Page 51 of Fever

“Aww, that’s so sweet,” I crooned, batting my eyes at him.

He traced his upper lip with his tongue. “You know you’re sexy when you do that.”

“What, this?” I bat my eyes again, and a rumble fled from him. Josiah moved from his seat, making it around the table to me in a flash and scooping me up in his arms.

“Come here, girl, what are you trying to do to me?”

I squealed. “Make you fall in love,” I said.

His movements slowed, and his hand scurried across my cheek as he got an in-depth look at my features.

“Is that right…” he said.

“It’s my job. Our love has to appear natural when we’re in front of others.”

I’d uttered that out trying to cover for blurting my previous statement. A mind was a terrible thing to waste, and I’d let my thoughts spill out of my mouth. How gullible, Santana. My latest statement didn’t seem to show favor on him. For a split second, his face fell, but then he recovered.

“So, are you making a list or something?” he asked.

“A list?”

“Of things to do that will make me fall in love with you or appear to be,” he revised.

I puckered my lips. “Not a physical list. I have a good memory, so the more you tell me about things you like, the more often I can practice them in public, so your response is genuine.”

“You’ve figured this whole thing out, haven’t you?”

“Since I’m the one who proposed this crazy agreement, I need to make sure it’s properly executed, don’t you think?”

Josiah watched me for a long moment and the warmth of his skin laid against mine in a subtle rest. He agreed with a nod of his head before releasing me to gather my empty plate and take it to the sink.

“You don’t have to wash those. Where I come from, the person who cooks get to take a load off while the others wash dishes.”

“That’s a nice tradition,” Josiah commented, “but where I come from, we all give a helping hand in cleaning the kitchen whether we eat or not. Would you like to help me, Santana?”

I smiled. “Sure.” As I settled next to him, we moved quietly but in sync with him washing and me rinsing. From time to time, our hips would bump from our proximity, and then he’d purposefully stick a carved hip out to throw me off-balance. I’d laugh and sprinkle him with water, and he’d toss a splash at me. When we were done, I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed a cup from the dish drain and filled it quickly with the soapy suds and tossed it at his chest. Immediately, I dropped the cup and took off running.

As I ran, a squeal shrieked out, and I slid around the kitchen table to flee into the living room. Josiah caught me before I made it to the couch and his fingers tickled my sides as I coughed up a thread of giggles.

“Un huh,” he said as his tickle torture continued. “I’ve got you now.”

My head fell back, and my laughter grew as tears fell from the corners of my eyes. I tried urgently to escape him, but it was no use.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I laughed. “Please, Josiah!”

We fell into the couch, and his hands circled my waist, pulling me against his solid frame. I straddled his lap and reached for his fingers to make sure he wouldn’t go to tickle war on me again. Our laughter died down, and our eyes met as we both felt the electric warmth pulse around us. Josiah’s eyes dropped to my robe. I glanced down and found it partially open with a sample of cleavage on display. When I looked back to him, the dark glow in his eyes held me captive. Slowly, his hands moved to untie the loosened belt, opening it further to reveal more of my bare skin. Josiah’s nostrils flared at the sight of my breasts, and he leaned forward to suck in a distended nipple.

“Mmmm, Josiah…” I moaned with my hands clasping the sides of his head. Strong arms tightened around me as the robe hung off my bare shoulders in a heap around my waist. The pleasure of his tongue sucking my breasts sent a riveting heat on a rampage to my center.

“Ssssss, aaah! Baby…” I crooned, my vagina walls pulsating with the energy around us.

Josiah licked and sucked my areolas, going from one to the other, then putting them both together to tease them concurrently. My eyes closed, and I was transported to a place where only we existed.

I love you, baby… My eyes shot open as the words branded in my memory, and my breath quickened. Josiah’s lips left my breast to trail up my chest, neck, collar bone, and face. When he made it to my chin, I closed them again as he sucked my lips into his warm mouth. My hunger for him was pronounced. I leaned into him and moaned, reaching down to remove the robe completely. I was naked underneath, and when Josiah’s eyes got a clear look, he drank in my nudity with thirst.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” his gruff voice asked.

“Yes,” I responded.

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