Page 13 of His Little Pumpkin
“There was a lot more of that than I expected,” she says with a saucy wink.
“Well, it’s been a very long time for me,” I admit, slipping into bed beside her. “And you’re the hottest woman I’ve ever seen. We were made for each other, beautiful.”
Her body really does fit against mine perfectly, her hand on my neck and her cheek resting on my shoulder. “Personally, I’ve never actually thought about what I wanted in a man,” she says softly. “But so far I think you’re checking every single box.”
“Good. Now go to sleep quick, before you get any more naughty ideas.”
This time our kiss is different. Our mouths move with more confidence and even more heat. It’s like there’s an understanding now that we want each other. Completely.
I can almost guarantee that the next time we’re in bed together, we’re not going to stop until I’m balls deep inside her and she’s screaming my name in bliss.
10
LAURA
I’ve never really had a routine before, but I think it agrees with me.
Standing over the prep sink in the corner of the room, I quietly peel potatoes while sneaking glances at Eldon. He’s so in the zone when he’s working. It’s like he falls into a meditative trance while making meatballs or caramelizing onions.
For most of my life, I was kept up late by my parents’ screaming matches, and later my stepfather’s fondness for re-watching sporting events at top volume while hollering at the screen, as if the score was going to change.
I tried earplugs, a pillow over my head, even white noise machines. None of it worked. Sporadic, disjointed sleep was just my reality – until now. Going to sleep at a reasonable hour and waking up relatively early feels fantastic.
Eldon glances over and catches my eye. “Thanks for helping with all the boring prep. A few hours of chopping in advance makes the rest of my week go much more smoothly.”
“It’s not boring to me. I appreciate that you still have that military discipline while running this kitchen. And there’s nothing wrong with some hard work. Good for the soul, right?”
He grins. “That’s what Grandpa always said. Seems like a good rule to live by.”
I grab a fresh potato, then glance over to see that his smile has vaporized. “Hey – speaking of work, did that client of yours ever pay you?”
“N-no. Not yet.”
“Does he have any decent reason why not?”
I shrug. “It’s a risk for anyone who freelances. They will always be a percentage of people who know they can get away with not paying. They ignore the invoice, then just move on to the next freelancer.”
I look up again. Eldon’s jaw is twitching. “How much work did you do for this jerk?”
“Full beta website testing before the new version went live. A detailed report of the whole thing. I spent three full days on it and gave him incredible usability notes.” I shrug. “He seemed friendly enough over email.”
“What was the name of his company?”
I’m not sure if he’s just making conversation, or whether Eldon is going to go find this guy.
“It’s a little computer store in a town called Oakton. They just opened last month with a bare-bones site, and he was looking to launch the splashy new one to coincide with the official ribbon-cutting ceremony next week.” I shake the damp strips from the potato peeler and force a smile. “I told him I’d give him a ten percent discount if he paid me immediately. He was all over that, saying he wanted to get it out of the way before the launch. But I guess…not.”
Eldon’s jaw clenches tighter. “People should be paid for their work.” He shoots me a glance. “I’ll have Boss pay you for the time you work here with me. Even if it’s just an hour here and there, it should make a difference?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that…”
The potato peeler clatters against the stainless-steel sink when I drop it, overcome by the look in his dark eyes. He turns the pan down to low, wipes his hands, then steps closer and pulls me into his arms. “Pumpkin, I’m going to make sure that you always get what you deserve.”
Then he kisses me – deeply, passionately, with a fire that sends sparks rippling down my spine and through the backs of my knees. His mouth doesn’t just caress mine: he possesses me completely until my head is spinning.
This gorgeous over-protective manwants me.
I hope I’m not just imagining it. Because I’ve never wanted anything more.
