Page 32 of Grant’s Blaze

Better yet, I was ready to master her.

The plan was effortless enough to start, as I tugged her small frame right into my chest. Rio sighed in sweet bliss while circling her arms around my waist. After she burrowed even closer, I kissed the top of her head and simply savored the feel of her body for a few long moments.

“Baby?” I asked it quietly, not wanting to break the magic spell of tranquility that had settled over us.

“Yes?” She said the word directly into my body. The warm puff of her breath made me shiver in all the best ways.

“I know it’s early, but how do you feel about bed?”

She giggled into my left pectoral. “As an overall concept, or in place of reunion sex on your couch, or…”

“Any or all of the above,” I chuckled back. “But generally, as a destination right now. We can just talk or watch a movie or whatever, but right now, I want to lie with you more than anything else I can think of.”

She quit the snickering to lean back a little, far enough to catch my gaze with her mischievous one. As she raised one inky brow, the same side of her mouth lifted. In an instant, the same invisible puppeteer yanked on my marionette string too. I mirrored my crooked smirk to hers.

And then nothing could stop me from slamming my lips over hers.

The kiss was rough and roguish and completely awesome. Yeah, I knew I’d just suggested a movie—dumbshit!—but consoled myself with the surety that we’d be fucking within twelve minutes of getting horizontal on my mattress.

When I finally let the woman up for air, she offered, “If you give me some basic instructions, I’m sure I can close up out here.”

My grin turned into a full smile. Her brandy eyes twinkled with lust, but here she was, still offering to help. This woman—fuck, this woman—she hurt my heart in ways I didn’t know possible.

“No, I’ll do it. Go get ready for me—uhh, ready for bed.”

“Hmm. Ready for you works just as well, mister.”

Before I could respond with half an aroused growl, the saucy little imp turned on her toes and started to sashay toward the hall. But reflexes kicked in, at least for a few seconds, and I pinched her ass with commanding force.

“Treeee!” She yelped and hopped, but there was definitely more sway in that sexy little ass now. I watched, with a dry mouth and a slack jaw, while her clothes started littering the hallway floor. My dark groan and deep inhale were the only soundtrack she seemed to need for the striptease.

After making love a second time, we passed out for the entire night. I just wasn’t back to my pre-vacation body weight, and staying hydrated continued to be an issue. I was tiring quicker than normal and could only guess Rio’s heightened stress level was part of what was wearing her down.

At least that theory helped with setting my priorities for the next morning. First thing, I wanted to meet with Bas and Elijah about how much I could share with her and not compromise Sebastian’s safety. My two best friends and I still weren’t sure what we were up against with the thugs who kidnapped me, but we agreed it more than likely had something to do with Sebastian. It always did.

Regardless, keeping stuff from my girl wasn’t sitting well with me. It was no proper way to start a relationship. I knew at least that much.

Because holy mother of God, that was really what was happening. Me and her, really taking a stab at the “us” thing.

The thought had me indulging a face-splitting grin while toweling off from the shower. Those wall-mounted jets and the enormous rain head above felt even more magical this morning than they did yesterday. I would never take my luxurious lifestyle for granted again.

I came out of my closet knotting a patterned mint-green tie, then fussed with it for a minute in the bathroom mirror. I scowled, wondering what direction to take the floppy mess on top of my head that was trying to pass for hair. It was way too long for my liking. I made a note on my smart pad to have Reina call my stylist to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, no amount of product could save me. Not that I didn’t try.

I was just waving a white flag in that battle when small hands started exploring my waist, just above my ass. I hissed in pleasure as they slid around to rest above my belt buckle. Rio pressed her cheek to my back, answering my primal sound with a low hum.

“You smell good enough to eat, Mr. Twombley. What does a girl have to do to get some of this perfection?” She slid one of her nimble hands over the fabric of my dark-brown slacks and caressed my hardening cock. I watched in the mirror, enraptured by the sight and curious as to her plan. Since I was more than a foot taller than her, I could only see her arms from her perfect elbows to her slim fingers and neatly manicured nails.

“Keep talking like that, for starters.” I spun around so fast, she nearly fell on her ass. Quickly I grabbed my baby by the elbows and held on to her until she was steady again. She pouted a little when I slid on my suit coat, conveying there wasn’t going to be a morning quickie today, but I distracted her with conversation while I put my wallet and handkerchief in my two back pockets.

“What do you have planned for today? Soap operas and bonbons?”

“How’d you know?”

She squinted at me while planting both hands on her hips. The little boy shorts she wore were such a gorgeously naughty distraction, I had to turn away. If not, I’d be tackling her there in the middle of the damn room, making me late on my first day back.

But damn it, there was no hiding my painful hard-on by now. Not that I was going to mount a war about that part. Most of the time, I knew when to pick my battles. And this time, judging by Rio’s heavy-lidded perusal up my body, wasn’t even a moment for politely rearranging the family jewels.

“Dude,” she breathed, allowing her stare to latch again on my crotch. Her dark-honey regard wasn’t helping a goddamned thing, and I didn’t care. “Are you sure I can’t talk you into a speed round?” She finished with a long lick of her lower lip before doing some little shimmy thing with the lower half of her own body.