Betrayal (Infidelity Book 1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,53

I expected from the wax, but whatever it was, there was very little evidence. A few light pink circles on my breasts, but that was it. I checked my wrists again. They were a little tender to the touch, but no discoloration.

The large tub returned the smile to my face.

Debating between a shower and finding Nox, I cleaned myself as best as I could. The washcloth and sink sufficed as I secured the robe and set off to find Nox.

“Good morning, Miss Charli,” Mrs. Witt said as I rounded the corner to the kitchen.

My cheeks blushed knowing the thoughts she’d probably had. If I hadn’t tamed my hair before coming out of the bedroom, no doubt, she’d have thought crazy-ape sex.

Oh shit! I needed to call Chelsea.

I did my best to act nonchalantly; after all, she worked for Nox. The man was gorgeous. She was probably used to having women in robes wandering about.

“Good morning, Mrs. Witt. I’m sorry to bother you…”

“No bother,” she said with a smile as she reached for a coffee pot. “How do you like your coffee?”

“Cream, no sugar.”

Handing me the mug, she asked, “Can I get you anything to eat? Fruit? Muffin? Mr.… umm… Mr. Nox said you might be hungry.”

Damn! The blood rushed back to my cheeks. “I think maybe I should go to my suite.”

“No. I know he’s waiting for you in the office. I believe he’d be very disappointed if you left.”

I knew I didn’t have any claims on Nox. That was our agreement: one week—that’s it, but I couldn’t help but ask the question that popped into my head. “Mrs. Witt?”

“Yes, dear.”

“I suppose this isn’t unusual…”

Her smile widened. “That’s not for me to say.”

I nodded.

“But,” she went on, “Mr. Nox has spent the entire morning ensuring that his afternoon and evening are free. That,” she emphasized, “is highly unusual. Don’t you see why you shouldn’t run off? Besides, he wasn’t very happy when that happened before.”

I grinned. “That was a misunderstanding, as I’m sure you’re aware.”

“And it was understandable. His removing that ring… let’s just say, between us, that this past week has seen a string of unusual occurrences.”

“Are you sure I won’t be bothering him if I go in the office?” I still didn’t know what Nox did for a profession. What if he were talking to one of his bosses? I thought about Alton and how he didn’t like people coming uninvited into his office.

“No, dear. He asked for you to go to him, right?”

I nodded. “Well, in a note.”

“Then there’s your answer. Mr. Nox doesn’t say what he doesn’t mean.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Witt.”

She nodded. “You let me know if I can get you anything to eat.”

“I will.”

Carrying my coffee, I padded barefoot toward Nox’s office. I knew the layout of the suite from my other visits. Thankfully, the door was slightly ajar.

“I don’t care.” His gruff tone came through the crack. “The debate has been going on too long. I want this resolved—yesterday.”

I pushed the door wider, afraid there was someone with him, or he was on webcam. Instead, I found him standing at the window, wearing gym shorts and a worn Boston t-shirt, with a phone to his ear. The stern tone I’d heard in his voice showed in his face as he turned toward the creak of the opening door. And then his expression morphed: his blue eyes shimmered as his scowl curved into a smile.

I probably looked like an ogling schoolgirl, but the sight of Nox with sex-mussed hair, a day’s beard growth, and casual clothes had me smiling from ear to ear. I hadn’t thought it was possible for him to look sexier than he did in a silk suit or swim trunks, but it was. The familiar tightening inside me returned. It seemed to be a constant ailment in his presence.

“Good morning,” he mouthed, still listening to the person on the other end of the phone. “Edward, I’m going to need to continue this discussion another time. Something just came up.”

My gaze lowered to his shorts.

When I looked back up, he winked. “Resolve it. Goodbye.”

I took a step toward him as Nox did the same.

“Not one of your bosses?”

Nox’s eyes widened. “That call? No. Nobody really. I could tell you all about it, but that would break our no-information rule, and then I’d have to…” He pursed his lips.

“You’d have to what?”

“I was thinking about that.” He reached for my waist and pulled me close. “I’m sure I can think of something.” After