Page 28 of Highest Bid

She looked up at him with a hesitant frown. Damn it. She should have asked twenty minutes ago, before he’d taken her from behind. “Have you been with anyone else since we were last together?”

He flinched, as though she’d backhanded him. “Do you really believe I’m that low?” he rasped.

She blinked water from her eyes, ignoring his objection to add, “Did you at least use protection?”

“Jesus, Layla.” The air turned brittle even before he backed away from her. With a ragged sound of despair, he stepped out of the stall and wrapped a towel around his lean hips. He didn’t look back at her when he left her in the bathroom still on her knees.

She pressed a hand to her mouth. What the hell had just happened? Why had her question rattled him so much?

Her eyes narrowed. Guilt, it had to be. She pushed unsteadily to her feet, feeling sick to her stomach. He’d said he’d always used protection, she believed him. And at least he hadn’t shoved his cock in her mouth and waited until he’d had his fun before he’d left. He’d saved her that humiliation.

She flipped off the shower lever and stepped out onto the shower mat, pressing a hand to her closed eyes. It was rather disturbing to acknowledge just how foolish she was when it came to men. Perhaps even more disturbing was how much like her mother she’d become.

All she’d ever wanted was a relationship with Galan, an emotional connection. But though Galan had wanted more than a night with her, she was never going to get a full-time commitment from him. Their sex had been passionate, explosive. Of course he’d wanted more of the same for as long as that lasted.

She wrapped a soft, fluffy white towel around her. No matter how much it hurt, she couldn’t be with Galan anymore. She couldn’t go through what her mom did on a regular basis; she would no longer walk that same soul-destroying path.

Heading to Galan’s bedroom, she dressed back into her work clothes, trying not to notice the rumpled state of the bed, along with the musky scent of sex that permeated the room. She sighed. Despite everything, she’d miss him. Miss...this.

She walked out of the bedroom, somehow holding herself together. Galan was in the living room, his back to her as he poured a drink from the teak bar. She lifted her chin. “I’m leaving now.”

His shoulders stiffened. “Not until you hear the truth.’

“I’d rather not.”

He pivoted, his face a mask of pain. “I guess I deserve your distrust.” He lifted a hand, his abs flexing and shifting. “But I’m nothing like your dad. If I were to ever marry, I’d never cheat. My vows would be heartfelt and sincere.”

Her heart expanded, then contracted again. “Of course you’d say that. You’ll always be a bachelor. You’ll always be a playboy living it up and avoiding commitment.” She sent him a sad smile and headed toward the front door. “Don’t bother showing me out.”

“Layla, wait.”

She stilled, but didn’t turn around.

“What if I told you I don’t want to be a bachelor anymore?”

She twisted around slowly, her eyes wide, her heart thudding like a drum in her ears. “What?”

He put his glass down and stalked toward her. “What if I told you I can’t live without you, and I want you in my life, permanently?”

Her knees shook, right along with her voice. “I’d say you were delusional or lying to yourself.”

He shook his head, his eyes direct, passionate. Intense. “No. For the first time in my life, I realize I want you more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.” He clasped her hands. “I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”

Her eyes widened. “You really mean that, don’t you?” she whispered.

“With all my heart.”

It wasn’t a marriage proposal; of course it wasn’t. But the sincerity in his voice, his eyes, left her inwardly reeling. Did she trust him enough to stay? Did she want to take the chance of being emotionally torn asunder if he went back on his word? Or did she run now and turn her back on what might be the happiest times of her life?

“Layla,” he said gently. “You can trust me. I won’t ever be unfaithful to you, not while we’re together.”

Not a marriage proposal...just raw honesty. She needed no other incentive. She wrenched free of his clasp to throw herself into his arms. Tears ran down her face while his warmth encased her, comforted her.

His voice was warm and muffled against her scalp when he said, “I guess that means you’re staying.”

She looked up with a grin. “You’re stuck with me now.” At the joy shining in his eyes she added, “As long as you don’t think you’re getting my mouth around your cock again in any hurry.”

He blinked disappointment, and she stretched up on tiptoes and kissed him on the mouth, savoring his soft lips that could turn so firm and demanding in an instant. “Even if I wanted to continue where we left off, I promised I’d drop in on Mom. She’s not working tonight.”

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