Training Her Curves - London (A BBW Billionaire Domination & Submission Romance) by Christa Wick Page B

eyebrows danced, not in victory or amusement but as if he were trying to figure out some mathematical equation, each lift a number divided or multiplied. For a few seconds, I had the uncomfortable impression of staring at my own brother, although Dylan was always as still as stone when he was in deep thought.
    Simon finished with a brilliant smile and a wink as he reached a solution. "I can only make that promise until morning tea. I may have saint in my name, but I'm far from being one, pudding."
    I rolled my eyes, thinking I should have added the caveat that he couldn't call me "pudding" if he wanted me to spend the night.
    My chest heaved upward with a sudden worry -- what on earth would we talk about? Worse than that, I didn't think I could constrain my curiosity about the details Rick had given me over the phone. I didn't think that was the conversation he was looking for despite the invitation to discuss "anything."
    Simon stepped forward, one finger lightly tracing the curve of my mouth so that I realized I was frowning. I felt suddenly dishonest, even though I had been the one in the dark about everything until this afternoon.
    "Rick said something earlier..." I stopped talking and bit at the inside of my bottom lip. The question prying at my jaw -- whether the shooting really had happened -- wasn't as horrible as the act, but just thinking about dredging up his past made me feel cruel.
    He turned, his gaze directed to the outer room. His fingers danced at his sides and then he sighed. "I need to snuff out the candles. Can't have the building burning down before its grand re-launch. Do you need to get ready for bed?"
    I looked down at my knit dress and thought about the luggage parked by the entrance door of my suite. Without even looking at me, Simon seemed able to read my mind.
    "There's a robe in the bathroom, as well as toiletries."
    I watched him walk away, his body moving gracefully but something diminished in the way he held himself. His walk seemed younger -- not the powerful male in his prime but the boy he had been, my unasked question perhaps transporting him to a time when he hadn't been in control and those around him were losing theirs.
    Rubbing fiercely at my cheeks so I wouldn't resume crying, I went into the bathroom. In danger of losing my nerve, I skipped half my bedtime routine and rushed through the rest before filling the sink with hot water and taking a birdbath despite my earlier soak. With just my bra and panties on, I reached for the oversized robe.
    A wisp of fabric pretending to be a nightgown fell onto the floor. I scooped it up and shook it out. Made from a pale pink chiffon, the top half was a sleeveless halter and the bottom was a flouncy skirt that would fall halfway between the top bend of my thighs and my knees.
    I slid out of my bra and tried the gown on, intent on strapping myself back into the bra if the chiffon was too transparent. I studied my appearance in the mirror, worrying that wearing the nightgown, even with my panties still on, would send the wrong message.
    He promised not to touch...
    I sucked air into my lungs, a fresh case of anxiety threatening to suffocate me.
    You don't want to sleep in your bra, Ree...
    "Shut up," I whispered at the mirror.
    You want him to break his promise...
    "Do not," I replied petulantly, my denial a little louder. I was staying because his voice had seemed so vulnerable when he had asked me to spend the night. Desperate, even. I needed to know why and I needed to not leave him more vulnerable than when I had first encountered him.
    Exiting the bathroom, I found the lights down low in the bedroom and my clutch on the center of the bed. Simon, if he was still in the suite, was out of sight. I listened for a few seconds but heard nothing. I approached the bed, my shorter frame stretching so I could reclaim my clutch. I couldn't even remember when or where I had set it down.
    I opened the bag to look inside. Phone, lip gloss, room card --