Page 17 of Hidden Heir With His Housekeeper

She stared at her hands, the knuckles whitening as she clutched the sheet.

She’d never felt more powerless in her life. And that was saying quite a lot, considering she’d been under her father’s thumb for most of it.

She shrugged, but the movement felt brittle and stiff. ‘I guess with you I felt safe.’

Which sounded ludicrous when she said it out loud. But he didn’t laugh at her, which was something.

‘And really turned on,’ she continued.

If she was going to tell him the truth she might as well tell him the whole truth, even if the blush rising up her neck was liable to set fire to her cheeks any second. ‘There’s a reason they called me the Ice Queen. And that’s the reason, right there.’

His frown became a fissure. ‘I don’t get it—what reason?’

‘I’m basically frigid.’ She pushed the words out.

But, instead of agreeing with her, his dark brows rose, and then he laughed. ‘Hell, Beatrice, I don’t know who told you that...or whotheyare...’ His gaze skated over her, making her skin prickle. ‘But they’re wrong. I’ve never met anyone hotter or more responsive.’

‘Really?’ she said, stupidly pleased with his verdict, even though it made her look like even more of a fool.

He cupped her cheek, clasped her neck to pull her towards him, then dropped his forehead to hers. She could hear him breathing. Feel the tension in him rising as her own body melted in response. That delicious, provocative, exciting tension which they’d released together so spectacularly less than ten minutes ago.

‘Yeah, really,’ he muttered, then he kissed her.

The kiss was gentle but also possessive. Her heart thundered, the relief making her light-headed.

Whatever had just happened, he didn’t despise her and he wasn’t angry with her...

He broke off the kiss, but his thumb continued to stroke the pulse hammering against her collarbone, making her aware of the heat pooling between her thighs, but also the discomfort.

‘I’m honoured that you chose me,’ he said, surprising her not just with the blunt statement, but also the way it made the ache in her ribs increase. ‘Would you like to stay tonight?’

She nodded because she was finding it hard to speak.

She was unbearably touched by his candid admission, especially as she suspected he wasn’t a man who revealed his feelings easily. Or would admit to being honoured very often.

‘Do you want to grab a shower?’ he asked.

She nodded again. He found a robe in the wardrobe, which dwarfed her when she put it on. But she was grateful for the chance to cover her nakedness, feeling self-conscious again as she darted into the bathroom.

She took her time—trying not to think about the way her heart was all but choking her.

His reaction wasn’t what she’d expected. At all. He’d been perceptive and understanding when she had expected him to be appalled—making her glad she’d chosen to trust him with her first time.

When she returned to the bedroom he was stretched out on the bed, looking hot and delicious and... Her gaze snagged on the pronounced ridge in his boxer shorts.Dangerous.

‘I’m not sure I can do it again tonight,’ she admitted, even as the heat surged. ‘I’m a bit sore.’

He chuckled, the rough sound alluring.

‘Don’t worry. We’re gonna have to take a rain-check anyway because we have a situation with the condoms. How about I just hold you? You might want to grab a T-shirt from the dresser, though, to stop me getting any ideas.’

‘I’d like that.’ She grinned, his thoughtfulness making the emotion swell again.

After finding an oversized T-shirt which covered all the essential bits, she climbed onto the bed and he tugged her into his arms. Her body relaxed into the warmth of his and she inhaled the delicious scent of pine soap. But then her mind snagged on something he’d said.

‘What’s the situation with the condoms?’

His fingers, which were stroking her arm and setting off all kinds of interesting sensations, stopped. He cleared his throat. And she glanced round to find him staring at her.

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