoned to the neck

He’d give her this tonight That barrier But after this, she would co She’d sleep next to hiainst his

Her eyes widened when she saw the tray he carried and she scra back off the bed so he could set the tray down

"Pull back the covers," he directed "We’ll get into bed and I’ll put the tray on the nightstand You can eat in bed next to me"

She hastily pulled back the comforter and the sheet and even plu back onto the mattress

As he said, he set the tray down on his side of the bed and then strode toward his closet to strip out of his clothing

He faced a dile but boxers to bed Then he shrugged It wasn’t as if he was completely nude, and he’d pro the moves on her, so his boxers would do

When he walked back out, he felt her gaze on hi him It was adorable the way she peeked frohtened in her cheeks when he crawled onto the bed beside her

He offered her the fruit and cheese first and then slipped a glass of wine in her free hand He offered her bites, enjoying the slight brush of her lips over his fingertips And she see fro her this way