I blushed for the umpteenth time since last night.

Placing his hands on my hips, he stood between my legs and kissed my lips softly. “Did I tell you I love seeing you in my clothes?”

“Yes. Twice already.”

“Because that’s the truth. It shows that you belong to me.” His fingers grazed my inner thigh.

Rolling my eyes, I pushed him away, but he only snuggled my neck.

“I love my smell on you.”

I shook my head. What would I do with this caveman of mine?

Wrapping my arms around him, I kissed his shoulder just as the doorbell rang.

“Who’s it at this time?” I asked, pulling away.

His brows furrowed. “I don’t know. Let me check. You stay here.”

Nodding, I jumped down the counter as he went to attend the door. Placing the plate of apples aside, I poured the batter on the heated pan, humming one of my favorite songs.

Moments later, I heard footsteps coming closer, then his voice. My humming stopped immediately.

“Well, well. I didn’t know I’d find you here today.”

Turning around, my eyes met with his dark, empty ones. A fake smile plastered across his face.

I reciprocated the gesture with one of mine. “Good morning, Arthur.”

FIFTY-TWO: LIZA AGAIN

With a tight smile, he nodded at me. The fleeting grimace on his face while he glanced at my clothes didn’t go missed.

“I heard there were some problems going on between you two. But I’m glad to see you together today,” he said, though his eyes didn’t match his words.

Ace came back with a shirt on and took the charge of the pancakes from me again. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he said, “I’ve got some clothes for you in the room. Go, change. Then come out for breakfast.”

When did he do that?

But it was good since I didn’t want to roam in only a shirt before Arthur.

Nodding, I walked away from the kitchen as I heard their voices.

“What brings you here so early in the morning, Arthur?” Ace asked.

“It was important. I wanted to call you but then thought discussing face to face would be better. It’s about the deal with the Russians.”

The rest of the conversation was cut off as soon as I closed the bedroom door behind me.

“Achilles, as you set a lot of conditions for the contract there’ll be a lot of paperwork. We’re not sure if the Russians will agree to them. They’re quite a big fish in the market nowadays.” Arthur’s gaze set on Ace as he took a bite of his pancakes. “If you want them to work with us, we should consider letting go some of our conditions, don’t you think?”

When Ace offered him to have breakfast with us while having the discussion, he agreed. Much to my dismay.