Page 80 of Love Without Demands

“Brother?” she asked, confused. “I thought there was just one Cappitani son.”

“He had a younger brother that vanished years ago. Probably pissed off his psycho father and is now resting at the bottom of the Atlantic.”

I rummaged through my middle drawer and came out with my clippers and my green-and-black razor. Lehra picked up the latter and studied it.

“This looks like it could cut through the Amazonian jungles,” she mused.

“Yes, well, that’s my face. Take it or leave it.”

She patted my cheek. “I think I’ll take it. I kinda like this face.”

An almost unbearable warmth spread through my chest, and I dropped a kiss on her nose before handing her the clippers. “You want to do the honors of de-bearding the Viking? Then you can shave me.”

“Seriously?” she squealed. “You’ll let me?”

Honey, when you smile like that, I’d let you shave my entire body.

“Of course,” I said, grabbing a chair and sitting so she could reach me.

Lehra’s face was a mask of concentration, her small pink tongue between her teeth as she ran the clippers over my jaw. Then a look of amusement curled her lips upward, and I asked, “What are you smiling about?”

She stepped back and allowed me to look in the mirror at the very long sideburns she’d left me. “You look like Elvis,” she giggled.

I immediately stood and pulled her into my arms, swiveling my hips into hers as I did my best impersonation of the King of Rock and Roll while singing about being a hunka hunka burning love.

We laughed as I twirled her around the spacious bathroom, and I was sure I’d never had as much fun with a woman. Lehra Kincaid was everything I’d ever wanted.

“You’re getting your man hairs all over me,” she complained lightly, and I bobbed my eyebrows up and down as I gave one more Elvis-like thrust of my hips.

“Then we’ll just have to take another shower together, won’t we?”

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my lips. “I love your voice. Can you sing something else for me?”

Pulling her even closer, I chose another Elvis tune, this one much slower, and her face burrowed into my neck as I sang, “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Our arms were wound tightly around each other, and we swayed in place on the marble tiled floor. I hummed the few lyrics I didn’t know, though she didn’t seem to mind.

When I was done, she kissed the side of my neck but didn’t pull away. “I think that’s the most beautiful song ever.”

My hands stroked up and down her back as I inhaled her sunny scent.

Because you’re the most beautiful woman ever.

Chapter 25

I was asleep inmy bed when my phone rang in the middle of the night. “Hello,” I answered groggily.

“Hey, it’s me,” Lehra’s voice said quietly.

I popped up, immediately alert, and turned on my bedside lamp. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s me inside your apartment. Don’t attack me or anything.” Then she hung up.

Rubbing at my left eye, I blinked down at my phone.What the…

That’s when I heard footsteps in my hallway and stood, anxiety spearing through me. She pushed open my door and strode in like she owned the place. The black pencil skirt she wore rode high on her thighs—mouth-wateringly high—and her black jacket was fitted. A crimson tie draped down across the white top covering her breasts, and I was amazed she could walk in those damn patent-leather heels she was wearing. She’d tamed her curly hair into a prim bun on top of her head.

“Lehra, why are you—” I was about to ask her why she was fully dressed while I was standing here in my underwear, but she cut me off.

“Shut your mouth, prisoner.” That’s when I noticed the police baton she was pointing at me. “Back on the bed.”

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