Page 33 of Merrick

There were fat green grapes, delicious thin biscuits and cheeses, several unusual types and he insisted on feeding her. Everything was a first to her. And because all of it was new, her head was crowded with sensations.

She could no longer remain aloof. She was sheathing him, wasn’t she? He was still buried deep inside her and after last night and this morning, she could not believe he could – that they would be…

“I need to ask you something.” She finished the coffee and wished for more.

“Ask away.” He offered her a biscuit that tasted as if it had been soaked in honey.

“Are you on anything?”

“Pardon?” He gave her a perplexed look as he chewed a grape.

“I mean, you have been at it since last night and we’re still – you are… Are you on the little blue pills?”

To her surprise, he looked offended and embarrassed. “Absolutely not!”

She grinned and felt light and giddy. “You sound pissed.”

“What if I asked you the same question?”

“I am a woman and that means I can go without help. You are a man and one in your fifties…”

“I know my own age.” He sounded miffed and made her delight even greater. “I am in excellent health and certainly don’t need help in that particular area.”

“Just checking.”

“You really are enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Immensely.”

“Why don’t we go back to bed and…”

“As much as I am tempted, you have a company to run and I have work.”

“You are a writer.”

“So?”

“You can work anytime.”

“it so happens, I have a deadline.”

Putting away his cup, he rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “I want to see you later.”

“No.”

“Why the hell not?”

“I do not owe you an explanation. I do not do relationships; I don’t sleep over….”

She blew out a breath at his raised brows. “Not usually anyway. I need time to think.”

“About?”

“What we’re doing here.” She started to move off him, but he would not allow it, and she told herself that she was humoring him, ignoring the deep-down feeling inside the pit of her stomach that was saying that she liked this – liked the feel of him against her.

“What do you think we’re doing?”

“Having fun.” Ignoring the dangerous flash of his gray eyes, she continued. “Having great sex. But that is it. You cannot expect anything else.”

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