Page 49 of Taking The Virgin

Chapter18

Owen’safterglow kisses make me so tipsy that he has to carry me out of the pool in his arms, then bring me to a lounge chair.

As I wallow in warmth and giddiness, he leaves, then returns to me with a towel wrapped around his waist, low enough to show off his taut abs and belly, just the way I like it. Then he uses another long towel to dry me off, taking his time, then cocooning me in its fluffiness.

He easily lifts me from the lounge, sits down on it, then pulls me back against him so I’m on hislap.

That’s just the way I like it, too.

I feel so close to him, and not only because I’m snuggled in his arms with my head leaning back on his strong chest. I feel as if he’s become a part ofme.

Am I a part ofhim?

As the water runs over the side of the pool, he traces patterns on my bare thigh where the towel rides up. I pull the fabric tighter around me because I’m starting to shiver again, in spite of the warmair.

“I hope the hotel will clean the pool for the next people who stay in this suite,” I say lightly, but I’m also testing him, seeing how he’s feeling about the mess weleft.

But he seems laid-back about it. Is he getting used to the clutter I bring to hislife?

“I made sure the pool was sanitized thoroughly before I got here,” he says, “and I’m sure the hotel will do the same for the next high-paying client.” He draws a line up the top of my thigh. “Talk about dirty though… I like how you got a little nastier tonight. Some of the things you said made me think the devil got intoyou.”

“Hedid.”

After a moment, we both laugh. The vibration in his chest travels through me. That, plus the trail his finger is making up my skin, gives my sex abuzz.

“Anyway,” he says, “you lost a little more of your innocence tonight.”

I almost ask him if he likes bidding on virgins because we come to him clean and he enjoys dirtying usup.

But he goes on before I have the chance—if I even had the guts toask.

“How about dinner in bed?” he says. “Order anything from the menu. I’m sure you worked up an appetite.”

“And I’ll be working another one up soon, I’msure.”

He tenderly strokes my leg—not in a sexual way, more as if he’s exploring me, reveling in the feel of my skin—and I reach in back of me, softly digging my fingers into his hair. Thick, lustrous, yummy.

“I like how you’re growing this out,” Isay.

“I haven’t had time to get itcut.”

He enfolds me in his arms as I smile, loving this, wishing things could always be this way. But after today, will theybe?

Havewe crossed some kind of bridge?

After a pause he says, “When we get back to New York I’ve got business meetings. There’s important work I need to getdone.”

Ah. Here it comes—the distancing. He’s about to tell me that he won’t be around much. I try not to let a piece of my heart crackoff.

“You know where I’ll be if you need me,” I casuallysay.

“I’ll need you at dinner with a very important client.”

I hesitate, because I think I might have water in myears.

He continues. “I’m partnering on an artificial intelligence surgical project with another doctor, Gary Earl. He’ll soon be bringing his wife Rachel to the city from Nevada so we can hammer out our ideas together.”

I still don’t know how to respond.

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