Alex didn’t know that she too was breathless and that her heart was pumping like mad, as though she had run a marathon.
With his face still practically touching hers, she could see his blue eyes that were—oh God—blazing with passion. She didn't understand the meaning of fire in the eyes until that moment. Yes, she could see fire in Jayden’s eyes—an intense, powerful blue flame that was alive. In reaction to that realization, her heart did a somersault, and her stomach knotted in dread and excitement.
She covered her hands over her mouth because she couldn’t believe what had just happened. Then, because she couldn’t stand him staring at her so intensely like that, like he didn’t regret what he had just done one bit and that he’d be glad to do it again, she quickly turned over and gave her back to him.
Jayden moved over so his lips were near her ear, his hand touching her bare arm. She could feel the heat there, burning on her skin and sending her head reeling.
“Don’t you dare sneak away, or I’ll do it again,” he whispered.
Alex shivered, both at the thought of that possibility and at the fact that she could feel his warm breath against her skin, her senses tingling.
“I won’t run,” she whispered, her voice quivering. Then she shoved him back. Jayden obliged her need for space. “Stupid man,” she muttered under her breath and quickly pulled the blanket up and over her head, hiding from him.
Jayden lay back on his side. Then he switched off the light, grinning from ear to ear. Damn, he had just kissed Alex, and he didn’t care one bit if that behavior was not that of a gay man and that she might be suspicious. He couldn’t wait to do it again, quite soon.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 17
Jayden woke up feeling refreshed and alert. Despite the late night, he had managed to get a good sleep. He sighed with satisfaction as he stared up at the ornate ceiling. Then everything that happened the day before flashed back. The thought of Alex caused him to grin. He glanced to his left and noted she was still sound asleep. Damn! So last night hadn’t been a dream after all.
She groaned and stretched a little as he held his breath, wondering if she was going to wake up and see him ogling at her, thinking about her in such an ungodly manner. Oh yeah, he was thinking about her full lips, thinking about licking his tongue along the soft flesh.
She didn’t open her eyes or show any sign of waking up. He sighed with relief. Suddenly, she moved to him and snuggled against him, her head now on his arm, her face resting against his chest, and her hand resting on his stomach. Not to mention the fact that one of her legs was resting on the top of his. He stroked his fingers through her long hair. He couldn’t help himself and moved his face to hers so his nose touched her hair. A moment later, he drifted off to sleep again.
When he woke, Alexandra was watching him, her eyes large and curious as she studied him.
He said warmly, “Morning.”
“Sorry,” she said, “I don’t know how I ended up here.” She made a motion to move away from his arm. He stopped her and gently drew her back.
“Aren’t you sore?” she asked.
“No,” he lied, even though his arm was numb. He, however, didn’t mind. “So did you have a good sleep?”
Alex nodded as she gazed at him. She had to agree it had been comfortable sharing a bed with Jayden. Now, however, it was time for revenge. The only problem was she wondered if she had the willpower and the confidence to go through with it. She had never done anything this reckless before. In fact, she never thought she’d come up with such an idea. It was extraordinary and very unlike her, to say the least.
After the makeover, however, she knew she was now comfortable in her own body and was quite confident that she would be able to go through with her plan. Her hand, after all, had been forced. She had no other choice. Revenge was so sweet.
Jayden touched her nose. “What are you smirking about?”
“Nothing,” she replied, a delightful twinkle in her eyes. Suddenly, a fluttery sensation erupted within her. She sat up, trying to calm herself down. “I’ll go and shower now,” she said and quickly rolled off the bed before Jayden could pull her back.
“Don’t be too long,” he said lazily.
She glanced at him. He looked almost like a puppy wanting to be petted. She shrugged her slender shoulders as if she didn’t care and strolled to the bathroom, making sure she swung her hips just a little like those supermodels do on the runway. He’d surely appreciate that.
Jayden surely did appreciate that as he watched her until she shut the bathroom door. He rested back on the piles of pillows, gazing out the window at the lovely sunshine outside.
In the shower, Alex made sure she scrubbed herself well until her skin was glowing. Afterward, she went about moisturizing herself and doing her makeup as she was taught by Lisa, the beauty therapist, so she’d look naturally beautiful.
“You can do this,” she said as she stared at herself in the mirror. Two could play at his game. The tables had to be turned. She nodded her head with a determined look on her face. With only a thin towel wrapped around her slim body, her hair slightly wet, and her milky skin soft and glowing, she headed out the door. She made sure Jayden noticed her before she headed toward the walk-in wardrobe.
Jayden sat up, his interest piqued as he watched her finding her clothing in the big wardrobe. He wondered if seeing Alex every day and him pretending to be gay was a good idea after all. He also wondered how long he’d be able to last not exposing the truth that he was not gay, that he was attracted to her, and that he couldn’t stand not touching her.
“Jayden?” he heard her soft voice, so smooth and sweet like melted chocolate that it made him flare with desire. Shit! He needed coffee. He needed to clear his head.
He cleared his throat. Hoping he didn’t sound like a wolf in heat, he responded, “Yeah?”
“I need help. I don’t know which dress I should wear.”
“Yeah. Sure,” he said, shaking his head. Alex having a dilemma of choosing a dress to wear for the day? Surely not!
“I’m sorry. I mean, Kelly and Stephanie bought me lots of dresses. They said they wanted to see me in them. I feel like I’d let them down if I don’t wear them.”
“Understandable,” he said. “Why don’t you show them to me?” He swung his feet to the floor as he got up.
“Yeah,” she said, and out she came.
Jayden nearly had a heart attack. Right in front of him, with nothing on but her cute pink, lacy undies and bra stood Alex.
Jayden felt the breath knocked out of him. He tried to calm himself down and not make a scene. Only it was hard because Alex looked like a Victoria’s Secret model, who at that moment was showing their new season’s underwear collection. She was all so sexy and hot that Jayden couldn’t help but keep ogling at her and wanting nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her. And do so much more.
“Well?” she asked, an eyebrow rising. “Which one?”
Jayden blinked. What the heck was she talking about? Oh right! The dresses, which were in her hands, one on either side of her.
“Which one?” she asked again.