Sharing A Bed Is Only Natural

Evelyn froze.

Shock washed over her, cold and sudden.

For a second, she wondered if she had misheard him.

"What?" Her voice was a thin, uncertain thread. "Say that again."

Alexander's face was an unreadable mask. His tone remained flat, decisive. "I said, move into the master bedroom. We sleep together."

Her breath hitched. A tremor ran through her. "You're serious?"

Was this really Alexander?

The man who had been incandescent with rage the day she moved in.

The man who had made his disgust for her presence painfully clear.

Now he was suggesting they share a bed.

He saw the disbelief on her face. A strange, tight sensation coiled in his chest. His expression gave nothing away.

"We're married." His voice was matter-of-fact. "Sharing a bed is the natural next step." He turned his head sharply. "Samuel. Have Evelyn's things moved to my room. Now."

"Right away, Mr. Blackwood," Samuel replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he turned to leave.

Finally.

He had been waiting for this.

Evelyn had been living at Serenity Oaks for days, but they had remained in separate rooms.

They were both adults. With this barrier gone, things would progress.

Perhaps a child would follow soon.

The staff worked quickly and efficiently.

Soon, all of Evelyn's belongings were transferred to Alexander's room.

Their walk finished, Alexander looked at her. "You can go ahead and shower first."

She seized the escape. She practically jumped up and hurried toward the master bedroom.

She had been in this room before.

But tonight, it felt different.

The air was thick with tension.

Alexander's room mirrored the man. It was stark. Minimalist. Devoid of warmth or color. Everything was precise, controlled.

Yet his presence saturated the space. Cool. Commanding. Absolute.

Standing in the center of the room, she felt it. A suffocating sense of being completely within his grasp.

Her eyes flew open in alarm.

Stop.

Get a grip.

Now that they were sharing a room, she had to be careful. She couldn't let him see how his looks affected her.

She patted her cheeks lightly, trying to shake off the thoughts.

She walked to the wardrobe and opened it.

And stopped.

Her clothes hung neatly beside his.

Each occupied one half of the space. As if it had always been this way.

The sight stirred something soft and sweet in her chest.

She took a deep breath. Grabbing her pajamas, she headed for the bathroom.

She needed to wash away the tension.

When she emerged, clean and refreshed, her eyes went straight to the large bed.

Her heart stuttered.

Should she get into bed before he returned?

Maybe she could avoid the impending awkwardness.

The door opened with a soft creak before she could decide.

Alexander wheeled himself in. The door clicked shut behind him.

"Finished?" His gaze swept over her, pausing on her soft, bear-print pajamas. They looked out of place in his severe room. Then, without hesitation, he delivered the blow. "Take off your pajamas. Get on the bed."

Evelyn's eyes widened. Her mind scrambled.

She had braced herself for this. She knew it was inevitable.

But his bluntness still shocked her. Heat flooded her cheeks.

They hadn't consummated the marriage on their wedding night. She knew they would have sex eventually.

But this? It was too fast. Too soon. She had just moved into his room. Couldn't they wait at least a day?