"Why are you so stiff?" Ang questioned as shey on her side while facing Gael whoy next to her with his arms folded across his chest as though he was making sure they would stay in ce.


    "What do you mean?"


    She scanned him up and down and waved her hand on his form. "You''re like a stick. Unmoving. Do you not like this room? The bed?"


    ''Damn it,'' he thought. He didn''t dislike anything. No. That''s a lie. For the past ten minutes since he gotfortable in bed while she got ready and then joined him afterward, he stayed still. He hated the fact that they were sharing a bed, and yet he had to keep his hands to himself. So this wasn''t exactly a joyride. This was torture.


    He''d been dying to get her toe with him and stay in his house, only to restrain himself? This was ridiculous. Gael didn''t know whether he should pat or curse himself for being a good boy.


    "I get it," Ang continued when he didn''t say anything. Her face fell as she nodded. "You don''t want to be here. Sorry. I''m being selfish asking forpany. You have a meeting in a few hours. You should be resting—"


    "It''s not that."


    "Then what?"


    Gael sighed. He wasn''t about to tell her he was itching to peel off everyyer of clothing on her body, kiss every inch of her, flip her over, and f?ck her from behind. That might scare her off that she''d take the next flight back to Mayne.


    "Forget it. Aren''t you sleepy?" he asked, only ncing at her briefly before staring at the ceiling again. He could feel her stare burn the side of his face.


    "I was and then I''m not. I''m…afraid to sleep."


    Brushing his lustful thoughts away, Gael turned to the side until he faced her, their faces only a foot apart. "How can I help?"


    "Just…talk, I guess?"


    He nodded. "Okay."


    Ang fiddled with the nket over their waist and contemted before she probed, "Can you be honest? I know you said you weren''t mad at me when we spoke on the phonest night. But why did it feel like you were? You sounded so pissy and didn''t even answer my first call…"


    His Adam''s apple bobbed as he stared at her for a few beats. "I was jealous. I saw the photos, and I didn''t like what I saw."


    Surprised by hisplete honesty, she had to take a deep breath before she was able to ask the next question. "How did you even see it? I didn''t think you read gossip."


    Gael then told her about Ba''s message and Giovanni''s google search. She listened and didn''t judge while he exined. "I apologize. You didn''t do anything wrong. My actions weren''t fair to you."


    "I can''t me you. I somehow did the same when I saw the photo. You called me right away, and I didn''t answer. I apologize for that too." Ang bit her bottom lip.


    His eyes dropped to her lips, and his jaw flexed. He could kiss her right now, and she''d most likely kiss him back—that wasn''t the problem. Knowing full well that she wasn''t ready to take anything further at the moment, he didn''t want to add fuel to the fire that''s already burning within him.


    "Stop that." He brushed his thumb along her lips until she released it. "Lying next to you and not being able to touch you like I want to is already killing me. So don''t tempt me with those lips."


    A shy and slightly teasing smile ghosted her face.


    "What''s with that smile? Are you having fun at my suffering?" He narrowed his eyes.


    Ang''s naughtiness kicked in when she reached for his chest and slid her hand down to his stomach. His cock grew hard and twitched in response. Then his hand flew to catch her wrist. Gael''s stare darkened as he slowly released her hand. If she insisted, he wouldn''t stop her.


    "I''m very patient, Angel. But I''m not a saint. I can''t guarantee I''ll remain a gentleman."


    Lifting both her hands up, she grinned. It was fun teasing him, but she didn''t want to push too hard. "I''ll stop now. I promise I''ll keep my hands to myself."


    "Good. Or I''ll have to tie you up—"


    "Kinky."


    Gael smiled and lightly flicked her forehead. Sheughed and rubbed the spot. "I didn''t mean it like that. But if that''s what you want…" He lifted a shoulder.


    The air went silent after theirughter died down. They gazed into each other''s eyes wordlessly, and though it was quiet, it didn''t get awkward.


    "Thank you," Ang told him.


    "For what?"


    "You flew over a thousand miles for me. I appreciate that a lot."


    "Well, it sobered me up."


    "Seriously, Gael. No one has ever done that for me."


    "It''s their loss. You''re worth it."


    She paused, looking unsure about what to tell him. When another minute passed, and she remained silent, he asked, "Penny for your thoughts?"


    "I''m just thinking."


    "About what?"


    "About us. This shouldn''t be soplicated, but it is. You and I both know it''s not that simple."


    Gael could only nod in agreement. It was indeedplicated.


    Then Ang added, "As much as I want to let go, not let the things get in between us, and not worry about everything else, this is who I am. I worry, and I can''t help it. I''m trying, though. I hope you can see that." She shrugged. "I mean… I''m here, right?"


    He gently caressed her cheek, thankful that she was here. It was still hard, but it''s less hard now that she was with him. "And I feel much better that you''re here."


    "Me too."


    Pulling the nket over her shoulder, he urged, "Try to sleep. You''ve had a rough night."


    "Okay… But can you…tell me a story?" She smiled with her nose scrunched as though her request sounded silly. "Something I haven''t heard before."


    It made Gael chuckle. He shook his head and gave in. "Fine. But it''s my story, so you can''t interrupt."


    Ang nodded, her eyes sparkling in anticipation.


    Taking a deep breath, his eyes shifted sideways as though he was digging for some treasure in his mind. Then he began, "Once upon a time, a handsome prince entered a bar in Mayne City, and everyone, especially the women, turned their heads in his direction. He walked up to the counter and ordered his drink, not noticing that a beautiful woman was sitting next to him. They got to know each other as they talked and decided to go on a date where he discovered that the woman was actually a princess. Everything went well between them until the prince brought the woman back home to New York to meet his mother.


    "The prince told the queen that his lover was a princess, but she didn''t believe it. So that night, the queen had her servants prepare the woman''s bed and ced a pea under the mattress—"


    "Wait a minute." Ang''s brows knitted. "Is this a modernized story about The Princess and the Pea?"


    "Shhh…" Gael pressed a finger to her lips. "No interruptions."


    "But—"


    He pulled her to his chest and trapped her in his embrace. "Anyway, where was I? Oh right… All of a sudden, the prince became a frog. And to break the spell, someone must give him a true love''s kiss."


    "Hey!!! That''s a different—Aw!"


    Gael yfully pped her butt. "I told you no interruptions. Now I have to start over."


    She whimpered. "This bedtime story sucks. You know what? I''m fine sleeping here alone. You can go to your bedroom."


    "Nah-uh." He grinned. "You''re stuck with me until you fall asleep."