Page 24 of Vegas Baby

“How did it get there to begin with?”

“You tell me. You’re on my side of the bed, not the other way around.”

“And you thought to take advantage of it?” Accusation fired in her eyes.

He cocked an eyebrow, glaring back at her unfair allegation. “Hey, you held my hand to your chest, not the other way around. That’s all on you.”

“You seemed to be enjoying it. Do you really think I don’t feel your, umm reaction to our position? I…” A faint flush colored her cheeks and she closed her eyes, licking her lips before she opened them again. “Forget it. Let’s forget this ever happened.”

“Forget it?” No. Her innuendos wore on his last nerve, like he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. She’d been at fault on this one. “I think you owe me an apology.”

“Me? Why should I apologize?”

“Because you’re at fault. I didn’t instigate anything. Period.” Pissed because of her low opinion of him, and uncertain why. Not entirely true. His lifestyle choices were all out there for the world to see, yet Raina had the ability to get under his skin like nobody else.

Indecision marked her brow before she blew out a breath. “Fine, I’m sorry I accused you of trying to molest me. But what else could I think. I woke up to your hand on my breasts and your, umm, groin against my butt, and—I’m not stupid but let’s forget it, I don’t want to talk about it and I’m only making it worse and you’re lying on the material of my pajama top.”

He lifted his hips to oblige her request, ready to get as far away as possible. Yes, he desired her but he wasn’t depraved, nor turned on by a simple boob grab. She slipped to the other side of the bed, her movement dipping the mattress. A hard plastic object rolled against his side under the sheets. He reached down and pulled out the remote control.

Howler threw back his head, laughter coming to the fore as the implications of what happened sunk in.

“What’s so funny?” she asked, placing her pillow in front of her chest, an active barrier between them.

He held up the remote, inspecting the cylindrical device, roughly ten inches in length. “This. This was in the bed. Between us. This is what you felt.”

She hopped off the bed, the flush more pronounced on her neck. “The remote?”

He inspected it from all angles, finding it difficult to keep a straight face. “I have to say, I’m not sure if I should be flattered or not. What do you think?”

“I’m not going to answer that. We have to be outside in ten minutes. I suggest you get dressed.” She stomped off to the bathroom and seconds later, the door shut.

Still chuckling, he grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt from his suitcase and put them on. What a morning, the start to another very long day.

Raina opened the bathroom door and scooted past him; her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She’d washed her face and wore no makeup, making her appear much younger and more vulnerable.

Walking into the tiled room, he snatched up his tooth brush. Had things moved to their natural progression, he’d still be in bed with Raina. Memories skated across his consciousness, of her beneath him, her legs wrapped around his waist. He stared at himself in the mirror, willing his mind to the present. Remembering helped no one.

He rinsed out his mouth and turned off the water.

Raina stood at the French doors, two bottles of water in hand. She handed one to him along with a packet of peanuts and an apple. “I thought you might want a snack.”

His stomach growled in response as she walked past him, exiting out the sliding glass doors.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” he said, opening up the proffered peanuts. She could read him like a book, which was a good thing in a wife but not the competition.

“At least your stomach will,” she said on a light laugh.

Watching the sway of her hips beneath a pair of dark yoga pants as they crossed the lawn, he saw something else he hungered for. If he’d truly been a married to Raina, he’d have said fuck it and spent all morning in bed with her.

Shoulders falling, he rested his palm on the small of Raina’s back and approached the group of people gathered on the outer edge of the rock garden. Resignation soured his mood even further and he inspected the landscape to regain his bearings. The sun crested the sky, mimicking the same view he’d seen from the pool. A gentle breeze ruffled Raina’s curls that had escaped her ponytail. He curled his fingers into fists to stop the urge to tuck it behind her ear.

“Good morning, welcome. I believe this is the last of our couples.” A slender blonde said in a low, mesmerizing voice. “Let us begin. The most important component in any relationship is trust. As the new day dawns, we celebrate the upcoming marriage of Veer and Anaya by demonstrating this symbolic bond with our partner. Please take a mat and I shall guide you through a series of poses, each meant to build stamina, strength, and flexibility, all important attributes to a healthy relationship.”

“Couples yoga, or couples therapy?” Howler said low enough for only Raina to hear.

“Sounds like a little bit of both. I assume by your comment last night that you’ve tried yoga in the past?”

“Once. I dated a yoga instructor.” Well, he didn’t exactly date her as much as had sex with her. The relationship never progressed out of the bedroom. The whole of his dating history since, well since he’d started dating.

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