Power and Possession(55)
“Are we done talking about this?”
“Pretty much.”
“Sorry, I always forget. Men never want to talk after sex.”
He smiled. “Does that ever stop you?”
“Depends if there’s something better to do.”
“A shower good enough?”
“And?”
He did a quick double take. “Jesus, babe, you’re driving me hard.”
“Sorry.” She tried to look contrite.
He grinned. “You’re a shitty actress. And I’m just screwing with you anyway. Drive me as hard as you fucking want. I can’t get enough. Ready to check out my shower?”
“You have some special plumbing?”
His smile was contagious. “Something like that.” He held out his hand. “Come see.”
He’d just taken her hand to help her off the bed when his phone rang. “Let it go,” he said, as she glanced toward the bedside table.
“I thought you turned it off.”
“I did for a while.”
“But you can’t for long.” She’d seen Dominic on call twenty-four/seven; she understood.
“Not really. But whoever’s calling can live without me for a few hours.”
But they’d not taken more than a few steps toward the dressing room when the phone on the desk rang.
She nodded toward the desk. “Whoever it is knows you’re here.”
He grimaced, came to a stop, then dropped her hand. “Give me a second.”
Walking over to the desk, Rafe checked the caller ID, then picked up the receiver. “I haven’t forgotten,” he said gruffly. “I’ll be there later.” Pausing to listen, he glanced at a small clock on the desktop. “I thought he wasn’t coming until next week.” A small frown creased his brow at the answer. “Okay, give me a half hour.” His frown deepened; he shook his head. “I don’t care if he’s antsy. Give him some Cristal to relax. Shit—well, try to keep the blow to a minimum. The best I can do is a half hour. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Do what you can. Ciao.” He slammed the receiver down.
“Are you going somewhere?”
“We’re going somewhere. I’ll explain on the way. Let me call Simon and have the car brought up. Then we just have time to shower. We’ll have to save our play date for some other time.”
“It sounded like trouble.”
“Hopefully not.” He reached the bed and lifted her in his arms. “But my friend Ganz shows up when hackers are in the wings,” he said, moving toward his dressing room. “So perhaps minor trouble.”
“Don’t let me get in the way.”
He grinned. “Sometimes you can be so fucking polite. Mom taught you well?”
“You wouldn’t believe. But I heard you on the phone, so any time just say the word, I can sit and wait until the storm rolls past.”
“You can sit and wait with me. Just a nod, tiger. No argument. I have enough shit going on.”
She grinned. “Yes, sir. Be happy to, sir.”
“Fucking A.” He dropped a quick kiss on her nose. “You’re finally learning.”
Chapter 15
“I’m going to shower in the other bathroom,” Rafe said as they walked into his dressing room. “Otherwise, we’ll be here all night. And this guy is unpredictable.” Setting her on her feet, he dipped his head. “You need one of the staff to help you dress or anything?”
She smiled. “I don’t live in a palace. I know how to dress myself.”
“A half hour’s a real pain”—he sighed—“but if you don’t mind.”
“No problem. Want me to meet you downstairs?”
“Fuck yes. Christ, you are perfect.” He didn’t say that most women he’d been with took a half hour to put on their lipstick.
“Yes, yes, I am,” she said with a playful grin. “Five bucks says I’m first downstairs too.”
“Let’s make it worthwhile. First one downstairs gets to name their pleasure when we come home.”
She spun around, waved over her shoulder and walked into Rafe’s huge white marble bathroom that had, on first sight, made her question his avowal that he’d never had women at the carriage house. The room was palace-style luxurious and large enough for an orgy. French doors opened onto a balcony that overlooked the sea, a long countertop with three hand-painted sinks—zebras again—ran along one mirrored wall, a separate room held a toilet and bidet, and the mosaic tub was large enough to swim in, while the shower would accommodate at least ten people with rows of shower heads lining the ceiling and walls and several mounted shower wands.