Page 33 of Cayden

She finished the tea and leaned against him, closing her eyes in contentment. It had been so long since they were so happy. She knew it probably would not last, but she was going to make the most of it.

“Comfy?” His arms were wrapped around her securely.

“Hmm.” She nestled against him. “You smell good.”

His chuckle warmed her heart. “I should hope so. I showered before we left.”

“It is your particular brand of cologne. It was the first thing I noticed when you accosted me outside that café in Italy.” She grinned and lifted her head at his sharp intake of breath.

“Accosted?”

“Harassed?” She teased.

He was happy to see the light in her eyes and the vivacity on her beautiful face. It had been too long since she was like this.

“I was utterly charming and witty.”

She lifted one tapered brow. “You offered to buy me coffee, knowing full well that I was exiting the café and so I must have had my fill of the brew already.”

“You could have just gone in to ask for directions.”

“Okay.” She nodded. “And when I told you I already had coffee, what did you say?”

“That perhaps you could manage to take another cup.”

“And when I said no, thank you?”

His eyes glittered in amusement. “I followed you like a lost puppy and offered to buy you some pastries.” He shook his head, “Christ, you were stubborn. I almost gave up out of sheer frustration.”

“I am happy you didn’t.”

“Are you now?”

“Yes.” She touched his chin, her long finger tracing a path down his neck. “I never dreamed I could be this happy or this in love.”

His eyes darkened and he captured the wandering hand, bringing it to his lips. “This weekend is about you, sweetheart,” he told her hoarsely.

“No,” she shook her head, “it’s about us.”

*****

He stirred sometime in the night and opened his eyes to see her sitting cross legged with a blanket barely covering her nakedness and a sketch pad in her hands.

“What are you doing?” His sleep had made his voice husky.

“Sketching you. I love the way you look when you sleep.” She continued to use the pencil to finetune what she had already done. Giving him a quick look, she evened his jawline. “I will never be able to capture the exact shade of green for your eyes.”

“May I see it?”

“Nuh.. Uh...” She flashed him an impish smile. “It is a work in progress and I am not sure I am even going to finish it. I am notparticularly good with portraits.” He started to turn on his back when she told him to keep still. “I need to get the indentation of your lower back and your taut backside.” She laughed at the look he gave her.

“I am absolutely painting you in the nude.”

“I hope you’re not thinking of hanging it in the drawing room.”

“I am going to ask Jackson if I can hang it in one of his galleries.” She captured her bottom lip and worried it with her teeth as she concentrated on the task. He loved watching her work and thought she looked sexy as hell.

“I don’t have an ounce of shame; you’re the shrinking violet.” He grinned at the dirty look she threw at him.

---