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He looks up from sliding a wingchair out of the way and catches me staring at him. Jayson winks before resuming his task.

Which brings me back to my own work: arranging flowers in the vases around the room. I’m nearly finished when Jayson comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my body to draw me against him. He’s hard and ready for me, as he always seems to be, but there’s no time to indulge in anything romantic at the moment.

I let out a giggle when he nuzzles my neck. “Stop it. I have to finish this.”

“It looks fine to me,” he says, running his hand over my breast. “Perfect.”

“Sophie...”

“Is busy,” he says against my skin. “She’s with Irina, going over the menu. Again.” He laughs.

“You don’t turn eighteen every day.” I allow him to turn me around, so I’m facing him. I out down the bunch of hyacinths I was holding to put my arms on his shoulders. “What were you like then? I didn’t really know you.” I’d only been ten and had just started noticing boys. Even then, I found Jayson gorgeous, but he seemed much too old.

“I don’t even remember being eighteen.” He rests his forehead against mine. “I remember never being able to live up to my father’s expectations.” A sad smile drifts across his lips. “He told me multiple times he was thankful for Dmitri, because I would never be fit to run the Satyros Corporation.”

I stroke his neck. “That must have been difficult.”

Jayson shrugs. “It’s the way of many fathers.” His lips firm. “It will not be my way though.”

“You want children?”

He quirks a brow. “Of course.”

I swallow, searching for courage. “With me?”

Jayson frowns at the question. “Of course, agape mou, but not until I have had you to myself for a long time yet.”

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nbsp; I tilt my neck and he nibbles the flesh, feeling content. Jayson wants me to have his children. That must be a good sign that we have a strong future ahead of us. As he lifts me into his arms, I wrap my legs around his waist, silently agreeing with the idea to wait a while to have a child. I could spend years getting my fill of his body before I’m ever ready to share the attention.

He carries me up to our bedroom, closing the door with his foot. I gasp when he pushes up my skirt, bracing me against the wall.

“I love when you wear dresses.” He strokes my hot flesh. “Along with those silky little panties.” Jayson pushes them aside to touch my skin. I’m already wet and eager for him.

“Please, Jayson.” I dig my hands into his shoulders as he shifts positions to take a foil packet from the nightstand. When he has it open, I lend him a free hand with slipping it on. “Now.”

Jayson plunges deep inside me, pushing me against the wall with each thrust. It’s unbearably erotic, to be trapped between the unyielding wall and his almost equally unyielding body. I arch against him, losing myself in the rhythm. I come, once, twice, countless times before he finally lets himself go, crying out in the way I love, and collapsing against me.

Sweaty and exhausted, but energized, I lay my head against his shoulder, kissing his chest gently. I can’t imagine ever being happier than right now. My only regret is that we wasted three years living as roommates.

I help Sophie with her hair later that evening, pinning up the black strands into a sophisticated up-do. The younger girl chose an aquamarine gown that’s slightly sexy, but no so much that Jayson would be trying to send her back to her room to change. I press a kiss to Sophie’s cheek. “You look beautiful, and all grown up.” Tears fill my eyes, and I have to blink several times.

Sophie looks alarmed. “Are you all right, Harper?”

I nod, wiping away the few tears that escaped. It’s a good thing I’m running behind and haven’t put on my own makeup, or I’d have to redo it now. “I’m fine, and just so proud of you. You are a lovely young woman.”

Sophie drags her lower lip between her teeth, looking uncertain. “Do you think so? Really truly?”

I hug her. “Of course I do.”

With a quick glance around, though we’re the only two in Sophie’s room, the girl lowers her voice to say, “Loukas wants to…you know. I want to as well, but I’m scared.” She looks up, eyes full of fear. “Do you think I’m old enough?”

I blink. Only five years separate us, but suddenly I feel a thousand years older. “I think that if you can’t even say have sex, you’re probably not ready to.”

Sophie looks a little disappointed, but nods. “What’s it like?” She quickly holds up a hand. “I don’t want details about Theo Jayson and you, but is it… well, is it what everyone says it is?”

With a sigh, weighing my words, I answer, “It can be. With someone you love, sex can be amazing. It’s so much more than physical.” I want to roll her eyes since I’m sounding so knowledgeable about something which I only just discovered. “When you find the right person, you’ll know. That doesn’t mean you have to be married to him, but you should at least love him.” Putting an arm around Sophie’s waist, I ask, “Does that help?”