Chapter 4 - More kisses
1663 Words
Lexi POV
“Come, I’ll show you to our bedroom.”
“OUR?” I squeaked. “Our bedroom?”
Dane laughed out loud as he sauntered towards me. He looked so relaxed and playful. Very different from the one I met in the office–serious and dominating. I don’t know which one I like better.
Hearing him laugh made the hair on my arms go up. The sound of his laughter was like music to my ears.
“Come on. I’ll tour you around my apartment.” He smiled, then reached for my hand. I wanted to faint at the moment he held my hand. I didn’t expect the sparks. I was not sure if he felt it too, but he released my hand when our skin touched before capturing it again.
“As you know, I have a cleaner who comes in every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.”
“Yes.” I didn’t know where this talk was supposed to go. We just got in the kitchen when he leaned over the island.
“I may have to request to change it from Monday to Friday.”
“Why?” There goes my companion on Saturdays. I need someone to be here so I wouldn’t be conscious of being alone with Dane.
As if I will not be alone with him during the night.
I may have reservations about being alone with Dane on weekends. But the thought thrilled me and made me shiver.
“I wanted to be alone with you on Saturdays if ever you decide to stay at home.” He looked at my eyes directly when he said that. “Martha is my all-around house staff. She cleans the apartment, buys groceries, does the laundry for me, cooks for me. It’s not much to do because I’m all alone here. I’m sure it will delight her to do more things now that you’re here.”
“Hey. I don’t mind cleaning up. I can cook, I can wash the dishes, do the cleaning and laundry.”
“I know you would say that. But no can do. I didn’t hire you to do household chores. So there, I will change Martha’s schedule. Be happy for her instead. She will get more pay to bring home.” He went to the fridge and showed me the contents. “I had her buy groceries the other day. You can get anything you like. If you have food that you are craving for just let me know and I’ll have it bought for you.”
I looked inside the fridge, then groaned. I think I will get fat with my stay here as the fridge was full of everything I like. He also showed me the pantry, which is like a small room the same size as my bedroom in my previous apartment.
“You eat these kinds of food?” I curiously asked Dane. I didn’t think he would, though. The fridge has mini cakes, brownies, chocolates, and soda. While the pantry has chips, cookies, and whatever is loaded with calories.
“No.” He simply said when we had gotten out of the pantry.
“Then why do you have this food? You have regular guests coming in?”
“No. I don’t like having guests coming in. When I want to meet someone, I do it somewhere else.”
“Then why there’s a lot of—”
“They’re for you. I thought you would like those kinds of food. You taste sweet anyway. If not, then we could go to the supermarket now and buy anything you like.”
“Oh. No need. I’m fine. But I can’t finish everything.” I could feel my blood rush to my cheeks.
He thinks I taste sweet? Damn!
“You do what you want with them. You can bring snacks to the office. I don’t want you getting hungry.”
Might as well bring some to the office then.
“I’d probably get fat soon,” I muttered under my breath.
But Dane heard me. “You’re good, Lexi. But I don’t mind you being fat. That would only make you more huggable.” He winked at me before letting us out of the pantry.
“Okay. But what is it do you usually eat? I gather that you are a health buff? Veggie sticks, oatmeal kind of stuff?”
“Not really. I’m more on a protein diet. But I eat carbs sometimes, too.” He smirked at me.
“Fine, Mr. Healthy Buff.” I would have rolled my eyes if he did not tug me by the waist.
“Now that you are here, I will add you soon to my diet.”
My eyes went wide. He chuckled when he saw my reaction.
“Well, I think you should start eating healthy stuff, then. I’ll have the junk given away.” He whispered in my ear.
My body’s initial reaction was to tilt my neck when he lowered his lips to my jaw.
My body was betraying me!
“Then give them away. I don’t care.” I said breathily. But then I can’t last the week just by eating veggie sticks. “But perhaps you can spare some cake and ice cream, please?”
One would know that I’m a foodie. I can eat healthy stuff too, but not so much.
“How about a kiss then?” He smiled naughtily at me.
“Only one?” I blurted out, much to my shock. How could I not think before saying things! Dane had my brain all wired up. I made the mistake of asking. It sounded like I was asking for a make-out session.
“You could have my lips for the rest of the day, babe.” He leaned over and kissed my lips. He nibbled on my bottom lip before parting with it. “But let’s wait until we reach the bedroom.” Dane brushed his lips on mine before pulling back. He winked at me before we went to do the rest of the house tour.
“And here’s our bedroom.” He opened the door to the master’s bedroom, which was at least thrice of my previous apartment.
“Why is it again that I will share the bedroom with you?” I asked nervously.
I stepped inside and looked around. The bedroom was grand and, at the same time, simple. It was void of clutter, something I didn’t expect. It was a pleasant surprise. Actually, all spaces in the apartment were void of clutter. Martha did well in keeping the apartment clean. But perhaps Dane was a neat freak.
The neutral colors used in the bedroom–brown and gray–were easy on the eyes. There’s a loveseat by a window, the king-sized bed by a wall, two nightstands, and nothing else.
“It’s obvious that you did not read the second contract I gave you. It says that you will be sleeping with me.” He chuckled as he brought my luggage inside the room.
“It did?” My voice wavered.
“Yes. How would you think we will convince my mom that you are my girlfriend?” Suddenly he was at my back, so close that I could feel his breath against my temple.
I was feeling hot and bothered. But I had to think of something to distract me. My eyes caught two doors, which must lead to his closet and bathroom.
Anyway, I know I had to face Dane and tell him the truth. I turned around and put some space between us.
“I’m sorry I did not read the contract. To be honest, I was only doing this because I need the money. My best friend’s mom has cancer, and I wanted to help. She’s like my second mom.” At first, I was nervous, but then talking about my best friend and her mom made me want to talk more. I had to stop though, because I know they are irrelevant to Dane. “Sorry about that.”
“You didn’t have to apologize. It just shows that your heart is in the right place. Let me know how I could be of help.” Dane moved forward and lifted my face up by my chin.
“Just let me work for you so I could earn the money.”
“I have connections. I know doctors who can make your best friend’s mom get better. I will pay for the treatment. For everything. Tell your best friend about my offer.”
“That’s too much, Dane,” I whispered.
Why is he doing this?
“Would you like your best friend’s mom to live?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then let me help. You can tell your friend that the company where you are currently working is offering help. You didn’t have to say that it’s me if you are not comfortable with them knowing about us.”
But there is no us, right?
“That is too generous of you. Thank you, Dane.”
“Anything for you. Anything else I could help you with?” He brushed a stray strand of hair and put it at the back of my ear.
“You could take a cut on my pay for the cost of –” I started to tell him.
“Lexi, this is on me. It’s my decision to help. Okay? Whatever is in the contract, that is all yours. Put it in a savings account or invest it. I could help you with that.”
I could not help but feel grateful for Dane that I closed the very small gap between us and gave him a tight hug.
“Thank you so much, Dane. I don’t know how to thank you.”
He also had his arms wrapped around me. “How about more kisses then?”
- Writer
