He reached down to turn the alarm off, not wanting to jar Eden, who was sleeping soundly in his arms. He had five minutes before he needed to wake her up, and he intended to savor every one of those five minutes.

She was nestled in the curve of his arm, her hair spread out over his arm and the pillow. She was as beautiful in sleep as she was awake and alert. He studied her in the dim light from the bathroom, the door slightly ajar, using the opportunity to drink his fill when she was sleeping.

The straps to her top had slid down her shoulders, and it would take only the slightest movement to expose her nipple. As it was, the plump swells of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were enticingly visible, the material just catching on her nipples so it didn't bare her further.

She shifted and he froze, but she simply snuggled deeper into his chest, let out a soft sigh and then settled back down again.

d.a.m.n, but he hated to wake her. He could lie this way for hours, simply watching and enjoying the sight of her in bed with him.

Their limbs were tangled, one of her legs between his, and his leg thrown over her possessively, anchoring her solidly against him. No, they hadn't made love, and he agreed that they shouldn't rush things, but the intimacy between them was as tangible as if they had made love.

And even though they'd both agreed not to rush, he was honest enough with himself to know that she would be in his bed and he would be inside her soon. They both wanted the same thing. Their consummating their growing relationship was inevitable.

All of his earlier wariness was gone, vanished. Now that he was certain of her and her feelings, he was eager to take that next step. Because s.e.x with Eden wouldn't just be s.e.x. He knew in his heart that it would be earth-shattering and that it would likely change the course of his life forever, no matter what happened between them later.

He refused to look too far down the road because their careers took them in completely separate directions. He was just focused on now and the time they would have together now. Looking beyond here and now would only bring him heartache.

They literally had to take it one day at a time and see where things took them. If they became serious, then they would simply have to find a way to be together. Love required sacrifice. He'd seen it time and time again. But where there was a will, there was a way. He had to believe that. Because if he thought too far ahead and imagined them saying good-bye and going their separate ways, it would devastate him.

He wanted nothing to interfere with what they had-and would have-now. All he could control was how they spent the time they had together. Anything beyond was out of his control, and so he had to concentrate on what was in his control: making d.a.m.n certain that he gave Eden what she wanted-what he wanted-and enjoying every stolen moment together. If in the end they did go in different directions, then he'd savor every single memory of their time together and never regret a single moment. It was all either of them could do.

Knowing the quiet time he'd spent simply observing Eden unnoticed was over, he reluctantly brushed a hand over her cheek and murmured in a low voice, "Eden. Baby, it's time to get up. We need to hit the gym in twenty minutes if we're going to be on schedule for your shoot."

Her eyelids fluttered open and her unfocused stare found his, and then her entire face was transformed into a heart-stopping smile that took his breath away. The idea that she found so much pleasure from being in his arms, coming awake in his arms, made his chest constrict to the point of discomfort.

"Good morning," she said in a sleepy, husky voice.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a rock," she admitted. "I've never slept better. I have you to thank for that. So thank you."

"For what, honey?"

"For sleeping with me. For holding me. Letting me sleep in your arms. I've never felt as safe and secure as I did last night."

Her frank admission twisted his stomach into knots. G.o.d, the woman was worming her way right into his very soul. She was already firmly entrenched, but every minute in her presence only strengthened the bond between them. Was this what love felt like? Was he already falling in love with her?

The practical side of him argued that it was much too soon to be making that kind of admission. But his heart and soul said very different things. That this was his woman. She belonged to him. Making love to her would simply cement what he already knew. That she was his.

He kissed her again, this time brushing his mouth over hers in a tender manner. "You're very welcome. But I have to tell you, I've never slept as well either, so you did as much for me as you say I did for you. I have . . ."

He struggled with the admission on the tip of his tongue. It made him sound weak. And the last thing he wanted her to think was that he was weak.

"You have what?" she asked gently.

"Nightmares," he said in a low voice. "There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to them. Some nights I don't dream at all. But others I dream about being back there, of the pain and despair I felt-still feel at times."

Her eyes shone with sympathy. With anyone else he would hate that sympathy. It was the last thing he wanted. But with Eden, he didn't feel the accompanying shame he so often felt over appearing weak.

"I can only imagine," she murmured. "It must have been such a horrible time for you, Swanny. I'm glad you had one night of peace. I'd hate to think that you were giving me so much and that I was giving you nothing in return. So it makes me feel good that you slept as well as I did. I think we make a good team," she said, a sparkle entering her eyes. "Maybe I'm good for you."

"I know you're good for me," he said with a growl. "There's no question of that. Now at the risk of sounding like an a.s.shole, you've got to get up and get moving. I'll grab a shower in the other bathroom and then we'll go down and do your workout. If we have enough time, you can show me your moves and then I can a.n.a.lyze what you need further work on and we'll fit it in around your shoots. I don't want you to overdo it. I know this shoot is going to be exhausting enough."

"Oh, I'll be fine," she said as she climbed from the bed, taking her warmth and sweetness with her. "Besides, if it means getting to spend more time with you, then I'll make the time."

G.o.d, but she had him so twisted into knots that he didn't know up from down. How could someone so utterly perfect be interested in someone like him, who not only had physical scars but stains on his soul and emptiness in his heart that until meeting her he'd thought would never heal?

And yet within the short time they'd been together he could feel those missing parts starting to fill in. Like he was regaining all he'd lost during the horrific time he was held captive and taken apart little by little, his very will to live chipped away until he was ready to give up and end it all.

He hauled himself out of bed without the all-business att.i.tude that was his usual morning routine. After taking a quick shower, he made a call to Joe to let him know he and Eden would be down in the gym until it was time to take her to the shoot. Joe had already made arrangements for the cars that would take Eden and the rest of KGI wherever they needed to go while they were in Paris.

"I'll send Skylar and Edge down to cover the entrance to the gym," Joe said. "We can't be too careful and we definitely can't afford to let our guard down."

Swanny bristled at the notion that he wasn't adequate protection for Eden, but he knew Joe was right. What Swanny couldn't do was become involved with Eden to the extent that he became distracted from their number one priority: keeping her safe at all times.

Her safety came first, above everything else. Even the attraction between them. Nothing could compromise their goal. This was a mission. A job. Their reputation, not to mention Eden's life, was riding on this. He d.a.m.n sure wasn't going to be the reason they failed, and he definitely wouldn't be the reason Eden got hurt or killed.

Yanked back by the reality of the situation, he went in search of Eden, some of his earlier lethargy and the warm haze that had surrounded him when he'd wakened in Eden's arms replaced by a sense of purpose.

He stuck his head inside the bedroom door. "You ready?"

She came out of the bathroom finishing up the ponytail she'd secured in her hair. She was wearing a tight-fitting halter top and a pair of low-rise sweats that bared a few inches of her abdomen. His body reacted instantly and he quickly reined himself in, reminding himself of what was at stake here.

"I'm ready. You ready to get your a.s.s kicked?" she asked mischievously.

It was impossible to adopt a sterner, more businesslike demeanor when she radiated warmth and sweetness.

"Pretty c.o.c.ky for someone who hasn't sized up her opponent," he replied.

"Oh, I've sized him up," she said, letting her gaze wander over his body until he felt as though she'd stripped him of every piece of clothing with nothing more than her eyes.

"You're incorrigible," he said in mock exasperation. "Let's get moving. We're on a tight schedule."

She snapped to attention, giving him a soldier's salute. "Yes, sir. Lead the way."

Cheeky little wench. But he loved every bit of her sa.s.s. There wasn't a single thing about her he didn't like. She seemed impossibly perfect, and no one was that perfect. Everyone had flaws. So what were hers?

They took the stairs down to the second floor where the gym was located, and Edge and Skylar were already standing outside the door. Eden looked surprised to see them and maybe even a little chagrined. Swanny would have to have a talk with her later to remind her of everything he himself had discarded momentarily.

"It's clear," Edge said, his voice rumbling from his chest. "You and Eden will be the only ones inside unless someone else comes in after you. Sky and I will make sure that anyone who enters is on the level."

"Thanks," Swanny said. "We'll be an hour tops. Eden needs to eat before we head to her shoot."

"Just a vitamin shake for me," Eden interjected. "I'll need to shower again after my workout, so I can drink it on the way. But if y'all need to eat, go ahead and get room service ordered while I get all my stuff together. Hair and makeup will be done there, so I'll just wear sweats and a T-shirt to the studio. I won't take long to get ready at all. Just get my bag together and I'll be done."

Swanny shook his head but didn't comment. If it were up to him, Eden would be eating a h.e.l.l of a lot more, but she knew what was best for her and it wasn't his place to interfere.

He used the room key to gain entry to the small fitness room and then grabbed towels for him and Eden.

She went straight to the stationary bike and immediately began a rigorous workout. He didn't join in because quite simply he enjoyed watching her work up a sweat. She was one of those women who didn't sweat. She glowed. A sheen of perspiration made her perfect skin glisten in the light and it made him want to do crazy things, like run his tongue over her flesh and suck up every drop of perspiration.

After fifteen minutes, she switched to a cardio stepping machine and put in another fifteen minutes there before moving to one of the benches to do abdominal crunches.

He was impressed by her stamina and the fact that she didn't look in the least winded. She was obviously in excellent shape. Her body certainly didn't tell a different story. She was toned. Hard in the places she needed to be hard and delectably soft in the places she should be.

Next, she went to the treadmill and threw a smile over her shoulder. "Give me fifteen minutes to cool down and then I'll throw you on your a.s.s."

He grinned back and drawled out his response. "Keep dreaming, princess."

She rolled her eyes and refocused her attention on the treadmill, swinging her arms as she started out with a brisk pace only to back it down gradually until she finally turned it off and stepped down.

She made a show of cracking her knuckles and a.s.suming the stance of a fighter as she circled him warily.

"I propose a wager," she said in a c.o.c.ky voice. "I throw you and I get one request you have to fulfill."

"And if I throw you? Or you don't throw me?" he asked, lifting one eyebrow.

"Then you get one request of me that I have to fulfill."

His mind was immediately ablaze with all the possibilities. And judging by the calculating smug expression Eden was wearing, her thoughts likely mirrored his. h.e.l.l, in his way of thinking it didn't matter who won the bet because they very likely wanted the same things. But just in case, he wasn't about to let her win because it had suddenly become very important that he get what he wanted.

Her. In his bed. Him so deeply inside her that he felt swallowed up by her, heart and soul.

"Deal," he said in a challenging tone.

She was good. He had to hand it to her. Being up against a man twice her size would normally make it impossible for her to get the upper hand. But she was fast and she'd obviously been trained well.

He groaned when he saw that they had an audience outside the gla.s.s door leading into the fitness room. Joe and Nathan had joined Skylar and Edge, and they all were watching in obvious amus.e.m.e.nt.

His distraction almost cost him the bet. She went in for the kill and he stumbled but righted himself immediately and did a quick leg sweep while she was unbalanced and took her down, rolling himself underneath her so he took the brunt of the fall.

She stared down at him, panting softly, her hair in disarray. "I don't suppose since I'm on top and you're pinned down that I win?"

He laughed at the chagrin on her features. "Sorry, princess. I didn't want to hurt you so I took the brunt of the fall, but I definitely took you down. Victory is mine."

She pouted, which only made him laugh harder. She was so d.a.m.n cute with that bottom lip stuck out and the puppy-dog look in her eyes.

"I hope your request will be at least as fun as mine was going to be," she grumbled.

"Oh, it'll be fun," he said softly. "I know I'll love every minute of it and I plan to make d.a.m.n sure you enjoy it every bit as much."

Fire ignited in her eyes and for a moment he thought she was going to kiss him. But a quick glance in the direction of the doorway was enough to make her temper her reaction. She didn't want an audience any more than he did.

Instead she scrambled off him and then extended her hand down to help him up. He bounced upward and stood with his back to the door so Eden was shielded from view.

"You're good," he said sincerely. "But there's more I can teach you. I can sharpen your skills for sure if you're interested."

She lifted both brows in an exaggerated expression of surprise. "Let's see. More one-on-one time with you and getting to wrestle you to the floor, no matter who causes the fall? Nah, I'm not interested at all."

"Incorrigible," he muttered, knowing he was using that word a lot when it came to describing her.

She flashed him a million-dollar smile. "So, um, when do I get to hear this request I'm supposed to fulfill?"

Making sure Eden was still hidden from view, he leaned in close so his lips brushed her temple and were close to one ear.

"Later," he murmured. "I'm thinking tonight, that is, if you aren't working too late and aren't exhausted afterward."

Her eyes gleamed and pink dusted her glossy cheeks, made so by the light perspiration of her workout.

"I can a.s.sure you I won't be so exhausted that I can't hold up my end of the bargain," she murmured.

CHAPTER 17.

SWANNY'S respect for Eden's profession increased all the more as he stood back, watching the shoot for the commercials. It had to be exhausting for her but she worked steadily, took instructions from the director and responded perfectly, each and every time.

He didn't see what the problems were when the director yelled "Cut!" and then demanded a reshoot. She looked f.u.c.king perfect to him. But the director seemed like a real d.i.c.k.

He'd thrown a fit when Eden had arrived accompanied by him and his team. He'd complained loudly about having so many people underfoot, and even though Eden's agent had arrived and pulled him to the side to explain the situation, it was obvious the director still wasn't happy.

He barked orders in a loud, obnoxious voice that made Swanny grit his teeth. The way the director talked to Eden made him want to plant his fist right in the f.u.c.ker's face.

After several hours of shooting, the director called a halt and then barked for hair and makeup to go in and do touch-ups.

"She looks like s.h.i.t," the director complained loudly. "I need perfect, G.o.dd.a.m.n it. Give me perfect."

"What a d.i.c.k," Skylar muttered next to Swanny, perfectly echoing his own a.s.sessment of the a.s.shole. "She looks amazing. The woman couldn't look like s.h.i.t even on her worst day. What the h.e.l.l does he want?"

Swanny growled his agreement, his stance rigid as he watched people rush in to touch up Eden's hair and makeup. How the h.e.l.l did she work under these kinds of conditions? And further, how on earth could she keep that thousand-megawatt smile in place when some a.s.shole was constantly criticizing her?

He knew this deal was important to Eden. She'd said it was the biggest break of her career. But h.e.l.l, nothing seemed worth signing up for this kind of abuse.

Eden's agent came to stand beside Swanny and Skylar, watching the goings-on with a bored expression. As if nothing was out of the ordinary and this was just another day on the job.

"Is it always like this?" Swanny bit out.

Her agent looked surprised that Swanny was talking to him and then he blinked, clear confusion on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"Does she always have complete d.i.c.kheads barking at her, telling her she looks like s.h.i.t and complaining about every G.o.dd.a.m.n thing she does?"