to know each other exclusive of other people and see what happens. And if Sunday evening was any indication of your feelings, then we should give it a shot.”
“I think dating you will be complicated,” Willow said. “I don’t like complications, remember?”
“Why complicated?”
“Come on,” she said. “You’re in the paper every other day. I’m a very private person and you’re a public figure. That’s like oil and water.”
“We can be private,” he said.
“Let me think about it,” she said.
“Okay,” he said simply.
They went back to their meal, some of the skewered portions now severely overcooked.
“Why did you decide to become a photographer?” he asked changing the subject.
“It was my passion.”
“I think you could have done quite well on the other side of the camera. I noticed that when I was checking out your childbearing potential."
She laughed again. He loved the sound of her voice.
“Modeling for me is the same as being the monarch for you. It was never my destiny."
"So you tried modeling?"
"No, not really. Being on the other side of the camera made it quite clear where I belonged."
They finished dinner a few minutes later. This time James piled everything into the sink without a second thought of going beyond that.
"Let me show you around," he said.
The house was huge. The structures she had seen the first day and thought were apartments were indeed just that. His immediate and personal staff resided in the apartments to the left of what she styled as the main house. Between the apartments and the main house were recreational rooms. One recreational room housed an Olympic sized swimming pool. Another was setup as a pub, complete with a pool table and dart boards. The third one and the one closest to the main house was a small movie theatre.
The doors to the right as she had entered the house led to his home office, a basement, and to guest quarters. The guest quarters were similar to the employee apartments in amount and design. They added symmetry to the house. Upstairs was the bulk of the main house. It had an elaborate master’s bedroom and bathroom complete with two mammoth walk-in closets. One of the closets was completely empty. There were five additional bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, as well.
“You must get lonely in here,” she said as they ventured back downstairs.
“There’s always someone around. Besides, I get out here to get away from everything else.”
“I didn’t say alone,” she turned to look at him as they stopped at the top of the stairs. “I said lonely. You know when all the employees are off to their beds and you’re alone in all of this.”
“That doesn’t happen often. This is a sanctuary. As I told on you on Sunday, you are the first outsider who’s ever been here.”
“You didn’t have to invite me.”
“I know. I really wanted to, though.”
She turned to walk away, he gently caught her hand. He turned her so she was looking at him.
James watched as her eyes moved over his, then down his face where they settled on his lips. She licked her own lips involuntarily and he chuckled.
"What?"
"I may need to beg your forgiveness again," he said before his lips touched hers.
Her lips parted. The hand holding hers let go and move to her waist, the other hand reached up behind her head. Though they were almost the same height, he took pleasure in tilting her head back. It gave him greater access to explore her sensuous mouth. Her hands were on his waist. She wasn't pushing him away.
A moan escaped her lips as he tilted her head back even further and trailed a path down her neck. Her scent was familiar and teased images that he couldn’t quite place.
He broke the kiss and looked at her. She was looking at him, her eyes heavy with emotions. There was no scorn. His scar was not veiled behind make up. The damaged piece of flesh that had caused so many others to turn away did not seem to bother her.
“I want you,” he said.
She did not respond immediately.
His lips brushed against hers lightly.
“I could break all the rules for you,” he whispered.
"Let's not do that," she said
"Somehow I don't think you’d protest much if I did," he said wryly.
"Are you implying that I don't have my rules?"
"Oh, I'm sure you have rules."
"Right now my rules are telling me it’s time to go home."
"You leaving will be the only reason I'll feel lonely tonight."
"I hear cold showers work wonders."
"That's a temporary fix."
"I