Free Once Bitten, Twice Shy by C.C. Wood Page B

my hair up and secured it with a clip, and slid into the hot water.
    Finally, after waiting an entire day for Lex to show up to continue our ‘conversation’, I felt like I could relax. It was almost ten and he wasn’t back yet. I doubted we would have our talk tonight.
    When the water began to cool, I climbed out of the tub and dried off. I wrapped the towel around me. It was a bit chilly in my room at night and I’d forgotten to bring my pajamas into the bathroom. I stepped into my bedroom and stopped short.
    Lounging on my bed in all black, his shirt unbuttoned to reveal his toned chest and abs, was Lex. He was studying a sheaf of papers in his hand, his legs stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankle. I realized his feet were bare. He looked completely relaxed and at home. His eyes lifted from the page to look at me, then his entire body went still.
    “What are you doing in here?” I asked, tugging at my towel to be sure it covered me. Thank God, Conner and Donna had enormous bath sheets in their guest rooms. I moved to the dresser and grabbed the first nightshirt and shorts I could grab, snagging a pair of underwear at the same time. “Never mind. I don’t care. I’m going to go into the bathroom and get dressed. Please be gone when I come out. If you want to talk to me, you can knock on the door like a normal person.”
    With that, I sailed into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. My hands were unsteady as I dressed. I never hesitated to speak like that with my other boyfriends, but Lex was different. You didn’t tell Lex what to do. You asked him and hoped he would concede.
    Sure enough, when I opened the door, Lex hadn’t moved an inch. Somehow I knew that was his way of telling me that he was in charge. I leaned a shoulder against the door jamb between the bedroom and bathroom and crossed my arms over my chest.
    Lex calmly continued to go through his paperwork, not looking at me. “Come here, Ivie.”
    I didn’t move. I wanted to acquiesce, even felt my feet wanting to move without my direction, but I couldn’t. I reminded myself that I had decided to keep my distance, that I was just food to this man unless I allowed him to change me in the most fundamental way.
    Finally, he looked up from his paperwork, his dark eyes sharp. “Come here.”
    I shook my head.
    He turned and put the papers on the nightstand next to him. Then he turned back and was studying my face intently. “What are you thinking?” he asked.
    I didn’t answer, glad that I seemed to have mastered the ability to hide my thoughts.
    “Whatever it is, stop. I can promise that it is not that bad,” he said gently. Lex lifted a hand to beckon me again.
    “Lex, I can’t do this.” My voice was soft but firm.
    “Do what?” His question seemed genuine, as if he sincerely wanted to know what I was thinking. That’s the only reason I answered him.
    “I can’t get involved with you.”
    He cocked his head. “Why?”
    “Lex, you left for two months without even saying good-bye. Then you show up and expect to pick up where we left off? Can you understand why I might be hesitant?”
    He nodded, his face thoughtful.
    Since he was listening, not arguing or brushing off my opinions, I decided to continue.
    “There’s another issue. I don’t know about you, Lex, but I don’t see my food source as equal. I wouldn’t speak to a cow or chicken or treat them like I would another human being. While I would never be cruel to an animal, they are food and their existence ends in order to help me continue mine. I don’t want to be the cow or chicken.”
    As I spoke, his eyebrows rose. When I finished, he no longer looked surprised. Instead he was scowling. I had to admit it was intimidating as hell.
    He snapped his fingers. “Come here now.”
    I gave him wide eyes. “Excuse me?” He had not just snapped his fingers at me.
    He growled. “You will not like it if I have to come to you.”
    With a sigh, I straightened from