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I suck in a breath and have no idea why, but I launchonly to grab round He is still behindand ith awareness, responding to his hot gaze, responding to his words, to his touch Why is his hand onI know of myself in a matter of days? And what the heck did heainst the door and let out a breath, replaying Chris’s whispered warning It’s never a good idea to keep a starving s lurks in the depths of the sensual promise of some kind of erotic punishment if I don’t hurry up and…well, I don’t knohat, but I’ and find out My lips tilt up He really is doing a poor job of scaringon punishut, Amanda’s words come to my mind For the first time since the wine had fed my boldness with my new boss, a cold blast of proverbial ice water douses the sizzling heat Chris has coursing throughand I was secure, I’m worried Will I be punished? Have I ruinedwith Chris ends?

Confusion twists insideI can use to create a future in the field I love, but he’s also potentially jeopardized the opportunity already before me How do I thank him -- and I need to - while I also ensure he doesn’t cross the saain? I’m clueless, truly clueless, and it see act, while I’ ere both nad again I have only one real option Enjoy having breakfast cooked for ht opportunity to bring this all up I have to find one because I have to thank him for the commission he’s ensured I will receive

I inhale and let it out, facing the truth deep inside me that I suppress all too frequently While I’ve accepted life with limited resources, the chance to have so I’m almost afraid to believe it’s true until I have the money And Chris…Chris did this for me I owe him more than a verbal thank you, and I can think of all kinds of ways I’d like to say thank you If he’ll let me For someone who couarded

Suddenly, I aer to find my way back to my complicated artist - well, mine if only for a while -- and I shove off of the door and look at osh, I look like a creature froht’ My hair is a wild ed under my eyes Great I’m with the hottest h my hair and settled underto coh ht of one of Rebecca’s journals I s hard as I re about thisI s hard at how vividly I’d conjured another woman’s words into fantasy while Chris stood nearby, perhaps overhearing hs, moans, and who knehat else

With a deep breath, I snatch the journal and set it on the counter, staring at it, barely containing the urge to read the entry in question Every tiful, and pieces of the Rebecca puzzle fall into place I ignore the idea, snatching hfor rinsingso too hard I think of the kiss I’d craved froe to brush my teeth is intense Out of desperation, I decide to use er and water on my teeth Surprise, surprise It’s a wasted effort I have no toothpaste I grab soain

Withoutby the coffee table, I drop rab the plates and the drink cups we’d left there Loaded up, I head toward the kitchen that thus far is producing no pro food

I pass the archway between the living room and the kitchen and don’t see Chris, but there is a rey and black rey wooden shelves above and below it I follow the sound of ht, which appears to be a part of an ‘L’ shaped roo distracted by the hollowed oval eating nook surrounded by floor-to-ceiling s andview of the city I love this kitchen I love this entire apartment so far

I turn into the bottoular room with a counter and a stainless-steel sink on one side Opposite is another counter with a stove, fridge, and the sexy owner of the apart salt, pepper, plates, and various other ite them in a corner by the stove

"This kitchen is a chef’s drea of the dishes in the sink opposite hi I’e with double doors and sets eggs and cheese on the counter "There’s a reason why I know all of the local restaurant crowd"