“I…it’s…you agreed to it.” Pitiful excuse.
“I know. How stupid of me.”
The smoke-filled depth of his eyes drew her in, hypnotizing her senses, rushing over her like a wildfire out of control.
If his lips drew any closer they’d touch hers. Faith was sure she’d die if they did. She was already losing control, inhaling his scent with rapid breaths, his hands burning against the silk of her gown, drawing her ever nearer to the heat of his lips.
Then just as suddenly as it started, the storming inferno was over.
Ryan stepped back, his lips parted as the hint of a smile crossed his features.
“Tomorrow, you move into my bedroom. Goodnight, Faith.”
He turned around and walked out, closing the door behind him.
Faith stood in the middle of the room, wondering what had just happened. Her breathing still hadn’t returned to normal. The rhythm of her heart continued to pound its staccato beat. She still felt him, smelled him, all but tasted him on her lips as the memory of his thumb against her mouth singed her skin.
Despite her thoughts about needing to wait, wanting to wait, she had been ready to leap into her husband’s arms.
She thought she had more self-control than that. It was obvious her inexperience was no match for the powerful charm of Ryan McKay. She’d have to be extra careful over the next couple months and try to keep her distance from him. Too much of his overpowering sexuality and she’d self combust. Clearly, she was not ready at all for an intimate encounter with Ryan.
Two months wasn’t nearly long enough.
And yet, two months was a very long time.
Ryan was irritated as hell as he pondered the papers he’d been reading when Faith had knocked at the door.
What had he been thinking? He hadn’t intended to stay in her room and eat. And he sure hadn’t intended to seduce her. Although it certainly seemed like she had been willing. And his main goal was to get her pregnant.
So why had he stopped? He’d had her, literally, ready to fall into bed with him. Her pupils dilated at his touch and when he pulled her against him her ni**les hardened like tiny pebbles. With a little coaxing on his part, she might have agreed to making love.
God knows he’d been ready. The slightest touch of her skin had him aching. But instead of pressing his advantage, he had walked away.
Now that was a stupid move.
In business, when he saw an opening, he went for the throat. He should have done that with Faith. After all, it was the same as business.
Everything had a goal. His goal with Faith was one, to marry her, which he’d done, and two, to get her pregnant, which he could have had a chance at tonight.
Was it because of her admission of being a virgin? He’d never had a virgin in his life, preferring the ease and comfort of well-experienced women. No attachments that way. He’d have to tread carefully with her.
Which was most likely why he’d backed away tonight. Helluva time to come up with scruples.
Maybe it was stupid, but he had discovered one thing tonight. They had chemistry. Loads of it. Besides gaining lifetime control of McKay Corporation, if nothing else would come of this marriage Ryan was certain some seriously great sex would be a part of it.
He didn’t want for many things, but when he saw something he wanted, he did whatever it took to get it.
And he wanted Faith. Oh, he’d always thought her attractive, and her innocence and vulnerability only added to her allure. As his assistant, he wouldn’t have considered it for a minute. As his wife, now that was different.
Tomorrow she’d move into his bedroom. Into his bed. Then it was only a matter of time. If the way she reacted tonight was any indication, it wouldn’t take two months.
After all, two months was a very long time.
Chapter Four
Faith stretched and yawned, her body warm from the sunlight pouring in the windows next to her bed. For a moment she couldn’t get a grasp around the dream she’d had. But as soon as she managed to open an eye, the realization hit her.
No dream. This was her new reality. She really was Ryan’s wife.
She could lie in the bed all day until she figured out how to deal with the unfamiliarity of it all, or she could embrace the change as a new adventure.
Or possibly a combination of both. She threw off the covers and stepped to the window, admiring the beauty of the grounds outside.
A semi-circle of palm trees waved over the expertly manicured lawn.
Brightly colored flowers and bushes offered a rainbow effect across the area. It really was lovely. She made a mental note to fully tour the house and grounds today and familiarize herself with the layout.
But first she had to get dressed and downstairs. It was already ten, much later than she usually slept. Despite the turmoil of yesterday she had slept like a baby. The bed was soft and comfortable, the sheets the same buttery satin as that of her gown.
She took a shower, dried her hair and bound it in a tight bun at the back of her neck.
But now a dilemma. What was she supposed to wear? Last night there had been nothing but the nightgown in the expansive closet. And she certainly wasn’t leaving her room dressed in that.
Maybe she’d missed something. A pair of jeans or sweats. Anything.
She opened the closet, shocked to find several outfits hanging there.
Neat stacks of lingerie lined the partially opened dressers. Someone must have put clothes in there while she was sleeping. She’d really been dead to the world not to be aware someone had come into her room.
At least she had something to wear. The cream linen pants and matching blouse didn’t fit as loose as her usual clothes, but were still better than traipsing downstairs in a silk nightgown.
The kitchen was empty. She felt a momentary stab of guilt and hoped the staff wouldn’t think she was the type to laze about in bed all day.
A pot of coffee caught her eye and she began a desperate search through the cabinets before finding the cups. She sat at the rectangular glass table and sipped her drink while perusing the outside through the large bay window.
Everything was foreign to her, from the flavored coffee to the view from the kitchen table. This would take some getting used to, but she refused to look on the situation with trepidation. More like a vacation—a really long vacation.
“You’re awake.”
Faith jumped at the sound of James McKay’s voice and whirled around to find Ryan’s cousin standing in the doorway.
James was a year younger than Ryan. They were both tall and wore their hair the same way, short and a little spiky on the top. James was different, though, mainly in attitude. Ryan was all business while James was all play.