Page 61 of A Taste of Whiskey
AFTER ANOTHER TSUNAMI, a warm shower, and cleaning up the mess they’d made, Ezra made a fire in her fireplace. He was heading into the kitchen when Sasha padded into the living room in her new fuzzy socks, her old cotton shorts, andhisT-shirt. What a sight she was, adorably comfortable with that sated look in her eyes. He loved being alone like this with her, in her home where his son’s drawings decorated her refrigerator and Gus’s craft area was stuffed to the gills. It was like they were always meant to be.
“You made a fire,” she said sweetly. “Did I take that long getting dressed?”
“No. I’ve got fire making down to a science.”
She eyed his bare chest. “I could get used to seeing you barefoot and shirtless in my kitchen.”
He tugged her into his arms. “Careful oryou’llend up naked again.” He kissed her softly. “What would you like? Soup? Hot chocolate?”
“Hot chocolate, but I can make it.”
“Relax. I’ve got it. You had a long, hard night with the horse and then a greedy guy in your bathtub.”
“I’m sorry, but did you hear me complaining? Because I sure didn’t.” She went up on her toes and kissed him, then reached into a cabinet for a mug.
He made her hot chocolate, and she snagged the can of whipped cream and shot some into her mouth. He laughed and shook his head. “You’re as bad as Gus.” He reached for the whipped cream.
She pulled it away, shooting more into her mouth, eyes dancing with delight.
“I’ve got something you can put in your mouth.” He cocked a brow.
Her eye sparked with heat. “Maybe we’ll have to take this can into the bedroom later.”
She turned to put whipped cream on her hot chocolate, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing her neck. Feeling her soft curves made him want her all over again. But as much as he wanted to carry her into the bedroom and make love to her until morning, he’d already strayed from pampering to devouring. He might not be able to publicly be the man he wanted to be for her, but in private, he sure as hell would treat her the way she deserved.
“Sasha à la whipped creamsounds perfect to me.” He sprinkled M&M’s on the whipped cream. “But that’s going to have to wait, because you need to rest those tired bones.” He picked up the mug, and with a hand on her back, he guided her into the living room.
“I’m fine. Aren’t you going to have some hot chocolate?”
“I have all the sweetness I need right here.” He kissed her temple.
She sank down to the couch with a sigh, and he handed her the mug. She took a sip. “Mm.Thank you.”
“Where do you want me? Rubbing your feet or your shoulders?”
“Ez, you don’t have to do either.”
“I need to keep my hands busy around you, or they might wander. How about I start with your feet?” He lowered himself to the other side of the couch and lifted her feet onto his lap.
“Ezra, you really don’t—”
He started massaging her foot.
“Holy cow, that feelssogood. Forget what I said. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
He laughed and continued massaging her foot, working his way up her calf.
“Oh, wow. That feels amazing. Are you sure you went to talk therapy school and not massage therapy school?”
“I’ve been faking it all these years. Don’t tell anyone.” He squeezed her foot. “Now tell me about Posey. What will happen to her tomorrow?”
“Do you really want to know about her?” She took another sip and licked the whipped cream off her upper lip.
So damn sexy.“The horses are your life, and I like hearing about the things that are important to you.”
“Well, Doc will check her out tomorrow, and I’ll keep working with her to gain her trust. Hopefully she and Dream—the horse that was out there with us—will continue bonding, so she can settle in.”
“How do you facilitate that?”
