Chapter Ten
Be still my beating heart.
For the first time in my life I understand why the French call this the little death.Maybe you can actually die from excess post-orgasmic glow. FPOF: Fatal Post-Orgasmic Fatigue, maybe?
Kai’s heart beats against my ribs, our uncooperative limbs lying entwined. On the edge of sleep, his lips are gently parted, his lashes closed in dark half-moons against his skin.
‘Miss Saunders.’ His words are soporific and sexy. ‘That was every bit as good as I’d imagined it to be, and I have a very good imagination.’
As he rolls onto his back, my body jolts, words penetrating my sated state.Fuck a duck. I think I just boffed my boss!I’m suddenly wide awake and tense, bird-wings beating rapidly against my ribs. Pushing myself up onto my arms, my heels scramble for purchase against the bed, shoes sliding from my feet as they tangle in the bedding.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asks, grasping my leg. I immediately still, realising as I do so how ridiculous I must look. Unsophisticated. But then again, I generally am.
‘I—I’m fine,’ I answer, forcing my body to relax as far as it’s able, given that it seems Imayjust have humped my boss.
‘Were you going somewhere?’ His words are tainted by amusement.
‘I’mnot... going anywhere.’ Even as I stumble over my reply, my skin begins to pink.
‘I should think not.’ He turns his head, mouth shadowed by the pillow but I don’t need to see his mouth to know I’m being laughed at. ‘I’d be surprised if you had any power at all left in your legs.’ His eyes peer over the edge of the pillow, alight with an edge of something. Mine, however, are too full ofpissed offto comprehend.
‘You’re so... sofullof it,’ I spit out, drawing my knees under my chest and pushing his hand away.
‘A prince among men.’ He sighs with theatre, but damn his eyes, they’resmiling. I narrow my own as he begins to laugh, leaning over me and kissing my thigh.
‘You’re just so easy to provoke,’ he drawls, rolling onto his back and stretching like a large, demanding cat. ‘It’s too hard to resist. Come on, what’s with the comic legs.’
‘And you’re a... a...’ I flounder, torn between laughing and insulting him grievously as he leans over and bites this time. His eyes peer up at me through those fantastically long lashes as he sucks on the skin.Oh. My. God.
‘Yes, so you’ve said,’ he whispers, licking the red sucking bite. ‘But it’s your plans for escape we’re discussing. I should warn you, you’re making me feel cheap.’
Somehow, I doubt that. ‘It’s just, I can’t believe I’ve just done—’
‘Me?’
‘Be serious.’ I sigh, unable to hold his eyes even as it occurs to me how easy it would be to turn onto my side, reach out for him. Then I remember why it’s probably not a good idea. ‘And there’s thetinyissue of youpossiblybeing my boss.’
‘Is that all?’ he asks, eyeing me with something that still resembles amusement. ‘I promise not to tell.’
I still didn’t hear a denial.
Pulling himself up against the pillow, he traces the bow of my mouth with sex-scented fingers. ‘Teach not thy lips such scorn, for they were made for kissing, not contempt.’ Pulling away with an almost self-conscious edge, he stretches. ‘Don’t be so...bourgeois.’
What, me? The Aussie chick? Is that still even a thing?Bourgeoisis middle class, right? I’m not even sure, as an Australian, I’m supposed to subscribe to all that crap. And besides, I don’t feel very respectable right now. But that was sweet and unexpected, other than the middle-class bit. Sex and Shakespeare; that’s quite a combination.
In one swift motion, Kai rolls from the bed, turning back to remove my shoes from the tangled sheet. All ponderings and rampant self-recriminations are silenced as he strides from the room, bronzed, toned and gloriously naked.And no tan lines—yikes!
My objections are still set to mute when he returns a few moments later, the open bottle and our barely touched glasses in his hands. Placing mine on the nightstand, he unfolds my clutch from his arm as I try very hard to keep my eyes on his face.
‘You’re bag was ringing,’ he says, dropping it to the bed.
Tucking the sheet around mybourgeoisbody for modesty sake, I reach for the glass, swallowing a gob-full as I fish out my phone.
I have a missed call, followed by a text, the little blue bubble reading:Hey hun, how’s tall dark & delicious? Does he make u horny? Can’t wait for details!!
I wonder why she’s texting, didn’t she have big plans of her own? Leaving the question for later, I text back my response.Hey, the porn industry called. They want their lines back. In the 80’s. P.S. A lady never kisses and tells. Good job we don’t know any ladies, right?
Bloody woman will be gloating for weeks.
