Page 55 of A Lesson for Laurel

“Here come those smooth words,” she said, giggling.

“Not sure what I just said. What did I say?”

She got up on one elbow. “You don’t know what you just said?”

“No,” he said. He was looking confused. “Did words come out of my mouth? I’m kind of struck dumb right now.”

She rolled on top of him, gave him a big smacking kiss on the lips and said, “Aww, thanks for that.”

He shook his head as if he wasn’t sure what was going on. Maybe he had no idea what he said. “I guess you were right when you said you liked sex.”

“I love sex. I really do. As I said, I’m not into kink or anything.”

“Who needs kink or anything else when they’ve got moves like that?”

“You did most of the work. I’m just glad to find someone who can keep up.” She put her hand in front of her mouth. “Sorry. That was wrong.”

He laughed. “Challenged accepted.” He got up on his knees, picked her up and carried her upstairs. “Point me to your room and tell me where those condoms are.”

She put her head on his shoulder. No reason she couldn’t show just a bit of softness. He wouldn’t see it anyway, but it made her feel good.

19

HARD TO LOVE

The next morning, Easton tried to quietly slip out of bed when he woke and saw it was still dark out.

He hadn’t thought he made a noise, but Laurel’s hand snaked out and grabbed his arm. “Don’t you dare sneak out on me.”

He held the grin back. “Wouldn’t think of it,” he said. “Just going to the bathroom.”

“I know where you live,” she mumbled. “I’ll come get you if you leave.” Her head flopped back on the pillow.

He walked to the bathroom and did his business. He wouldn’t admit he had thought of grabbing his clothes and going home.

He hadn’t expected to spend the night, but damn it all, she wore him out. Why would any man find another woman to have sex with if they had Laurel in their bed?

He wasn’t sure the last time he thought he’d have to wave a white flag and beg for a bit of time to recover. It was almost embarrassing to his manhood.

But it’s not like she hadn’t made him feel like that more than once already. All in good fun. Like fixing his dishwasher faster than he would have been able to do it.

He didn’t care in the least either.

What was it they’d talked about? Having a partner. Yep, that was what he wanted and needed in his life.

Funny how he might have found it in his hometown.

But he would be going back to Stamford and they’d have to deal with that at some point.

He returned to her room and found her closer to the middle of the bed and the sheets back waiting for him to climb in.

“Did you think I left?” he asked, sliding in and pulling her into his arms.

“Nope,” she said. “I know what I have to offer.”

There was humor in her voice, but he was glad to hear the confidence with it after what she’d gone through with her ex.

He had to say maybe his confidence had taken a bigger hit than he let on when Rachelle left and said he couldn’t give her what she wanted.

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