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kindly, kissing the top of my head.

"I don't like bridges."

"And by that you mean...?" Jack glances down at me.

"I mean I hate bridges and have a panic attack when I'm forced to drive over one. I'm afraid the car will crash and go over the rail." I shiver saying it, thinking about the car filling with water and being trapped inside.

Jack smooths his hands over my arms, chasing the feeling away. "When did that happen?"

"I don't know." I shrug and look up at him. "It's always been there to some extent."

"We live on an island. How did I not notice?"

"If you're sitting next to a tense, non-chatty version of me, we're probably on a bridge." I pause for a second and grin, teasing. "If I'm looking way up at you and shaking like a leaf, it's probably got something to do with a ladder."

"Anything else that frightens you?" He kisses my cheek and then gives me a little more room.

"Just the normal kind of stuff; clowns, Tigger, demons that live in my closet."

Jack doesn't know what to say, so he laughs one short loud laugh. "Oh my God. You are all sorts of fucked up, aren't you?"

I nod and smile. "And what frightens you, big sexy man? Spiders? Unicorns?"

Jack snorts, but then he gets a far-off look in his eye like he knows exactly what terrifies him the most. When he looks down at me, he says, "Any man should have serious concerns about an animal with a huge phallic symbol on its head. You stay away from unicorns, you hear me?" I smile and Jack tickles me, driving away the rest of my irrational fears.

Chapter 20

ABBY

Later that night, as we get ready for bed in the cottage, Jack asks me, "So, this Jeremy guy - "

I'm putting on a piece of lingerie I found at a cute shop in the village. It was easy to see what it looked like in the store, but now I'm having trouble getting into it. Jack thinks I'm brushing my teeth. "He was my boyfriend, freshman year of college."

Jack's voice carries through the door. "And...?" he prompts.

"And nothing. We dated for a little while, but he didn't get into my panties, if that's what you're asking, Mr. Gray. We parted ways."

"So, I'm the only guy who's gotten into those panties?" he asks. There's a hopeful wistfulness to his voice.

I step into the room and Jack's jaw drops. His eyes slip over my body, drinking me in like he can't get enough. The piece of lingerie is nothing but shiny, strategically draped, red strings. It gives the illusion of concealment, but he can see right through it. It's shaped like a bodysuit and dips between my legs, but again, that's only for show. I'm wearing red-lace topped thigh-highs and fuck-me-heels. I found something else in the shop that I thought he'd like, too. I put it on under the stringy piece of lingerie. It becomes more visible when I move.

Jack's gaze fixates on my breasts, on the sparkling silver chain that connects to each nipple. Jack's eyes darken as he stares, unblinking. As I sashay toward him, I make sure that I sway my hips so that all the little strings sway and move with me. It mesmerizes Jack, and he doesn't speak. His lips are parted and if his chest wasn't moving up and down, I'd be worried.

"You're the only guy who's been in my panties, Mr. Gray. And you're the scoundrel that made me realize that I love being with you."

Jack laughs. "Scoundrel? What century are we in?" His entire face lights up, but his eyes can't part with my body.

I stop and throw out my hip, tapping my finger to my lips. I raise a brow at him. "What should I call you, then? Before you, I didn't think I'd like this so much. But you, you made me realize that it's so much more. Scoundrel seemed suiting."

"Maybe, if we were in eighteenth century Vienna. I think the modern term is 'sex god.' You know, someone so hot that they can't be resisted. Someone like me. Someone like you..."

I laugh at the thought. "You think I'm a sex goddess?"

"No, I know you're a sex goddess. You were going to tell me what else you liked before I rudely cut you off. And if you don't start walking toward me again, I may have to jump out of bed and come over there." Jack smiles wickedly at me.

I point at him and