Page 28 of Beauty and her Billionaire Beast
“Unless you want to skip all that and just stay withme.”
I laugh nervously. “Probably not the bestidea.”
“It’s a big bed. And I’m abig boy, Belle. I canbehave.”
“I think I need to sleep alone...I mean, without you tempting me like you are rightnow.”
“I’m laying it on thick, aren’tI?”
“You reallyare.”
“All right.” He loosens his grip around my waist, turning to head down the hall. I follow him to the next room, missing his warmth. “This one’s moreAvant GardeParisianstyle.”
I take inthe subtle palette of neutral linens and blends of gold trim finishes, with accents of red in the artwork. The furniture is all Chippendale style antique pieces, with a minimalist queen-side bed with no headboard. “I like this too,” I mutter, and a long yawn escapes my mouth. “Sorry, seeing all these beds must have an effect on me. Can I see the lastone?”
He walks to the doorway at theend of the hall, bypassing one room. “Take a look at this onefirst.”
He slides on a dimmer switch, and I’m floored by the vaulted ceilings, exposed wooden beams painted a dark mahogany, with modern, square chandeliers high above us, a king-sized bed against one wall, with its button back headboard and matching armchairs in one corner, and the floor to ceiling windows looking out at a beautifullylit turquoise infinity pool that seems to stretch into the ocean. It’s dark outside, but the white capped ocean waves are clear in the distance. It’s stunning. I can imagine waking up to the blue ocean waves rollingin.
“This is your room, isn’t it?” I ask. “The masterbedroom?”
“Yeah. But I’m willing to share. If you promise not tomisbehave.”
“I’ll just take the first room,”I announce and the tremor in my voice betrays me. I don’t trust myself in a bed with this man. I’m liable to be the one who makes the firstmove.
“Hold on.” He pulls me close again and kisses the top of my head. “Go ahead. You can stay here. I’ll take the room beside it. Just don’t be too alarmed if I pop in to grab some of my clothes in thecloset.”
“No. I can’t steal yourroom.”
“Iinsist.”
“Are yousure?”
“Positive. Hang on.” He heads back down the hall and brings my suitcase back with him, resting it on an upholstered bench at the foot of the bed. Returning to me, he runs his hand down my back and presses me into his hips. I instantly feel the thick length of his semi hard-on, although I get the sense that his move was more of an innocent gesturethan anything. “Sleep well, Belle. See you in themorning.”
“Goodnight.”
“Holler if you need anything. I’ll be in the room youmissed.”
“Thanks.”
Knox pulls the bedroom door closed behind him as he leaves, and I pop open my suitcase, changing into an oversized t-shirt. After brushing my teeth, I turn down the dimmer switch and climb into bed. His bed. With the coversaround me, I feel so at home in this room that I close my eyes and soon drift off, promising that I’ll wake up early enough to take a long run along thebeach.
