Filthy Beautiful Lust(26)

       
           



       

He's fully dressed, and I peer around him into the bedroom  –  which  appears to be empty. The copy of Goodnight Moon is still sitting on his  nightstand. I feel heartbroken just looking at it. I'll never be able to  read it again without thinking of him and all that I lost.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"Where is she?"

"Who?" he says.

"I heard a woman, Pace. Don't try and deny it."

His expression turns from confused to angry, his mouth drawing into a  firm line. "You just refuse to see the real me, is that it? You're so  utterly convinced I'm still that irresponsible guy on the prowl that you  refuse to believe I might be looking for something real."

"Pace, I heard her," I say, standing my ground, even though his words  have pierced the very center of me. He doesn't respond so I storm past  him, and look around the room, searching out the bathroom and his large  walk-in closet as well. The room is empty. Well, that's not entirely  true, because upon hearing our voices, Max has wandered in and is now in  Pace's arms.

Pace grabs the remote control from the bed and presses a button. The TV screen comes to life, displaying a man and a woman.

"I was watching a movie," he says.

When the woman laughs, I realize that is the sound I heard.

My relief is instant, and sobering. "I'm sorry," I say.

"For not believing in me or for leaving?" he asks.

"For everything." I sink down onto the edge of his bed, my heart feeling  heavy. The adrenaline surge I felt just moments ago, thinking I was  about to discover him in a sordid act, makes my pulse plummet. I feel  drained. "I was scared, Pace. Scared of feeling something real for you.  Scared you couldn't possibly return those feelings."

"This is as real as it gets, angel," he says.

"I know that now."

"So what happened with you and Elan?" he asks, his voice guarded.

"If Elan wants a relationship with Max, I won't keep him from that. But I  have no interest in him, not romantically, anyway." I glance up at  Pace, unsure of what he's thinking. He's never normally so guarded. "If  you'll still have me … " I start.

Pace steps closer and reaches for my hand. I place my palm against his  and he pulls me up so I'm standing before him. "I'm keeping you for  always. I thought I told you that."

He leans in, and with Max still in his arms, he kisses me right on the  mouth. I kiss him back, my heart thumping wildly. I'm sure he  understands that he's the first man I've let kiss me in front of my son.

"You're stubborn as hell, you know that, right?" Pace asks, pulling back with a smile hot enough to singe.

"What makes you say that?"

"You fought my every advance. I've never worked this hard in my damn life."

I laugh softly. "I did put up one hell of a fight, but you're a hard man to resist," I admit.

"Did something happen this morning? Did Elan do something to change your mind?"

"No. It was all the things he didn't do. He doesn't connect with Max  like you do. He doesn't make me feel safe and secure. And he certainly  doesn't make me feel out of control with desire."

"Out of control?" he asks, his voice dropping lower. "Last night was … incredible," he admits, planting a kiss on my forehead.

"Yes, it was," I agree. I'd never felt so deeply connected to a man when  he was inside of me like I did with Pace. Sex was just sex, but with  him, it was something else entirely. It was so much more. I could lose  control and let go, something I rarely did in my day-to-day life. The  sensation was freeing.

I had no idea what would happen next, and as it turned out, Pace proved to be anything but an ordinary boyfriend.





Chapter Fourteen


Kylie





It feels so good to finally have my arm out of the cast. I stretch my  arms leisurely above my head, wincing at the small ache when I bend my  elbow. I study myself in the full length mirror in my bedroom, and  smooth my black sleeveless dress over my hips. My poor arm looks pale  and scrawny. I add several long layering necklaces, hoping the bling  will draw the attention away from my arm. I have no idea what we're  doing tonight. Pace said to be ready at six o'clock, and when I'd asked  about Max, he just smiled and said he had everything covered. I wasn't  sure what his vague answer meant, so I'd probed my nanny for details.  I'd asked if she was staying late tonight and watching him, she'd merely  smiled and said that she'd been sworn to secrecy. Then she added that I  shouldn't worry, and yes, she was taking care of Max tonight.

I hadn't been on a proper date in forever, and Pace and I had never  actually been on a real date, sans baby, since we started dating six  weeks ago. I was almost giddy at the thought of being alone with him. I  hoped I could control myself long enough at a restaurant, because I was  majorly looking forward to being alone with him. Alone, alone.                       
       
           



       

Glancing at the clock, I see it's just now six, so I step into my black  heels and grab my miniature handbag. Carrying this thing is a treat  –   normally my extra-large purse also housed pacifiers, diapers and baby  toys.

I hear voices from the living room and when I enter, Pace is standing  talking to my nanny, Lynn. They both fall silent as I enter the room.

"What's with all the secrecy?" I ask, grinning at my adorably sexy boyfriend.

He treats me to a crooked grin and drags his eyes down my body. "You look stunning."

"Thank you," I murmur, my cheeks suddenly heating. I take a moment to  admire him as well. Pace is dressed smartly in tailored black pants, and  a white dress shirt with a black tie knotted loosely at his neck. His  shirtsleeves are rolled up several times, exposing strong, tanned  forearms. He looks delicious. Good enough to eat. And suddenly, I'm  starving, but it's not for dinner.

"We better get going, we've got a schedule to maintain," Pace says.

I nod, then turn to Lynn, who is holding Max on her hip. "Are you sure  you guys will be okay? I have a leftover chicken casserole in the fridge  for dinner, and … "

She stops me with a dismissive wave of her hand. "We will be just fine, Kylie. You deserve a night out. Enjoy it."

I nod. Lynn is amazing, and Max loves spending time with her. I know I have nothing to worry about. "Thank you."

Pace offers me his arm and he leads me outside, where there is a black  stretch limousine waiting for us at the curb. A slow smile uncurls on my  mouth. "Well, this is unexpected," I say.

"We're going to have fun tonight," he says, fighting off a grin of his own.

I know Pace is wealthy, but he doesn't throw his money around or live an  extravagant lifestyle, which makes this little treat so much more  enjoyable. The limo driver opens the car door for us and Pace gestures  for me to get in first. I slid across the black leather seat, my eyes  wandering around the dim interior of the car. There's soft jazz music  playing, and a bottle of champagne chilling on ice. He's pulled out all  the stops. The date hasn't even begun yet, and I'm already in love with  it.

Pace slides in beside me, and I note the soft scent of aftershave  permeating the air around him. I picture him taking extra care in  getting ready, and I like it. I can't help my eyes falling to his lap,  wondering if he's gone commando tonight like he so often does, or if  I'll find boxers underneath and be able to unwrap him like a present …

"My eyes are up here, angel," Pace reminds me with a playful smirk.

I grin back at him, unable to help the bubble of laughter that escapes  me. "Sorry. I guess I'm just excited to be alone  –  just us."

"Me too. But you don't have to strip me naked and ride me in the limo, we have the whole night ahead of us."

While I lean back against the seat, feeling blissfully happy, Pace pops  the cork on the champagne and pours us each a glass. I take a sip of the  bubbly drink and make a little contented sound. Pace's eyes dance on  mine as he takes a drink of his own. Then he presses his lips to mine.  It's an innocent kiss  –  he's nuzzling into me and lightly kissing my  mouth  –  but the promise of hot, wild sex later tonight hangs in the air  between us.

"When are we going to have the discussion?" he asks, pulling back from his kisses.

"What discussion?" I ask.

He lifts one dark eyebrow and smirks at me. "About our living arrangements."

Oh. That one. We've had this argument probably ten times already, but  couldn't seem to figure out where we were going to live, and what to do  with each of our places. Pace wanted Max and I to move into his condo as  soon as possible  –  yesterday preferably, but I was hanging on to my  home. It was all Max knew. My office was already set up there, and I had  a small backyard where Max could play. Besides, Pace's condo wasn't  exactly baby-friendly.