Chapter 11

"I need to move, honey," he said after a bit while still staring longingly into her eyes.

"Me too. I think my legs are half asleep."

Still holding her close, he stood up gradually while she slowly slid her legs down off the cushions and placed her feet on the floor. Knowing she'd be off balance, wobbly, and have a hard time standing, he steadied her with his arms, holding her as she stood so the blood could return to normal circulation in her legs.

"Ah," she breathed as she sagged a bit against him and clutched onto his arms for balance as prickly and tingly waves of sensation walked up her legs. Her legs felt like quavering jelly from their intimate releases and the entire effect of what they'd experienced together not just because they'd been sitting in that erotic position for a while.

He chuckled. "Well, you left me nearly speechless and I've left you unable to walk. That's a nice trade off."

She giggled, holding on to him as he continued rising from the couch on unsteady legs.

"I'm not the only one with a walking problem, sweetie," she whispered sexily into his ear with a seductive smile playing on her lips.

"Guess we should clean up," he suggested, feeling the large wetness in his jeans and looking down at the damp spot low on the front of his belly. Her eyes followed his gaze down and lingered there enjoying the physical evidence of their sexual playing. Knowing she had done that to him made her happy and excited.

This is a heady feeling knowing I have that kind of power over him, she thought devilishly.

He looked up at her and saw the wry, ornery smile on her face as she was staring at the front of his pants.

"What?" he asked, deciding whether or not he should be embarrassed, but then wasn't because of her smile.

"Just like what I see is all," she confessed, returning her gaze to his face and looking him dead in the eyes. "Don't tell me you're embarrassed," she teased, "because I'm not. If it's any consolation, I'm so wet that my panties are soaked." She gave him one of her wide-eyed seductive stares while playfully biting her lip.

He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it because nothing would come out. Her blatant description of the post climactic condition of her intimate petals and folds sent his wild imagination into high gear as he envisioned her nude body and how she would look and smell after actually making love. Blinking, swallowing, and softly clearing his throat to reign in his run away images of fantasy, he tried again.

"Showers," he said.

"Then bed," she suggested. He looked at her, his face a question. "Tonight was intimate. I guess what I'm saying…is…that I don't want to sleep in the guest room now. Will you sleep with me, Rick?"

Rick's face lit up in astonishment. His breath caught in his throat and he half coughed. He hadn't expected that question.

"Uh…I meant, um…" she began, seeing the surprise on his face and then feeling the need to explain herself.

"Shhh," he gently placed his fingers to her lips to stop her talking while his astonishment at her suggestive question turned to a soft smile. His eyes, though loaded with desire, were full of understanding and tenderness. "I know what you meant," he answered huskily. "You meant literally sleeping not figuratively sleeping with you." She gazed at him as a shy, embarrassed blush colored her cheeks. "You want me next to you, holding you in my arms while you sleep all night. Snuggling after making love," he said with a grin.

"Yeah, and I like the way you said that," she whispered, dimpling a smile at his playful, sexy teasing.

"Well, that's what we did."

"I know and it was beautiful."

"Actually," he continued, "I was going to suggest snuggling because it's what I want too." They held each other's eyes in a tender embrace, their longing desire, hope, and love evident.

"Funny how we think the same thing at the same time…it's magic," she conceded.

"Or my Jedi mind trick," he smirked.

"Pssp, wrong Skywalker. My Vulcan mind meld," she shot his smirk back at him. They chuckled. "So, then after I'm clean do you have something I can sleep in other than these big strong arms?" she asked running her hands over his shoulders and down his arms.

"Yeah, come on." They kept holding hands, steadying each other as they walked into his bedroom.

Her eyes scanned the room noting the king sized bed and masculine décor. The soft neutral tones with light green and gold and silver accents united pleasantly with the wooden furniture.

"Do you like it," Rick asked seeing how her eyes roamed the room taking in what was there.

"Of course I do. It's you and just how I imagined."

Rick raised an eyebrow and gave her quirky, lopsided smile. "I see someone's been having naughty fantasies. Ravishing me on your desk at work and imagining my bedroom. Hmm…"

Kate flushed over him knowing she had sensual daydreams about him and suddenly felt shy, even after the intimacy they'd shared, as she met the sparkle in his eyes.

"I couldn't stop myself," she confessed, sighing. "Focus, Rick. You were getting me something to sleep in?"

"Uh…right, oh, right," he said releasing her hand and walking over to the dresser. He pulled open the top drawer. "Ok, nothing in here you'd look good in." He closed the top drawer and opened the second drawer. "Ah, here we go, perfect, ravishing." He teased as he pulled out one of his old, faded, light green T-shirts that didn't fit him anymore and that had been washed so many times the fabric was thin, along with a pair of white designer boxers that snapped down the front. "Here, these should fit ok," he winked at her while handing her the garments.

Her heart tumbled and beat wildly in heated desire seeing him wink at her and her blood raced around her body as if it was a dashing thoroughbred setting a track record. For some reason, and she knew it was because he lit her heart, body, and soul on fire in every way imaginable, that sensual and playful wink set her senses on edge. Her breath caught involuntarily in her throat, her lips parted slightly, and she stared at him for a moment.

Rick again realized the physical effect he had on her from the way her breath caught when he winked at her. He smiled at her lingering gaze.

Looking down at the clothes in her hands and licking her lips she said, "This shirt's a bit thin. Will I be warm enough?"

"Yeah, I'll keep you warm." Wonder if she figured out I have ulterior motives with that shirt, he thought.

"Really? I think you just want to look at my boobs," Kate answered matter-of-factly with raised brows and lips pursed in a knowing smile, as if she heard his unspoken question.

"Yeah," his breath whooshed out in conviction. "I'm so busted."

Kate smiled and laughed quietly. "Yeah, you are," she took a step to him, giving him her playful, sexy look as her voice grew provocative and honey smooth. "You're lucky my cuffs are in the other room," she continued with a slight nod toward the sitting area.

Rick's brows went up and his lips parted a bit in amusement and slight surprise.

"You mean you'd… ah… you have a pair like that?" he choked as interesting erotic images raced through his head. She slowly moved closer to him just short of touching his body with hers.

"No," she kept on in her low purring and teasing, her eyes twinkling in ornery suggestion as she met his eyes, dropped them to his lips and looked back up to his eyes holding them spellbound, "but we both know where we can find a pair."

He sucked in a tremulous breath. Her lips were close to his and he nearly kissed her, but at the last second, she pulled away taking half a step backward.

He exhaled a breath he'd been holding. "You're wicked woman."

"Oh Rick," she smiled, giggling, lightly putting her hand on his chest, "you're so easy."

"Because I surrender so easily to your enchantress-like bewitching and enticingly naughty sense of humor?"

"That's right, honey," she giggled a little louder.

"Keep playing with fire, Kate and…"

"I'll just get really hot," she interrupted him in a mellow and sexy voice, grinning provocatively with a cocked brow.