Page 19 of Billionaire's Fake Plus One

He steps back so Lucien can place the keycard against the black panel beside the door. It blinks green, and the doors swing open.There are automatic wooden doors now?Color me amazed.

We enter a spacious living area with the same pristine walls and floors as the rest of the lodge; muted tones and lush carpets cover the space. But the deep green couches with gold trimmings artfully arranged in front of a round glass coffee table make the room much more elegant.

There’s a kitchenette off to the side with small stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and a top of the line espresso machine. There’s also a small dining area set for three. I turn around slowly to take everything in. Three locked wooden doors are not as thick as the entrance doors, boosting my confidence that there’s at least two bedrooms in this suite.

A large smart TV hangs on the wall in front of the couches alongside a framed photograph of an amazing beach sunset. “Was this picture taken in Half Moon Bay?” I ask, stepping closer to get a better look.

“It certainly was,” Evans informs me proudly. “Right on the beach.” He points out the arched window next to one locked door. I rush to it in anticipation. There’s a small balcony, so that’s where the door must lead to. I try it, and it opens softly. I gasp as I step out, taking in the stunning view.

Luscious colors burst from the garden not far from the back of the building. At my far right is a lush green field as far as the eye can see – a golf course. I glance back at the garden and see that beyond it, past a small cliff, is the sparkling sea. The picture does not do it justice. I sigh, then reluctantly walk back inside. When we go back home, I certainly need to explore the beaches more.

Evans opens the second door, and my jaw drops when I see it leads to an office/library. My ears pop, and the edges of my vision go hazy. I’m unable to appreciate the beauty of the room and the bountiful books – who even puts a library in a hotel room? What if the guests take a few in their luggage when they go home? Wait, this is a lodge for the very uppermost class - they can buy their own damn books.You’re getting off track Willow!I shake my head slowly. If this isn’t a bedroom, does that mean there's only one room!?

I back out of the office and yank the last door open to reveal a massive bedroom. It boasts a four-poster king size bed draped in luxurious Belgian flax linens…and two closed doors! I rush inside and pull open the first door. It leads to a spacious walk-in closet. That means the last door is the bathroom?No.My steps are slow as I move towards the door. Sure enough, it’s the bathroom. Shit, what’s the point of having a suite if it only has one bedroom?

“Problem?” Lucien asks, walking into the bedroom behind me. I turn to him, my face etched in horror, then I glance behind him to see Evans hovering at the edge of the doorway, watching us. Lucien follows my gaze. “You’re still here?” he asks rudely, and Evans jumps back.

“Dinner will be served in an hour. And there’s an itinerary for the week’s events in the library,” he stammers, then scurries out.

“There is in fact a problem, Lucien. There’s a very big problem.” I announce as dramatically as I can as soon as Evans is gone. Lucien crosses his arms and stares at me silently.

“There’s only one bedroom!” I whisper-yell.

“Zane booked the suite, so that’s to be expected,” he says softly.

“Well,Ididn’t expect it! Why even book a suite if it only has one room?”

“He thinks you’re actually my girlfriend,” he points out. “No couple traveling together uses separate bedrooms, so he must’ve thought it was pointless.”

He’s right. Of course, he’s right. But I’m in full blown panic mode, and logic isn’t really a thing I care about at the moment. I move past him to the living area and stare forlornly at the two loveseats.They couldn’t even add a three-seater couch?

“I’ll sleep out here. I’ll take the couch,” I offer, dropping my head in defeat.

“No,” Lucien grits out behind me. His tone indicates he’s done with this discussion.

“What do you mean, no? We can’t sleep in the same bed. We aren’t actually dating, Lucien.” What if I roll into him in my sleep? What if I snore? What ifhesnores?! What if-

“This conversation is over, Willow. If you don’t want to sleep in the same bed with me, that’s fine. I’ll take the couch.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You won’t fit.” I look at the couch, then glance at him, staring from head to toe pointedly. The couch will be cramped for me, and I’m 5’3. He’s well over six feet tall. No way is that going to work.

“If you sleep on that couch, Willow, I’m just going to carry you to the bed as soon as you’re asleep. Is that what you secretly want?”

I blanch, although my pulse races at the thought of his arms around me. “What? No.” I take in a deep breath. “This is crazy. The bed is big enough for the both of us, anyway. No one needs to contort their body to fit on the couch.” That wouldn’t be sustainable for a week anyway. I’m just going to have to figure out a way to sleep beside him without letting our obvious attraction make us do something we’ll both regret.

14

LUCIEN

True to Evans’ words, dinner is served exactly an hour after we check in. Ever since she discovered the suite has only one bedroom, and therefore, one bed, Willow has been fidgeting and chewing her lips, nervously. Does the thought of sharing a bed with me bother her that much? I watch her discreetly as we eat.

I can’t lie. I’m perversely looking forward to sleeping next to her, which should set off several alarm bells in my head. I don’t do sleepovers, but I’m strangely not bothered. She drops her fork to pick up her glass of wine and gulps it in its entirety.

An unfamiliar warmth stirs in my chest, and I feel my lips tilt up in a small smile. “I really don’t mind taking the couch,” I tell her. No matter how much I want to feel her curves against me and hear her sigh in her sleep, I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. She’s already holding a grudge against me because I didn’t tell her earlier that it’s Zane’s wedding. This way, I still get to see what she sleeps in… I hope. Maybe a silk nightgown that shows off her sculpted legs or an oversized t-shirt and panties? Fuck, even if she isn’t sleeping within my reach, I know the thought of her in either of them will be keeping my dick hard half the night.

She swallows the last of her wine and refills her glass. “No, it’s fine,” she says and gives me a flitting smile.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s fine. That’s your fourth glass tonight. I might not know you all that well, but even I know that's a sign of either nervousness or discomfort.” She hasn’t eaten from her plate, and the way she’s chugging that wine, she’s well on her way to getting drunk.

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