probably have thought it a storybook romantic evening, but as the dinner progressed, Francesca’s uncertainty and frustration at Ian’s distance had only amplified. He was solicitous and polite . . . the perfect companion. At first, she’d blamed some of the strained atmosphere on the omnipresence of the hovering waiters during their meal, but as time wore on, she knew that wasn’t it.
He’d definitely shut himself off from her after teaching her how to pleasure him. Why? Had she done it all wrong, and he was too polite to tell her the truth?
Had he perhaps had his fill of her already?
Her suspicions were confirmed when they returned to the suite later and he’d asked her if she minded if he attended to some work. She’d responded with a careless “Of course not,” but her uncertainty was quickly morphing to anger. She’d gone into the bedroom and checked her e-mails on her phone.
At one point, he’d entered the bedroom, causing her heart to jump. However, he’d merely handed her a package. She’d opened it to find a three-month supply of birth-control pills inside.
“These were just delivered. Aaron, the pharmacist, says you may begin taking them immediately. I had him include instructions in English,” he’d said.
“How considerate of you.”
He blinked at her quiet sarcasm.
“Are you upset about my suggesting you go on the pill? I’m having the results of a recent medical exam sent to me. I’ll show it to you. I want you to be reassured that I’m clean and perfectly healthy, as well. As long as we’re together, I won’t be with anyone else.”
“That’s not what I was thinking about,” she said, even though relief had gone through her at his words. She should have brought up that topic before.
His gaze ran over her face searchingly. “You’ve noticed that I’ve been preoccupied this evening? I’m sorry,” he said after a pause. “I needed to get some work done. I have a very important acquisition that I’ve been planning for ages finally coming to fruition next week.”
She’d given him a bland glance. It wasn’t his work that had her irritated and anxious, either, and he must know that. It was the contrast of their incredibly intimate sexual experience and his current aloofness.
He’d stared at her silently for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. Anticipation had risen in her about what he was about to say, her sarcastic expression easing. She’d experienced an overwhelming need to take his hand in reassurance.
“Would you like me to get you a glass of water?”
She’d closed her eyes briefly as disappointment flooded her at his question.
“I told you I was abominable with women,” he’d said in a harsh, restrained tone. She’d opened her eyes.
“You also once told me you weren’t a nice man. I can’t help but notice that neither on that occasion nor this one have you expressed an ounce of remorse for your shortcomings . . . not a hint of a struggle.”
Anger had leapt in his eyes at that.
“I suppose you feel you can make me a better man,” he’d said, his full lips twisting as if he’d tasted something bitter. “Take a word of advice, Francesca, and save yourself the effort. I am what I am, and I’ve never lied to you about being anything more.”
She’d stared at his tall form as he walked out of the room, mute with rising bewilderment, anger, and hurt.
Is that what he thought? That she wanted to change him just because she was confused by his withdrawal after they’d had sex?
Or was he
right
to admonish her? He’d been completely attentive to her every wish all evening, treating her to an exclusive dining experience while overlooking the most romantic skyline in the world.
He hadn’t offered her his heart; he’d promised her experience and pleasure, and he’d delivered both in spades.
Her thoughts had only tangled her up further, creating an anxious knot in her belly. She’d tried to read an e-book on her phone but mostly stewed
He’d definitely shut himself off from her after teaching her how to pleasure him. Why? Had she done it all wrong, and he was too polite to tell her the truth?
Had he perhaps had his fill of her already?
Her suspicions were confirmed when they returned to the suite later and he’d asked her if she minded if he attended to some work. She’d responded with a careless “Of course not,” but her uncertainty was quickly morphing to anger. She’d gone into the bedroom and checked her e-mails on her phone.
At one point, he’d entered the bedroom, causing her heart to jump. However, he’d merely handed her a package. She’d opened it to find a three-month supply of birth-control pills inside.
“These were just delivered. Aaron, the pharmacist, says you may begin taking them immediately. I had him include instructions in English,” he’d said.
“How considerate of you.”
He blinked at her quiet sarcasm.
“Are you upset about my suggesting you go on the pill? I’m having the results of a recent medical exam sent to me. I’ll show it to you. I want you to be reassured that I’m clean and perfectly healthy, as well. As long as we’re together, I won’t be with anyone else.”
“That’s not what I was thinking about,” she said, even though relief had gone through her at his words. She should have brought up that topic before.
His gaze ran over her face searchingly. “You’ve noticed that I’ve been preoccupied this evening? I’m sorry,” he said after a pause. “I needed to get some work done. I have a very important acquisition that I’ve been planning for ages finally coming to fruition next week.”
She’d given him a bland glance. It wasn’t his work that had her irritated and anxious, either, and he must know that. It was the contrast of their incredibly intimate sexual experience and his current aloofness.
He’d stared at her silently for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. Anticipation had risen in her about what he was about to say, her sarcastic expression easing. She’d experienced an overwhelming need to take his hand in reassurance.
“Would you like me to get you a glass of water?”
She’d closed her eyes briefly as disappointment flooded her at his question.
“I told you I was abominable with women,” he’d said in a harsh, restrained tone. She’d opened her eyes.
“You also once told me you weren’t a nice man. I can’t help but notice that neither on that occasion nor this one have you expressed an ounce of remorse for your shortcomings . . . not a hint of a struggle.”
Anger had leapt in his eyes at that.
“I suppose you feel you can make me a better man,” he’d said, his full lips twisting as if he’d tasted something bitter. “Take a word of advice, Francesca, and save yourself the effort. I am what I am, and I’ve never lied to you about being anything more.”
She’d stared at his tall form as he walked out of the room, mute with rising bewilderment, anger, and hurt.
Is that what he thought? That she wanted to change him just because she was confused by his withdrawal after they’d had sex?
Or was he
right
to admonish her? He’d been completely attentive to her every wish all evening, treating her to an exclusive dining experience while overlooking the most romantic skyline in the world.
He hadn’t offered her his heart; he’d promised her experience and pleasure, and he’d delivered both in spades.
Her thoughts had only tangled her up further, creating an anxious knot in her belly. She’d tried to read an e-book on her phone but mostly stewed
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