Page 45 of Sutton's Shadow

After donning her robe, she found Wyatt still sprawled across her bed like a Grecian god waiting for the nymphs to feed him. He sat with his back against the headboard, his hands behind his head. He’d thrown the sheet across his waist but had one leg exposed, knee bent. The pose displayed all those delicious rock-hard muscles in his chest and abdomen, making her want to crawl back onto the bed and lick him all over. She licked her lips.

At his groan, her gaze shot to his face, and she witnessed the stark need in his eyes. The sheet tented. He made a move to grab her, which snapped her out of her ogling. She danced back before he could ensnare her.

“Nu-uh. Nope. Food.” She whirled around and hurried out of the room, his disgruntled growl following her.

Racking her brain, she tried to think of what to make for dinner. She opened her freezer, remembering she might have frozen some chicken recently, and bent to search inside. Another groan, followed by a curse, hissed behind her just before an arm hooked her around the waist. He pulled her back against the hard wall of his chest.

“Fuck, Sutton,” he growled lowly into her ear, the feel of his hot breath setting off a tingling firestorm in her body. “How do you expect me to keep my hands off you while you’re wearing this sexy, silky, barely nothing material?”

“Because,” she started, her tone more breathy than she intended... because of him.

He did things to her, sculpted her back into a human being, one with emotions and moods besides the grief and regret she’d been living with for far too long. “Because we’re both hungry and need sustenance. Especially if we’re going to go for round two.” She turned around in his arms, placing her hands on his chest, intending to push him back, but his next words made her falter.

“Round three, you mean.” His lips twitched, then curved up at the corners when his meaning sank in, and her eyes widened.

“Right. Round th-three,” she stammered, suddenly hotter than when her radiator was on the fritz. He, of course, noticed her flustered heat, and his smile widened. That dimple... it was infuriatingly sexy. She scowled at that little indentation, her brows pulling into a frown.

Then she noticed what he was wearing, or not wearing. He was shirtless, all those powerful muscles on display, and her fingers twitched to explore.

He’d thrown on his jeans at least, but left the button undone. The pants hung low on his hips, completely useless in concealing that mouthwatering V peeking from his waistband. She dug her nails into his chest, leaving little crescent-shaped depressions behind. Her scowl deepened.

“Why do you look like you want to smack me all of a sudden?”

“Because. That damn dimple. It makes me... forget things.” Her words only made it worse, causing his smile to broaden, the dimple becoming more pronounced.

“Does it now?” he teased. She could tell he loved this. She attempted to flay him with a glower but only amused him further.

“Ugh,” she growled, whipping away from him to open the refrigerator. He moved closer, caging her. The air from the refrigerator did little to cool her overly heated skin. Especially when he leaned over her, his lips skimming up her throat until they reached her ear.

“I love making you forget things.” His breath was so hot and damp against her neck, his voice so rough and tumble carnal, it did vicious things to her system. She couldn’t stop the shiver that coursed through her.

She needed to separate herself from Wyatt before she dissolved into a puddle of goo at his feet. Sucking in a deep breath, she ducked out from under his arm. Facing him, she held up her hands to ward him off.

“Back away. Food. Then seduction.”

The combination of the twinkle in his midnight blue eyes and the laughter rumbling through the enclosed space of her kitchen was lethal. She nearly retracted her words to fall back into his arms. “All right. I’ll back off... for now. Even if I do want to throw you across this counter to feast on you.”

The images flashing through her brain had her knees weakening, not to mention her resolve to get some food in them. What was this man doing to her? She’d never desired someone so much she was willing to forgo basic human necessities.

Wyatt laughed again at her obvious conundrum. “Let’s get something to eat. Should we cook or order something?”

They grilled the chicken she’d finally found in the back of the freezer. They prepared the meal together, dancing around each other in the tiny kitchen. It amazed her how easily they worked together. Whenever Liam tried to help with the cooking, he always seemed to be in the way. She shook herself; she needed to stop comparing the two men. It wasn’t fair to Wyatt, let alone what they might build together.

The conversation over the meal was easy. They discussed the people they had in common, both the old friends from his Army days and the new ones in Lake Haven. As they were finishing up, Wyatt’s expression turned pensive.

“Thanks for this, Sutton.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed your dinner.”

His lips twitched, but the smile never emerged. “I’m not just talking about the food. Or the sex. I’m talking about the distraction. Helping to take my mind off things with Bethany.”

Sutton reached across the table and placed her hand over his. He immediately linked his fingers through hers. “You don’t need to thank me, Wyatt. While I’m not sure what’s happening between us, I am first and foremost your friend. I hope you know you can always come to me... for anything.”

That brought his smile out, dimple and all. “Friend, huh? So... friends with benefits?”

Sutton rolled her eyes. She thought this thing between them was more than that but wasn’t ready to voice it just yet. And she detected he felt the same and was trying to conceal it with humor.

“I think I’m getting the better deal since I believe I’m beating you in the orgasm count.” Two could play the cover your real feelings with humor game.

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