Bachelor Unleashed - Brenda Jackson [51]
“Oh, well, then I guess I need to go.”
“Not before we share dessert and not before you help me with kitchen clean up.”
She smiled. “All right.”
He wanted to kiss her again, and he figured before she left to return to the hotel that he would, several times. But at least she would be leaving with the knowledge that for the first time, though they’d had the convenience and the privacy to make love, they hadn’t.
“Is the car warm enough for you, Ms. Langley?”
Farrah glanced over the seat in front of her at Jules. Xavier had given the driver strict instructions to see to her every comfort, and to especially make sure she was kept warm.
“Yes, thank you for asking.”
She settled back against the plush leather seat, determined to replay in her mind all that had transpired tonight and to make sure she hadn’t imagined any thing.
She’d gone to his house fully intending to convince him to extend their affair through the holidays, after which, they would go their separate ways again.
For reasons she was still trying to figure out, he hadn’t wanted any part of that suggestion. Instead, he wanted to resume the affair with no limitations. He’d even gone so far as to suggest her reluctance to do so was because she was afraid of falling in love with him and because she still harbored feelings for Dustin.
Okay, secretly she would agree the former did have some merit, but the latter did not. To prove him wrong on both counts, she had no choice but to agree to his terms. So technically, they were now involved in a longterm, no-strings relationship.
Even more confusing to her was how, once she’d agreed, their relationship had taken a definite turn. But to where she hadn’t a clue. First, it had been the way he’d kissed her. It was greedy and hungry as usual, but it seemed like he was holding back, which didn’t make sense. After all, she had agreed to what he’d wanted. And no matter what she’d done, she hadn’t changed his mind about sleeping with her, although she knew without a doubt that he’d wanted her.
Men!
Now here she was, riding in the car alone as she returned to her hotel. Truly, what sense did that make? He could have easily asked that she stay the night and she would have. But he hadn’t. He’d even suggested she take time to think her decision through. Now, drawing in a deep breath, she decided to do just what he’d suggested.
As the car sped along the Long Island Expressway, she closed her eyes. An unlimited affair with him meant essentially no more booty calls. At least they wouldn’t be termed that anymore. She had agreed that she and Xavier would start doing things outside the bedroom. More than likely they would go out to dinner on occasion, to a movie, to business functions.
She felt a knot forming in the pit of her stomach at the thought of doing those things with him and knew the reason why. She might just begin to enjoy it too much. Her challenge was going to be keeping things in perspective. Though neither of them wanted to take things any further than they had previously, Xavier was now ready for more exclusiveness. At least she could rest assured he still wasn’t the marrying kind. Good, she thought, because neither was she.
She opened her eyes and glanced down at her watch. It wasn’t even midnight. Depending on how things turned out between Kerrie Shaw and Lori Byers, she could very well be back in Charlotte around this time tomorrow. Doing so would have her out of New York before the snowstorm hit on Sunday. Xavier had even offered to take her to the airport tomorrow. Getting back home might be a good thing. It would put distance between them for at least a week and would give her time to clear her head and decide on the best way to handle him.
Over ice cream and apple pie, Xavier had told her about his trip after the holidays to Los Angeles where he would be for a few days in January. Usually, she wouldn’t know about his trips until he was packed and ready to go because that was the type of relationship they’d had. For him to keep her abreast of his plans was going to take