Page 45 of Refuge for Ailsa

He side-eyed her. “What’s the big deal? You’re on the pill.”

“How do you know that?”

“I told you I’d checked you out.”

She stared at him. “Well, I guess you weren’t kidding.”

“Actually, I accidentally hit the compact of them and they fell on the floor. I had to pick it up, and when I opened it, I realized what it was.”

“So you weren’t really snooping.”

He glared at her. “Would it matter if I were?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Yeah. That’s what I thought. Eat your dinner before it gets cold.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, sir.”

“Better watch out. I might get used to you addressing me that way and insist on it.”

“Fat chance of that ever happening.” She stuffed a forkful of chicken into her mouth and chewed. Mouth still full, she said, “Wow. This stuff is really good.”

“Yeah. I’m thinking maybe you could figure out how to make it. I’ve tried and failed.”

“Did you put tarragon in it?”

Tavish snorted. “I don’t think I evenhaveany tarragon.”

“Well, I taste tarragon, so that’s probably why you failed.”

Tavish tapped the table loudly with his finger. “Eat. I want to take you to bed.”

“Gah, you’re bossy.”

“Damn straight. When I want you, I want you. And I really, really want you.”

She grinned. “Suddenly, I’m not hungry anymore.”

“No. You eat. Ten minutes from now I’ll still have a dick and you’ll still have a pussy, but you’ll be hungry in the morning if you don’t eat now.”

“Yeah, yeah, eat. Blah-blah-blah.” He stared at her. “Oh, good enough for you but not for me? There will be no double standards in this relationship, bub. It’s all for one and one for all.”

“Bub? Did you just call mebub? Ohhh, girl, you’re treading in dangerous territory.”

“Oooo, I’m so scared.”

“You should be.”

Thirty minutes later, they’d cleaned up her plate, washed everything, taken the garbage out, and he’d packed up some clothes. There was an ache in his boxer briefs, and he just wanted to get her back to the houseboat.

By the time they stepped through her door, it was almost midnight. Starlight seemed to be dragging a bit, so Tavish pointed to her place and she snuggled down for the night. “Want something to drink?” Ailsa asked as she stepped to the refrigerator.

“Just a water if you’ve got one,” he answered as he headed for the bathroom.

“Sure do.”

When he stepped out of the bathroom, she was sitting on the edge of the bed in nothing but her bra and panties, and she handed him a bottle before she slipped into the sheets. After a couple of draws, he set it on the nightstand, pulled his shirt off over his head, then stripped off his shoes, socks, and pants. Last but not least, the boxer briefs joined the rest on the floor, and he crawled in beside her. “You gonna take those off?”

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