“I don’t like to skip it—dinner with my family,” he clarified, “especially with Verity leaving in a few weeks for college. But if you want, we can go somewhere else. A Slice of Sicily or The Oaks. But to be honest, you won’t get a better meal than whatever Toby’s cooking for us at Urban’s.”

That was when she saw the nerves in his eyes. Heard the uncertainty in his voice.

This wasn’t about pity. This was about him spending time with her.

Last night she’d told him exactly what she wanted, what she deserved. Effort. Trust. Forgiveness. And he was giving her all of them. Not with words, but in the form of a retractable fire escape ladder.

An orgasm that had left her seeing stars.

And an invitation to Sunday night family dinner.

She cupped his face, loving how his whiskers felt under her palms and the way his eyes shut momentarily at the contact. How he leaned his cheek into her touch.

Loving even more that she could touch him like this.

As if she had the right to.

As if he belonged to her as much as she belonged to him.

“I would love to have dinner with you and your family.”

He blew out a breath. “Good.” His fingers tightened on her ass cheeks, the tips of his fingers fluttering against her crack. “It takes five minutes to get there.”

The gruffness of his tone, his hooded gaze and the way he was slowly, slowly dragging her thong down her legs once again, had understanding dawning clear and bright, like a summer day.

Basking in it like she would the sun, she settled her hands on his shoulders.

She was, after all, his good girl.

“I can be ready in eight minutes.”

“Seven minutes?” He lowered himself to kneel in front of her as he dragged her thong down. “Not quite the feast I’d imagined, but time enough for a quick appetizer. And at least two more orgasms.”

Eyebrows raised, hands still on his shoulders, she looked down at him. “Two? Someone’s feeling cocky about his abilities.”

“Not cocky,” he told her, lifting her left foot so he could take her thong off. He set her foot down and repeated the motion with her right one. “Confident.”

Then, tucking her thong in his front pocket, he looked up and shot her a grin, wild and wicked and warm.

And all for her.

Chapter 31

Half an hour later, Miles sat alone in his car in the parking lot of Sonny’s Market, the rain dotting his windshield. What he’d accomplished in those seven minutes back at Tabitha’s apartment was nothing short of extraordinary.

If he did say so himself.

He’d made Tabitha come twice, the first time in less than two minutes—a personal record for him.

Damn right he was bragging.

He’d teased her with his fingers and kisses along her inner thighs, had just swiped his tongue along her slit, his hands spreading her thighs wider, when she’d started quaking, her head tossed back as she came on his mouth with small, breathy moans.

But that was fine. Gave him the remaining five minutes to settle in for a more leisurely taste.

And what a lovely little snack she’d been. Sweet and tangy and so fucking responsive, the way she twitched when he’d curled his tongue and pushed it inside of her. Her fingers tightening on his shoulders when he’d replaced his tongue with two fingers and sucked on her swollen clit.

When she’d started undulating against him, seeking more, he’d gripped her hips and forced her to stay still. Kept her locked there, ass pressed against the cupboard, while he’d lapped at her pussy like a man starved, and she’d chanted his name.