Yours Tonight (Reign 1)

I shook my head quickly, cursing that I’d just taken a bite and my mouth was full. After a few chews and a swallow, I finally was able to say, “I don’t want to leave, but I think I’ll need to. To get a change of clothes, toothbrush, things like that.”

I’d done my best with the toothpaste and mouthwash in Jack’s bathroom, but would love to actually brush.

“I’ll launder your clothes, and you can wear something of mine in the meantime. There’s a spare toothbrush in the bathroom in the second drawer.”

I paused. He kept a spare? He said he didn’t have women over, so why would he keep a spare? Whatever he saw on my face made him say, “It’s brand new, and in the package still.”

“That’s not what I was worried about.”

“Then what?”

“Why do you have a spare?”

“For you.”

That made my chest still. It was the same as the variations of jams he’d gotten.

“You bought me a toothbrush?”

He nodded. “After our first night together, I thought it would be a good thing to have on hand. I like to be prepared.”

“So, you’ve planned this? Seducing me into staying at your house?”

A wicked gleam laced his face. “Yes. But to be fair, you’re not free of guilt in this.”

“What have I done?” I asked in shock.

“You,” he leaned in, “are a seductress yourself.”

He kissed me quickly on the lips, then took another bite of pizza. I ate mine, marveling at how natural this seemed. He was calm, yet still in control. Always. But it was simple, easy to be with him. Not just the sex, which was amazing, but spending time with him and hearing his voice was nice.

Still, how set up was this? He’d thought ahead, knew what he wanted, and if that was me, he had taken steps to see to my comforts. It wasn’t like he was giving me his house key or sectioning off a drawer in a dresser for my stuff. He’d thought ahead enough to know he wanted me to stay the night at some point.

Despite all I was learning, I now knew he’d wanted me from the beginning.

“I have some T-shirts you can wear, boxer shorts, or nothing, if you prefer.” He took a bite of his pizza, then glanced at me. “My vote is for the third option.”

I smiled. This was fun. Teasing with Jack. The idea that he wanted me to stay around. It was a chance to get to really know him. See him better in the light of day, where we were comfortable and happy.

“So, no plans for today other than lounging?”

“We can do whatever you’d like,” he said.

I glanced out the massive windows. For a summer day, it was a bit foggy, and the idea of staying in, getting lost in Jack, sounded perfect.

“I hear there’s a Godfather marathon on TV today.”

He nodded. “Excellent.”

A flare of guilt caught me, though. “I don’t want to take up your whole weekend. If you wanted to see your friends or your mom maybe?”

“My mother is dead, and Cal is out of town, as you know.” He didn’t spare me a glance that time, but there was a low, dangerous timbre in his voice.

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “I hadn’t realized about your mom.” He didn’t say anything, so I gently pushed for a little more detail. “Can I ask what happened?”

He looked at me, as if deciding whether or not to tell me. I didn’t want to kill the mood, but any insight I could get into him was like a beacon of hope I clung to that maybe we could be more. That we were heading in that direction at least. Something beyond sex and lust and taking the need I had for him to another level. Because I was already heading there, and I really wanted him to head

there with me.