Shirts with French Cuffs and Late Night French Toast
The buzzing phone woke her and then warm breath in her ear and an arm reaching over her almost startled her before everything rushed back to her; everything.
"Shit…what time is it? Shit, fuck…" She sat up, clutched the sheet to her chest and looked to the clock beside her bed as she reached to take her phone from the masculine hand now holding it.
"Why is Sam calling you at ten thirty?"
She glared at the tousled head on the pillow beside her as she accepted the call. "Shut up." It figured he would know the damn phone number. "Hey…yeah I'm so sorry I stood you up. I got tied up with something work related."
There was some noise and movement beside her and then a dollar bill suddenly appeared in front of her. She shot the sexy male in her bed a grateful look as she took the money. "A client needed me." Something inside stirred as she listened and nodded. "I should have called, but things were pretty intense and then I was just emotionally worn out." She shivered when the tips of fingertips just barely trailed up her back and brushed aside her hair. One hand grabbed the sheet she was holding and tugged persistently. She held on stubbornly. "Sure, we'll reschedule…thanks for understanding…see you then, bye."
She hung up and set the phone on the bedstand before turning with a hesitant smile. "Really?" She let the sheet go and leaned down over him the dollar dangling over his eyes.
His eyes twinkled and he shrugged. "I didn't want you to lie and I am a client from time to time." One arm snaked around and pulled her against his hip. His other pulled the dollar from her hand and set it under his wallet. His eyes clouded as his brows pulled together. "Did you have a date with him tonight?"
Dani traced the deep worry lines on his forehead and frowned. She had and she wasn't really sure why either. She sighed and leaned heavy against Nico's chest. She didn't want to think about that right now, not while she was in another man's arms. Not while she was in his arms…fuck, the whole damn reason she…she blinked and realized she was near tears again. Dammit. She bit her lip and looked away in an effort to pull away.
"Whoa no way, you're not going anywhere Doctor…not until I get a few answers." He pulled her closer and ran a hand up her back to soothe her. "So, you had a date with him. I know the flowers were from him and he's looking to bed you. Why do you think I brought the envelope?" His eyebrow rose, then he smirked. "I wanted you know a few things about him." He paused to push hair over her shoulder and tilted her chin upward so he could see her eyes. "And honestly, I was jealous."
She shook her head in disbelief. Then she snorted. "You jealous? Of what? You could probably best Sam in business or sport. Hell, you'd probably be a better talent agent than him if you really wanted to be."
It was his turn to snort and he moved, slid his leg beside Dani's and rolled so that she was under him. "Except I don't lie and that's the first thing you have to do to do that job."
To her, the position change seemed effortless and she made a sound of surprise as she stared up at him breathless and aroused. She had no idea how he did it, but he had a way of making everything feel more intense. She gasped up at him.
He shook his head and took his time as he looked her over. "You're so damn lovely and you don't even know it, do you?" His hand moved up her side slowly, pausing when he felt the urge and teasing when she shivered. "Jealous because you were giving your attention to everyone but me. Especially to someone like him…he's not what you think Dani. I told you, he only wants to fuck you." He paused, just a beat. "I know you're attracted to him, but you can't deny you're attracted to me too. We both know it. It's strong, but for some reason you seem to deny it. Refuse to admit it." His fingers brushed the inside of her thigh and teased over the curls between her legs. His eyes found her face then. "You kept pushing me away. Hell, I'm still not sure where this is going Dani."
She gasped as his fingers sent pure sensation through her and his words went straight to her soul. He was right. She had been pushing him away, but she did know why. Deep inside she understood, but she wasn't willing to admit it. Not yet, not out loud. If she were honest with herself it would come down to fear. Danielle Santino, who could defend her clients, her family and anyone else she loved, was afraid. She was so damn afraid to get hurt again and she knew that this man was the one who could truly hurt her. When she told Dr. Gunner she was dangerously attracted to him, she had meant it on several levels. At the time, he was the one who could make or break her relationship with Matt, but she had known at that time he could ultimately make her realize things about herself and her past relationships that she wasn't ready to come to terms with.
Nico's finger teased her clit and her focus faltered. She moaned, hell she wasn't sure where this was going either, but right now she didn't give a damn as long as he kept doing what he was doing. She let her legs open in encouragement and was rewarded when his fingers slid inside. "Oh god…" Her eyes glazed and she blinked as she stared at his face. He called her beautiful, sexy, lovely and looked at her liked he meant it. He had always been there for her in a way Matt had never been. He never pushed her…god she could barely focus on her thoughts and her hips rose to meet his fingers. She licked her lips and shook her head. "Nico…wait…I can't think..."
As he leaned in, his hand never paused and his lips brushed hers. "Don't think, just feel it…tell me you felt like this with anyone else?" His mouth pressed hers and his tongue mimicked what his fingers were doing. In and out, press and part as he stroked and pushed her closer. His thumb came into play and teased her clit until she was barely holding on. He broke the kiss to catch his breath and cupped her cheek with his free hand. "I can't get enough of you."
She stared up at him, moved against him, desperate for what he was giving her. She reached for him, held his biceps and pressed her heels and head into the bed as the orgasm hit her. "Oh god…" Her breath caught, her eyes were on his face, she saw him smile and she couldn't help but think he looked so smug and satisfied, but then all thought left her as the pleasure crested and crashed.
He didn't let up until her body stopped pulsing around his fingers. Then he withdrew them and with a wicked smile licked them obscenely while she watched. When he finished, he used his damp fingers to tease her nipples one at a time until they were hard as pebbles. "I could watch you do that all day long."
She knew she blushed and hated that he could make her do it so easily. She cleared her throat so she could talk. "It was just dinner…" She stretched under his touch and wondered if this was how a cat felt. Didn't he have a cat? She somehow remembered that coming up in a conversation once or twice at the Hawk's complex. Someone teased him about it. Her lips twisted upward because honestly, the thought of him with a pet of any kind made her smile.
He watched her face and rested his head on his hand as he stared down at her. "With a man like Sam, it's never just dinner. It's a constant negotiation to get you into his bed. Offer and counter offer; here's why you should, you offer your excuse and he tells you why your refusal is full of shit." His free hand drifted over her skin. "Why the odd smile?"
"First, how do you know so much about men like Sam?" She shivered when his hand moved over her hip bone and tickled her. "I'm ticklish stop." She squirmed and moved away, but that only made him repeat the caress. She giggled as he flat out tickled her, increasing his weight over her, tickling her ribs and hip as he pressed her into the bed. She moaned when she felt his erection pressing against her belly. "Mmm…" She reached between them and stroked him. "Now the encore?"
He shook his head, kissed her quickly. "Not quite. You didn't answer me."
She arched a brow. "Well, you didn't answer me." Her hand slid up his shoulders and into his hair. It was wild, sticking up where it wasn't supposed to be and stuck to his head in places it shouldn't be. She smoothed it down, but it didn't help. She smiled and tugged a fistful as she pulled him down so she could kiss him. She brushed her lips to his and loved how he responded. He was probably the most attentive lover she'd had. Ray, well he was Ray and Matt was ever enthusiastic, and she'd always been satisfied, but she had to admit she was disappointed in the fact that there was never anything new. It was very similar to what she'd had with Ray…though much more satisfying. Nico had already improved on both.
Nico growled. "I swear, how any man ever gets anything done with you around…I can barely focus…" He nuzzled her neck and pinched her nipple lightly. "I know the type…Marshall was that type." Both hands slid down her side and gripped her hips. He found her eyes. "I want you."
There was a look of raw lust on his face and the shield he usually put up was gone. That openness took her breath away. She swallowed and this time she didn't wonder why she was suddenly close to tears again. She lifted a hand to his face and her fingertips hovered, barely touched his face. She blinked and felt the hot tear run down her face. "I need you." She pressed upward, fully against him with a whimper even as he moved toward her.
"Yes…" He ground out as they pressed together in desperate need.
Dani tried not to think why this time was more frenzied than the last. She would have thought they got some of it out of their system, but that's not how it happened. There was more emotion in it, more need. This was raw and rough. Nico wasn't holding back. He took what he wanted without leaving her behind. She barely hung on as his hands and mouth sought out every sensitive spot on her body. He was just shy of too rough, but somehow just rough enough. She found herself responding in kind and she shoved back and bit at him, tugged his hair. And when he threw his head back and laughed as he rolled her under him, when he told her exactly what he thought of her in language that made her blush, but managed to heat her blood until it boiled she knew there was no way she was going to be able to let him go.
Somehow, and she had no idea how, but somehow he managed to grab the condoms from the table and had one in his hand as he moved over her. He paused long enough to get it on and then while he watched her face he slammed inside.
"Holy fucking…hell…" She arched up under him as he pulled her knee up over his hip even as he ground inside deep in one thrust. "Oh god…oh fuck…" She gripped his shoulders, her eyes wide with surprise and lust. Her hips automatically moved. She needed more.
He smiled down at her and his hand pushed hair from her face as it slid to her nape and pulled her in for a kiss. The kiss was slow, the slowest thing they'd done in the last ten minutes. His tongue traced her lips and his teeth nipped her lower lip lightly before his tongue slipped over her teeth to play with hers. He kept it slow, massaged her nape, but his hips moved even more slowly against hers.
Dani groaned, frustrated. He wouldn't give in and then he pulled back with a chuckle and she yanked his hair lightly as he smiled down at her.
"What's the matter baby?" He slid out and in at an angle that made her squirm.
"Oh god, please again…more…"
He gave her what she asked for and repeated the move over and over. She strained under him and then he pulled out. "Over baby…" He reached, pulled her up against him. "I want you on your knees."
She shivered and moved quickly, missing him inside her already. She settled in front of him and dropped to her hands. She reached between her legs for him as he moved in behind her. She touched him, stroked his sac, heard his breath catch and she pressed back toward him. "Please." She looked over her shoulder as she stroked herself and rocked back against him.
He bent over her, his mouth to her ear. "This won't ever satisfy me Dani…never, I'll need more, but if this is all I have, then I'll think of you this way when I'm alone in Dallas. I'll stroke my cock just like this." He straightened back up and one hand moved over his erection as his other teased his testicles. His eyes drifted shut for a few seconds and then he opened them back up and found her face again. "I'll jack myself off and imagine you just like this until I cum."
Heat, desire and something slippery and possibly darker slid through her. Something in her heart stirred as well. This man was so dangerous to her in ways she was still unsure of, maybe she was falling for him, hell maybe she was already in love with him and she was just too damn stubborn to admit it. Fuck. She was scared, but right now she was too turned on to care about much else. "Oh god, Nico…please…I need you." She hadn't stopped touching herself and she was close.
"I know." He gripped her hips and reached down, but her hand was there and she took him, guided him. "I need you too. I have for so long…" He pressed forward and slid inside once more with a low moan. "Oh god, you feel so good…" His head fell to her back even as he moved slowly in and out. His hands found her breasts. He cupped them, rolled and plucked her nipples as his pace increased.
Dani started to feel overwhelmed. She made a sound in low in her throat. She wasn't sure why or how, but this man understood her body even better than she did. She strained with him and then one strong arm slid around her upper body and he pulled her roughly up and against his chest while his other hand held her hip tightly to meet his thrusting. His breath was hot against her neck as he pressed kisses to her neck and she turned to find his mouth. She kissed him and ground against him desperate for what he was giving her.
His mouth found her ear, where sucked the lobe, bit and breathed heavy as he worked them both toward what they needed. He smiled against her temple, both of them sweaty now, both of them close. His right hand slid down from her breast to where their bodies met. He pressed her clit and when she moaned and bucked against him he did the same thing again. "You're gonna kill me…" he panted in her ear. "But of all the ways to go…" He gasped in her ear when her body pulsed around him. "God baby…do it for me…cum for me Danielle." He whispered hoarsely in her ear. "Please…god…"
His words sent shivers down her spine that centered right under his fingers and she gasped when he begged her and then he was pounding into her again and she couldn't hold on anymore. His name came out in a moan that was probably half a scream. She fell forward onto the bed, her face against the sheet as he gripped her hips and moved against her with powerful thrusts that moved her forward on the bed and made the orgasm that was gripping her seem to last forever.
In a couple more thrusts he followed and with a gasp his head fell back and he stared at the ceiling as he gasped her name. Then he withdrew and got up to take care of the condom. He was back to find Dani in the same position he'd left her in. He smiled and playfully smacked her ass. "Hey, you okay?" He ran his hand over her back and pulled her onto her side and then rolled her to face him.
She smiled shyly at him and nodded as he pushed hair from her face. She knew she looked a total mess right now, but what woman didn't when she'd just been so thoroughly made love to? "That was…" She shook her head, "some seriously intense encore." Her hands found his and she pulled one and then the other to her lips, pressed a kiss to them and looked over his face.
He smiled and pulled a pillow under her head before he brushed a kiss across her nose. "I aim to please." He stretched and just looked at her as she watched him and let her hands move over him.
Dani took her time touching him. Her hands slid through the hair on his chest and over the small scars she found here and there. She hadn't gotten the nerve to ask about them yet, so she just touched them, took note and moved on, but her eyes met Nico's when she found them. She glanced at the clock. It was close to midnight and then her stomach growled and she realized she hadn't eaten.
"You were supposed to go out for dinner weren't you? You didn't eat." His eyebrow was up. "You must be starving." He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed. "Let me make you something."
She gave him a look, her brow up. "You're going to cook for me?" She sat and watched as he reached for his pants and his shirt.
He tossed her the black shirt, "Only if you wear my shirt again. " He winked. "You look much better in it than I do."
She caught the shirt as she stood. She inhaled his scent even as she slipped it on. He already had his pants on, but she noticed he hadn't buttoned them and there was something extremely sexy about the way he looked right now; barefoot, bare chested with his pants half undone. She pressed her thighs together and noticed him watching her. "Stop it…" She missed the buttonhole she'd been working on and he laughed and moved to where she stood to fix the shirt.
He quickly fixed the buttons. "You in my shirt is even sexier than you in that blue dress…more fantasies to fill my imagination." He smiled and kissed her before he leaned back.
Dani couldn't help but shiver at his words and she knew her pupils had gone wide because her focus was fuzzy. She gripped his forearms lightly and licked her lips and then she realized he was talking to her again.
"You were staring. Do you see something you like?" His eyebrow was up and he had a cocky smile on his lips.
Her hands slid back to his chest and her nails slid just inside the waistband of his pants as she nodded. "You're vain." She took a deep breath to steady herself and started rolling the sleeves up only to fumble with those as well.
He laughed and took her wrist in his hand and made quick work of rolling the sleeves before pressing a kiss to each palm. "There and I'm not vain, but I do know the look of a satisfied woman who might want to be satisfied again…" He kissed her temple.
She smiled and looked at the now shortened sleeves. "Where are the cuff links? I don't remember you taking them off, or me either, do we need to go looking for them?"
He shook his head. "I'd taken them off before I drove over. They're in the car."
Dani was surprised that his face colored. "Why are you blushing?"
He slid his arm around her. "Because I didn't want to worry about what would happen to them if our clothes came off. I'm sentimental and didn't want to lose them."
"You had this planned?" She wasn't sure what to think about that. Part of her was elated while another part of her was crushed. "I don't know what to think about that."
He shook his head. "No Dani, don't' shut me out again, not now. That's not how it was. I just know when I'm alone with you that there are things I wanted…things you obviously wanted too." He nodded toward the bed. "I've had a hell of a time not pushing for it, but I've always been waiting for an opening." He shrugged. "That's as far as my plan went. I wanted you to know about Sam and if I had an opening, well…" He smirked.
She couldn't help but smile at him. "So, that's your story?"
He laughed. "And I'm sticking to it, but right now I'm heading downstairs to the kitchen to see what I can cook for you. You wanna meet me down there?"
She gave him an odd look, but then realized he was giving her some time to use the bathroom, freshen up and suddenly she appreciated him even more. She looked up at him and smiled. "I'll be right down." She gripped his hand. "Thanks."
He smiled and then sauntered out the door.
Dani found Nico in the kitchen a few minutes later. He had rummaged through her fridge and pantry and found the makings of French toast. He'd also found the last of her prosciutto in the fridge. He glanced up from mixing milk, eggs, Grand Mariner, a little orange juice, some lemon zest along with cinnamon and sugar.
Her eyebrows drew together when she noticed the ingredients, though some of them weren't in her recipe. "French toast?"
He nodded. "Why not? I figured we'd stick with a theme and it would go with the French cuffs." He winked and added. "And you had that prosciutto just sitting there." He smiled wide at her. "It'll go perfectly and crisp up really quick under the broiler. Do you have maple syrup?"
She nodded. He actually sounded like he might know what he was doing, but she'd never put Grand Mariner in her French toast before, so she was cautious. She moved to the fridge and found the syrup. She set it on the counter as she watched him. His movements were easy and practices, but like the mother she was, she had a hard time sitting still in the kitchen.
"Let me do…"She reached to take the next slice of bread he was dipping from him.
He slapped her hand. "I can cook Danielle, quite well I promise."
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, but if this turns into something like the time other men have cooked for me and I have to call some twenty-four hour takeout joint, you're losing points."
He eyed her, but continued his work. The oven beeped and he laid the prosciutto on the broiler pan, popped it under the heat and then hit the timer for two minutes. He gave Dani a look. "What do I get if this goes off without a hitch then?"
She smiled and moved around the counter to his side. She slid against him, between him and bowl. Her hand slipped into the open waist of his pants to stroke him. She bit her lip. She was feeling rather bold. She cocked her head to the side. "Well, you did want breakfast in bed…"
His breath caught and his eyes drifted shut. "Well, you didn't want to wear the maid costume…"
"Tell me what else happens during breakfast then…do we actually eat?"
His eyes popped open and he smiled. "Eventually… let me finish or the food will be inedible and we won't get to find out…"
Dani giggled and pulled her hand from his pants. "Fine." She moved away to let him finish the bread.
He grabbed her quickly, before she got too far from him and he kissed her. Then he moved to the stove. He warmed his pan on the burner and then dropped butter into the pan before adding the bread. The timer beeped and he flipped his ham.
While he finished up, Dani soaked the bowl he used and wiped the counter, though he'd managed not to make much of a mess. She also set two place settings and then checked out what she had as far as wine went. She glanced over at him. "Red or white?"
"Red, something bright and fruity." He flipped his toast and then took the ham from the oven.
She frowned, thinking red was going to be too heavy with the toast, but she didn't mind, the ham would be fine with it. She chose a bottle she thought would work; something she might serve with dessert. She set it out and opened it to breathe. She figured she could whip some cream, so that's what she chose to do as he finished up the toast and cautiously watched as he somehow coordinated everything like he knew his way around the kitchen. She was surprised, but smiled because this was Nico and somehow deep inside knew she shouldn't be. When the cream was ready, she moved to sit at the counter just as Nico was setting a plate down in front of her.
He smiled at the whipped cream. "Nice." He dipped a finger into the thickened cream and licked the tip before he held it up to Dani's lips. "Well, done." He wiped his finger across her lips and then leaned in for a kiss.
Dani's breath caught and her tongue darted out to capture the sweet, heavy cream from their lips and found Nico's tongue tangling with hers. He took her breath away and she found herself less interested in the food than the man who prepared it. She pulled back and pressed her head to his chest. "That's not going to get me fed."
He chuckled and kissed her hair as he reached for the wine and poured them each a glass. "True and after I cooked we do need to eat, because you're going to owe me something."
She lifted her head and squinted at him. "Cocky." She poked his chest. "Just a little cocky…so, sit and eat and tell me where you learned to cook." She waited until he sat beside her and then she picked up her fork. She poured some syrup on the toast and then added just a dollop of whipped cream. She cut the toast and nodded. "So far it's perfect." She lifted the fork to her lips and she noticed he was watching her even as he poured syrup onto his own toast. She smiled and took the bite. Her smile widened around her food as she chewed. She swallowed and stabbed the next bite. "Oh god…that could be on the menu at a five star restaurant." Her eyes went wide. "Where did you learn to cook like this?" She picked up a piece of prosciutto and bit into it. It was done to perfection and she nodded.
Nico smiled and dug into his own plate. "I'm surprised you didn't hear the rumor." He added some whipped cream and took a bite. He took advantage of manners and chewed before adding. "TK didn't tell you?"
She shook her head. "If he did it was in one of his rambling tirades about something else and I ignored it." She knew she just let one of her secrets out. "You know how he gets and sometimes I tune out his over the top speeches until he gets to what he's trying to tell me." She motioned with her fork. "Gossip is usually part of what I don't pay much attention to." She rolled her eyes. With TK, you usually got way more information than you needed and had to weed through it. "Paloma did say you stopped by TK's for dinner, but that was all."
He laughed and nodded. "Maybe your blonde assistant isn't as annoying as I thought she was?" His eyebrow rose. "Hmm…I'll have to look into her some more." He offered Dani a thoughtful look while he chewed his ham. "Then again, maybe it's you, because everything I found on her showed me someone else entirely." He shrugged and picked up his wine. "To you, and your civilizing ways." He held up his glass.
Dani held her glass up and smiled. She leaned close, her eyes on his with a low, suggestive tone to her voice when she spoke "To you and finding out exactly how many other things you can make me for breakfast."
He looked at her seriously before he let his glass meet hers and finally taking a drink. He set the glass down and turned around, completely focused on his plate.
Dani cleared her throat. "Hey, what's with the sudden mood change?" She took another bite and then moved more of her toast around her plate as she watched him. She'd finished one piece of toast and the ham and her appetite was gone. "I thought you wanted more than tonight?"
He sighed out his frustration. "God, yes I do, but I have no damn idea what you want. I've been more than clear with what I want." He turned toward her. "You're the one who hasn't said, 'Don't go'. Even when I told you I was leaving for Dallas before…god that night when we were waiting out the reporters…all you had to say was you would miss me…don't go, I want you stay…I need you here…" He shoved a hand through his hair and shook his head. "But no, you said the team would miss me…they needed me." He laughed then. "Fuck them and everyone else." He stood and grabbed her shoulders. He pulled her from the stool and stared down at her harshly. "Tell me. Tell me Dani. Tell me what you want, what you need, because I need you in my life, but I can't stand to see with other men. I can't watch them touch you. Not anymore, and if that makes me a selfish prick, fine. But if I can't have you in my life the way I want it, then you can't be in it at all."
She looked at him. A sob caught in her throat and then tears ran down her face and she reached up and touched his face gently. "Oh my god…" She bit her lip as everything hit her, all of it and for the first time it was crystal clear. "Why didn't I realize?" She pressed closer, trembling as emotion washed over her. Everything she'd try to come to terms while she was with Matt seemed to make sense. She'd struggled then because she'd felt guilty for having feelings for another man, but she needed to be honest with herself. What was her excuse now? Matt was gone and she was alone. She was so fucking lonely in this big house by herself. Ray Jay was in Paris with Juliette. Lindsay was with her friends, growing into the strong young woman she was supposed to be and Dani knew she was supposed to be. Hell she hated to admit it, but she felt abandoned even by Jeanette.
"Oh god…oh god…" She sobbed and pressed her face to Nico's chest even as she refused to let herself believe her feelings were that deep. "You can't…I can't…" She giggled and sobbed again.
Nico held her for a few seconds and then he gently pushed her from his chest, held her at arm's length so he could see her face. "What the hell is going on? I need answers, because I'm serious, if I don't get them, once I wrap things up at V3 I will be going to Dallas."
She shook her head and gripped his arms. "No, no…you can't. No Dallas." She tried to get closer, but he wouldn't let her. "No, dammit let go of me you idiot. You can't leave now, not after you all but told me you loved me."
He dropped his hands and took a step back. "What? I didn't say that." His mouth was wide as he stared at her.
She laughed at the confusion on his face. "Okay fine, you didn't say those words. How about this then? I don't want you to go to Dallas because I want a relationship with you." She stepped toward him and held out her hand. "I will miss you, I need you. Please don't leave me because dammit, I really want to see where this goes." She took a breath. "I care about you." She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I don't want to go another six months worrying."
He gave her a steady look, still hesitant. "For the record, I care about you too." He arched a brow and then looked toward the counter as his face took on a mischievous look. "But, how much of that wine did you drink?"
She giggled. "Hey, you're the one who put alcohol in the French toast." She took another step toward him, again held out her hand and waited. She hoped she was making the right decision, but she had to admit she was finally at peace about her feelings.
He took her hand and pulled her into his arms. "It took you long enough…" He tilted her head upward and bent to kiss her.
It was sensual and sweet, different than how he'd kissed her before and Dani melted against him. When he broke the kiss he feathered them over her face; a kiss to her eyes and nose, her cheeks and her ear. He murmured sweet words to her and told her how beautiful she was. She sighed against him and let her hands roam his back and shoulders. She took a breath. "Long enough for what?"
He smiled against her cheek. "To stop being so damn stubborn."
She lifted her head so she could see his smug face. He was unbelievable. She kissed his chin and traced the line of his brows. "You wouldn't love me if I were any different." She felt heat rush her face as she realized what she'd said. Her eyes went wide and directly to his as her heart pounded. She didn't believe she'd just said that. Not now, not so soon…not right here when they'd just started negotiating this. Not after what she'd just said about him loving her and him getting all skittish about it. Shit, the "L" word was not something to bring up right now, even if she hadn't really meant it that way. Her thoughts jumbled in her head and then poured out her mouth. "You know what I meant…I know you don't love me, you know that way…I mean like friends, not more than that…not yet anyway…but you wouldn't expect anything else from me, right…I'm…"
He shook his head, chuckled. "Shh…" His hand slid to her ass and when she kept talking, he shut her up by kissing her.
She gasped against his lips but then she was kissing him back and her hands went to his hair. When he lifted his head she was out of breath and it took her a second to regain her focus. "Um…okay, shushing now." She licked her lips and shivered when his hands, which had found their way up under the shirt she was wearing, skimmed up her sides. "Oh…having trouble even thinking now…"
He smiled and moved so he was behind her. His hands continued their lazy exploration, but now his mouth was by her ear. "Good, how does that feel?" He asked as his hands found her breasts and gently rolled her nipples.
She nodded. "Goo…" she had to clear her throat when he did something particularly interesting with a callous on his thumb. "Oh, so good…" She let her head fall back against his chest as heat filled her again. "How do you keep doing this to me?" He managed to set her body on fire with the slightest touch. She understood some of it was because this was new, but not even with Matt had it been like this.
"The same way you drive me insane just seeing you walk across the office." He whispered in her ear. "The same way I need you again." He pressed against her ass and then pulled back. "Grab the wine, let's go back upstairs."
She nodded and when his hands left her she felt their loss, but she moved to the counter and took a minute to refill both of their glasses. She handed his over and then let him tuck her under his arm as they headed back up the stairs. She looked up at the man beside her from under her lashes. She couldn't help but notice the worry on his face. She tightened her hold around his waist and felt him return the gentle hug at her shoulders. She smiled, but wondered where the worry came from and what burden he was carrying around. He never really talked to her. He was still Sneako and at that thought there was a swirl of worry in her gut, something dark, the danger she always felt around him. Yes, he kept her safe and she knew he would, but at what cost? What did he hide and would it eventually come back to haunt him…and possibly her?
She shook off those thoughts, because she'd just told this man that she wanted him in her life and for now, she was committed to seeing that through. She trusted him, but her heart was wary. She didn't want to get hurt again and deep inside she knew that this was the man who would be able to devastate her like no other.
But right now, well she was lost in her lust. With a sexy smile, he took her wine and set it on her dresser just before he reached for the buttons on the black dress shirt. The facts that it was his shirt and that his eyes were on hers the entire time he slid the buttons free made her feel like she was going to burst into flame. When he pushed the dark material from her shoulders with a hungry growl and kissed his way down her body, Dani's world became completely focused on sensation. She stopped trying to make sense of anything other than to be thankful the kids weren't home and to occasionally wonder just how far sound travelled outside her house. Eventually, she stopped thinking even about that and she didn't have another coherent thought until morning, and that one revolved only around fact that the man in her bed was insatiable as he rolled her over and made love to her yet again.
