Page 10 of Hot Summer Nights

Chapter Four

They spent the whole night fucking, pausing only to catch a bit of sleep and a few snacks in between. Channing finally went to sleep after their last round, snoring softly on the kitchen floor. This was definitely something I didn’t plan, Brooklyn thought.

Grabbing the top sheet they’d used to make up their pallet, she wrapped it around her and went toward the bathroom. Her body felt relaxed, her mind completely open, and her heart tangled in a web of emotion she couldn’t quite comprehend. She didn’t love Channing. It was ridiculous to think after two days with a man she’d fallen head over heels in love with him. But they did have something, and that something was making it very hard to keep things distant and only about sex.

He’d asked her about her family last night, about her life aside from her career. He asked her about her childhood and her hobbies—all the stuff one lover asks another. She shouldn’t have given him the answers, yet they fell off her tongue without a second thought. And so did her own questions for him involving the same topics.

She really liked him. And she really liked being with him. Neither of which was her intention for this trip. As sleazy as it sounded, she’d wanted to get laid and walk away. But now, the walking away part was going to be something she didn’t want to experience.

After using the facilities, Brooklyn stared at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess. Her skin was cast with an after-sex glow. A smile of satisfaction was displayed on her face. She’d hadn’t been this happy since she’d landed her dream job as host of the Boston morning show, and that was three years ago. She’d needed this vacation and didn’t need to feel guilty about leaving. Nor did she need to feel as if she was leaving something behind.

She opened the door and stumbled into Channing who stood just outside completely in the buff, sexy as ever.

“What are you doing up?” Brooklyn asked.

A sexy grin tilted his lips. “You stole my cover. I was cold.”

She shook her head. “I had to pee. I was coming back.”

“Sure you were.” He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her body. “How the hell did we end up sleeping on the kitchen floor when a fucking feather-soft bed was a few feet away?”

“I was hungry.” She giggled. “And well, one thing led to another.”

He was warm against her back, a comfort she’d grown accustomed to throughout the night. “I never cashed in my prize. You owe me one naughty request.” He pressed his face into her neck. Brooklyn leaned back, tilting her head toward him as he lightly kissed a path to her lips.

“As if all we did last night didn’t satisfy you?” She turned and narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”

“Come here.” He took her hand and led her into the bedroom. “Get in bed and stay there. I need to go get something.”

Brooklyn’s eyes widened. “You’re leaving me?”

He scoffed. “I’m coming back.”

“Five seconds. Then I’m locking my door.” She grinned at him from the bed, stretching her arms over her head.

“It takes longer than five seconds to get to the door.”

“Go, Channing. God only knows what you’ve got to get.”

He left her staring at the doorway, completely surrounded by pillows and rumpled sheets. It was her own personal white cloud of comfort, something she wasn’t quite ready to give up anytime soon.

True to his word, he wasn’t gone long. Dressed only in his boxers, he came back in the bedroom with none other than two cameras. Brooklyn shook her head and closed her eyes, listening to his soft footsteps as he crossed the room.

“You want me to pose nude?”

The mattress dipped with his weight. “No. I just want to take your picture. Will you let me take your picture?”

Brooklyn pulled the sheet over her head. “I have no makeup on.”

“So.” He tugged at the sheet. “You’re beautiful. And the early morning light is perfect right now.”

She stared at him in wonder. “I’m naked.”

“Perfect opportunity to tease.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Come on. Let me show you how I see you. Let me show you how beautiful you are.”

Brooklyn’s breath caught in her chest. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. Past relationships were less romance and more sex—or more importantly what the guy could get her to do. If she wasn’t housing Mike who didn’t have a job, she was loaning Rick money for bus fare just to see them bring some blonde bimbo into her house and bed. She’d never had good taste in men, but she wasn’t completely idiotic either. And none of the men she spent time with had ever uttered anything close to what a man she’d known two days had just said. And she wasn’t quite sure what to feel about it.

“I promise no nipples or crotch shots.” He leaned down with a smile and kissed her. “Unless you want them, and well, who am I to say no?”

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