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We were interrupted when Vlad came across the lawn from the large guest house on the other side of the property. Oliver let me go to swim to the stairs. This was the first time I’d seen Vlad in casual attire. He was wearing a red polo shirt and gray slacks. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but it seemed serious. Oliver nodded, and Vlad went back toward the guest house.
"Everything all right?" I inquired, concern lacing my tone as I watched Oliver retreat to make a call.
"Yes, fine. I have to make a call," he replied briskly, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
"We were interrupted," I pointed out, a hint of disappointment coloring my voice.
"I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you after I get off the phone. We should make a decision on lunch," Oliver deflected, his tone apologetic yet distracted.
"I guess," I murmured, unable to shake off the feeling of being brushed aside.
"Ryleigh, don’t be upset. You know this is my business," Oliver reassured me, his words tinged with genuine concern.
"It’s a holiday weekend. I thought they would leave you alone," I countered, my frustration bubbling to the surface.
"It’s never a holiday for me. I’ll try to limit my time away from you," Oliver promised, though his tone lacked conviction.
With a sigh, he grabbed a towel and disappeared inside to make his call. Left alone by the pool, I swam to the stairs and emerged from the water, feeling a chill as the cool air conditioning hit my damp skin.
As I dried myself off, I couldn't shake the sense of unease that lingered in the air. Oliver's absence gnawed at me, and I couldn't resist the urge to tease him. With a mischievous grin, I untied the bottom of my bikini top, flashing him a playful glance as I did so. His reaction was fleeting, his gaze flickering away, but I knew I had succeeded in distracting him, if only for a moment.
Tying my top back in place, I glanced around but found Oliver gone. With a shrug, I dried myself off and headed inside, the enticing aroma of food drawing me to the kitchen. The sight of the fully stocked refrigerator lifted my spirits, and I quickly set about fixing myself a meal, hungry after our earlier exertions.
His huge refrigerator was stocked with everything. I hunted around until I found some grapes and a container of crab salad. I loved crab and opened the container then hunted for a fork. By the time Oliver came back, I was enjoying my lunch.
"Eating without me?" Oliver's voice, rich with amusement, interrupted my meal.
"We haven’t had anything since dinner last night," I defended, fork poised mid-air.
"I did," he countered with a playful smirk.
"When?" I challenged, curiosity piqued.
"I feasted on you this morning," he replied, his tone low and suggestive.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as Oliver brushed my wet hair away from my neck, planting a trail of soft kisses along my skin. My body responded eagerly to his touch, a familiar heat building within me. Oliver had a way of igniting a fire that I couldn't resist.
"Was I filling?" I teased, though the truth was far from a joke.
"More than filling. I’d like another meal of you later," he murmured, his words sending a delicious thrill through me.
"I’ll see what I can do," I replied, unable to hide the anticipation in my voice.
He leaned forward as I lifted a forkful of crab to my lips, and I held it out for him to take, relishing the intimacy of the gesture.
"How did your refrigerator get stocked?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Henri. He always takes care of my more personal errands," Oliver explained, his gaze never leaving mine.
"Did he buy me the earrings?" I questioned, a hint of curiosity in my tone.
"No. That was all me. I don’t need my assistants to find gifts for you," he replied, sincerity shining in his eyes.
"I love them. Thank you so much," I said, genuine gratitude coloring my words.
"I want to give you more, so much more," Oliver confessed, his voice soft with emotion.
"You said you had surprises for me," I reminded him, anticipation bubbling within me.
