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Crispin wasresting in bed with his eyes closed and hands folded behind hishead. He had changed into grey pajama pants while Gwen was in theother room and was now contemplating his situation when sheappeared next to him. He had turned the lights off and only the dimlamp on his night table was left on. He opened his eyes and letthem linger on the sight of her. In spite of the situation, she wasa vision of loveliness. So nervous and vulnerable and unsure ofherself. Yet she was so very brave. She was a contradiction. Forsomeone so guarded, she was quite okay with standing there wearingnext to nothing in front of him. Why was that, he wondered? In aword, she was perfect for him and he almost smiled at her. Butbefore he could proceed with his intentions, he had questions thatneeded answers.
“Don’t be mad, Crispin,” she whispered, taking a tiny step backwhen he sat up, swung his legs onto the floor and reached out andtugged her closer by the belt of her terry robe.
He brought herclose and looked into her eyes. “Mad? Not mad. Try furious.” It wasno lie, he was pissed off and it didn’t even matter whether she hadset this up or not. “So furious in fact,” he hissed into her ear.“I don’t know what I might do.”
At hisproximity, she nearly swooned. “I promise, I had nothing to do withthis. Stacy must have made a mistake.”
“Aw, so now this is all Stacy’s fault.” He traced his indexfinger along the opening of her robe, all the while holding hisgaze.
“I don’t know what else to say. I’m sorry I’ve been nothing buttrouble,” she said, imploring him with her eyes. “Tomorrow, I’llfind another room, another place–”
“Will you now?” he interrupted her.
She tried toavert her eyes but she couldn’t. He was simply too beautiful. Hewas everything she had fantasized about and more. She couldn’t tearher eyes away, especially since he wore no shirt. He was gorgeous,designed of ripped sinewy muscle, long and lean of limb, intricatetattoos adorned his strong shoulders, his chest was sculpted and hehad washboard abs of the likes she had never seen. He was lookingat her with his dove grey eyes, holding her captive under hismesmerizing gaze.
“Maybe I’d rather you stay with me.” He raised his eyebrowswhen she blinked at him. “Tell you what, in exchange for mytroubles, let me have my way with you.” He smiled wickedly,recognizing the look on her face for what it was, pure lust. Atthis point, all he wanted were answers to his particular questionsin order to confirm his suspicions. He tugged her closer, pensivelytoying with the belt loops of her robe. She stood between his kneesand he studied her a moment. Her cheeks had taken on a rosy glow athis suggestion. She offered not one stitch of resistance and thatknowledge had his heart leaping with joy. Tangling his fingersthrough her hair, he tucked the long dark tresses behind her earand drew her near so he could whisper, “Will you? Let me haveyou?”
At his warm breath in her ear and the slightest scrape ofteeth on her lobe, her knees nearly gave out. Had he just asked her permission to… Her mind must be playing tricks on her. Her heart was beatingwildly and she wanted nothing more than for him to do his worst.She longed to be taken by him, to be held by him, to be consumed byhim, and ultimately looked after by him. She wasn’t afraid of him,though. Not in the least, and that realization actually scared hermost. She should be afraid. She should be… merely because he was soangry with her, and rightly so, but for some reason, none of thatmattered.
“Yes, please, anything,” she whispered, her lip slightlyaquiver.
At that, herested their foreheads together, their lips millimetres apart,breaths intermingling. “You trust me that much?” He then took herhand, running his thumb over the silly little bracelet she loved,all the while looking at her.
“For some reason I do.” She smiled nervously at his unwaveringgaze. “I know it sounds weird, especially under the circumstances,but I want you to trust me too.”
At her words,he smirked, pulled away and shook his head as if waking from adream. “We’ll see about that.” He stood up, but before he walkedaway, he took her chin between his fingers. “Young miss, you have alot to answer for.” Leaving her standing there reeling, he gathereda few things and made his way into the bathroom. “For now, get somerest. You’ll need it.”
Gwen watched him close the bathroom door and let out abreath. What just happened?Had she said something wrong? He’d gone from hotto cold in a blink of an eye. She came to the only conclusionpossible. He was toying with her. That must be it. He was angry andhe was dealing with it by messing with her. He hadn’t meant any ofit, just like he’d suggested joining the Mile High Club on theplane.
Without thesight of him clouding her judgement, Gwen shook off the foolishnotion that he would even be attracted to her. She had been nothingbut a nuisance so far. This latest mix up with their rooms was justone more reason for him to resent her. She felt awful forinconveniencing him. Not wanting to impose further, she moved theircoats aside and curled up in the chair. She would sleep here,tonight. Tomorrow, she would find another room somewhere. Surely,she would find something.
Chapter 13
For a blind second, Crispin faltered when he exited thebathroom and re-entered the semi-darkness of the bedroom.Gwen was gone! His mindraced with all kinds of scenarios. Had she wandered off? Had thatass from the front desk abducted her? He was all ready to chargeupstairs prepared for battle when seconds later, he felt
