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“We can grab takeout, or I can take you to Ember and Oak. Yeah, we should go there.” He turned back to me and took my hands in his. “Yeah, Tillie. I want to take you out. I know I’ve held you captive up here on my mountain, but I don’t want to hide you. You’re not some dirty little secret.”

Whoa! I hadn’t thought for a second I was. It hadn’t even crossed my mind, but now he’d put the idea there, it was going to be hard to shake.

“Cody!” I tried again, needing to get this back on track. It was too early, and I hadn’t had nearly enough coffee to deal with him spiraling.

“Yeah?”

“Why don’t you call me when you’re on your way back to town, and I’ll meet you here?”

“You don’t want to go out?”

“Honestly?”

“Always,” he replied swiftly.

“Not really. I’m wiped out. I’m happy with a sandwich and a snuggle,” I admitted, unable to think of anything better.

“I can do better than a sandwich,” he grumbled, wrapping his arms around my waist and hauling me against him.

“I’m not a fancy girl. I like quiet nights. Simple things.”

“I know that. But I can take you out. I want to take you out,” he assured me.

“I know. How about a raincheck? We can go out one night when I don’t have to work,” I compromised.

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad? Because you want to take me to a fancy restaurant? No, Cody, I’m not mad. I’m tired. Someone, not mentioning any names, kept me up all night doing dirty things to my body.” I grinned at him.

“Hmmm. Funny thing is, I don’t remember you complaining when I was licking your pussy,” Cody reminded me, and my whole body burned at his filthy words.

I shivered in his arms, and he chuckled, tightening his hold. I could already feel his cock pressing against me through his jeans. I pressed up on my toes and kissed him quickly. He tasted like mint and coffee.

“I don’t remember,” I lied, remembering exactly how he played my body like it was a precision instrument.

He lifted me up like I weighed nothing at all and set me on the kitchen counter. “Maybe I should remind you,” he growled against my neck.

I was going to need another shower.

“Maybe you should,” I sassed back, trying to keep the upper hand even though we both knew I had no chance.

“Or …”

He sucked on the pulse point in my neck, and I arched my back. I didn’t know what it was about Cody that turned me from a normal, responsible, fully functioning adult into nothing more than a horny teenager who couldn’t think of anything except getting the D.

“Or?” I asked, my voice shaky.

Cody stepped back, his gaze locked with mine. “Or I could drive you to work. You don’t want to be late,” he finished, offering me his hand.

“Huh?” I was confused. One second, I was almost positive he was about to have me for breakfast, and now he was backing up and talking about work. My panties were ruined, my whole body burning, and I could barely think straight

“You don’t want to be late.” He smirked.

I took his hand, and he helped me down. Confused, I went to slip on my shoes and grab my bag.

Five minutes later, with my head still spinning, I moved toward the front door, deep in thought.

I felt Cody’s warmth behind me.