Page 155 of Charming Deception

“Take your time,” I tell her, and leave her alone.

* * *

While Megan has her bath, I pace the length of the hotel suite. I’d be suspicious as hell about me, if I were her. My evasive answers. The fact that I barely touch her.

I wasn’t lying about the way my business associates were all over her at dinner. In Vancouver or Paris, it’s all the same. Men stare at her. Doors are opened for her. She could have her pick of men, if she wanted it.

I live with her, and I’ve barely even kissed her.

And when I did, on the jet… I jerked away from her as if I realized I was allergic to her halfway through.

At this rate, she’ll start thinking I’m nuts.

Or secretly gay.

Or fucking someone else.

And lying to her about whichever of the above.

I blow out a breath, flopping back on the couch.

Faintly, I hear the water in the bath slosh, and my head immediately goes to her stripping off that dress. I picture her naked in there, the water sliding over her luscious curves as she washes herself.

This is killing me. I’m fairly sure it’s starting to kill her, too.

I lie sprawled on the couch, listening to the faint sounds of her bathing, going out of my mind.

Eventually, I pick up my phone and stare at it for a moment, debating. Then I call one of my brothers before I can stop myself.

It’s getting that desperate.

I hold the phone to my ear, bury my other hand in my hair and squeeze. While I wait for him to pick up, the look on Megan’s face when she asked me if we could hold hands tortures me. So hopeful, and yet devoid of hope at the same time.

She was afraid I was going to say no. And yet she’d had the courage to ask me anyway.

“Aren’t you in Paris?” is my brother’s greeting. I can hear the amusement in Damian’s voice. “It’s after midnight there.”

“Can I watch her touch herself?” I keep my voice low, so she won’t hear me. My tone is desperate, like a dying man begging for water. “If I don’t touch myself at the same time or get any gratification from it?”

Damian gives a low chuckle. “Tell me you’d get no gratification from it. I want to hear you lie to me for the first time in your life.”

I groan as I claw my hand through my hair.

“Are you grasping for some loophole because you already screwed up?”

“No.”

“Did you have sex with your fiancée? Or someone else? How bad is it? Be honest, Jamie. I won’t even tell the others.”

I believe him. Damian has never been one to play by the rules. I doubt he’d seriously want me to lose my inheritance over the rules of this game. And what does he really care if I cheat? He doesn’t, probably.

But I have nothing to hide.

“I promise you, I haven’t had sex with her.” As those words come out of my mouth, the bathroom door opens and my eyes meet Megan’s.

She stops abruptly in the doorway. She heard those last words.

“I have to go.” I hang up on Damian and sit up.

---