Page 53 of Forbidden Heroes

“How about you take me to bed, Professor, and show me again?”

Nine

Gideon

The next morning I’m cooking breakfast. Nothing fancy. Toast, jam, fresh orange juice, bacon and eggs. This is the first meal Rosalee is eating in my home—our home if tonight goes off without a hitch—and I want it prepared by my hand. I’ve given the house staff the week off so it’s just the two of us.

Rosalee’s eyebrows knit together as I walk through my bedroom door and set the breakfast tray over her lap. She looks adorable now, but last night she was pure sex kitten as I took her another three times before the sun hit the peaks of the mountains.

“What’s this?”

I lay a hand on her bare shoulder and dip my head for a taste of sleep-warm skin when the covers fall, flashing me a hint of pink nipple. It beads under my attention, and I smile.

“So responsive and beautiful.”

Her sleepy grin widens. “You truly did mean morning, noon and night.”

“I’m a man of my word.” She looks like an angel wrapped in black silk, and it takes a large effort on my part not to strip this suit off and join her in bed, but something else pulls me away so I’ll have to bide my time.

Lips spread, she takes in my clothes as I sit on the side of the bed and hand her the glass of orange juice.

“Drink. You need your strength, and I demanded a lot from you last night.”

She takes the glass. “If memory serves, so did I. Where is your breakfast?”

“I already ate.”

“Oh.”

I take the empty tray when she finishes and move it to the side table. “I’ll be out most of the day, but I want you to make yourself at home while I’m out.”

“Oh, I can’t stay here.” She moves to slip from the bed, and I stop her with a hand on her smooth, bare hip.

“Gideon, I have responsibilities I can’t just drop. I didn’t exactly pack for this, you know. And my parents?—”

“—are taken care of as soon as you give me their bank account. I’ll deposit the funds they need and I already spoke with a few specialists concerning your father. But we can talk about that later. And it’s Saturday. No school to worry about.”

Her lips form that straight tight line again and I know I’m about to get the stubborn side of Rosalee. “Well don’t you just have all bases covered?”

I can see she’s ready to balk and looks utterly appalled, but I was dead fucking serious about what I said last night. I mutter a curse at my lack of finesse but push onward. “Don’t fight me on this, Rosalee. There’s no need to struggle when I can help.”

“What does that make me? Paid for twice? Gideon, I told you I want nothing but you. Just you.”

“That makes you my lover among other things and we talked about this last night. Don’t go there. I won’t let you dirty what we have. I’m a packaged deal. My bed, my heart, my help.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, and I can see that damn wall coming back up between us.

“And what does that mean ‘among other things?’ And what does ‘for now’ mean? Is there an expiration date on this?” She points a finger between us. Confusion knits her brows into a tight line of worry.

I rub the tiny creases scrunching her forehead with my thumb. “You’ll have to trust me. You’ll get your answers and more soon, but for now relax for a change.” I stand. “And one more thing, I want to see you this evening. I’ll have a dress delivered at four and a car sent over to bring you to me at eight sharp.”

“And do I have a say in this?”

“You do but if you refuse, you’ll miss the surprise I have planned.”

Her mouth opens and I claim a kiss, surprising her “No argument. You will allow me to give my treasure a sliver of the same happiness you have given me.”

I don’t hold back and my order comes out like I was put on this earth to command her.

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