His words had a hypnotic power—without thinking, she reached for the belt and tugged it free from his trousers. She let it fall to the floor and stood frozen, waiting to see what he'd do next. His hand curled into fists at his side, and he clenched his jaw in self-control.

"Okay," he finally said. "Put the new one on."

​​

The box had fallen on the floor. She bent slowly and grabbed the belt, sliding the end into the first belt loop. With her arms wrapped around him, she slid the belt into place. Her hands trembled as she worked to close the buckle, scared she'd accidentally touch the front of his trousers again.

"How does it look?" he finally asked.

"It looks good," she said.

"You have good taste," he replied.

"Thanks," she said nervously. "I think I'm going to go take a shower now."

"Want me to join you?" he asked.

"No," she said.

He reached out and grabbed her waist, pulling her close to his chest again. One hand slid slowly down her back, cupping her ass. The other squeezed her waist.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Positive," she said, a tremor in her voice.

"Let's see if I can change your mind," he whispered.

His hand snaked up her back and tangled in her hair, and his lips crashed down on hers again. He kissed her with an intensity that scared her, forcing her mouth open and invading it with his tongue. His desire pressed against her leg, and his hands roamed her body freely, grabbing and squeezing.

She knew she should push him away, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Her body felt liquid in his arms. She pushed herself against him and met his tongue with her own—kissing him back as fiercely as he kissed her. He pulled away and looked at her with bright eyes.

"Do you want to?" he asked.

"I—um," she stammered. "No, we can't."

His eyes darkened, "Go shower then. If you stay here a minute longer, I won't be able to keep my promise."

She nodded. Her lips felt swollen and bruised, and her entire body burned with a strange desire. Slowly she walked toward the bathroom. He muttered something, and she froze and turned.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"I said you have no idea how difficult you're making it for me," he said, his voice thick. "You have no idea what it's like to hold you every night without making love to you. To kiss you without ripping the clothes from your body."

Her heart hammered in her chest, "I'm not ready, Sean."

"I know," he whispered. "But I can't wait forever."

***

Catherine woke as the early morning light slanted through the curtains. For a moment, she burrowed deeper under the blankets, throwing an arm over her face to block the light. A light but constant knock at the door forced her to finally open her eyes.

"What?" she asked.

"Breakfast is served, Mrs. Blair," Drew called through the door.

She rubbed her eyes and sat up in the bed, wondering why Drew was talking to her instead of Sean. She looked over to Sean's side of the bed and found it empty—his pillow was smooth and unwrinkled, and the sheets were still neatly tucked under the mattress. She blinked in confusion—why hadn't he slept with her?

Slowly, she climbed out of bed and padded toward the bathroom. As she washed her face and applied light makeup, she kept thinking about Sean. Was he angry with her? Where had he slept at night?

Distracted, she browsed through the clothing in her closet, surprised to find that everything had been rearranged. Instead of sundresses, casual blouses, and sandals, the closet was filled with stylish, designer suits, professional dresses, and elegant heels. Without thinking, she chose a pair of straight legged, black trousers, a white silk blouse with a hand-knotted bow at the collar, and a black blazer. She paired it with a pair of white Louboutin heels and delicate pendant earrings.

She headed down the stairs with a knot in her stomach, wondering what mood she'd find Sean in. She entered the dining room, and he lowered his newspaper and smiled gently.

"You look very nice," he said.

"You have very good taste," she replied carefully. "Thank you for the new outfits."

"My pleasure," he said.

They ate breakfast in silence. She nibbled at her toast and took a few small sips of the fresh-pressed orange juice. Finally, she lowered her cup and cleared her throat.

"Sean?" she asked.

"What is it?" he replied.

"Are you angry with me?" she asked.

He lowered his newspaper and raised an eyebrow, "Why do you think that?"

"Well, you didn't sleep in my bed last night," she said, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks.

His lips twitched in a half smile, "I didn't think I could control myself around you last night."

She felt her face get even hotter, "Oh."

"I gave you my word that I'd wait until you're ready, and I intend to keep it, but you're not making things easy for me," he said, his voice low and intense.

She took a sip of orange juice and then another, avoiding his gaze. Finally, she heard the rustle of paper and glanced up—he'd returned to reading the news. She picked at her toast some more, but her appetite was gone. He finally lowered his paper and looked at her.

"I'll drive you to work," he said.

"What about Geoffrey?" she asked.

"She can wait for you at the office," he answered.

She nodded and stood, carefully adjusting her trousers to make sure they weren't wrinkled. When she looked up, she saw him watching her with a smile. He wore his typical black trousers and a white shirt, but he wasn't wearing a tie. He noticed her looking and reached into his pocket. With a smile, he pulled out the striped tie she'd given him.

"Help me put it on?" he asked.

Her heart hammered in her ears, and her body felt strangely hot. She thought about the belt and how strongly he'd reacted. A shiver ran through as she remembered the feeling of his erection against her palm. Nervously she stepped forward and took the tie. He smiled gently, and she wrapped it around his neck, trying to keep as much distance between their bodies as she could. Slowly, with trembling fingers, she tied the knot. His eyes smoldered, but he didn't raise his hands or make any move to touch her.