"It''s fine. This bed is big enough, it won''t be a problem." The words had barely left her mouth before Jarrod stood up, came over, and slipped under the covers.


    Hey down quietly and closed his eyes. "Lights out, please."


    "...Oh," Elodie replied.


    She turned off the light and got into bed, a considerable distance between them.


    She knew very well that Jarrod could have any woman he wanted. What interest could he possibly have in her?


    She fell asleep without a second thought, despite therge, living man lying next to her.


    Jarrod turned on his side to look at her.


    He had to hand it to her; she was really testing his patience. Did she really see him as some perfect gentleman? Did she think his mind was pure?


    He reached out, intending to pinch her cheek in retaliation, but he couldn''t bring himself to do it.


    Instead, his hand moved to her little finger, gently hooking it.


    The simple touch made his Adam''s apple bob. It wasn''t enough. He took her whole hand in his, feeling its slender softness.


    To avoid waking her, he moved closer, propping his head on his hand to gaze at her sleeping face. Her eyshes were long, her bone structure beautiful, her features exquisitely defined. Her lips were a pale red, glistening and full from the lip balm she wore.


    He became lost in the sight of her.


    He leaned down and pressed his lips against hers, a soft, yet deliberate kiss. A tremor ran through his chest, and the hand supporting him on the bed tightened, veins standing out on his skin.


    He felt an impulse to devour her, reckless and overwhelming. Crazy scenarios and desires rolled through his mind, one after another.


    In her sleep, Elodie must have felt her breathing was restricted, because she instinctively raised a hand and pped him.


    The sound was crisp and clear.


    She didn''t wake up, but the p jolted him out of his lustful reverie. His cheek tingled.


    It was the first time in his life a woman had ever pped him.


    He stared at her darkly for a long time, then had no choice but to get up and quietly slip into the bathroom. If he didn''t deal with the pressure, he was going to explode.


    When Elodie woke up, she found


    that the distance between her and Jarrod was the same as the night before. Her defenses lowered seemed Jarrod


    notch


    really wasn''t interested in hepand


    was, in fact, a perfect gentleman.


    She didn''t waste any time thinking about him and quickly got up to get ready.


    The moment she left, Jarrod opened his eyes.


    He''d be damned if he could sleep with the woman he yearned for right beside him. As for deliberately maintaining that "safe distance"... he had his reasons. A hunter always has to let his prey lower its guard, doesn''t he?


    The following weeks went


    surprisingly smoothly for Elodie at


    the PR department. Jarrod still


    made his asional appearances


    o do with her.


    but that had nothing to


    The manager was the one who had to deal with him, so it wasn''t her problem.


    Soon after, Manager Stone began taking her to client meetings.


    It was a small world, though. Every time she went to a business dinner, she would


    run into Jarrod. He continued to act as if they were strangers, and she yed her part as well.


    To her surprise, she found that most


    of the executives were quite kind.


    vel


    She had always thought that business dinners involved an unsavory side, especially for attractive women, and had been a bit worried. But in all this time, everyone she had dealt with had been polite and courteous. She had never been put in an ufortable position.


    This made her ecstatic.


    But she was alsopetitive. When she did something, she had to be the best.


    Three months into the job, she was bing more and more proficient. Even Manager Stone was impressed and started entrusting her with important cases.


    As the year drew to a close and thepany prepared for the holidays, Elodie assumed they would go their separate ways.


    But Jarrod brought something up. "There''s an urgent business trip. You''reing with me. Any problem with that?"


    Elodie didn''t want Jarrod to look down on her work ethic, but she found it strange. "Me? Why would I go on a business trip with you?"


    Jarrod''s expression didn''t change. "You''ll see when we get there. We''re going to Verdantia."


    He didn''t tell her it was actually their honeymoon, three months after they had gotten their marriage license.


    He was done beating around the bush. He was just going to lure her there, where it would be just the two of them, and be more direct.