The Room - A Sensuous Experience

appreciate that.” Robyn addressed the flowers but stayed away from images of him and her in bed together. The mere thought made her temperature rise. Instead, she was determined to focus on what she’d been asked to do—give the man a tour. “As you can see, the other great room is more formal than this one. I opted to make this space a little more intimate and cozy.”
Maxwell could tell Robyn was trying to stave off his subtle advances. He rubbed the space above his eyebrow with his thumb and moved closer to her. Unlike most of the other women in his circle, he was going to have to work to charm her. However, he’d known that from the start. “Robyn.”
“Yes?”
He reached for her hand and placed it in his. “Can I be honest with you?”
A jolt rocketed through her. Robyn looked down at her hand then slowly back up at him. Get a grip, girl! So what? He’s causing you to lose your shit. Get it together. She chided herself. After taking a deep calming breath, Robyn lifted her eyes to his in question. “I don’t know why you wouldn’t be honest.”
“Maybe because I’m not sure how you will receive what I’m about to say, but the truth is, I don’t want to squander this time talking about fabrics and colors. While you did a phenomenal job with this house, I really just wanted to be alone with you.”
He was standing too close and smelled so good. She found herself drawn to him in a way that she shouldn’t have been. Robyn forced her mind to ignore the hum of her body and pleaded with it to cooperate. Her simple plan to make this a quick tour and keep it casual-friendly was falling apart. She was being sucked into whatever energy was surrounding them.
Robyn shook her head trying to clear her mind and somehow managed to slip her hand out of his grasp.She made an attempt at being nonchalant. “Why would you want to be alone with me?” She was grateful, for the time-being, that her voice hadn’t betrayed her. It seemed to be listening when nothing else on her body was.
Maxwell somehow managed to get so close that his chest was almost touching hers. He gently stroked the side of her cheek. “Because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
Her nipples hardened and strained against her dress the sound of his admission. Robyn was grateful she was wearing black and prayed he wouldn’t notice.
“Why wouldn’t I want to be alone with you? I’d be crazy not to.” His words were a balm to her battered soul.
Briefly, Robyn closed her eyes and basked in the feather-light touch of his fingertips. The moment she realized she was falling into the abyss her eyes popped open, and she backed up a few steps. “Y-you said my reputation preceded me,” Robyn stuttered. “If that’s the case, then you should probably know there are much easier conquests in the other room.”
“Easy, hard? When it comes to you, it doesn’t matter to me. So, while what you’re saying might be true; I’m sure I can have my pick of women. I want you. If you want me to chase you . . .” He shrugged. “I can do that. Sometimes a man likes the chase. It can be fun too.”
Robyn stared into the depths of his hazel eyes. They were like this house—mesmerizing. She willed herself to be strong. Robyn cleared her throat. Thoughts of the past sobered her. “Not all men like the chase. Some actually want to be chased. Then there are those who are intimidated by an ambitious woman and wuss out on a relationship.” Frustrated by a memory, Robyn turned and walked out of the room before she could be put off balance by Maxwell again.
Maxwell followed closely behind. He was only inches away from being able to pull her back into the front of his body. He resisted the urge and instead leaned over her shoulder to whisper into her ear. “Those men are assholes.”
Her breath caught in her throat by his nearness.
“I hope you won’t hold all of that pent up hostility against me.”
There were things she could hold against him, but Robyn decided to remain silent.
Maxwell couldn’t tell what she was thinking. He wanted to know everything that was running through her mind, but none more important than one question. “Was it worth it?”
A slight frown appeared on her face. “What?”
“It’s obvious by your success that your career was the priority in your life. Was it worth it?”
Robyn wasn’t expecting him to ask that. Maxwell had changed topics so quickly her head was spinning. She wasn’t sure how to respond. It took a moment to gather herself. “I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished, but . . . everything happens for a reason.” She decided not to let him too far into the private recesses of her mind. He was already taking up too much real estate there.
Maxwell didn’t appear to like that answer. “Nothing ever just happens. We tend to make things happen.”
“I guess you’re right to a degree. So, how about you? I noticed there’s not a ring on your finger. It doesn’t seem as if you’ve made time for a personal life as well.”
He lifted his right hand and inspected it. “No, I haven’t. I’ve spent so much time trying to build my business that it’s only been the last year or so that I’ve contemplated my personal life. I’m sure you can understand the demands and sacrifices a person has to make when they own their own