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"I can see why you’d hate it soaround "This is really beyond the li ceilings,that truly made this rooave way to the view of the gardens and lake, and woodlands beyond A fire crackled in the huge stone hearth on one end of the roo a peek of what looked to be an Olympic-size bathtub in the en suite bathrooht to the enormous bed centered under the s and flopped facedown onto the silk duvet cover, where he re

Which is when I realized we’d never had a talk about the sleeping arrangeht, eyeing a tufted, peacock-blue couch in the corner, opposite a pair of straight-backed chairs Or whatever that thing is, I thought, catching sight of a long piece of furniture against the wall It had no back, only cigar-shaped pillows at each end, but was obviously designed for seating A divan or soarnished wealthy people’s homes The pillows looked wicked uncomfortable, but Jackson would probably let ain" Jackson’s voice was lared at lare intensified

I sighed and spit it out "Where will I be sleeping?"

Jackson rolled onto his back and put his hands under his head Thata hard expanse of golden skin and a fine trail of dark hair that disappeared under the waistband of his jeans

I hopedat me with half-lidded eyes

"You meanon that bed?"

He nodded

My pulse ticked up a notch "As inwith you?"

When a corner of his mouth quirked, I blew out an irritated breath He’d been baiting me

"I’ll take the sofa, you can have the bed," he said,onto a chair by the door and wandered into the roo things, being nosy I poked my head into the bathroom and wondered how uess

I kneatchinginto my back

Finally, when I was done with my inspection, I turned to him and demanded, "Tell me about your mother"

He closed his eyes "Christ, you’re like a honey badger," he muttered

I crossed my arms over my chest "I don’t knohat that is, but it sounds extreust of air "It’s like a large, ferocious weasel with impenetrable skin"

That was so ridiculous I wasn’t even insulted "Just giveto prepare for I assu silence followed Then a curt, "Yes Unless she decides not to co ter ti, "I haven’t spoken to her since I left"

Well pick erly on the edge of the bed and looked down at him He stubbornly refused to open his eyes, so I allowed my attention to wander to that exposed strip of skin above his waistband My finger itched to reach out and lightly stroke that pretty trail of hair It looked so soft and fine, like down So inviting