“No.” He shook his head. “I was already at the airport.”
“You were?”
“I was.”
“But you weren’t supposed to come back until next week.” I grinned.
“Well, I wanted to get back here and make sure you hadn’t burned the place down trying to make coffee.”
I giggled and snuggled into his chest.
“And my cricket bat is here.”
“How was Sanjeet’s wedding?”
“Beautiful. I’m so proud of him. Mita is amazing. I’m happy for him. Of course, the wedding would have been better if you were with me. But I’m sure they’ll be having a big Indian baby shower within the next year. You can make it all up to me by being on my arm for it.”
“It’s a date.” My smile turned mischievous. “By the way, I saw your Instagram post.”
“You did, huh?” One corner of his beard twitched.
“You couldn’t find any formidable chess opponents in London?”
“None as good as my queen.” Dan turned me in his lap so I was straddling him and opened my robe. I was completely naked underneath. “No one is better than you, Emma. You came into my life and turned everything upside down, and I love you so much for it.” He wrapped a palm around one of my breasts and smoothed his thumb over my nipple, making me gasp.
“I love you, too.” I leaned forward and brushed my lips over his. “I couldn’t even imagine my life without you in it.”
“I hope you never have to,” he whispered before standing with my legs wrapped around his waist and carrying me up the stairs to his bed.
“I really missed you, Emma,” Dan whispered as he lowered me onto his mattress.
“Oh, really?” I said with a coy smile and scooted up the mattress. “What did you miss the most?”
“Too many to choose from, love.” He undid the buckle of his belt, and I watched his jeans slide down his legs into a pile of denim at his feet before he stepped out of them.
“Try.” I slipped a finger into my mouth and pulled it out slowly while he watched me hungrily. Dan had pulled himself out of his boxer briefs and was stroking his length as his eyes followed the path of my finger down my body, between my breasts and over my belly. My eyelids fluttered closed, and I let my head fall, sliding my fingers over my clit while Dan watched.
“I missed the sexy little cat noises you make when I nibble on your inner thigh,” he whispered, and I felt the mattress dip when he joined me on the bed. I paused midstroke and opened my eyes to glare at him.
“I do not make cat noises.” I shot him a lazy grin and shook my head.
“Oh, yes, you do.” He knelt between my legs before wrapping his arms around my thighs and yanking me toward the edge of the bed so quickly I let out a squeal of surprise. “See? You’re starting already.” My chuckle was cut short by Dan swiping his tonguebetween my legs. My back arched away from the mattress as Dan used his powerful arms to hold me in place as I jerked and squirmed. Unintelligible sounds—though I wouldn’t call them cat noises—emanated from my mouth, mixed with expletives and cries of Dan’s name as I tangled my fingers in his hair and rode his face to ecstasy.
If Dan hadn’t told me himself that he missed me, I would’ve known from the way he was devouring me. Every pucker of his lips and swipe of his tongue felt desperate and needy as he left no inch of my sex untouched or unexplored. He kissed, licked, and nibbled me past the point of sanity until I couldn’t take any more and pushed his head away, drowning in a heady euphoria that only multiple orgasms can cause. My chest was heaving and I was covered in sweat when my insatiable lover kissed a trail from my thigh to my lips and whispered, “Cat noises.”
After I returned the favor, Dan retrieved one of the hundreds of condoms from the cardboard box in the closet of his bedroom and proceeded to make love to me in every corner of his flat as we desperately tried to make up for the two weeks of time we’d lost. At my lowest point, I’d often wondered if I’d ever have moments like this with Dan again. Now that we were back together, I was desperate to enjoy every kiss and embrace.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” he mused as his fingers hovered over one of his pawns.
“What’s not fair?” I asked, nibbling on a piece of chikki from one of Dan’s mother’s care packages.
“How am I supposed to concentrate on my game when there are so many… distractions?” He tipped his chin at my bare chest.
“Are you really trying to insinuate that you’re losing because I’m naked?” I giggled and sat up straighter on his sitting room floor, arching my back and capturing all of his focus before I leaned in for a kiss.
“Darling, Garry Kasparov wouldn’t be able to focus with those on display.” He finally moved his bishop and reached for the tin, planting a kiss on my lips. “If I’d known you’d like my mum’s chikki so much, I would have asked her to send more.”
“It’s so good!” I said with a mouthful. “I can’t believe your mom makes this.”
