Society Girls: Rhieve by Crystal Perkins Page B

fun."
    "We're going to head home now, but you two enjoy yourselves," Calum tells them.
    "We always do," Gwinevir tells him as the saunter away.
    Calum steers me back down the hall and into his office to change, before we go out to the garage again. He doesn't say anything until we're outside the gates. "I don't like you being here alone."
    "I'll be fine."
    "How do I know that?"
    "You need to trust me. I've had training."
    "You haven't finished yet, and we don't know how involved they are with that happened to Rhys."
    "I promise I'll be careful, but I will also do whatever I need to for Rhys."
    "I wish I could be here, but I can't. Things with Chet are too precarious right now."
    "It's fine, Cabe. Really. Take care of your business, and I'll take care of mine."
    "I don't like it."
    "You don't have to."
    "Call or text me every hour, okay?"
    "Deal."
    I'm surprised to see Calum's place out here is an apartment and not a grand manor house. When his family moved to England, I used to picture him as Lord of a manor, complete with rolling hills and sheep. I chuckle as I realize how different his life is.
    "What's so funny?” he asks, opening his door, and letting me walk inside first.
    "It's stupid."
    "Nothing you could ever think or say is stupid, Rhi. Tell me."
    "When we were kids I thought you moving to England meant a country house and you know, things from a Jane Austen novel. It's a little strange to see you living a modern life."
    "I have a polo pony if that makes you feel any better," he tells me with a smile.
    "A little."
    I turn around in a circle, taking in his modern loft. There are high ceilings, enough art to fill a gallery, and modern furniture and appliances. It's so cold and impersonal that I shudder a little.
    "You don't like it."
    "No," I answer honestly. "There's no warmth here."
    "I can light us a fire."
    I nod. "Not exactly what I was talking about, but that would be nice."
    "There are other ways of warming you up, love. Is that what you had in mind?"
    "Seriously? You...again?"
    "What can I say? I'm insatiable with you."
    "I can't say I mind that, except I had been hoping for a bath."
    "Shit. I forgot you've only been fucking limp dicks all this time. You're not used to being loved for more than a few minutes, are you?"
    "No, actually, I am not," I say, laughing because I know that truth is inflating his ego even more. "If you have a tub, and I can soak, I might be up for one more round."
    "Lucky for me, I do indeed have a tub."
    He picks up a remote from a table next to us, and pushes a few buttons. All of a sudden, the floor in the middle of the loft opens up, and a Jacuzzi tub rises from the opening. "Wow."
    "It meets your approval then?" he asks, pushing another button which starts filling the tub with water.
    "Do you have bubbles?"
    "No," he laughs, "that is one thing I can't provide you with. This is definitely a bachelor pad. And in case you're wondering, other than my cleaning lady and my decorator, you're the only woman to step inside the door."
    "Oh shoot," I say, remembering something. "I left my suitcase in the car."
    "I didn't forget.; I was planning on going back out once I got you settled."
    I look at him curiously. "You're really good at taking care of me, Cabe. Thank you."
    He pulls me into my arms, and kisses me softly. "I like taking care of you. Now you better check your water. I'll be back up in a few minutes."
    I pull him back to me, and kiss him again. I voiced my appreciation, but I want him to feel it, too. I wasn't expecting any of this when we made our deal. I expected a cold, mutually beneficial agreement with some sex. I won't lie about looking forward to the sex, but I only hoped for anything more. Since I've been hoping for years, I planned on being disappointed once again. Now that I'm not, I'm going to hold onto Calum until he trusts me enough to tell me why he disappeared.

    * * *
    C alum
    Waking up wrapped up with Rhieve is comfortable. I don't know how else to describe it.