Page 64 of Someone to Tempt
“Trust me, I can mess up eggs,” she says.
“Your brother taught me how to make an omelet that summer. He called it the perfect hangover food.”
She laughs. “He made grilled cheese last night after the rodeo. That’s what I remember him claiming was the perfect hangover food.”
“Nick probably has more than one cure for the common hangover.”
Her lips press together, and I curse my lame attempt at humor.
“I want it to be different for him this time. I want a lot of things right now.” She takes another bite and then puts down her fork. “I want a lot of things, and that isn’t something I normally allow myself.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting.” I lean across the table and take her hand. “These days, I mainly want you. All of you. All the time.”
Her smile is one part sexy, one part shy, and completely irresistible. “I’m gross and sweaty. Dried sweat is disgusting. There’s nothing sexy about that.”
I shake my head. “The thought of you in my shower is sexy.”
She mock pouts. “All alone?” she asks as her cheeks turn pink.
“No worries, sweetheart. I’ll be with you. That’s a given.”
“What about your work?” She places her free hand on top of the laptop. Once again, I think about telling her my secret, until she continues, “Unless you have a different kind of hammering in mind.”
Okay, so much for thinking about anything but getting her naked. “Do you like sexy-times talk, Dixon?” I grin as I stand and take the empty plate to the sink.
She covers her face with her hand but peeks through her fingers at me. “I can’t believe I said that. Hammering.” She laughs low in her throat, the sound pouring over me like honey. “It’s so embarrassing.”
Returning to the table, I hold out my hand to her. “I can’t wait to hear what you scream when I make you come for the first time.”
She gasps and wags a finger at me, all prim and proper. “You can’t say things like that,” she admonishes, but I know she likes it. And I like flirting with her, teasing her, and snaking my way past that prickly exterior. Porcupines for the win.
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg, Iris.” I give an exaggerated wink. “The tip? Get it.”
She giggle-snorts, and I must be really far gone because it’s fucking adorable. “I didn’t plan for this.” Her gaze drops from mine and focuses on my outstretched hand. “The plan was to say my piece then work off the inevitable frustration of you being disagreeable on my run back to the house.”
“Wouldn’t you rather work it off in the shower?” I crook my finger. “I promise to agree to anything you want, sweetheart.”
“I want you, Jake,” she whispers, and when she places her hand in mine, it feels like a victory.
The apartment’s bathroom isn’t large or lavish, but the shower’s roomy, with subway tile covering the surround. The glass door opens out, and I reach in and flip on the water, waiting for it to run hot. I tug my shirt over my head and turn back to find Iris doing the same, leaving her standing there in a sports bra and those leggings that make her legs look a mile long.
All I can think about is having them wrapped around my hips—or even better, my shoulders, as I bury my face in her.
“Turn around,” she says, and I blink.
“We’re about to shower together, honey.”
“Taking off a compression bra isn’t sexy, and you won’t convince me otherwise with the way it straps the girls down.”
“Free the girls,” I tell her with a grin. Is it a lascivious grin? I sure as hell hope so.
“I’m about to,” she answers and then does a little spinning motion with one finger. “As soon as you turn around.”
24
JAKE
I complywith Iris’s request, although it’s ridiculous to think anything could make this woman less attractive to me at this moment. But I wasn’t kidding that I’d agree to anything. I’m just grateful she’s here and willing to give us another chance—like my reward for untangling that thorny plot issue. The best damn reward I’ve ever had. I might have been joking about Sunday service, but I’ll worship at the altar of Iris Dixon as long as she’ll have me.
