“No, Rory. I didn’t sleep with her. In fact, I left the gala early and left her there with Andrew. Seeing you before I left made me feel like complete shit. I came home that night, alone, and went to bed.” A small smile graced her face after I gave her my answer. “Was there something else you wanted to ask?”

“Yes, actually, there is. When I came over the morning after you and Andrew went to dinner, I saw Andrew and the two women walking down the stairs. One of them said to thank you for last night and then Andrew said you were out running, but he didn’t know how, since you only got a couple of hours sleep. Did you fuck one of those women?”

“That explains your attitude that morning when I asked if you were pissed at me. I knew something was bothering you.” I pulled her into me and held her head against my chest before pulling her back and giving her another kiss. “I swear to you, Rory, on my life, that I did not sleep with any of those women. I let Andrew use the room. He was with the both of them, not me. They were telling him to thank me for letting them use it. Andrew wanted you to believe that I slept with one of them. God, I wish you would’ve asked me about it that day.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me as tightly as she could. “Thank you, Ian, for being honest. I love you so much.”

“I love you more, sweetheart, and don’t ever forget it. Now, can we finish our run because I can’t stop thinking about those blueberry muffins?”

“You bet.” She smiled as she took my hand and we finished our run.

“Damn, Charles, I think these are the best blueberry muffins you ever made,” I said as I took a bite.

Rory looked at me and laughed as she walked over to where I was standing and wiped a crumb from my mouth.

“You should have heard him when we were in Paris, Charles. He was telling the people at the French bakery that they needed to get the recipe from you for blueberry muffins because theirs weren’t cutting it.”

“Ian, seriously?” Charles smirked.

“It’s true, Charles. The muffins over there are shit.”

I sat down at the table with my muffin and coffee and stared at Rory as she looked out the window. She was sweaty from our run and she never looked more perfect. I was getting hard just staring at her.

“I think we need to go shower now. I have to go into the office for a while.”

She looked at me with a smile and got up from her chair. She walked over and stood behind me, wrapping her arms around me and whispering in my ear. “Taking a shower is a good idea because I’m dirty, and I want to be even dirtier with you in the shower.”

She ran her hot ass up the stairs as I jumped up from my chair and ran up after her. She lifted her top over her head before she reached the bedroom and threw it behind her. Damn, she was hot and I couldn’t wait to get her in the shower. She had it started before I fully stripped out of my clothes. I stepped into the shower and grabbed her hips as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“I’m afraid that I’m going to have to punish you.”

“Why’s that, Mr. Braxton? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But you did, Miss Sinclair. You didn’t let me finish my blueberry muffin.”

“I do believe I taste better than your blueberry muffins. So if you’re still hungry, then by all means, help yourself.” She smiled at me.

Not only did she awaken the beast inside, she welcomed it, and I was more than happy to do as she wished.

Rory

I kissed Ian goodbye as he walked out the door and headed to the office. Since he came to Paris, we spent every waking moment together, and it felt strange that he left, even if it was only for a while. Tomorrow was visiting day over at Hudson Rock and I couldn’t wait to see Stephen. We Skyped every Thursday when I was in Paris, but I still missed him and I couldn’t wait to hug him.

I walked over to the piano and ran my finger along the top. I sat down, positioned my fingers on the keys, and played some Chopin. I lost myself in the melody, but this time, I didn’t need to be transported to another reality. The reality I was in was perfect, and I was happy. As Mandy walked into the room with a smile on her face, I stopped playing and gave her a hug.

“Rory, I’m so happy you’re back. It was awful while you were gone. Mr. Braxton was miserable and I was so afraid I wouldn’t ever see you again,” she said as she hugged me tightly.

“I missed you, Mandy, and I’m here to stay.” I smiled.

“I was so worried that you weren’t going to take Mr. Braxton back. He knew I missed you because he came up to me the day he left for Paris and he told me not to worry because he was going to bring you home.”

“And he did. How were your holidays?” I asked.

“They were good, thank you.”

“How’s your daughter?”

“She’s really good. Just between us, Mr. Braxton gave me a raise as a Christmas gift. He said that I do a really good job and I deserved it.”

My heart melted at the thought of Ian doing that for Mandy. He was finally opening up and becoming the person he was meant to be before his mom left him.

“That’s wonderful, Mandy. I’m so happy for you. Now, when am I going to get to meet that daughter of yours?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t think Mr. Braxton would want me to bring her here. He’s not fond of children.”

I was stunned to hear Mandy say that. Ian and I had never talked about kids in general, so I guess I wasn’t aware of his feelings. My mind went back to that day when Connor and Ellery were here and he was holding Julia. He looked very uncomfortable and, when he saw me, he handed her to me right away.

“Don’t worry about Ian. I can handle him. I really would love to meet your daughter. What’s her name?”

Mandy looked at me and smiled. “Her name is Molly.”

“Molly is a pretty name.”

“Thank you, Rory. I better get back to work,” she said as she turned and walked away.

I headed upstairs to move some of my things from my room to Ian’s. As I reached the top of the stairs, I started down the hall and stopped and stared at the door to “the room.” I put my hand on the doorknob and, surprisingly, it turned. I slowly pushed the door open and gasped when I saw the inside. The walls were no longer gray. They were a light yellow with white crown molding. There was a queen-sized bed with a beautiful duvet cover across it. A white-washed dresser sat on the wall where the hooks used to be and a beautiful matching armoire sat quaintly in the corner. I was in shock and had to look around and be sure this was the same room I had seen not too long ago.

“Do you like it?” Ian’s voice said from behind.

I jumped and placed my hand over my heart. “Ian, you scared me.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said as he clasped my shoulders.

“Why are you home already?” I asked.

“Don’t you want me here?”

“Of course I do. I just thought you’d be gone longer.”

“I grabbed what I needed to and I left. Truth be told, I missed you, and I can do some work from home.”

“Aw, baby,” I said as I turned around and hugged him. “I missed you too.”

“Answer my question. Do you like it?”

“Yes. The room looks great. But why?” I asked as I looked up at him and placed my hand on his cheek.

“I wanted it gone. The memories, what it represented; everything. The room was an outlet for me; a way to release the pain I felt inside. The women I brought here were used to this kind of sex. But, you.” He smiled softly. “You were different. I had no desire to do any of those things to you or with you. You were so innocent, and all I could imagine whenever I looked at you was making love to you as passionately as I could.”

“Oh, Ian,” I whispered as I softly stroked his cheek.

He leaned in and kissed my lips and then turned around and shut the door.