Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

He ran the shampoo through his hair. “I’ll see what I can do.”

His hands landed on top of mine. He rotated to rinse the shampoo. We were chest to chest. My nipples grazed the indentations of his muscles. My lips pointed toward his. He brushed his wet lips over mine. I smiled.

“I can’t wait for you to get back.”

He was quiet.

He turned me around and soaped my back with body wash. When we were finished rinsing off, Vaughn reached for the towels, wrapping me in a spiral before drying his hair and stepping from the shower.

We both dressed and he picked up the few things he had brought with him last night.

“I guess you’ll have to get to know Preston another time,” I mused.

“I guess so.” He tucked his wallet into his back po

cket and unplugged his phone from the charger.

“Maybe when you get back we can do a different double date. A movie? Or one of the shows that are coming up for the holidays?”

“Maybe.” He walked past me and pulled his jacket from the hook on the back of the door.

The charge between us had changed. I couldn’t explain it, but it seemed as if Vaughn was so distracted from his travel plans he couldn’t focus. As soon as the shower sex was over, he was on a clearly distinct mission to collect his belongings. I didn’t want to believe it was because I told him I loved him. He already knew—saying it out loud only made it official.

“When is your flight?” I sat on the bed and watched him, confused by how broody he had become.

“Three hours. I have to pack.”

“At least you had a shower,” I teased.

He sighed. “Yeah.” He walked toward the bed. “I have to get going.”

“I could ride with you. Help you pack? Or drop you off at the airport?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. I have to run by the office first and pick up files. I don’t really have time.”

“I could see your office then.”

“No, Em.”

I felt the disappointment sink in. I didn’t want him to leave. I didn’t know how to stall him without coming across as immature. I should be able to handle this. It was a business trip. When he went to Germany for a week things weren’t this serious between us. We had one date. We were way past that point now.

The last months had been everything I wanted in a relationship. Knowing there was going to be an interruption in that made me nervous. It shouldn’t. I should have more confidence in him. In us.

I pulled my shoulders back.

“I hope you have fun wherever you go.” I plastered on a fake smile.

“Thanks.” He leaned down to kiss me. “Bye, Emily.”

He backed up toward the door, pausing for a second. I thought he was going to say something, but he turned and was gone.

I fell on the bed, trying not to feel sad. He would be back soon, I told myself. And between now and then I had plenty to keep me busy. I had more than most people. I had a huge wrongful termination case. I had a meeting with Max Harrison this week. I had a roommate to reconnect with.

I pulled the pillow to my chest. I had all of that, but what I really wanted had just walked out the door.

Chapter Eighteen

I had fallen into sort of a groove at work. It was still chaotic and overwhelming, but that had become my new normal. Monday morning, I walked in looking for a case to distract me. I wanted to sink my teeth into something while Vaughn was gone. I hadn’t heard from him yet.