“I’m going to warm up dinner. What can I get you?” I forced my mind out of self-pity land.
“Chef Boyd made some concoction for me in there. I’ll have that. I’m really not ready to resume my normal diet.”
“Yet,” I said before turning on my heels for the kitchen.
“Huhn?” She stilled in the mirror.
I turned back to find her eyes glued to me through the vanity mirror. “You’ve lost a few pounds already. I don’t like it. Stop burning calories in the shower and allow your body to rest so that you can heal and return to your normal eating.” I was partially teasing, but very serious about the weight comment.
Rayna narrowed her beautiful brown eyes, but wisely chose to not respond.
For the rest of the evening we ate and talked about our upcoming week. Rayna reminded me that she had a show on Saturday and that she invited The Clan. I wasn’t too thrilled about that, but was happy to see she felt comfortable enough to extend herself to my people. They were a major point of contention for Tara and me during our relationship. She never took to them no matter how polite and inclusive they tried being with her. I was grateful to Rayna for accepting that aspect of my life, of me. Syn didn’t make Rayna’s efforts unproblematic. Her animosity for Rayna was incredibly palatable, you would think they knew each other in a former life. As much as it initially concerned me, it now reminds me how much of a kindred spirit Rayna is. It’s as if she’s familiar with Syn’s kind and therefore manages her without losing her cool and laying a hand on her—yet.
And when I think about the tension between Rayna and Dawn, I get uneasy. I’m not the type of man who enjoys or encourages my woman’s insecurities to flare at the threat of another sniffing up my tree. I know Dawn wants me, but so do dozens of women. I’ve been pursued by and on the wish-list of many eager dames in my life. I keep in shape, bag my swag, and my money takes it all to a new level. And even with knowledge of these things, I only have eyes for one woman, whom for some reason cannot understand my exclusive commitment to her.
I found it cute how Rayna “popped” up at a business luncheon of mine fiending for betrayal blood. Dawn seemed prepared for her, too, which opened the floodgates for a surge of revelations concerning her. I don’t want Rayna losing her cool around Dawn either. She isn’t worth it. No one is worth me losing Rayna.
After my time with Rayna, I read through a few contracts and made notes on them. It wasn’t long after my time in the office that we turned down for the night. I curled up against Rayna’s soft and warm body. Very few times am I able to rein in self-control when she’s in this close of proximity—her warmth, fragrance and delicate skin never failed to make my sacs tingle with carnal need—but I managed. I was so damn exhausted that I don’t even recall dreaming.
My eyes opened to a dark room. After blinking several times, I realized sleep was no longer on the agenda for me. Not needing to check the time, I knew it was just before six in the morning. So, I started contemplating my day, the length of it and, what it would take to make it successful.