Page 68 of Ruthless Ambition
“Shut up.” Inching closer, I reached out and lightly touched his laptop and tugged it slightly toward me so I could see better. “What am I looking at?”
His head tipped toward mine as he craned his neck to see, and the muskiness of him drowned my senses. I really did need a date with Bob, or Bob’s replacement. I was reacting like an animal in heat.
“This,” Onyx said as he pointed at the screen, “person?”
With my concentration on the screen, I leaned closer. “Jesus, is this my yard?”
“Yes. Difficult angle as the camera isn’t facing that way, but do you recognize it?”
“It’s grainy,” I answered. “Can’t you make it clearer?”
“No.”
“And you say you’re special,” I mocked him as I peered at the gray shape. “I don’t know if it’s a person, but it isn’t a tree. I don’t have any in that part of the backyard. Do you think that’s him?” Tearing my gaze away from the screen, I looked toward him, not expecting his face to be right there, beside mine. If I moved an inch, my lips would be on his.
“Shit.” Jerking back, I let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, is that all? Can I go?”
“I’m not keeping you here,” he answered smoothly.
“You literally just said—” I stopped myself. I saw the amusement in his eyes, and I refused to argue. “Goodnight,” I said as I scrambled off his bed. “See you in the morning.” Walking quickly to the door, I looked back when he didn’t answer. He was studying the screen again, and I was already forgotten.
Typical Onyx.
It shouldn’t have disappointed me so much that I was, and as I headed to my bedroom, closing the door behind me, Iquestioned my own rationale. Had I done the right thing walking into the Devil’s lair? Was it a good move on my part?
But as I approached the bed and climbed in under the covers, I couldn’t deny that I felt safe. He may be a bastard with the moral compass of Satan, but I knew while I was in his house, I would sleep. As I drifted off to sleep, I realized I may have hated him more for giving me that feeling of peace.
I woke in the morning at my usual time, a little disoriented for a moment before I wiggled further under the covers.Say what you want about the man, Angel, but damn if he doesn’t have the comfiest bed.
Thinking of the evening before, I half sat up as I considered the closet. He said heated swimming pool, didn’t he? And something about bathing suits in a closet. I loved swimming, but it was an exercise I kept mainly for my parents’ pool in Florida.
With a mix of excitement and trepidation, I went to the closet to investigate. It was mostly empty, with a bathrobe, slippers, and when I opened the top drawer, I didn’t know whether to feel impressed or uncomfortable at the fact that there were basic underwear staples. All tagged, all new.
What a weirdo.
Discovering the underwear drawer put my world back on its axis. All was right again in my world. He wasn’t a savior come to rescue me, whom I would owe basically forever. He was a douchebag who had women’s spare underwear in his closet.
My amusement quickly vanished as I thought harder. I had lingerie on my bed. He had bras and panties in his spare room.
Holy hell, had I made a terrible mistake?
Backing away from the closet, I screamed like the first victim in a horror movie when I banged off a solid chest. Turning wildly, I saw Onyx looking down at me. His face impassive, already in his suit, his appearance perfect.
Wordlessly, he moved me aside and, crossing to the drawers, opened the second one where I saw a range of men’s underwear.
“You picked the room my parents stay in when they visit. My home is their home,” he said as he opened the next drawer, and I saw more clothing. “They also like to stay here, so they keep clothes here, and both have a tendency to overstay. It’s simpler for my personal shopper just to keep the drawers stocked.”
“Oh . . . I’m—”
“I know what you were thinking,” he said with a scornful twist of his lips as he reached up to a shelf. “These are new. Sable, my mom, and my aunt have a tendency to steal the swimwear.”
Onyx shoved some swimsuits in my arms as he passed me on the way out. “I have a meeting. My housekeeper will be here in an hour. Don’t scare her or scream at her. A car will be ready for you when you’re ready to head into work.”
“Onyx, if you . . .”
He was gone. Hurrying after him, I caught a glimpse of him as he went down the stairs. The look he sent me stopped my pursuit. “I’m sorry,” I whispered too late as I heard the front door close. “Fuck.”
Heading back into the bedroom, I picked up the dropped swimsuits. Checking the labels, I selected one because I was determined to get that feeling I woke up with, the sense of contentment and excitement. I had feared the swimsuits were for ex-girlfriends of his. Of course, they would be for his family.
