Chapter 9

Nine

Gideon

T he next morning I'm cooking breakfast. Nothing fancy. Toast, jam, fresh orange juice, bacon and eggs. This is the first meal Rosalee is eating in my home—our home if tonight goes off without a hitch—and I want it prepared by my hand. I've given the house staff the week off so it's just the two of us.

Rosalee's eyebrows knit together as I walk through my bedroom door and set the breakfast tray over her lap. She looks adorable now, but last night she was pure sex kitten as I took her another three times before the sun hit the peaks of the mountains.

"What's this?"

I lay a hand on her bare shoulder and dip my head for a taste of sleep-warm skin when the covers fall, flashing me a hint of pink nipple. It beads under my attention, and I smile.

"So responsive and beautiful."

Her sleepy grin widens. "You truly did mean morning, noon and night."

"I'm a man of my word." She looks like an angel wrapped in black silk, and it takes a large effort on my part not to strip this suit off and join her in bed, but something else pulls me away so I'll have to bide my time.

Lips spread, she takes in my clothes as I sit on the side of the bed and hand her the glass of orange juice.

"Drink. You need your strength, and I demanded a lot from you last night."

She takes the glass. "If memory serves, so did I. Where is your breakfast?"

"I already ate."

"Oh."

I take the empty tray when she finishes and move it to the side table. "I'll be out most of the day, but I want you to make yourself at home while I'm out."

"Oh, I can't stay here." She moves to slip from the bed, and I stop her with a hand on her smooth, bare hip.

"Gideon, I have responsibilities I can't just drop. I didn't exactly pack for this, you know. And my parents?—"

"—are taken care of as soon as you give me their bank account. I'll deposit the funds they need and I already spoke with a few specialists concerning your father. But we can talk about that later. And it's Saturday. No school to worry about."

Her lips form that straight tight line again and I know I'm about to get the stubborn side of Rosalee. "Well don't you just have all bases covered?"

I can see she's ready to balk and looks utterly appalled, but I was dead fucking serious about what I said last night. I mutter a curse at my lack of finesse but push onward. "Don't fight me on this, Rosalee. There's no need to struggle when I can help."

"What does that make me? Paid for twice? Gideon, I told you I want nothing but you. Just you."

"That makes you my lover among other things and we talked about this last night. Don't go there. I won't let you dirty what we have. I'm a packaged deal. My bed, my heart, my help."

She crosses her arms over her chest, and I can see that damn wall coming back up between us.

"And what does that mean ‘among other things?' And what does ‘for now' mean? Is there an expiration date on this?" She points a finger between us. Confusion knits her brows into a tight line of worry.

I rub the tiny creases scrunching her forehead with my thumb. "You'll have to trust me. You'll get your answers and more soon, but for now relax for a change." I stand. "And one more thing, I want to see you this evening. I'll have a dress delivered at four and a car sent over to bring you to me at eight sharp."

"And do I have a say in this?"

"You do but if you refuse, you'll miss the surprise I have planned."

Her mouth opens and I claim a kiss, surprising her "No argument. You will allow me to give my treasure a sliver of the same happiness you have given me."

I don't hold back and my order comes out like I was put on this earth to command her.

She likes it only she doesn't know why. Tonight I hope to show her.

I know Rosalee isn't like any other woman I've dated and I'm going to prove to her how much she means to me before she has a chance to change her mind and walk. I'm not going to give her that much time to reconsider after everything she's learned about me and my past. I'm a bastard, and I guess I have a part of my father in me after all. Only difference, she's it for me. I won't need anyone else after her. Where my father could never find his unicorn, I've found mine and I'm holding on by any means necessary. I've wanted her for so long, and now that I finally have her she's not getting away. I came in her last night four times and if she's not already pregnant with my child, she will be before the night is through.

She does a good job of hiding her inner turmoil. Instead of fighting me on this further, Rosalee leans into the pillows at her back, but I don't take her less-than-relaxed posture for anything other than what it is: her pride warring over her needs.

She presses her lips together and slips the covers from her delicate, delicious body, revealing all those sweet curves I took the time to memorize last night with my tongue.

She pushes to her feet and makes her way to the shower, and I drink in the way her ass sways with a slight bump at each step.

My little minx wants to play.

"Until tonight then, Professor," she coos over her shoulder, and I make sure she sees the ridge of my hard cock as I stroke it through my pants.

"Rosalee."

The command in my voice turns her around. Two can play this game.

"You won't get away because you're fucking mine ."