Page 80 of The Bourbon Bet
Laughing, I sit up and rub the stubble on my cheeks. “Tropical music as your morning alarm? That’s an interesting choice.”
She grins over her shoulder while reaching for a crimson robe hanging from the bed’s metal headboard. “I thought waking up to a vacation song would be a nice way to start each day, but it’s backfiring. The letdown each morning I open my eyes and do not find myself in a tropical destination is a major bummer.”
I chuckle, but it turns to a curse when I glance at my phone on the nightstand and see the time. “No chance I’ll make it home to change and still make my morning meeting.” I pick up my cell. “I’ll call Hanna and have her reschedule.”
“You could get ready here. Have Tom bring you a change of clothes,” Rosalia suggests, wrapping the robe around her and standing.
I blow out a breath. That would help with my packed schedule, but in all honesty, the bigger draw of this plan is having more time with her. “Are you sure?”
“Yup. Get in the shower. While you’re in there, I’ll wait for Tom and get your clothes from him.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ve pulled too many all-nighters at work. I have spares in all my vehicles. Though the ones in my truck have been there a while. Hopefully, they still fit. And I’ll have to go commando.”
She takes in my bare chest, the thin sheet covering my bottom half. When she returns to my face, her eyes are fully dilated. Desire surges through me, shutting off my brain.
“Or…” I scoot to the other side of the bed, where she stands. The movement has the sheet falling away from me. Her gaze devours my naked body, and rational thought abandons me completely. Shifting, I sit with my feet on the ground and her between my legs. I slip a hand inside her robe, cupping her breast. “We could be late.”
She gasps and takes half a step toward me. Standing, I lean in for a kiss. Just before I reach her lips, she stumbles back, placing a hand over her mouth. “I have morning breath.”
“If that bothers you, I can kiss other places.” I push aside the thin cotton of her robe and flick her peaked nipple with my tongue.
“Okay,” she rasps.
Her phone cries from the nightstand, and her moan turns into a groan. “That’s probably Dad or Paige. I have to answer.”
Looking at the ID, she swipes and says, “Hi, Paige. What’s up?”
She doesn’t tie her robe closed, and I take that as an invitation. I sit back on the bed’s edge and pull her between my legs, planting a kiss on her stomach.
Running a hand through my hair, she grips the longer strands on top, saying into the phone, “We can meet—” I shift to her hip and bite lightly. “M-meet in a…could you just text me where to meet?”
I smile against her warm skin. “No. No, I’m fine. Just, um, distracted.” Happy to be her distraction, I run my tongue slowly from her hip, closer and closer to theapex of her thighs. She inhales sharply, then steps out of my reach, and mouths, “Get your clothes.”
I push out my bottom lip, making her laugh. Then I stand. I really do need to get moving. I pull on last night’s clothes and grab my keys before heading down to the truck for my spare outfit.
“Nothing. Just saw something funny out the window,” I hear her say as I leave the bedroom.
Walking through her apartment and down the alley stairs, my heart swells with emotions I dare not name. They’re all terrifying to acknowledge. I shouldn’t feel this way about someone I can’t fully trust. Reaching the gravel of her alley, I turn to the delivery door of the bookstore and sigh.
There’d been a moment last night where I thought she’d tell me about her deal with Thorne. I’d seen it in her eyes. The same when we were hiking. But she’d turned away, holding onto her secrets. Did he have her sign an NDA as well? Probably.
Fucking Thorne and his deals and wagers. He loves to gamble, and one day he’s going to lose everything. Although today it feels like I’ll be the loser. His wager hangs over everything between Rosalia and me, ready to destroy what we’re building. In my mind’s eye, I can see her face crumple if the truth comes out. I can hear the venom in her voice as she cries, “I trusted you.”
Reaching my truck, I lean against the driver’s side door. The honorable choice would be to drive away now, putting distance between us to make it easier for her to take the files from me. Let her save all she has worked for. But then I remember my employees and what would happen to them if my brother were to take over. It will hurt her to believe she’s giving up her store and programs, but once this is over, I’ll make sure she wants for nothing. Ever.
I grab my clothes and rush back up the stairs to her apartment. Opening the door, my gaze lands on the towel I’d tossed on the counter after we started kissing. I’d give anything to go back in time. Not to change things, because I'm a selfish bastard. I want to relive every moment.
“Rosalia,” I call from the hallway to let her know I’m back.
“I’m in the shower. There’s a new toothbrush on the counter for you.”
I walk into the bathroom, thanking her. Right after washing and brushing my teeth, the rings on the shower curtain rattle as she pulls the material back. In the mirror’s reflection, Rosalia stands naked, rivulets cascading down her curves. “Join me?” she asks.
The steam curls around us, carrying her intoxicating scent of summer fruits and warm skin. Turning, I suck in the humid air, hoping to steady my breathing, but every inhale draws me deeper under her spell. I ache to touch her, to lose myself in her warmth. But I hold back. This isn’t physical craving alone. Rosalia has become my refuge, my solace. Stepping into that shower with her would be surrendering to something deeper than desire.
“I am having trouble reaching a certain spot. Could you help me?” She bites her lip, looking at me through long lashes lined with moisture.
I yearn to reach out, but hold back. This isn’t just physical anymore. She’s becoming someone I can’t afford to lose, and that terrifies me more than any secret I’m keeping. “Rosalia, I...” I start, but the words catch in my throat. “Aren’t you in a hurry?”
