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"Sounds great Isn’t that enough to settle things for the moment? If we’re done with each other in a week, this seems like an awful lot of unnecessary talk, doesn’t it? And if it lasts for two or three weeks, we’ll take that hurdle e come to it"

His face hardened as I spoke His own questions seemed harsh "Is that what you think? That we’ll be done with each other in a week? Or two or three?"

I shrugged, closing ht drift off at any moment

"I don’t want to think about it However long it lasts, if you’re just honest withother people without tellingand strokingive just about anything to knohat’s behind that cool composure of yours And I would kill to knohat you’re thinking," he whispered against my hair "I’m so afraid I’ll offend you beyond all repair, and that you’ll never let ain Would you do that?"

I never opened h it was uncanny to me how he’d realized that about me with how little he knew me

"It’s possible It’s hard to say without specifics"

He cursed softly "I need to feel more secure about this You terrify me"

I s word, Mr Beautiful The ter for is more in-control, nota lot of concessions there, so don’t even try I’ht?"

"Primarily, yes"

"Okay, well, I’ll let you knohen I’m in New York, and maybe we can htened aroundthis because I’ve somehow offended you? Or are you really so indifferent?"

I suddenly wanted, badly, to leave He wasn’t one to leave a subject alone until he was satisfied, and I was absolutely done talking about anything that involved et away fro of intimacy It was suddenly unbearable to et home I work early" I stood I was relieved when he let me step out of the bath

"Have you eaten dinner?" he asked ht about it,blank When was the last ti down a protein bar as I painted, but that had been all since uess not," I finally answered "But I can grab soetting a little wild

"Please, at least stay to eat with me I’ll feel like a complete bastard if you come here, we do all of that," he waved a hand at the bedrooh you can’t even stand to share a meal with me I have some salmon prepped that only needs fifteen reed readily enough I didn’t want to storm out like a dranity after a civilizedhi a towel low around his hips in adisplay I looked away He took off for the kitchen like he was afraid I would leave if it took hinothing else The lack of a bra and panties made it into a somewhat obscene outfit, but I didn’t think it arage I could probably get aith being naked, in a pinch

I towel dried my hair a bit, used the restroom, which I found in it’s own room within the bathroom, and padded barefoot from his room

I searched for and found the kitchen, but I stopped in the daunting dining room and sat there

The table was set in almost a romantic fashion, so I assumed this here ere meant to eat I’d rather wait in a roo to have another ‘talk’ withtwo delicious looking salads He set the back into the kitchen He calasses of water with leotten that he earing nothing but a da Looking that incredible should be illegal He really was tan everywhere It was a heady sight

I waited politely for hireens with feta cheese and pecans I couldn’t putwas, but it was quite good

"It’s delicious," I told him after a few bites

He smiled at me It was a careful smile He was still in his ‘afraid to offend ht I don’t get to do it often, but I wanted to for you I can’t pretend, though, that this is a coreat housekeeper here who usually doesat this house"

I nodded pleasantly, trying not to look uncomfortable with the casual reminder of his wealth

"Do your parents live in Las Vegas, as well?" he asked me after he’d finished his salad

I froze, but recovered quickly "They’re dead," I said, my face and voice blank

He looked startled "I’m sorry I didn’t know What happened?"

"Where do your parents live?" I asked hi

He looked uncomfortable "They’re dead as well They died when I was thirteen, in a car crash"

I gave hirimace "Sorry I don’t like to talk about my parents, but I didn’t mean to be insensitive about yours"

He reached across the table, putting his hand over mine "Don’t be sorry That wasn’t insensitive You didn’t know, either"

I gave him a wry smile "I should have looked you up online I could have saved us at least one aard ave me a wry sh"