‘About her leaving or about him not doing arse?’
‘You said she’d shagged him.’ The word feels unfamiliar and a little false. ‘Not that she lives with him.’ Not that she lives next door.No matter. Not my business.
‘Obviously, one preceded the other, not that I care anymore.’
I hold out my hand in prevention, suddenly hit by the inappropriateness of my enquiries. Two-night stand etiquette didn’t extend to this. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.’
‘I’m fine with not talking about it, as you’d imagine,’ he replies, a touch droll, before stalking back to where I sit. ‘If bigamy is having one wife too many, then marriage, in my opinion, is tantamount to the same.’
I laugh in spite of myself. Easy to do as he seems to bear no scars. Well, other than the one at his ribs.Sheesh. He stands next to me, staring down, but I can’t make out his expression in the light.
‘Take it off,’ he purrs. I frown. I’m only wearing one item of clothing; he can’t possibly mean that. But as he slides the edge of the spatula down the inside of my arm, I realise he does. ‘Would it help if I said please?’ The edge of danger in his tone makes my stomach flip deliciously.
But no. Nope, not happening. Not happening at all.
Sliding the implement across my waist, he pushes it down between my bare legs, sliding it farther until he’s caressing my inner thigh. ‘You weren’t shy earlier when you were on the kitchen table, spread across it like a feast.’ His words bloom deep in my belly. Why does this turn me on? It was much lighter earlier. We could’ve been seen.I could’ve been seen.
‘You’re thinking about it, aren’t you? The prospect of being watched. Driving your audience wild as you writhe under my mouth.’
Damn him for being right. The scene he paints is so darkly tempting, the words like silk against my skin.
‘You are so very beautiful, you know.’ His words are heavy with awe.
‘I bet you say that to all the girls.’ My response sounds husky and encouraging, probably to us both.
He brings the metal down on my outer thigh swiftly, leaving my skin pinked and smarting.Leaving me aching in other places.
‘That’s for being saucy. When I pay you a compliment, you are to accept.’
I find myself nodding, washed away in this world his words create. He places the spatula down next to me, kneeling on the floor in front as he pushes my legs wider, forcing me to unfold my awkwardly placed legs. His hands slide the length of my thighs, thumbs curling inwards as he reaches the very apex.
I tremble, a mixture of desire and distrust consuming me. One hand reaches up and loosens another button at my chest—the shirt wasn’t fastened well to begin with, I’d sort of made sure of that. Dan spreads his long fingers to spanmy collarbone, sliding the shirt from my shoulder a touch. Just a little... then a just a little more.
‘I thought we were going to eat?’ My words are more breath than true words, my back relaxing against the cool glass. His eyes seem darker, heavier, though mischief lurks in his smile before he speaks.
‘I thought we’d established earlier we’re beginning with dessert.’
Chapter Seven
LOUISE
Dinner lay abandoned in the kitchen as we lay once more in his bed. As Dan lies on his back, my head rests in the hollow of his shoulder as his thumb absently strokes my hip. Outside, it’s begun to rain, the room silent but for the soft patter against the glass. My skin is chilled as the duvet pools across one corner of the bed, hanging down onto the floor. But sated and comfortable, neither of us are disposed to move.
‘Oh, my Louise, if I take you home, I’ll make you plead.’ His lips against my hairline, his song is half whisper, half sultry tune.
I laugh softly, placing my hand flat against his chest as I look up at him. ‘My pop, my grandfather, used to sing that to me. Thoughheused the right words.’
‘You think my words are wrong? I think they’re perfect.’ Continuing in a low, husky tone, his song makes me shiver. ‘I knowjustwhat you need.’
‘Neil Diamond won’t be happy with what you’ve done to his song. How old did you say you were, anyway?’ My hand shakes against his chest as it rumbles with laughter.
‘Old enough,’ he replies softly, kissing my head again.
I could get used to this; used to being kissed for whatever his reasons.Desire. Comfort. With a deep breath, I remind myself that’s not what this is. This is a one-night stand extended. Neither are us are looking to get involved beyond sex.This isn’t a relationship.
‘What is it?’ Dan asks softly. I shake my head rather than answer. ‘Come on; I can feel your frown against my lips.’
‘I can’t believe we’re here in bed again,’ I say, picking the first thing out of my head to say.
