"Russ." She whispered softly as she slipped her arms around his neck and returned his passionate kiss. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom, gently lowering her to the bed. This time there was no hesitation, no rush. Everything was going to be all right now.
But nothing was different when she woke in his arms hours later. Again she had abandoned morality and shamed herself in front of him. Why had she thought he loved her? He was merely devastatingly accomplished at lovemaking - sex. Nothing more. She had allowed herself to fall into the role of mistress. At least he had the decency to remind her she was off the clock and therefore not a whore - or was she?
She slipped from his bed, feeling sick to her stomach. This was the last time. From now on she would tell him to keep his hands to himself. It wasn't his fault. Hadn't she been entirely accommodating? How could he know she had become serious about him? As far as he knew, she made a habit of this kind of activity. Could a man tell when he was her first?
Her one saving grace was the fact that the next morning he didn't act as though nothing had happened. As he sat sipping his coffee after breakfast he glanced at her.
"I missed you this morning."
She searched his face suspiciously but there was no leer in his expression. The statement was simple and honest, and somehow it made her feel better.
"We shouldn't have... We can't let it happen again." she stammered.
"Why?" Again the question was devoid of implication.
"Because it isn't right... I mean... well you being my employer and all. I'm not a ..."
He stood and carried his coffee cup to the sink, pouring out the remains. "I pay you to take care of the house while I'm out working. I guess that makes me your employer." He carefully placed the cup in the sink and ran water into it. "But what we do with our time after work is strictly between the two of us." He lifted his head and met her gaze. "If you don't want to sleep with me, I don't want you to feel obligated to do so to keep your job."
She caught her breath. "Oh, no. It isn't that at all. It's just that... well, it isn't right for two people who aren't..." She stopped. Would he think she was pressuring him into marriage now?
He quirked a brow. "Aren't married?" At her nod he shrugged. "Isn't it a little late to start worrying about that sort of thing?"