“I know, and we will, but you won’t change my mind. And neither will your husband, even if he punches me and breaks my nose every day. Nothing will keep me away from you. I love you, bug. Don’t doubt that.”
“I don’t.”
“Good.”
He kisses me one more time and then jogs down the stairs and out the door, leaving me tingling and my muscles limp after what just happened. I lie back on the bed, basking in my post-orgasm high and the sweet moment we shared—pretending I can hold onto this feeling forever.
But I need to deal with Lennox, and the longer I lay here, the angrier I get.
I stand up and stomp downstairs, ready to head next door to give Lennox a piece of my mind. When my feet hit the last step, I hear him.
I whip my head toward the kitchen, where he’s pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
“What are you doing here?” I snap, stomping toward him.
“This is my apartment.” Lennox sips his whiskey while standing in jeans and a dark grey shirt. His hair is messily poured over one side of his head, and he has a serious, concerned look on his face—always scowling and intense.
“And I told you to wait next door,” I say through gritted teeth.
“And I don’t take orders from you.”
I narrow my eyes, trying to figure out the best way to hurt him. “How long have you been here?”
“Do you mean how much did I overhear?” He raises his eyebrows, and I blush, knowing he heard everything.
“I was here long enough to hear Kit go all cave-man possessive and give you a pathetic excuse for a climax in my bed.”
“It wasn’t pathetic—that release was incredible.”
He shrugs. “It seemed mildly pleasant from where I was standing.”
“How would you know what a mind-blowing orgasm sounds like? I doubt you’ve ever gotten a woman off before. You’re too selfish and serious to go down on any woman.”
His eyes intensify, and his teeth rake over his bottom lip. A heated smolder drags up and down my body. Suddenly, my legs feel weak like jello, my insides stir to life, and my nipples harden. He’s a fucking magician that can control my body without touching me.
It can’t be possible. I must still be turned on from Kit.
I fold my arms across my chest, realizing how naked I am. I’m still just wearing Lennox’s shirt, and I’m no longer wearing any underwear. Under Lennox’s stare, it feels like I’m wearing nothing at all.
“Would you like me to try? I could show you what a real orgasm feels like.” He leans against the counter casually, like he just offered to make me the best cup of coffee, not touch me in the most intimate of ways.
Sex is nothing to him. He’s probably fucked enough women that fucking is the same as talking to him.
“No, I don’t want you to try. I know you wouldn’t be any good.”
“When I win the bet, and you beg me to fuck you, you’ll realize what you’ve been missing.”
I’m angry, but the tiniest of smiles slips onto my face. He’s no longer sulking. He’s back to the bickering, grumpy flirtatious man I knew before we got married. The man I can go toe to toe against. The man I can beat, unlike the dark savage from last night with too many demons to have a chance at winning.
“If you ever punch Kit again or hurt a hair on his head, I’ll kill you. I don’t care what my father, or anyone else, thinks. I’ll deal with the consequences. You won’t hurt him again. In fact, you’ll protect him. That’s what I’ve added to our arrangement in order for me to be a dutiful wife.”
“You can’t save him.” He looks sad as he says it, like he’s sharing a piece of his own soul with me as he speaks.
“What? Of course I—”
“You can’t. No matter what you try. He’ll never be safe. You know that. The only way is to give him up completely.”
I frown. “You’re just trying to win your stupid bet.”