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“Yeah…that.” His smile faded.

  Egypt sighed. She had to open her big mouth and put a damper on things. They’d been doing nothing but interviews since the wedding. Everyone wanted to know about the happy couple and it was wearing on them.

  He gave her a kiss and mouthed, “I love you,” before opening back up his office door and heading out.

  Egypt glanced looked at the mirror on his back wall. Did he just say what she thought he said? “I love you?” When did that happen? Every ounce of her being knew that’s how she felt but Christian? When did happen for her and how in the world could he just drop the bomb on her and walk out?

  She let out a sigh and checked her hair. Every strand was still in place. She proceeded out the door herself. What in the world had she gotten herself into? She was supposed to take the money and run at the end of the contract. Now she didn’t care about the money and hoped in the end he’d want her to stick around.

  *****

  Christian drove across town to his meeting. All the while his thoughts were on the small woman who’d walked into his life and consumed him. When did love come into the picture? It had snuck up on him like a thief in the night and when he said it he knew he meant it and didn’t care if she knew it too. But, fear kicked in and he ran out before daring to see the look on her face.

  His mind drifted to the last woman he said, “I love you” to, Natasha. It amazed him at how he could love both women in different ways. The love for Natasha had to do with being comfortable. She represented everything he was used to…who society dictated he be with. Society provided him with a woman who cared more for all the comforts he provided than him.

  After moving her in the romance dissipated. She’d rather be shopping than caring for his needs. After he put her out his mind went to focusing on the business and that’s it. Building his hotel empire left no room for women, especially money hungry ones.

  Then in walked Egypt. She was the solution to his problems but more so the mending to his badly damaged heart. On every given moment she wanted nothing more than to spend time with him. Outside of almost running out his life after the TMZ debacle she’d put a smile on his face since the moment they tied the knot.

  He pulled up in front of the W hotel. Business needed to be handled at that moment, but later he’d make sure he showed Egypt just how much he loved her.

  Chapter Eleven

  Gridlocked traffic slowed the ride, but Egypt still managed to make it home with enough time to change for their date. Christian was going out of town the next day and she’d didn’t want to risk missing a moment with him before he left. The whole date thing was his idea and while he left work early to pack she still had to finish up a few things.

  She didn’t plan on being in the house long so she parked in the driveway and entered through the front door. A small Pomeranian nipped at her heels when she stepped in the foyer. The dog was purchased at Christian’s insistence a few days prior. With him being out of town he didn’t want her alone. Egypt reached down and rubbed the dog’s head. The aroma of food cooking greeted her and stopped her from entertaining their new pet.

  What was Anna, their housekeeper still doing there? Egypt had given her the day off because they’d be gone for the evening.

  She walked further into the living room and spotted lit candles in the dining room next to it.

  She stood there, staring at the set table they hadn’t used since she moved in the estate. They ate in the kitchen, in their offices, or in the living room, but the dining room had become a part of the décor. The white burning flames pulled her into a trance and into the room.

  Moving closer, she caught sight of a bucket of ice with wine in it as the center piece instead of the vase with fresh flowers Anna managed to provide. Clanking to her left drew her attention back to the kitchen and the delicious smell of food.

  “Christian?” The food smelled so good she wasn’t sure who to expect.

  “Get settled and have a seat, love,” he replied from the other room. “And no, you can’t come in the kitchen.”

  She paused a moment. This was another thing she had yet to experience with him. Who knew he even used the stove? She rushed upstairs and did a quick wash-up. Though she’d sat in an office all day and took a shower in the morning, it was his routine to wash again when she came home. She slipped into a summer dress though it was far from summer outside. It was spring and the high so far had been seventy-two degrees, but she wanted to be comfortable.

  When she made her way downstairs, a smiling Christian stood in the living room, his arms held out wide. “Welcome to date night.”

  He pulled out a chair for Egypt, and she took a seat. After picking up the wine glass from the setting in front of her, Christian poured her a glass of the white liquid. He handed it to her, kissed her neck, and headed back to the kitchen. A few minutes later, he returned with a covered dish. “For you, love.” He removed the top.

  She smiled at how thick he turned on the charm before glancing at the dish. Her stomach growled at the pan-seared scallops with pesto and tomatoes. “When… How?”

  “Anna showed me. She made it her mission to teach me how to cook just in case she was sick or wanted to take a vacation day. In her words, microwave meals are not a proper dish for a man.”

  She beamed at him and the meal. Egypt took her fingers and grabbed his collar. She pulled him close and landed a big kiss on his lips. “I’m impressed.”

  He smiled at her and headed back into the kitchen. This time, he returned with his own plate of food. After taking a seat, he grabbed her hand. “Thank you for giving us a try.”

  With a million dollars on the table, who wouldn’t? She thought but her heart knew better, she would. The lopsided grin he gave her was a contrast to his square jawline but served to enhance the draw she had to him. She loved him more than any man before him. The money had nothing to do with it.

  She looked into his eyes, hoping he could see all the love she had for him reflected through hers. He was her soul mate. She felt it the moment she stepped into his office. Somewhere along the lines before him, love had gotten filed on the shelf with work, bills, and life. Once taken down and dusted off, it sparked and fired up just like new when she first laid eyes on Christian.

  His smile widened. “I love you too. Now, please take a bite of your food before it gets cold.”

  Egypt picked up her fork and selected a piece. She took a bite, and the flavors melted on her tongue. “You’ve been practicing. There is no way you got it this perfect on the first try.”

  He winked at her and continued chewing on his own meal. She smiled back at him, took another bite, and washed it down with a swallow of wine. They made small talk until they were stuffed. She tried taking her plate into the kitchen, but Christian stopped her.

  “Let me. Enjoy your drink.” He refilled the glass and whisked her plate away.

  She took a long swallow and held the glass. Her body relaxed in the chair. It felt great to come home to a meal prepared with love instead of by another woman. A sultry jazz tune played in the background, and she turned her attention to the living room. Christian bent over and fiddled with buttons on his tablet.

  As if sensing her watching, he stood and looked in her direction. “Join me.”

  She placed her glass down on the table and made her way over to him. He wrapped her in his arms and held her tight. His embraced provided all the security she ever needed. No other man had ever made her feel as he did. It was if her spirit were tethered to his.

  “Dance with me,” his voice was deep and seductive.

  From conversations she knew Christian hated slow dancing. He wanted to be closer to her. She enjoyed the way he went about it. Egypt wrapped herself in his outstretched arms and took in the spicy scent of his cologne. The smell brought back memories of their first time making love. He’d worn the same cologne as was just as gentle that night as he held her in his arms now. She couldn’t ask for a kinder, more caring partner.

  The m
usic filled the room and she rested her head on his chest, listening to the rhythm of his strong heartbeat.

  “Egypt.”

  She glanced into the depth of his eyes and saw passion. The candlelight flickered, reflecting off them. The many shades of green hues did a seductive dance.

  His brow knitted as he gazed down at her. “I don’t care about the contract we signed. You’re my heart. I don’t want to ever let you go.” His lips covered hers, and an electric current shot down the back of her neck and to the crease of her thighs.

  Christian intensified the kiss and slowly walked her to the couch. He reached down to the hymn of her dress. Egypt’s breath caught in her throat as he removed the clothing and tossed it to the floor. His hand went between her thighs, grazing the silkiness of her underwear.

  “You have on too many clothes,” she whispered against his ear before running her tongue down his neck.

  He moaned as she continued to nibble at his neck. His fingers moved under the loose fitting shirt he had on. She needed to feel his skin against hers.

  “Give me a minute and I’ll take care of that for you.”

  Christian grasped both her hands in one of his. She attempted to pull them free but he wasn’t having any of it. “Let’s go upstairs where we’ll be more comfortable.”

  He didn’t give her a chance to object just set the alarm and pulled her up the stairs behind him. This was a side of him Egypt hadn't seen before—the dominant side. The side that let her know beyond a shadow of a doubt he was the man and he was in control and it turned her on.

  As soon as they stepped foot inside her bedroom he turned and speared her with a look so hot she almost came right there. “Now I believe you were saying I had on too many clothes.”

  She stood there, mesmerized as he slowly stripped off each piece of clothing until he stood in front of her naked. Her eyes roved slowly over his tall lean frame and he stood still allowing her to look her fill. Confidence oozed off of him in waves.

  Egypt moved closer to him, allowing her own nakedness to match his. Christian gave a quick intake of breath and his eye lit up letting her know he liked what he saw. She walked a little straighter, her breasts thrust forward. Her nipples were pebble hard and ached to be touched. Stopping with only centimeters between them she said, “I need you.”

  “You have me,” he whispered back before swooping down and taking her mouth in his.

  A few moments later he came up for air. “I can’t be another moment without you.”

  “I don’t think you need to.” She kissed her way down his chest, allowing her tongue to graze over the ridges of his muscles.

  “In that case.” He lifted her from the ground.

  “What are you doing? Put me down.”

  With little to no effort he walked with her to the bed and laid her gently down on her back.

  “I’m taking you to bed so I can make love to you. That is why you chose that skimpy dress right?”

  Egypt paused before answering. Maybe she was just reading too much into it. Besides he was correct. That is why she put on the dress. She’d wanted him to want her as bad as she wanted him. “Yes.”

  He placed a knee between her legs and motioned them apart. In the next breath Christian was entering her and all thoughts except the pleasure moving over her was gone. They finished the evening with one of their better love making sessions.

  Hours later Egypt lay with her head resting on Christian's hairless chest. They’d just finished another round and she was drained. She didn’t want to think about what time it was. Tomorrow morning would come too soon, bringing with it another full day of... Slowly the smile she wore faded. It would usher in days of being without him.

  Chapter Twelve

  Christian rubbed his fingers through his hair. This week had been a hectic one. He had a new hotel opening up in a few days and a final meeting in New York to close another. The last time he had to be away from Egypt he’d nearly lost his mind trying to sleep without her touch. Now as soon as they get finished with the opening he’d be on the road again.

  He smiled at the vision of her lying in bed that morning, thankful she hadn’t gone back to the spare room. Each day he woke up with her was a blessing. His world was now complete. Well, unless they decided to have a child. What would a mixture of the both of them look like? If it were a girl would her hair be curly like her mother’s? The thought popped into his mind just after the first time they had sex, and he’d forgotten all about a condom.

  His nerves were settled when he found out Egypt received a shot every three months for birth control. One thing for sure he enjoyed the feel of her with no barrier and the process of making love. His mind drifted to that morning.

  Egypt gave him a seductive smile and tossed the covers off her, showing her soft curves to him. She walked across the room and joined him as soon as he walked out the bathroom. She undid his slacks and pushed them down his legs. He sent up a silent prayer for control as she stroked his hardened dick through the material of his boxers. She took special care in pushing them down to meet his slacks. Her hot breath next to his dick had him crowding against the bathroom door with his eyes squeezed tight.

  “Darling you know I have to head in to work early.”

  She mumbled her response of, “Mm hm.” Her hands didn’t move from their target.

  “If you keep touching me I won’t last.” Embarrassment washed over him, as he knew he was about to explode and she’d just barely touched him.

  “Look at me,” she whispered.

  He opened his eyes and looked at Egypt as she’d requested. The soft expression she wore was almost his undoing.

  “Just lean back, relax and remember to breathe.” Her hand continued stroking up and down the length of him.

  She moved down his body until he felt her warm breath against his dick. At the first lick of her hot tongue he wanted to bang his head against the door. Prayers went up to every saint he’d ever heard his mother mention from his childhood. When her hot mouth wrapped around the head of his dick, his fists clenched at his sides and pleasure shot through him.

  “Egypt,” he breathed.

  Up and down along the length of him she moved. She took her time loving him with slow, gentle strokes. No hands just her mouth moving from base to tip. Just as he thought he was about to lose it and succumb to the pleasure moving through him, the ache in his dick began to ease bit by bit. He still felt the need to release in the tightening in his lower belly but he no longer felt the out of control pounding he had earlier. Finally able to enjoy the love she lavished upon him, he buried his fingers in her hair.

  “How’d you do that?” he asked looking down at the top of her head.

  Egypt raised her gaze to meet his, her mouth still full of his wide shaft. She winked at him and tightened her grip. Faster she began to move and her hand joined in the motion. His body tightened once again in preparation for his orgasm.

  “Oh God I can’t hold on.”

  Both hands gripped the back of her head to keep her in place. The head of his dick slid down the back of her throat and it was too much for him to hold on any longer. First instinct told him to pull back only he couldn’t. The firm hand she held at the base of his dick wouldn’t allow it. He leaned back, eyes closed, braced against the door and allowed wave after wave of pleasure to wash over him.

  Egypt gave the head of his dick one final swipe of her tongue before rising up the length of his body.

  “Better?” she asked with a sexy grin on her face.

  Christian pushed himself away from the door and stepped out of his boxers and pants. He tugged his t-shirt over his head and threw it to the floor before pulling her into his arms.

  “Not quite,” he said leaning down, his mouth close to hers.

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m suddenly very hungry for the taste of your pussy.”

  His body crowded against hers, moving her backwards until her heels met the bottom of the recliner. He motione
d for her to have a seat and helped her down with a gentle push. He nudged her knees apart as he kneeled down between them.

  “This has got to be the best meal in town,” he said before losing himself between her legs.

  Another half hour passed before he found himself back in the shower and on his way to work. Even now he found it hard to focus. What in the world was this woman doing to him? Whatever it was he needed to get it together and finish reviewing the business plan.

  He glanced at the file, paying special attention to the projected revenue for the first ninety days of opening. There was no need to think the hotel wouldn’t fair as well as his others, but he was cautious nonetheless.

  The ringing of his office phone pulled him from the 3D chart he updated for the third time.

  His lips curled upright at Egypt’s name on the display.

  “Good afternoon,” he answered.

  “Hey there handsome.”

  “You better watch out. I’m married and my wife is extremely jealous,” he joked.

  “Since when?” She laughed. “How’s it going?”

  “I’m working through it. How’s it going with you?” He rested his eyes by closing them while leaning back in the chair.

  A sigh came across the line. “I’m almost there.”

  “I think it’s great you are spending time with your family. I hope to one day meet them.” Christian wondered on the rushing of their marriage. He’d only cared about his own needs and wants and not those of Egypt’s when he put the offer out there. Now, he realized he’d put her in an awkward situation. She didn’t have time to prepare them and was now playing catch up.

  Egypt had been tight lipped on her cousin but he respected her wishes. He understood that not everyone came from a stable household.

  “Be careful what you wish for.” She laughed but he sensed a serious undertone. “I just wanted to hear your voice before I walked the plank.”

  “Wow, that’s a bit much.” Maybe he’d pushed the family thing too far. Was she really that nervous? He started to tell her it was okay and not to go through with it.