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you. I was miserable, and I think you were too. I think we re better together.
I want us too, she whispered. There s so much to talk about, though. So much we
didn t cover in Europe. I don t even know what you do. My family asked, and I felt like
the worst sort of idiot. I know nothing about you. And yet you know so much about me.
Max pressed his lips to her forehead in a gesture so tender that her chest tightened.
That is what this week is for, dolcezza. Us. So that when we go meet your family, there
is no doubt to anyone looking at us that you re happy and confident.
Her heart fluttered at the endearment he d teasingly begun when they were in Italy.
He d taught her words of love and affection in many languages, but dolcezza had been
her favorite. His eyes always burned a little brighter when he called her that.
And to begin our week, I want you naked. I love the feel of your skin. I love the
beauty of your body. My desire is that when we are in private I am never deprived of
your sweetness.
He pulled gently at the tie and then helped her to her feet. He stood in front of her and
carefully peeled away the robe until she was naked in front of him, her skin soft and
warm from the shower.
Bellissima, he murmured. You are very beautiful, dolcezza. Even more so because
you re mine.
He reached for a comb lying on the end table and then sat back on the couch,
spreading his thighs. He patted the space between his legs.
Sit so I can comb your hair while it s still damp.
She turned and then settled on the edge of the couch. His hands slipped over her hips
as he steadied her, and then they wandered up her waist and around to cup her breasts.
He toyed idly with her nipples until they were rigid, and then he slid his hands up over
her shoulders and gathered her hair at her nape.
I love having the freedom to touch you however and whenever I want.
You re such a spoiled man, she teased.
When it comes to you, I am.
You re such a caveman.
And this is a problem? he asked as he began working the comb through the ends of
her hair.
Evidently not. She sighed. I can t resist you even when your knuckles are dragging
the ground and you grunt stuff like my woman .
Damn right you re my woman. What else am I supposed to say?
She chuckled. If I have to tell you then you require more work than I m willing to
put in to make you civilized.
Admit it, you love that I m completely uncivilized.
Yes, I do, and I don t want to know what that says about me.
It says you re a woman with intelligent, discerning tastes.
You re incorrigible!
You love me.
She bit her lip when she would have said indeed she did. He d said it in a light,
teasing way. Like someone would say to a friend. Oh, you love me.
Only she did love him. So much it hurt. But it was the one part of herself she did
hold back from him. Despite the fact that she d forgiven him. She was willing to try
again. She d give him another chance. But she d be a fool to make herself utterly
vulnerable to him. Not yet.
Tell me about you, she said quietly. What makes you who you are, Max?
That s a loaded question.
She shrugged. Maybe. But it shouldn t be a difficult question. It shouldn t cause you
any issue to answer.
She could picture his brows knitting as he pondered the best way to answer. He
paused for a moment, his fingers tangled in her hair, the comb still in his hand. Then he
began combing again. Long, steady strokes. Infinitely gentle.
I made my fortune at a young age. For me it was necessity, not so much desire. It
wasn t that I craved fine things. Or even money. For me money wasn t about the luxuries
it could provide, but the necessities and what I could give to my mother and my sister.
I wanted my mother not to have to worry. I wanted her to have the same lifestyle she
had when she was married to my stepfather. I wanted my sister to go to the best schools
and have all she needed.
How did you do all that? You make it sound so simple.
He tugged at one particularly difficult tangle and then carefully worked out the snarl.
I worked my ass off. Two, sometimes three jobs. Every penny I made at first was
saved to buy my first property. I sold it for a ten-thousand-dollar profit and you d have
thought I hung the moon. I used all of it to make my next investment and with the second
sale, I made a whopping six-figure profit. Part of it was luck. Being in the right place at
the right time, but just as much of it was determination to succeed. Failure simply wasn t
an option.
That she could believe. She couldn t imagine Max failing at anything he set his mind
to. To hear his story only confirmed what she already knew. Max was driven. He was
ruthless when he had to be.
She shivered with sudden realization. He d made it clear that she was his current
ambition. And if his past was anything to go by, she didn t have a chance in hell of
resisting him.
But then she didn t really want to.
Was she a temporary challenge? Had he pursued other women as he d done her?
Silence fell between them as he continued his careful combing of her hair. He was
meticulous, separating each of the strands and working the tangles out.
She wondered how much experience he had with taking care of other women. The
thought was unwelcome and painful. It was also stupid. His past was just that. His past.
Just like he couldn t hold any of her past lovers against her. But it still cut at her to think
of other women under his care. Submitting to him as she was submitting to him.
She frowned again. Had he had such relationships in the past? Surely he had. He was
simply too comfortable and too adept at seeing to her every need. He was arrogant but not
in a petulant fashion. He wore arrogance like it was his due. Like he was convinced, not
trying to convince others.
And he was extremely confident and comfortable as someone always in control.
You re tense. What are you thinking now?
She blushed. Heat crawled over her skin as he caught her out again.
Callie, he prompted.
It s just that you re very good at this, she mumbled. I wondered how many other
women you ve shared this sort of relationship with.
Do you really want to know? he asked bluntly. Or are you just torturing yourself?
She winced. Both, I guess. It s natural to be curious. And natural to discuss prior
relationships. Don t you think? Isn t this the sort of thing all couples get into after a
while?
I suppose it is. It s a sticky subject though. If you aren t prepared for the answer or
if it hurts you, it s best not to ask.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Never ask for an answer you aren t prepared to receive.
I propose that I finish combing your hair, and then I need to make a few business
calls. I ve already made arrangements for dinner to be delivered as well as something for
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