Chapter 19

Rossalyn and Josiah had a blast playing with her niece and nephew and hanging out with Sarah that evening. It was the first time that Rossalyn got to see him in a light other than the hard man he usually presented. She seen the family man under the hard exterior. She couldn't lie to herself, seeing that side of him was very attractive. It gave her hope that if she did give him a child that he would be like that with their child. She had been having a hard time picturing him around children, knowing what she knew about him. But she could tell that he wasn't putting an act on for her benefit.

Once Sarah had packed the kids up and left for the night they found themselves alone in the entertainment room, as she had started calling it in her head. They were each sitting in one of the arm chairs in the sitting area enjoying the quiet. One thing about having kids in the house was that there wasn't a quiet moment for a few hours. It definitely gave her a preview of what life would be like when they have their own. It wasn't an unpleasant noise by any means. She knew she'd had a great time with the kids.

"That was fun." Josiah strangely echoed her thoughts and she looked over at him to catch him watching her.

"Thats what I was just thinking too." She said giving him a smile. "I'm glad you had fun with the kids. I'd like to have them over frequently. Especially since their dad won't be around for a while, they're going to need more than financial support."

"They are welcome here any time. With some restrictions, Sarah is welcome to stay over with them if she wants." Josiah told her.

"What restrictions?" She asked curiously.

"I'm not sure if she realizes who I am fully and what it is that I do. But I'll shield her from as much as I can. That just means there are some places that she won't be allowed on the property. Thats all." Josiah assured her.

"Oh okay. I'll keep that in mind." Rossalyn said and stood up to stretch. "I think it is bed time." She said after a yawn.

"I have a question for you. You can say no but I want to make a request." Josiah stood as well and reached out to take her hand.

"What is your question?" She asked him letting his fingers entwine with hers, though her guard instantly went up.

"I wanted to know if you would sleep with me in my room tonight." Josiah said watching her closely. He could see that she was uncomfortable with the idea, but she didn't immediately shoot him down so he elaborated on his request a little, hoping to put her at ease. "We don't have to do anything, but I'd just like to be with you. Just grow accustomed to being in the same room with each other."

His request wasn't an unfair one. It wasn't the fifties where couples didn't live together or even sleep together before marriage. She'd only known him for a few days, however. But on that same thought, in another few days they would be married and he'd expect her to share his room with him anyway. He'd already made it clear that once they were married, he'd expect full husbandly benefits. She still felt reluctance to give her space up and her last few nights of independence away, though. On the other hand, however, if she started growing accustomed to him being around her in an intimate setting it would surely make their wedding night a little less awkward for them both. She couldn't come up with a viable reason to not do what he asked.

"Yes, I can do that." She said after a moment of deliberation.

His smile was instant and he gently pulled her into him to wrap his arms around her and rest his cheek on the top of her head. He'd grown to like the feel of her in his arms and he was happy she'd agree to stay with him so he could experience that during the night as well. He hoped that she'd grow comfortable with him enough to be happy but he has come to the conclusion that if he doesn't insist on the progression of intimacy, she'd hide behind her walls for as long as she could. He didn't want to make intimacy between them a battle so he wanted to start breaking down the walls before it became an issue between them. He'd also heard her comment earlier about him not taking the time to woo her properly and heard the irritation behind the comment. She was right about that, not that he'd put them sharing a bed at night to wooing but it was an invitation to be with him while he was vulnerable and she would be the only woman he's ever invited to be with him while he slept. She didn't know that, though.

After a moment he pulled back from her and let his arms drop to his sides as he said, "Why don't you get the things you need for bed and meet me up at my room?"

"Okay." She said feeling her stomach fill with butterflies. He'd said they didn't have to do anything which was a little reassuring, but in her experience that was often a platitude. Once the guy got her in bed he'd make his move. She didn't know if she hoped that he behaved or if she secretly hoped he didn't.

A few minutes later, she found herself outside his bedroom with a little duffle bag of necessities. She'd want a shower before bed as was her usual routine so she'd packed the things she needed along with pajamas and a change of clothes for morning. She found his bedroom door open so she walked in the room and found him standing on the balcony looking out over the back of the property and realized his room was directly over the room he'd given her. Though he seemed to have combined the rooms on both sides of the hall into one because his room was more like an executive sweet at a fancy hotel.

"You have a very nice room." She commented standing behind him with her bag still on her shoulder. She watched him for a moment before letting her gaze move beyond him to the view from his balcony. The balcony also seemed to have been customized to run the full space of his bedroom and had two sets of doors that opened up on to it.

"This will also be your room in a few days, so I'm glad you like it. There will be plenty of room for us both in here, to be sure." He gave her a smile as he approached and held his hand out for her bag. "Come sit with me out here and have a glass of wine."

She handed her bag over to him and he sat it down on the chair next to the balcony door. She took his offered hand and followed him out onto the balcony and found that there were two comfortable looking chairs with a little table between them that had two glasses of wine waiting already. They each took a seat and picked up a glass. He didn't try to carry a conversation with her. Just simply enjoyed the view of the stars and the quiet of the property as they sipped their wine. She picked up on the feeling that this was where he went to decompress from the day and that she was being invited to join a private ritual of his. She glanced over at him, expecting to find him looking at her, but instead caught him looking out looking peaceful and contemplative. She wanted to ask him what he was thinking about, but it seemed a crime to break the trance he seemed to be in.

They sat quietly and drank their wine for a while. She put her empty glass down feeling pleasantly relaxed and she relished the feeling. It was the first time since their first meeting that she felt at peace with her decision and it was odd that happened in his room alone with him for the first time. Maybe it was because for the first time she'd seen him drop the hard persona that he'd had around her during the day since they usually parted for the night shortly after dinner. She felt like she'd gotten a glimpse of the man behind the mask he presented others.

"I'm going to take a shower and get ready for bed." She told him as she stood.

As she passed him she let her hand carress his shoulder lightly then headed to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She had grabbed her bag on her way and before long everything was set up for her shower. Within a half hour she had finished with her shower and changed into her light cotton pajama shorts and a tank top for the night. She reappeared in the bedroom and found Josiah wearing just a pair of pajama pants and the bed turned down with the bedside lamps lit. She felt her heart race again with nerves, though he was just reclining on the bed waiting for her. She couldn't look away from him for a moment. He really was a good looking man.

"Come get into bed. I won't bite, I promise." He invited and patted the bed next to him.

She walked across the room and climbed into the bed on the other side and got under the covers. She switched her light off then a moment later his lamp was turned off as well. In the darkness she felt him shift so that he was under the covers as well and felt him scoot over in the bed toward her. He didn't crowd her space but she felt his hand on her hip and the heat from his body close to her.

"Will you lay closer to me?" He asked, he was giving her the option but she knew that he really wanted her to cuddle with him.