Mr. Masters (Mr. 1)

I giggle. “A science experiment?”

“Good grief. Yes or no?” he snaps and I can tell he’s edgy.

“Yes, of course, yes.” I frown. “What’s the dress code?”

“Not bondage.” He chuckles.

“Damn it.” I widen my eyes. “That’s annoying.”

“Pick you up at seven?”

“Okay.” I do a little jig on the spot. “Seven it is.”

It’s just after seven when I hear a knock on my bedroom door.

I close my eyes and put my hand on my stomach to try and calm my nerves.

I’ve never been so nervous, and I know it’s not about what I’m about to do. This is about what I’m ignoring.

My gut is telling me to run.

This is a bad idea.

I shouldn’t be going out with Julian tonight. I know we should be keeping things separate. What if this turns pear-shaped?

We live together, for Christ’s sake.

I open the door and there he stands—my tall, beautiful man in his black dinner suit.

He smiles sexily as his eyes drop down to my tight, coffee-colored evening gown. I inhale when I’m teased with his heavenly aftershave.

“You look beautiful,” he whispers.

I smile softly as my heart tries to escape my chest. “Thank you.”

His dark eyes hold mine. “You ready to do this?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He leads me through the house by the hand, and then out to the car. As usual, he opens the door for me, but then backs me against the car before he leans to kiss me.

I smile as I put my arms around his neck. “We can kiss in the garage now?”

“We can kiss in the garage.” His large hands roam down to my ass and he drags me onto his hard body. We stay in each other’s arms as he looks down at me, taking in every detail of my face. His brow crease suddenly, and then he falls serious.

What is that look?

He straightens and pulls away. “We need to go.”

“Okay.” I climb in, and without a word, he closes the door behind me and gets into the driver’s side.

Once we’re driving on the main road, I find myself watching him. He’s deep in thought when he glances up and catches me watching him. Julian takes my hand in his and places it on his thigh.

“Everything all right?” I ask.

He focuses back on the road, picking my hand up to kiss the back of it. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You’re just quiet.”