Chapter 4

“This is really going to cost me, isn’t it? And I don’t just mean in terms of money.” He also sighs as I turn and glare at him wickedly over my shoulder. Those beautiful brown eyes focused on me, that soft look of a guy who is completely smitten and trying to appease his stroppy love. He has become a master of doing just that in the time we’ve been together, and I know I can be a pain in the ass sometimes.

Arry can, too, and no one makes me as crazy as he sometimes does. Even if he is still the hottest male I have ever encountered on the planet and has a sexy body that I never tire of looking at. If anything, he has grown even more manly and mature in the past year. He’s beyond irresistible to me.

“Hope the couch that you picked is comfy… The bed’s mine.” I raise a brow and push him back with my butt playfully. Lifting my chin defiantly as I stalk off towards the bedroom once more while trying to kill the smile that’s aching to spread across my face. Smirking at that one little punishment that gets to him every time.

“Baby? Really?… I’m sentenced to the couch?… Sophie? Come on?” He follows me, but not fast enough, and I’m in the bedroom down the hall before he is. Shutting the door in his face as he catches up, with a sense of utter satisfaction. I turn to look at what I expect to be another punch in the face room, getting ready for another wave of hurt feelings at the decor that I hate and soften when I see it’s not. In fact, it has the complete opposite effect on me.

It’s a huge bed with a million furry throws and cushions, surrounded by fairy lights and a romantic vibe. The same neutral palette that we agreed on, yet the prints I chose are all hanging in here, and there’s a mirrored vanity with a display of ornate perfume bottles. Huge candle-filled lanterns hang in one corner at different heights by a large organza-layered window that looks out over the twinkling streets of Paris in a surreal way. Even a silver unicorn statue is nestled on the sill, just peeking at me like a little surprise treasure. It’s beautiful and exactly what I envisioned when I set up those endless mood boards. My heart somersaults, and my mood lifts enough to put a smile on my face, at least.

The knock on the door of a guy who knows he’s in the doghouse makes me grin, interrupting my star-struck moment, and I sigh as I look about again. Trying not to give away that I’m softening a lot after seeing this room, as I still think I owe him a little suffering.

Why deny the guy some groveling practice when he needs a little work?

So maybe he can be forgiven for his man room out there if the rest of the apartment looks like this. These are the things I chose; this room screams of me and exactly what I love, and I can imagine us curled up together in it already. It’s not so bad.

The door opens slowly, and he edges in apprehensively. He is probably bracing himself for something to be thrown at his head and glances at me in mild surprise when he sees me calm and semi-smiling. A half smile on his cute face brings out the dimples I adore. I sometimes have to remind myself that his pretty face is not a reason to forgive him whenever he is a moron, but it’s just so hard. Arry is such a gorgeous specimen with the right look and dimples on show. I’m weak.

“This room I was a bit more specific about… Seeing as it’s where we do spend most of our time.” He edges closer, testing the water with trailing fingers across my wrist as he comes in behind me. He gently slides around my waist and pulls me back against him snugly when he gets no hint of resistance. I surrender a little too easily, even when my stubborn self tells me to make him suffer a little longer.

“Except you won’t… Cos, you know? Couch!” I cross my arms as his hand edges upwards and block his attempt at a seduction move. Arry does like to cop a feel of my boobs at every opportunity, and I’m not in the mood to be yielding to that Carrero libido just yet. I can’t just back down so very quickly. He must learn that you don’t mess with a woman’s decisions. If I let Arrick get it easy, he’ll walk all over me with that stubborn head and messy mind. He needs a little guidance on how to be a good boyfriend. Our whole happy vibe relies on it. He’s a trying man at times and needs me to take him in hand more often than not.

“I am not sleeping on the couch on our first night in our new place.” He nuzzles my neck with his soft, teasing mouth, trailing little pecks up toward my hairline, trying to be smooth about his attempts at winning me around.

“Pretty sure you are,” I answer flatly, eyes closing against my will as he trails kisses over my skin and molds a little more firmly to my body, pushing my hair aside gently. His other hand slides up to start unzipping my dress slowly, seductively. I know I need to be firmer and tell him to back off, but the weak little wimp in me who crumbles at Arry’s every touch is too busy, turning me into a bowl of Jell-O. My breathing is already hitching in anticipation of the pleasure I know he can bring me, and my stubborn side is already thinking of taking my underwear off.

Damn him. Sophie, get a spine.

“Want to make a bet that I get in that bed with you before the sun goes down?” That sexy husky tone, right in my ear, extracting goosebumps. The zipper already below waist level, and I hadn’t even felt it go down. I open my eyes and squeak when he slides his hand up my dress and connects in the one place he knows is all his, rather skillfully.

Almost got some stealth ninja moves of seduction going on; cheeky little man whore of mine.

I slap his hand away by connecting with his arm and throw him back a look meant to tell him off, but he grins. Amused, unaffected, and smug, he knows he’s got me right where he wants me. Moving into this room only made getting me into bed much easier.

“Unfair. Enjoy your couch for that.” I pull away and try like crazy to reach the zip on my dress, but Arry is relentless. Hooking me with his arm and pulling me around so I’m face to face before he plants a hard kiss on my lips. His hand is fast, and he has me in a flash, up in a show of strength and speed, and flat on my back on the bed. I let out a muffled gasp at how effortlessly he got me here, startled into giggling at that devilish maneuver.

He’s on top of me with a hand planted firmly between my thighs in the blink of an eye, looking pretty darn pleased with himself.

I know this is futile. I know my weakness for him runs deep, and already I’m sliding my legs apart to give him full access, despite my mental protests. Sensual longing courses through me with the intimacy of this position.

“I prefer it here… Then the couch, maybe explore other areas of our new pad too. Pretty sure either place will have you sleeping next to me, though, after I’m done with you.”