Page 21

She woke just before her alarm went off and discovered the strangeness of a man in bed next to her.

Taking the time to turn off the alarm, she eased herself up carefully and just sat there staring at the gorgeous specimen in her bed.

He was completely naked and so was she. His skin glowed golden in the faint light coming from the bathroom.

His hair was tousled from her restless and eager fingers and the sheet came up to his hips.

They had spent last night exploring each other's bodies. Drawing in a careful breath, she resisted the urge to touch him or simply crawl back into his arms. She had meetings lined up and for the first time since opening the store, she resented being the one in charge.

Kai was in her bed! She wanted to dance around the room and shout with glee. She, Maxie Leah Priestley, had a gorgeous man in her bed. More, he was the man she was completely in love with.

But first things first -- she needed caffeine. Her body was wonderfully used and aching in sensitive areas. She was also certain Kai, being the important CEO of a multi-billion-dollar company, was going to be getting up pretty soon.

Sliding off the bed, she padded towards the closet. Selecting a thin rose-colored robe, she carefully left the room and headed downstairs.

Scooping her hair into an untidy bun on top of her head, she stepped into her neat and tidy green and white kitchen and started the coffee.

Waiting for the coffee to filter through, she wandered over to the window where she had planted her herbs.

Picking up the watering can in the shape of a pigeon, she sprinkled water over the plants.

She had to think. Obviously, she could not continue seeing Matthew and she felt the spike of guilt tearing through her heart.

She really liked him, but he deserved better than to have her stringing him along.

And she had to tread carefully. She was not ready to throw caution to the wind and start going public with Kai.

He was a powerful man, and they had been childhood sweethearts.

The press would go wild with that piece of information.

Frowning, she put away the watering can and went back to the coffee pot. Pouring a big mug, she stood there, cradling the mug and allowing the warmth to seep into her skin.

She was so deep in thought, she actually jolted when she felt arms wrapping around her waist.

"Kai."

"I hope you weren't expecting someone else." His deep voice was tinged with amusement as he nuzzled the side of her neck.

"No. I--" She breathed through her nose. "I hope I did not wake you."

"I woke up and found you gone." He nibbled at her skin, loving the taste and feel of her. "I had to come and find you."

"I needed coffee. Kai--" She had to put the cup down for fear of dropping it and splashing hot coffee all over her feet.

"Would you like me to pour you-- Oh!" She let out a gasp when he spun her around and took her lips hungrily.

Her hands went slack, her body limp. She simply melted, her heart quickening.

The man had a mouth on him, she thought dazedly.

Finding the strength, she moved in, wrapping her hands around his neck and giving as much as she was getting.

"Hmm." Ending the kiss reluctantly, he framed her face between his hands. "I love waking up to this." He trailed a finger over her left cheek. He had not bothered to put on a shirt and his hair was tumbling over his forehead.

"Me too."

His lips trailed over her cheek. "We could solve that particular problem." He was nibbling at the seams of her lips and sending heat tumbling through her.

"What problem?" Her thought process was seriously impaired.

"The one where we're not waking up to each other every morning."

"How-- Kai--" Her hands were nerveless and clutching at him.

"Move in with me."

The words managed to blow through the haze of sexual desire raging through her body and had her blinking.

"What?"

He rubbed her lips open, tongue doing dangerous things to hers. Swallowing her gasp, he deepened the kiss until she was a mass of molten desire.

Lifting his head, he brushed back the hairs from her cheeks.

"You want me to move in with you."

"Hmm. I love the sleepy, sexy softened look on your face first thing in the morning. You have always been the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

She shook her head, trying to get rid of the sexual haziness. "Kai. I can't."

His brow furrowed. "Why the hell not?"

She pushed at him, but he stayed where he was. "I am not moving in with you, because that's just crazy."

"Is it? Why?"

"We don't really know each other and I--" She shrugged helplessly, ignoring the hopeful pounding of her heart.

"We know each other."

"I'm not talking sex."

"We know each other," he repeated. "And if you think what we do can be called sex, then I probably need to remind you that it's not."

"Look--" She clenched her hands on his chest. "I still need time--"

"To do what exactly?" His arrogant tone had her hackles rising.

"To get used to this. To give us both time to sort things through. You cannot simply storm back and expect me to jump when you say. I need some time to get used to having you back and seeing if you will--" Her voice petered off, but she saw the look of comprehension dawning on his face.

"If I will stick." His mouth tightened as he moved away by degrees. Nudging her aside, he poured coffee and took a sip.

"Do you want it in writing?" His voice was cool and formal.

"I wrote you a goddamned letter, bared my heart, told you I love you--" His dark eyes were glinting from the fury rising inside him.

"I have never done that before. No woman ever had that kind of power over me and I'm not sure I bloody well like it. "

Her eyes flashed with temper, and she did her best to tamp it down. It was counter-productive for both of them to be angry and she could see he was fighting the fury.

"I need time."

"Then take it." Draining the cup, he slammed it down on the marble tile and shoved away from the counter. "Take all the time you need."

"Kai--" She watched helplessly as he strode from the kitchen without a backward look.

She should follow him. And say what exactly?

She was not just playing coy when she told him she needed time and space.

To think. She loved him completely and that had been the problem.

She would have done anything for him. Jump through hoops if he asked her to.

When he left, he had rooted up the anchor and left her adrift.

It had taken years for her to find herself and venture out without feeling battered and bruised.

She loved him and oh! Spinning around, she dumped the rest of the coffee down the drain. It was worse than before.

So, she was bloody well going to take the time.

He had not mentioned her meeting his family.

She knew his two uncles were in Japan and they had an enormous influence over him -- at least, that had been the case in the past. Kai was now running the company and seemed to be the one making the major decisions.

But his mother was here in the US, and he had not mentioned setting a time for Maxie to meet her.

That was troubling. What if the woman did not approve of her?

She worried her bottom lip, a frown touching her brow.

A lot of what-ifs were tumbling inside her brain.

She wanted marriage and children with him.

But she was black -- and would be the first to enter a family that had always stuck to the tradition of marrying their own kind.

What if there was no way to bridge the difference between them?

What was expected of her if he asked her to marry him?

And would he ask? She wondered. Pushing away from the counter, she went to the window to stare out at the gloomy morning.

Fall was teasing and there were more evidence of it in the changing of the leaves.

Did he want to marry her? Or was he content with just shacking up with her? Could she be satisfied with that?

No, shaking her head, she knew she wanted everything. To be his wife and the mother of his children. Pressing one hand against her flat stomach, she wondered if she was already bearing his seed, if another human being was already forming inside her uterus.

How would she feel about that? A smile touched her lips, and she did not have to wonder. She would be proud and happy to carry Kai's baby.

Biting her lip, she turned away and left the room to go and get ready for the day.

Maxie's day spiraled into a whirlwind, but her thoughts refused to settle.

She went through the motions -- showering, dressing, and preparing to step out into the world -- but Kai's words clung to her, resonating in the hollow spaces of her heart.

She tried to push them away, tried to distract herself with the cold bite of the morning air and the warmth of her wool coat.

Yet, every rustle of leaves reminded her of the uncertainty, the longing, and the fear that had seeped into their relationship.

Marriage, children, familial expectations -- all of it felt like an intricate puzzle she hadn't yet solved. Kai's love was undeniable, but was that enough to weather the storms of cultural divides, of generational traditions that might resist her presence in his life?

Putting the troubling thoughts away, she concentrated on sorting through the bolts of fabrics that had finally arrived.

The trunk show was a week away and she had a lot of planning to get through.

She also had to break the news to Matthew that she could not see him again.

And explain to him about the complicated relationship she was in.

Picking up the phone, she called Yvette.