Page 44 of Thiago
He stared at her in disbelief. Not because she didn’t want to bother him, but because he had enjoyed uninterrupted, peaceful sleep untilafter eightin the goddamn morning.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
“You know where it is,” India said.
Thiago slipped from under the sheets, and India brought her mug to her lips, her gaze following his movements. She posed nonchalantly against the inside of the door, but her eyes betrayed the hunger consuming her at the sight of his naked body.
“You did not get enough last night?” he asked with a smirk as he walked past her.
“There he is,” she said sarcastically.
With a laugh, Thiago continued into the bathroom and flipped on the light. After he relieved himself, he washed his hands and then stared at his reflection. He raked his fingers through his tousled hair and then smoothed the strands.
He wasn’t simply bothered by oversleeping. He was also disturbed by the normalcy of waking up in India’s bed and seeing her first thing in the morning. The casualness of her drinking coffee, looking relaxed and perky, had him wondering—what would it be like to experience this on a regular basis?
Such a ridiculous thought. He shook his head. Then he paused, frowning at his reflection.
Was it ridiculous? Why couldn’t he spend the night on occasion? Maybe he and India needed to reevaluate the parameters of their relationship. Spending the night should be on the table. Also, he had never invited her to his home. He had never invited any woman to his home. It was his sanctuary, and he didn’t want them to get the wrong idea about their role in his life. But he could bend the rule for India.
He exited the bathroom and found her seated on the settee by the window, legs crossed, holding the cup of coffee in onehand and her phone in the other. She didn’t look up when he came out. He picked up his boxer briefs and pulled them on, all the while watching her.
India lifted her gaze from the phone’s screen. “Why are you staring at me?”
“I was thinking about how absolutely stunning you are. You have bewitched me with your personality and beauty.”
“We already had sex. No need to butter me up,” she said in a teasing voice.
Thiago lifted his shirt off the dresser where India had tossed it in last night’s haste to get naked the second time they had sex. “You don’t think you’re beautiful? Stunning?”
“I’m attractive. Stunning might be a stretch.”
“You underestimate your appeal. Isn’t that why you have such a busy dating calendar now?”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “I don’t have a busy dating calendar.”
“No? Last night was the first time you and I have been together in three weeks.” Thiago shoved his arm forcefully through the sleeve of his shirt, the thought of her with other men grating.
“One of those weeks was because you went to your sister’s engagement party, remember?”
He ignored the question. “How many men are you seeing now?” he asked.
“Let’s not do this,” India said, sounding tired.
“That many?” The tightness in his chest returned, like iron bands around his torso.
“It’s not that many,” she said carefully.
“Two? Three? Five?” The tightening of his chest increased as he waited for her answer.
“I’m seeing the same two men I told you about. There’s Simon and a friend of Kiara’s husband, Leo. Actually, I’ve already broken things off with Leo.”
“I also want you to end your relationship with Simon. Today.”
“Oh really? And why would I?” India asked in an overly pleasant voice.
“Because I am asking.”
She laughed. “I know you’re used to telling people what to do, but this is my house, and it’s my relationship. So, no, thank you, I need a better reason than ‘Because I said so.’”
