Alex was exhausted. Her feet ached. She just wanted to scream and kick off the shoes. She blamed the four-inch high heels or stilettos or whatever they were called for this because she was unaccustomed to them. Sneakers and slippers were her best friends. When she had no one to talk to during their long dinner party, she dreamt of her thick, fluffy Sylvester the Cat slippers. She dreamt of how warm and cozy and soft they'd be on her feet.

Her eyes were also irritated because of the dry weather. It was worse when she wore her contacts. She wanted to take them out and put in some eye drops to relieve the irritation.

At least for the past two hours she found the conversation with Tom McCartney immensely stimulating. They talked about politics, which she knew nothing about. She, however, managed to tell him a little bit about John Key, the prime minister of New Zealand. She also felt quite good when she happened to mention Obama and how smart he was.

Tom had a pleasant personality, like Jayden, and she liked him immediately. She thought he felt the same way toward her. At least she hoped so. The longer she looked at Tom, the more she was certain Jay inherited most of his father's traits.

She glanced over the table at Jay, who was sitting beside Britney. Beth seemed to be egging them on. Then Britney moved closer to Jayden, kind of shoving her generous boobs toward him. Thank God Jay didn't seem to be paying her any attention, at least the type of attention a man pays to a woman.

"Tell me about life in New Zealand," Tom said, picking up his wine glass.

"Oh, not much to tell, to be honest," Alex replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I love going to the farmers market, though. I assume you have it here, too? It's fun. Just out and about, buying fresh veggies from the farmers themselves. Rather entertaining, too."

"Ah, yes. I've never been to one. Always been too busy," Tom replied.

"I find the simplest things I do most enjoyable. I also love to observe people. Like right now," she said, eyeing Jayden and Britney.

Tom glanced in that direction.

"Have they known each other long?"

"Who?" he replied, pretending ignorance.

"Them," Alex said, nodding her head toward Jayden and Britney across the end of the table.

"They met when they were young," Tom replied. "Don't worry. Jay's not that stupid."

Alex turned to look at him, her eyes questioning. "He isn't?"

"Of course not. Britney is wasting her time," he said, eyeing his son. Jay was studying them and not listening to Britney's continuous yapping.

"Yeah, she is," Alex agreed. Jay will never be turned on by that type of woman—or any other woman for that matter.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity for Alex, dinner was over and the guests slowly thanked Mr. and Mrs. McCartney for the lovely dinner and then left. And, yes, Alex had never felt so much joy as when she saw the door to her bedroom.

She rushed in, kicked off the stilettos, and threw herself on the large, soft bed. She sighed and simply gazed up at the golden chandelier, marveling at the bright lights. It felt so good to lie there and do nothing. Her pleasure died a quick death when she felt the sting in her eyes starting to play up again, and she knew she had to take out the lenses.

She rolled off the bed and her knees landed on the floor, her upper body still on the bed. She gave out another loud, weary sigh.

Jay entered the room at that moment. After closing the door quietly so he wouldn't disturb her, he leaned his body against it, his hands in the pockets of his trousers. He cocked his head to one side as he studied her. She looked as though she had fallen asleep in her sitting position with her head resting on the bed.

"I see that you like my dad," he said.

"Huh?" Alex popped her head up and looked at him. "He's very nice, much like you."

"Yeah? What are you doing?"

"Huh?" And then, "Um, trying to make myself get up, I guess."

"Sorry."

"About what?"

"All this. You've just arrived, and then you have to meet all those people. You need your rest. Promise tomorrow will be a relaxing day for you."

"That sounds good, thank you," she replied, closing her eyes, her head sinking deeper into the cozy duvet. "Do I get to go sightseeing by the way?" she murmured.

Jay thought she looked like a toddler falling asleep before dinner, with her little bottom up in the air like that. He knew she was about to fall asleep if he didn't do something fast. In two long strides, he was beside her and scooped her up in his arms.

Alex flashed her eyes open. "Uh? What are you doing?"

"You need to take off that lovely dress and shower before you sleep, madam," he replied and strode to the bathroom.

Alex wiggled herself in his arms. "Please put me down, Jay. I'm not so sleepy anymore. I'll go and shower now."

"You sure you don't want help?"

Alex nodded, wondering if he meant carrying her into the bathroom or helping her undress and then shower. The idea brought a delicious shiver down her spine.

"All right." Jay reluctantly put her down.

Alex's feet landed quietly on the soft carpet. She blushed as she gazed up at him through her thick lashes. Then she rushed to the walk-in wardrobe to find her things.

"What are you doing?" his voice vibrated from the door.

"Finding my stuff," she said, trying to think what this stuff was that she was looking for. Then she remembered it was her pajamas. A few seconds later, she found what she wanted and rushed back to the bedroom. She collided against Jay's hard body, inconveniently at the doorway. She looked up at him, telling him to please shift so she could pass. He didn't get her drift and just stood there, gazing down at her, his arms folded across his chest.

"Have to go and shower."

"You do that."

Alex squeezed herself between him and the door and rushed to the bathroom. "What a long day this is."

"Yeah, totally agree," he said loudly so she could hear him.

"Absolutely," she shouted back. She was just about to close the door when she poked her head back out and said, "'Night," with a lovely smile.

Jay grinned. He couldn't wait to see her reaction when she realized they were sharing a room and a bed.

A moment later, he heard the shower going and knew she must be having a good time. As he went about retrieving his pajamas, he whistled to himself. Back in the bedroom, he poured himself a glass of red wine and proceeded to drink slowly, enjoying the sweet, aromatic flavor.

Then he saw her coming back out, her wet hair down her back, her face fresh and clean, and her eyes sparkling. He knew she wasn't wearing her contact lenses because she was squinting as she went about the room, trying to get her vision to focus. Not to mention the only thing she had on to cover herself was a thin towel.

Jay swallowed the wine in his mouth loudly.

"Oh, you're still here?" she said, her face going quite red.

Jay didn't know how to reply to that. This was his bedroom, after all. Was he supposed to sleep in the kitchen when bedtime came?

"I forgot my cream," she said and then rushed to the wardrobe.

Jay watched her little bottom as she ran, his mind reeling with ungodly thoughts. The next second, she rushed back out, her lips clamping and her eyes downcast as she raced into the bathroom.

Jay took another mouthful of his wine and then placed the glass down on the table. He waited. Then a full ten minutes later, she reappeared, fully dressed in her decent pajamas. They were light pink with little pictures of Tweety Bird everywhere.

"So, um, aren't you going to go to your own room?" she asked. "Oh, right. You want to make sure I feel comfortable first. Okay, I'm comfortable, and my head doesn't ache at all despite the fact that my eyes are really, really sore. Happy?"

"Yeah, I suppose. Just make yourself at home," he said and strolled into the bathroom.

Alex cocked her head to one side, wondering why he was going into her bathroom. She shrugged her shoulders and jumped on the bed. She giggled and made herself comfortable.

Sitting cross-legged and with the gigantic LCD TV on, she began to stroke her long, wet hair. When five minutes later he still hadn't come out, she wondered if he was all right in there. She was about to go and knock when she heard the shower going.

"Huh?" She scratched her head. Why would he want to shower in her bathroom? But of course she couldn't very well go and knock on the door and tell him to get out.

She continued to stroke the strands of her hair and watch TV when ten minutes later he came back out, dressed in nothing but a small white towel about his waist.

Alex nearly flipped and her mouth nearly dropped down to her lap, if that were at all possible. Why did Jay have to present himself to her in such a way? She couldn't help herself, and she just stared at the handsome man. She loved his toned muscles, not to mention the droplets of water on his tan, smooth skin. He looked like some ultra-hot model in an advertising poster, maybe for a perfume or something, half naked. She was pretty sure all the women would drool if they saw him right now.

Alex wanted to purr like a cat, leap on him, and kiss him silly.

Jay winked at her and then stroked his fingers through his short hair.

Alex cleared her throat and said, "Why did you shower in there?"

"Because I was stuffy and needed a good shower. I feel better now, thank you." He ended his reply with a smile and then strolled into the walk-in wardrobe. At the door, he paused. "Forgot." He returned to the bed, picked up his pajamas, and then began to pull on the T-shirt.

Alex just stared at him, wondering if he had just gone mad. "Why are you getting dressed in here?"

Jay popped his head out of the shirt and said, "Because I brought my clothes here."

"Right."

When he put his hands to his waist and was about to pull the towel, Alex screamed. "Don't! Please don't."

Jay laughed. "Sorry." After grabbing for his trousers, he went into the bathroom.

Alex placed her palm on the left side of her chest. She could feel her heart pumping hard and fast. "It's okay now, Alex. Calm down. He's going to go to his room when he's out," she whispered to herself. "He's just being a very nice host," she murmured. "Too nice for my liking."

She lay down and stared up at the chandelier, taking in deep, slow breaths. "When he's gone, I'll be able to sleep until morning in this wonderful bed." With that thought in mind, she began to roll about like a puppy in a mud puddle.

"I see you're really comfortable there."

Her rolling came to a complete stop. She saw he was fully dressed now—very decently, too. She smirked at him and said, "I love the bed."

Jay came around and sat on the side of the bed. "I do, too." Then he got in between the sheets.

Alex shoved herself back, shocked. "What are you still doing here?" She couldn't help herself. She knew it was rude to ask him.

Jay raised his brows. Then he laughed.

"Hey, what's so funny?"

Once he had managed to stop his laughter, he said, "This is my bedroom. Where do you suppose I go to sleep? The dining room? The long dining table as my bed? It's a bit hard, but I suppose—"

Alex gasped. "Your bedroom?"

He nodded.

"But I thought—"

"You thought what?"

"That it's my bedroom."

"Actually, this is your bedroom, too."

"No, what I mean is—"

"What do you mean?" He looked at her curiously, folding his arms across his chest.

"I thought we'd have separate rooms."

Jay shook his head in the negative. He reached out his hand for her. "Come here, missy."

"Why?"

"Come here," he said, signaling with his hand.

Alex reluctantly came to sit beside him on the bed. Jay wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "We are supposed to be a couple. We are in a serious relationship. A relationship so serious that we are, in fact, telling everyone here that we are going to get engaged and then married and then have children together soon."

"Yeah?"

"Since our relationship is so serious, what do you think people would say if we slept in separate rooms?"

Alex understood then. "Oh, you're right."

"Are we cool?"

"Yeah."

Jay smiled and then lay back. Alex watched as he made himself comfortable.

"Well, aren't you getting in?"

"Yeah, sure," she responded.

"Come on, let me help you." He pulled the duvet back for her and patted the spot beside him. When she still hesitantly and uncomfortably looked at him as though he were an ogre ready to devour her, he shook his head and grabbed her by the arm.

His action was so fast that Alex had no time to respond. She was in his arms and her face merely inches from his. She could feel his warm breath against her skin. She gazed into his blue eyes, lost in their glorious depths.

He smirked at her and then tucked her in beside him. He even had one arm under her head. "Comfortable?" he whispered into her ear.

Alex managed to nod.

"Good." Then he proceeded to make himself comfortable again and snuggled even closer to her. "Good night, Alex."

She nodded, wondering how in the world she came to be here, sleeping in Jay's arms. Only he was gay, so lying there beside him didn't mean anything to him at all. That was the reason he was so comfortable with her. But goddamn it! She wasn't comfortable with him. She did try to make her heart slow its furious beating, but it wouldn't listen to her. Why did he have to be so warm and cozy and manly?

"Jay?" she squeaked.

"Hum?"

"I don't feel comfortable."

Jayden opened his eyes. "Why not? Am I squishing you?"

"Well, kind of." She lied.

"Oh, sorry." He moved away from her just a bit. "Better now?"

"Well, no."

"A bit more?"

"Yes, please."

Jay moved a bit more to the left.

"Maybe a little bit more?" she suggested, indicating with her hand as though she were shooing him away.

Jay did her bidding. Then finally he asked her, "Is this good?"

Alex turned her head to one side and then smiled. "Yes, that's good."

Jay nodded, a half smile on his face. He turned slightly and glanced behind him. He saw the floor was not far off. His back was half in the air and half on the bed. He wondered how he would be able to sleep like that all night.

Alex saw his dilemma and sighed. "Sorry, Jay. I'm not used to sharing a bed with a stranger, you know."

Jay sat up and put his feet on the floor. "So I'm a stranger to you, eh?" Then he grabbed his pillow.

"Oh, no. Now you're upset with me. Jay, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Alex. I understand."

"No, you don't. What I mean is I've never shared a bed with anyone before. I've always slept alone."

"I know, Alex. I understand," he said, walking away.

"What are you doing?"

He went over to the sofa near the window and lay on it, resting his head on the pillow. "Making myself comfortable."

"Jay, please don't do that. This is your room, after all. You sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the sofa."

"Don't be silly. Now, go to sleep."

"But, Jay."

"Hush, missy. I'm a man. I sleep on the sofa. Do you want to damage my manhood?"

Alex couldn't help but laugh at his comment. She wanted to say to him, "Your manhood has already been damaged, Mr. McCartney, in my eyes anyway."

Jay raised one brow. "What's so funny?" He was, in fact, smiling himself.

"Nothing. Are you sure you're comfortable on that lovely bed of yours?"

"Very sure, mademoiselle," he said and then closed his eyes. "Good night."

"All right, then. Good night, Jay," she replied. She turned over and made herself comfortable. She peeked at him and saw that he looked as though he were asleep. She should do the same. She closed her eyes and then drifted off to a sound sleep.