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He meant to extract the promise from her.Nothing else would satisfy this man who had everything and yet seemed to want her with a passion that swept her clean away every time.
“I promise I’ll never keep myself away from you like that ever again.”
His massive chest sagged with his relieved exhalation.When he grinned, he looked years younger, and the wicked twinkle in his eyes made her heart catch.“Thank you.It’s for your own good, you know?”
“Don’t get cocky, Savage.I’ve just made you a heartfelt promise.Watch your step.”
“Yeah, but you never go back on your promises.It’s one of the first things I learned about you.And when I said it was for your own good, I meant I saw how withholding yourself from me distressed you, too.That sweet cunt of yours needs constant and careful attention.I need to know that I can give it that attention whenever necessary.”
“Oh, what, so all of a sudden you’re necessary for me?”
“I’m necessary for you, just as you’re necessary for me.The thought of not having access kills me.I need you.”He kissed her.
She lived in the world’s most cosmopolitan city, yet she’d never met anyone who could create such emotional havoc using only his words the way Zachary Savage could.
“What are you thinking?”he murmured against her mouth.
“I’m thinking we haven’t discussed my deal yet.”
He pulled back and stared down at her, his eyes suddenly serious.“I know what you want, and I agree,” he blurted as if the words scalded his mouth.
“Really, you agree to reveal one detail about yourself to me every day?”
“You mean like my shoe size or which way I load my junk?”he teased, but the wariness remained.
She slapped his arm and earned herself a quick, hard kiss.“No, I’m pretty sure I know the answer to both of those.I mean, until you’re ready to tell me this big thing that could end us, you can tell me things like who your high school crush was, what you did with your first paycheck, that sort of thing.”
He switched off the shower, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her.“Well, today’s answer is easy.I didn’t have a high school crush.”
“Oh,” she murmured as she followed him back into the bedroom.“Not even a small one?”
He looked at her over his shoulder and smiled.“Does swimming count?”
She pouted.“No, it doesn’t.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, baby.”He sat on the edge of the bed and beckoned her.“Come here.”
Her heart thumped with want and need and—God,love—as she went to him.Slowly, he dried her and pulled back the covers.
She slid in and he followed.
Their lovemaking was slow, poignant, and so heartbreakingly intense that tears welled in her eyes.He brushed them away, murmuring soft words as he cradled her close.Sighing, she burrowed into him and let his steady heartbeat lull her to sleep.
She woke in the middle of the night, her stomach hollow with anxiety.
Zach’s space was empty and cold, just as it had been the day before.Trying hard not to overthink why he’d left their bed in the middle of the night, she slid out and opened the door leading out of the suite.
The hallway lights had been dimmed, and no sound came from any of the rooms.Had Zach taken another business call downstairs?
She went back to the bedroom and slipped on a dressing gown.Seeing that the door to the terrace was ajar, she went to shut it and on impulse stepped outside.Crickets chirped in the warm night and the prevailing scent of exotic spices filled the air.Wrapping her arms around her waist, she breathed in deeply.
As if pulled by some unknown instinct, she retraced her steps along the terrace back to the spot where Zach had found her earlier tonight, staring at the mound of rocks in front of the miniature tent.As she watched, a light came on inside the tent.Her breath locked in her lungs at the familiar shadow outlined against the tent’s fabric.
A thousand questions crowded her brain as she stared, unable to tear her gaze away from the scene.
What the hell was he doing out here in the middle of the night?
The anxiety in her belly mushroomed.More than anything, she wanted to storm downstairs and demand answers.She gripped the railing instead.