Page 85 of Peasants and Kings
“No. I didn’t build the house with any intention of ever having people stay here. Besides, I have guest cottages on the other islands.”
“Where am I going to sleep?” I asked with a raised brow.
“In my bed.”
I swallowed. “And clothes? My clothes I mean?”
Without a word, he strode to a door and opened it to reveal a walk-in closet. He gestured to the racks of women’s clothes, along with dressers pushed up against the side walls. He opened a drawer and showed me a plethora of lace undergarments.
“Anything you need is here. If you want something, just say the word.”
There were more clothes than I could ever wear in six months together. I blinked. “How did you make this happen so fast?”
“The Rex sized you during your dress fitting, and I had them send everything over after the night we spent together at The Mansion. My staff took care of the rest.”
“That was presumptuous.”
“I always get what I want, Eden.” He frowned. “You look upset.”
“Not upset. Surprised—and a little taken aback. It’s very generous, Hadrian. But I—we—we’re sharing space.”
“Aye.”
“Like we’re living together.”
“Weareliving together.” He arched a brow. “I’m not following your line of thought.”
“You don’t want your own space?” I asked. “I mean, you seem like the kind of man who wants—”
“This isn’t about me and space. This is aboutyouand space. You want space? Great. You have an entire island to wander to get space, but you sleep in my bed next to me and you don’t worry about it.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. “I just would’ve thought that as an eccentric, mysterious multi-millionaire, you’d want more privacy.”
“Billionaire.”
“Excuse me?”
“You said eccentric, mysterious multi-millionaire. I’m actually a billionaire.”
“Of course you are. I don’t know what I was thinking,” I muttered. “A mere millionaire wouldn’t have his own chain of islands, would he?”
“Definitely not,” he agreed with a roguish grin and then he let out a laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. You’re funny.”
Hysteria was bubbling up inside of me, and I was afraid I was about to do something stupid. It was as if Hadrian knew, because he directed my thoughts away from the current matter by saying, “Let me show you the best part of the room.”
He went to the dark, heavy curtains along the far wall and drew them back to reveal a set of French doors. He pulled them open and I was immediately hit with the sounds and smells of the ocean and a view as far as the eye could see of glistening water.
“No way,” I whispered, rushing toward him. I stepped out onto the balcony and breathed it all in. A moment later, I felt Hadrian at my back.
We stood in silence while I marveled at the crashing waves hitting the craggy boulders along the shore below us. Ominous storm clouds that had doused us when we’d been driving had abated now and lingered off the coast. The wind had blown them out to sea.
“What do you think?” Hadrian asked, his mouth close to my ear.
His warm breath, his husky voice caused a shiver to run down my spine.
