Page 56 of Secret Desire

“Laura. Eat. You need your strength before we get to that part.”

I giggled and ate my breakfast.

Steven’s cellphone buzzed on the nightstand beside us. He checked the screen, looked at me, and put a finger to his lips.

I nodded.

“Steven Cox speaking.”

I gingerly placed the tray in front of me and proceeded to crawl off the bed in my best imitation of a stealthy ninja. The mattress was so massive, I felt as if I had to cross miles of terrain to get off it.

“Mr. Ruthers, we need to discuss the Miller investment portfolio.”

Never a day off for my man. The job demanded his attention 365 days of the year. Even on a Sunday during the holidays, he was hard at work.

That wasn’t the only thing that was still hard. I glanced down and saw mini-Steven twitch as I got on all fours to slink off the bed. Well, actually, it wasn’t exactly mini. I hadn’t settled on a nickname yet, but some ideas came to mind. Big Boy, Stupendous Steve, Stevie.

For now, I would call it Stevie.

Stevie had been getting quite the workout over these last four days. It was a wonder it could still spring into action for the task.

Continuing on my mission to get off the bed as quietly as possible, I caught a glimpse of myself in the dresser mirror. Stealthy ninja, I was not. More like a stumbling hippo. Steven watched me with amusement.

“No, Mr. Ruthers, you need to factor in the intrinsic value of the volatility index in order to have a better price estimate of the derivatives…” Steven pinched my ass as I brushed by him.

I suppressed a squeak and glowered at him. A good pinch was always fun, but not when I had to stay in silent mode. Well, two could play that game. Sliding off the bed, I gave my man a full-frontal view of my nakedness. The amusement in his eyes disappeared. Hunger filled them instead as they darkened to a forest green.

I knew what drove him wild. Actually, everything about me seemed to cause Stevie to swell with delight, but this one move always drove both Stevie and Steven wild.

As if he could read my mind, a warning look crossed his face, and he mouthed:Don’t do it.

Giving him an innocent look, I trailed my fingers over my breasts.

I received another silent warning:Stop!

My fingers found their way to my nipples.

His head shook from side to side:No!

Then came my signature move. My hands cupped my breasts and squeezed. Stevie twitched, and Steven closed his eyes tight. “What did you say? Please repeat that, Mr. Ruthers.”

The most disciplined man I had ever met was struggling with his concentration. Because of me.

I never imagined I could be an aphrodisiac for anyone, let alone a sexy, high-powered billionaire who could have any woman he wanted.

He might be about fifty in age, but the workouts and healthy eating gave him the stamina of a twenty-five-year-old.

Satisfied with my revenge, I sauntered away. My feet reached the heated marble floor of the luxurious bathroom, but the heat wasn’t needed. I was always running on extra hot when I was around my man.

I jumped in the shower and turned a bunch of knobs. I still couldn’t remember which knob did what, so I opted for all of them. A warm waterfall cascaded down my head and back, and side jets massaged my body. Sade’s greatest hits played on the built-in speakers, ambient lights glimmered in the mist, and thepièce de résistance, foot massage jets pulsed under my feet.

Ahhh…

Once I had lathered up my hair, Steven walked into the bathroom and swung open the shower door.

“May I join you, gorgeous?”

Instead of answering with words, I beckoned him with my finger.

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