She heard music from down the hall, indicating he was probably working out.
Despite her own best intentions, she was drawn toward the exercise space.
For a moment, he was unaware of her, and she stood in the doorway, watching him.Seventies rock music pulsed through the space and he pulled the handle on the rowing machine in keeping with the tempo.He stared at the television, even though the sound was muted.
He didn’t have a shirt on, and she saw a sheen of perspiration on his upper body.It was his shorts, though, that arrested her attention.They were compression skins, and she’d never known a man to wear them unless they were layered under something else.The black material hugged his legs and his genitals.Her heart raced so fast that she wondered if watching him work out would count toward her daily cardio goal.
Suddenly he looked over, and she was a bit embarrassed to be caught staring.
“Morning,” he said, his smooth pulls never faltering.“I’m almost done here.”
“No hurry,” she said.“The music drew me.”
“Sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t.”Or maybe he had, because she’d been aware of his absence.
“I made a pot of coffee for you.”
“Okay, that’s final.I will marry you,” she said.
He grinned.
Right now, she wasn’t sure which was more important, watching him or grabbing a cup of coffee.
He focused his steel-gray eyes on her.Silent promise radiated from them, simmering and pulsing even across the distance.
Her stomach plunging in anticipation, she escaped to the kitchen.
He’d thoughtfully set out a couple of mugs, and she filled one from the thermal carafe.Instead of carrying it to the table or the living room, she simply leaned against the counter while she took the first restorative sips.There’d be time to move after the caffeine hit her bloodstream.
A couple of minutes later, he joined her.He had a towel draped over his shoulders, and he was still wearing those lust-inducing shorts.
“How’d you sleep?”
“Never better,” she admitted.It had been a long time since she’d slept the night through.Much as she was loath to admit it, his presence had helped her.Well, that and the exhaustion that had clobbered her after they’d had sex.It wasn’t just the physical exertion, she knew.It was the way he pushed her, emotionally, mentally, demanding trust, taking her places that she’d never been.
“Is it okay if I go near the coffeepot?”he asked.“I promise you a refill.”
“Am I that scary?”
“Your refill comes before I take any,” he said by way of answer.
She looked into her cup.“It’s almost empty.”
“There’s enough for both of us,” he promised.
He grabbed the carafe, and Lara moved away.As ridiculous as it seemed, there was something about starting the day together that made her feel more vulnerable.
True to his word, he topped off her mug before pouring his own.
He leaned against the stove, across from her.They were close, but not touching, and she was grateful for the distance.
“How are you doing this morning?”
“A little tender.Aware that I may need to hire a personal trainer to get me in shape to have sex with you.”
“Yeah.You’ll want to be prepared for the acrobatics.”
