Her jaw dropped, and she blinked. Once. Twice.He sighed. "Let me start over. I miss you when you're not around and I'm sick of sneaking moments with you. My house is unbearably empty without you there. I think about you constantly. Please consider moving in with me." Not so much as a muscle twitch. Great. He'd rendered her catatonic. "Blink once for yes or twice for no."Well, she didn't blink, but she did press a hand to her forehead and say "Oh God" somewhere in the vicinity of thirty times. She stalked to the other side of the room and paced. The click-click of her heels matched his heart rate. "Would you say something, at least?" Panic tripped his pulse. "And I don't mean Oh God.""We haven't even..." She waved her hand as if unable to conjure words."Haven't what? Gone public? Vacationed together? Skydived out of a perfectly good airplane?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Help me out, honey. You're usually the calm one. I'm not liking the role reversal and" "We haven't d
With an hour to spare, Peyton climbed out of the car Xavier had sent, adjusted her dress, and snuck in the back entrance to the Fallen Veterans masquerade ball. She'd had him do the same thing thirty minutes ago when he'd arrived to avoid any rumors that they hadn't come together. The press liked to pounce on any little thing and twist a story. Tonight was about charity.She worked her way through the back rooms and into the upper foyer, handing her coat and purse to an attendant. Behind her was the main lobby. Ahead, the ballroom was down a set of marble stairs and surrounded by a wrought iron terrace on the second level. From her position, she glanced below at the open floor plan and smiled.Lovely. Just lovely.An enormous chandelier rained from a vaulted ceiling, the lighting set low. A platform was up front with a podium and a couple chairs. Pictures on easels displayed previous events and some of the soldiers they'd helped. In front of the staging area was a small dance floor
"For your information, I was flirting my way through getting the photographer to delete the shots he'd taken of you and said ex." She raised her brows. "You're welcome."He stared at herhardbut his shoulders sank. After a moment, he glanced away and swallowed. "I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from.""You're the only man I'm interested in, X." His gaze jerked back to hers, and she smiled. "If we weren't surrounded by people, I'd show you."His chest quickly rose and fell, nostrils flaring. "I really want to kiss you right now." "Plenty of time later." She grinned. "Come on. They're getting dinner ready."The meal consisted of a veal or duck option, chosen by Elaine, and Peyton spent the entire hour imaging all the naughty things she'd be doing later while trying to hold a conversation with their tablemates. By the time Xavier had gotten through the speech she'd written for him and taken her hand for a dance, she was aching.Xavier tugged her to his chest, one arm around h
After they'd dropped off Joseph at Kate's apartment, Xavier glanced at Peyton in the backseat as his driver wove them through the dark city streets. She hadn't said much thus far, and her contemplative, lost expression was poking holes in his chest.He took his mask off and tossed it aside, glad to be rid of the thing. "Come over here."She turned her head and blinked as if she didn't understand.Concerned, he leaned over and wrapped an arm around her waist, depositing her sideways on his lap. He untied her mask and dropped it on the seat, then cupped her cheek. "Are you tired?""A little." She smiled as if to null her acknowledgement. "I had fun dancing with you.""Same here." He watched shadow and light play across her pretty face and got trapped by the dark navy of her eyes. "You and my father seemed to have quite the discussion.""Ah, yes." Her breathy laugh washed over him. "It would appear your mother is already planning our wedding."Not sure how to react, he studied her.
"Peyton?""Open your eyes."He hadn't realized he'd closed them, but he did what she said.Her hand settled on his jaw, and her warm, delicate fingers stroked his cheek. The other caressed his back in a soothing, circular motion. "I love you."There. Yes, right there. Like she'd always done, she climbed inside his mind and ceased the chaos. Filled the dark, empty spaces.Keeping one hand on the headboard, he slid his other arm between her and the mattress and sunk his fingers in her hair. Gaze pinned to hers, he pulled out and gradually thrust back in. The pace was so measured there wasn't an inch of him that didn't suffer the torment. In awe, he repeated the motion, and knew this was what he'd been missing. This was the difference between mere physical release and having his whole system engaged. The result being sheer, unadulterated bliss.She closed her eyes and turned her face toward his arm. Her hot breath fanned his bicep as her chest rose and fell in a steady pant. He drop
Peyton pulled her car up to Xavier's garage and cut the engine, then turned in the passenger seat to face him. Yep, still brooding. Sexy as sin in jeans, a gray sweater, and a little scruff, but brooding just the same. Poor, X. "It's just a surprise party.""I hate parties. And why did this have to be at my house?"She patted his arm. "Because my apartment's too small.""Smartass." Almost a smile. "Now I know why I never let you drive. You taking me all over Kingdom Come today had my life flashing before my eyes."All over Kingdom Come meant a quick trip to buy him a few ties and lunch afterward to allow his parents time to set up and welcome guests. To avoid laughing, she rolled her lips over her teeth. He was too damn cute when he sulked. Had she said broody? She meant pouty. "Good thing you got rid of my old deathtrap and bought me a car with extra airbags."He ran his tongue over his teeth. "Speaking of, there are no cars here, either." He turned and glanced at the circular
That was the crux of both their issues, in her opinion. His fear of losing his anchor and her fear of being alone. She'd been just seventeen when her parents died. Ever since then, she'd played it safe. So safe, she'd been ready to marry a guy she didn't love with her whole heart. And years later, she was about to go all-in with a man who owned her soul, but who may not love her for the right reasons. It wasn't fair to him for her to stay with him if he was another safe bet. "Peyton?" He stepped forward and stopped, concern and tension wrinkling his brow.It came to her, suddenly and like a blow, what they should do. He was going to flip out, but it was the right thing. She rubbed her forehead and focused on his chest. "I know its last minute, but I'm going to take off work next week. Use a few of my vacation days.""Okay," he hedged and crossed his arms. "Why? Do you need to pack up the apartment so soon?""No." God, her heart thumped so hard the room spun. "We need some distan
By the end of the workday on Monday, Xavier had given Peyton all the space he was going to allow. She hadn't been joking when she'd said she was taking off this week. At his arrival in the office this morning, her schedule had been cleared. In preparation for tomorrow's magazine article release, she'd left instructions for the front desk not to patch through any press calls to his secretary.That was that. Nothing else. And he'd had to hear that little amount from Jackie.He pounded on Peyton's apartment door and waited with his clenched fists on his hips. Two days, and he was losing his mind. She hadn't answered one text or voicemail. He hadn't slept more than a handful of scattered hours, never mind having an appetite. When he received no response, he pounded again and yelled her name. He knew she was home. Her car was in the designated parking space. He'd checked. Yesterday and today."She's not here."He whirled to find Kate standing in the doorway to her apartment across the