Page 84 of Love Without Control

“You’re quite the world traveler,” he said, picking up the mug of hot chocolate I’d prepared and looking at the coaster. It read,I enjoy being used. He snickered and looked at mine, his eyebrows lifting when he read the words.Make me wet. “Never thought coasters could make me horny,” he muttered, adjusting himself in his pants. “What are we watching?”

Using the remote, I clicked on the television. “The Santa Clause. I love Tim Allen in that movie.”

“Agreed. Just don’t make me watch fuckingElfagain,” he grumbled.

“That’s next,” I replied breezily, knowing he despised Will Ferrell in that film.

“Jesus,” he groaned, tipping his head back against the couch. “Why the hell do I put up with you?”

“Because I give good hand jobs,” I retorted.

Dane ran his tongue over his top teeth and eyed me before wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side. “Can’t argue with that.”

My first Christmas Day without my family was better than I could have expected. I missed the hell out of them, but Dane had made it… nice. The thoughtful gifts. The sexy stuff. The prospects of us buying the butter house.

And then the stomach virus hit. We’d just finishedElfwhen my stomach rolled over on itself. I pursed my lips and breathed in and out, trying to tamp down the nausea. It didn’t work.

Clamping a hand over my mouth, I muttered, “Shit,” and sprinted to the bathroom. It wasn’t pretty, and through the heaves, I managed to groan, “Get. Out,” when Dane trailed behind me and held a cool washcloth to the back of my neck. He didn’t listen.

In fact, for the next three days, he didn’t leave my side except to bring me Sprite, broth, and crackers, despite my warnings that he could get sick too.

By New Year’s Eve, I was feeling better and eating everything in the house. “Stop smirking at me,” I said around a mouthful of Pringles. “I’m hungry.”

“Could you eat some spaghetti?”

“And meatballs?” I asked hopefully, looking up at him from my lounging position on the couch. I batted my eyelashes for added effect.

“If milady wishes.” He reached down and gripped my wrist, staring down at where his fingers met. “You’ve lost so much weight. I need to fatten you up a bit.”

Scrunching up my face, I shook my head. “Never say ‘fat’ to a woman. Not in any context.”

“I didn’t say you were fat. I said—” I glared at him until he redirected and drifted a single finger over my cheek. “Your color is better. Am I allowed to say that?” he asked dryly.

“Depends. Are you making garlic bread too?”

“Who do you think you’re dealing with? An amateur?” he scoffed, pinching my chin. “Do you think you’ll feel up to going out to dinner tomorrow night since it’s our anniversary?”

My eyes widened. “Our… what?”

He actually blushed. “The date on our marriage license is New Year’s Day. I know it’s fake, but… I’d like to take you out.”

I chewed on my bottom lip, attempting to hide how happy that made me. “Okay, that will be nice. I can wear that blue dress you got me for Christmas.” In addition to the turtle necklace, Dane had spoiled me with tons of new clothes.

Something swelled up inside of me and it was becoming almost impossible to deny. Affection for this hardened man who showed me a softer side.

Affection and maybe something… more?

Dane led me inside the house after our “anniversary” date. The seafood had been wonderful, and then he’d taken me to a little jazz club with cool music and dim lighting. The effect was incredibly sexy, especially when he’d held me close on the dance floor and pressed his cheek against mine.

Cheek to cheek dancing… Why was that so damned romantic? His masculine scent had surrounded me as snugly as his arms, and his warm breath against my ear had a constant supply of tingles running up and down my spine. And lower.

We’d stayed on the floor, swaying to the sultry music until my stilettos threatened to rub all the skin off my big toes, and then he’d brought me home. When we crawled into bed, I wanted him to roll over on top of me. I wanted him to push inside me and stay there all night long.

But no. I needed to keep some kind of distance between us. Thatthingon Christmas morning was an anomaly. Just a momentary lapse of judgment. And it wasn’t going to happen again.

Though it had been the most erotic moment of my life.

You hate him,my brain reminded me, but the rest of my body felt the lie. Especially the part beneath my panties.

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