“I know,” he nodded, leaning forward and brushing a kiss on her lips. “Why don’t you shower and get dressed. Your clothes are dry and folded in the bathroom.”
Her eyes widened. “You did that?”
“Surprised?”
“I guess I shouldn’t be,” she murmured, offering him a small smile. “You cook, you clean, apparently you do laundry… you’re a domestic God.”
“That’s a pretty low bar,” he laughed.
She leaned forward and kissed him. “I’m impressed, none the less.” She scrambled out of the bed and regret shifted through him. His mind began to tick, formulating ways he could organise for her to stay over and not have to get back at the crack of dawn. Having got her here and into his bed, the last thing Raf wanted was to let her go again so quickly. No, this day should have been a slow exploration of one another’s bodies, more pleasure, more enjoyment.
He was still thinking about that when she appeared in the kitchen ten minutes later, hair pulled into a ponytail, wearing the same clothes as the day before.
“I’ve been thinking.”
She nodded, holding a hand out. “Good, but we should go.”
He laughed. When was the last time someone had steam rolled over him when he’d been trying to express an idea?
“In a second.”
“Ra-af…”
He moved around the kitchen bench, pressing a finger to her lips. “We’ll go in a minute. Once you’ve agreed to my suggestion.”
“What suggestion?”
“More of a request.”
“Ra-af!”
He laughed. “You’re cute when you’re annoyed.”
She scowled at him but it broke into a grin pretty quickly. “I am annoyed,” but she didn’t sound it. “Seriously, I don’t want Yaya to wonder where I’m am. God, I don’t want her to guess where I am…”
“You think she’s developed some psychic abilities in the last twelve hours or something?”
“No, but if she gets someone to go looking for you and for me and neither of us is there…”
“No one, in a million years, is going to guess that we’re seeing each other. We’ve been too careful for that.”
“Yes, I guess you’re right. Still…”
“We’ll go in a second, I promise.” He wrapped his arms around her back, pulling her against his body. “I want you to think about something today.”
“What?”
“We’re both staying at Villa Fortune for the foreseeable future. It’s stupid not to just share a room. My room.”
She opened her mouth in protest and he rushed on with his thought.
“It’s off limits to anyone. Even the cleaning staff don’t come in when I’m staying. It’s in the family wing of the house. No one will see you come and go. You can use the doors to the citrus grove, if you’re worried.”
Her eyes held his, emotions floating through them.
“I like sleeping with you.” His grin showed the unintended double entendre. “I like sleeping, in the same bed, with you. I like waking up with you.”
“But – it’s not –,”