Page 51 of Sweet Retribution

“Babe,” I say back in a deadbeat voice, “you were putty in my hands.”

“I was anything but putty.”

I can’t help the laugh-snort that escapes me. I cover my mouth with my hands and break out into the giggles. I have to be the least sexiest woman on the planet, but I can’t help it.

“Are you laughing at me?” Stone finally asks.

It feels so good to laugh. It’s been ages. I don’t ever remember crying from laughing. I’ve seen women do so in movies, and have read scenes in books where girlfriends laugh until they cry when with girlfriends.

“You’re not putty,” I finally say between giggles.

“You’re damn straight I’m not. Now get your ass over here so I can show you hownot puttyI am.”

I wipe my tears on my sleeve and crawl over to him.

“Get this crap off.” He lifts my shirt and throws it to the floor, then pulls me into his side. “Shut up and sleep. I need you rested.”

“Mmhmm,” I murmur into his chest, not the least bit offended by how he’s talking to me. I hear the teasing in his voice. “I’m pretty sure you’re the one who needs recovery time.” I pat his chest and snuggle into the crook of his arm. Before I realize it, I’m sound asleep.

CHAPTER TEN

The room is still darkwhen I wake. I’m no longer snuggled into Stone. He’s now spooning my back, his arm draped across my middle. My body is warm and sated, my heart so full. Our night of passion wasn’t from love or emotions. Well, there were definitely emotions there, and Stone felt them too, but I can tell the difference between sex and love.

Not that I have any experience with either before Stone. Not that I have any experience with love.

His fingers lightly trail from my wrist to my elbow, and I smile at the gentle touches. I love his body wrapped around mine, but I want to watch him while he sleeps. I turn and face him and find him wide awake.

“Hi,” I whisper.

He doesn’t respond, which is typical. I’m okay with that. He speaks through his eyes, through his touches. He’s not freaked out that I’m still in his bed.

“Have I told you already how much I love your sheets?” I run my hand across the patch of material between us. “You’ll have to tell me the brand so I can put them on my shopping list for Tio. I’ll never want to get out of bed again.”

Stone glides his hand up my arm and caresses my cheek, gently pushing back my hair. His gaze locks with mine and doesn’t waver as he trails his finger down my jaw and across my lips. My tongue traces across my bottom lip where his finger had been, then he traces it again, this time stopping in the middle before trailing it down my chin.

I swallow at the small, intimate gesture. I want to scoot closer to him, to reach out and touch him as well, but I’m afraid I’ll break the spell. His dark hair is disheveled and falls over his forehead. I want to push it back and kiss him there again.

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