Weird.

I was about to turn toward him when something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.

“Is that … my notebook?” In fact, as I looked closely at the room, I noticed several of my things. On the vanity table were my makeup box and the clips I used to pull my hair back. Without waiting for permission, I went straight to my notebook, and there it was. My food notes. I didn’t keep a journal. Talking about my feelings on the pages never appealed, but here, I had everything I’d ever cooked. Well, just a volume of part of what I’d been doing with my life. “How did you get this?”

“The same way I got you. Easily. I emptied yours and Emily’s apartment.”

“All of my stuff is here?”

“Some of your stuff is here. The rest I’ve had sent to one of my residences.”

I looked at him, rubbing the back of my neck. “Your home?”

“I have several all around the world. My mood depends on where I go as to what I do.”

I licked my lips. “You’re not just going to be done with me in a couple of days?”

Earl moved across the bedroom and picked up a picture frame. It was one of Emily and me, taken a few months ago. In a rare circumstance where I got Emily to smile. It had been hard to do, but she’d tried for me. “You two are really close?”

“Of course.”

“One day, you’ll get to talk to her.”

“I will?”

“I’m not a complete beast.”

“You never refer to yourself as a monster,” I said.

“That title is claimed, and I’m nothing like the Crude Hill lot.”

“You make them sound like children.”

“They are.”

“It’s rather insulting, don’t you think?”

“I’m not here to win any games with them. I’m not looking for a competition. Do you like your new room?”

“This is your room?”

“Yes.” He leaned back on his hands.

My gaze fell to his crotch, to the obvious outline of his erection. He was hard and looking right at me.

“It’s nice.” I opened my book, seeing a cross through fennel. I was making some soup, and I clearly didn’t like the addition of the vegetable. Beside it, I’d put seed, and again, this was crossed out.

“Put the book down and come here.”

I looked up at him and found that he was still watching me. Slowly, I put the book down, but I didn’t want to do that. I knew I didn’t. With each step I took, I got closer to him until I stood right in front of him.

He took my hand and locked our fingers together. “You did really good today.”

“Thank you.”

“Always so polite.”

He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to my knuckles. I watched him close his eyes and then let go of me. The tips of his fingers brushed across my thigh, teasing along the edge of my dress.

His touch should have repulsed me.

It didn’t.

I didn’t understand why not.

Staring at him, I waited for the chills, the sick revulsion, but nothing came.

“Sit. Put your knees on either side of me.”

“What?”

He sat back on the bed and tugged me close. I had no choice but to put my knee on either side of his waist, moving onto the bed. The angle put my pussy directly over his dick. I didn’t sit down, but his hands went to the curve of my ass as he moved me into place.

The hard length of his cock touched me. He was still wearing pants, and I wore my underwear, but I felt him. Pure steel. I gripped his shoulders, trying to hold on. I was far from sickened. I liked it.

Staring into his green eyes, I waited for him to strike, to make me do something I really didn’t want to do.

His hands went back to my ass, and he held me in place.

“You know, all day, there was something I’ve been wanting to do to you. Do you know what that is?”

“Fuck me?” The words spilled from my lips before I could stop them.

He chuckled. “I want to do that. It’s a given, but no.” He pressed his face against my neck and I gasped. He hadn’t even kissed me yet. Just the tip of his nose brushing across my flesh. This shouldn’t feel so good.

I was a horrible friend. The worst kind of person.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment I saw you this morning.”

I jerked back, but I didn’t get far as his hands were on my ass. “You do?”

“Yeah, I do.”