Page 35 of Sack

She heard him chuckle but if he said anything, it was stolen by the sandman.

Chapter Eight

Colt

Colt came awake, a smile curving his lips as he reached out an arm. It hit cold sheets. His smile faded as he peeled an eye open, finding the bed empty.

Light shone through the slats of the plantation shutters, making him wonder what time it was. He sat up, stretching his arms over his head. He hadn’t slept so hard in ages.

Throwing back the sheets, he got up and hit the bathroom before snagging his jeans off the floor and sliding them on. He didn’t bother with a shirt as he made his way downstairs in search of Ivy.

He found her in his office.

So engrossed in what she was doing, she didn’t notice him leaning on the doorjamb, so he was able to look his fill. She’d thrown her hair in a haphazard bun, and he visualized himself pulling at the tie to watch it cascade over her shoulders. Her face was scrubbed clean. She never wore a lot of makeup, but seeing her without, he found hermorebeautiful. She was wearing her clothes from yesterday, but all he could see was the powder-blue bra he knew was hiding under her shirt.

“What’s a Gimli?”

Startled, her head snapped up. “Sorry?”

“Gimli.” He pointed toward her chest.

She glanced down. “Oh. A character fromLord of the Rings.”

He’d heard of the book but had never read it or watched the movies. “And that tree guy from the other day?”

She smiled. “Groot. A character fromGuardians of the Galaxy. Part of the Marvel Universe.”

He nodded, having heard of that movie, also. He’d seen a couple of the older Marvel movies but was way behind on all the latest ones. Catching on to the theme, he said, “Oh, Sith, I think I can figure out, but what about kriff?”

“You have been paying attention.”

He pushed off the jamb and walked into the room. “To every word you’ve ever said.”

Her cheeks pinkened—the sexiest blush money couldn’t buy. “Another profanity fromStar Wars. It translates into the F-word. See,” she raised both hands and pointed at herself, “big nerd.”

He stepped around the desk. Leaning over the back of her chair, he braced himself with the desk to look at the computer screen while speaking softly into her ear. “Working on anything good?”

“Um… the new logo. But I’m not ready for you to see it yet.”

“No rush.” Unable to pass it up, he took her chin, turning her head, and planted a kiss on her lips. “I’m going to make a coffee run. I owe you one from yesterday. Vanilla latte, right?”

She blinked, then nodded.

“Hot?” He thought he remembered that was her preference.

“Yeah.”

He kissed the tip of her nose and stood to full height. “I’ll be back.”

“Colt?”

He stopped at the door and turned back to her.

“Thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

And she was. Waking up to Ivy in his house, seeing her sitting at his desk, tasting her sweet lips… She was definitely a pleasure.

---