Page 66 of Silk Shadow

What would he say if he knew?

She turned away from the mirror. It was none of his business what happened between her and Viper. She wasn't engaged to him. They'd made no promises to each other. Of course, she knew that's what he wanted, but she wasn't sure. That's why she hadn't let their relationship progress past a few dates and a chaste kiss on the lips.

What was good for the company wasn't what was best for her. She needed more than what Robert could give her. More passion. More excitement. More everything.

More Viper.

She took a deep breath and came to a decision. They had a few days here at the most. A few days without anyone else around. Without cell phones. Without email. Without social media. Without meetings and budgets and orders.

If this was all she was going to get with Viper, she was sure as hell going to make it count, inhibitions be damned. After this, she’d go back to D.C. and he’d go back to… She realized she didn’t even know where he lived.

Anyway, life would resume as normal. Her crazy, chaotic life that she loved, but that afforded her very little personal time. A life that he didn't fit into.

For these few days, it was going to be all about them. Decision made, she opened the door and went back into the room.

Viper stood in the middle of the room, a worried expression on his face. "Everything okay?" He'd put his shorts back on for modesty's sake. She could tell he was anxious about what had happened. He’d been shaken by the intensity of their lovemaking too.

She kissed him boldly on the lips. "Yes, perfect."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Um, okay. You don’t want to talk about what just happened?”

“No, why would I?”

He hesitated, then grinned. “Then I'll just go take a shower." And he disappeared into the steamy bathroom.

She put on a fresh dress, then sat on the bed and turned the television on to the CNN news channel. Home suddenly seemed very far away.

The reporter talked about the unseasonably hot weather and how the crowds were flocking to the country's beaches. How American Airlines had decided to strike right at the end of the vacation season, and how there was commuter chaos on the trains due to twisted railway tracks unable to stand the heat.

That's how I feel with Viper around, she thought, staring at the melted, buckled steel. Today being a case in point. Still, she did feel great. Why should she be ashamed of that? Wasn't she always telling her followers to love their bodies? To live life to the fullest?

Well, that's what she was doing. At least for the next few days.

This wouldn't last, it couldn't, but until then, he was all hers.

On cue, Viper stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. She let her gaze roam over his perfect torso, his washboard abs, his smattering of chest hair, and those wonderfully broad and reassuring shoulders that had enveloped her on so many occasions, keeping her safe.

He noticed her gaze and a smile tugged at his lips. "Anything interesting happening?"

She glanced back at the TV. "The east coast is having a heat wave," she said, blowing a strand of hair off her face.

"Oh, yeah?" He pulled on his shorts and was about to reach for a shirt when Izzy whispered, "Don't."

He let it go.

She flushed. "I like seeing your body."

He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. "You're the boss."

The picture on the television changed and Izzy found she was looking at a photograph of herself. "Oh, my gosh. Look!"

She turned up the volume.

"...Isabelle Beaumont, who was abducted a week ago while on a yacht off the Californian coast has been found alive and well. Sources close to the social media entrepreneur and mining magnate say she's recovering with close friends and family and asks that the public respect her privacy at this difficult time."

"That's Emily's doing," she murmured.

"Miss Beaumont was kidnapped while on investment banker, Casper Montague's yacht in San Diego. Eyewitnesses reported four armed gunmen boarded the vessel and took Miss Beaumont captive after a short, but violent gunfight. One man was injured in the attack. It is not clear why Miss Beaumont was targeted or how she was rescued, but there are rumors that her personal protection team was involved. The FBI, who are investigating Miss Beaumont's abduction, have refused to comment. We'll have more on this breaking news story as events unfold."