“Shawn, are you the right person?”

“For you, you mean? And you for me?”

I turn my head toward him and stare into the deep blue of his eyes, my green ones begging him to say yes.

“Maybe. I may need to do a lot more research before I can say for sure.” He turns to look at me with an exasperated sigh, giving me a quick wink.

A giggle slides from my lips. “Research? Like what?”

“Well, first—do you have plans to eat the rest of that cake tonight? Yes or no?”

I bob my head with a grin. “Um, yes.”

“Good answer.” He squeezes my thigh, his hand still warm against my leg. He doesn’t realize it, but he sends a pulse of desire through me every time he touches me like that. He nods his head, purses his full lips, and squints his eyes like he’s considering what to ask next. “Which side of the bed do you sleep on? Do you have an actual preference?”

I suck in some air. “Honest answer?”

“Of course.”

“Then, it’s whichever side is closest to the bathroom.” I wrinkle my nose. “I get up at least twice a night to pee.”

His fingers depress into the skin of my thigh before he says, “Um, that was a definite overshare, miss.” He chuckles. “Um, let’s see. Do you have a birthmark?”

I nod slowly. “I do.” Wait until he finds out what it looks like. I stifle a laugh. “I’ll let you look for it sometime.”

“Oh, is that how we’re going to play th

is game?” Without warning, he attacks me with mad tickles. He kneels between my legs and lifts the hem of my sleep shirt, peeking under it. “I don’t see it.”

I shriek with laughter as he sticks his whole head under my shirt and blows raspberries across my stomach at the same time his fingers continue their merciless assault of my ribs. “Oh my God, oh my God, stop, I’m going to wet myself!”

He chuckles, head still under my shirt. His lips trail just under my breasts before he lifts his head enough to flick my nipple with his tongue. He pops out from under my shirt with another question for me. “I know we’re going to eat cake later, but do you prefer sweet or salty?” He grazes my lips with his before his tongue sweeps inside my mouth. He kisses me slowly, taking his time before he breaks the kiss and edges back to look into my eyes. In a deep rumbling voice, he says, “I definitely prefer sweet.” His mouth lowers to my neck, where he places a hot, open-mouthed kiss. He licks at my skin and sends a shimmering, startling mass of tingles through my body.

“I like salty. You may need to go find me some pretzels later.” He lifts his head and I hold his cheeks with my hands. My thumbs skim over his stubble-covered jaw. I drop a feather-soft kiss there, loving the coarseness against my lips. I sigh contentedly as my mouth travels to his earlobe. I suck on it before gently biting down.

He groans. “I could do that for you. I’ll do anything if you keep doing that thing with your tongue.”

I feel a shudder roll through him, and never have I felt like this before—like I actually know what I’m doing. I’m busy using my tongue to tease him when he suddenly shifts his head toward me and whispers in my ear, “Madi, what’s your favorite place to be kissed?”

Chapter 26

Shawn

I carefully roll over in the tiny bed, taking Madison with me, so that I’m on my back and she sits astride me. Her gorgeous hair cascades around her face, and I gather it in one hand behind her head. “Well?”

Madison’s face flushes cherry red as she slicks her tongue over her lips. She swats at my chest. “Don’t embarrass me.”

I’ve never seen anything so beautiful as this woman’s face when the first blush of longing hits her cheeks. I know she’s got something particular in mind and just doesn’t want to articulate it.

“Baby, it’s just you and me, and these are important things to know.” With my hand still fisted around her hair, I bring her face down to mine and touch my lips to hers. “Maybe it’s here.” I brush my lips over her cheek. “Or here.” Slide down to her neck, nuzzling, before I put my mouth on her soft skin. “Maybe here.” I look back into her eyes. “No? Am I even close?”

She gives a little shake of her head.

“No, huh? Hmm …” All at once, I grab her by the waist and pull her up to straddle my face.

Her swift intake of breath followed by a little moan tells me I’m probably moving in the right direction.

I grip her hip with one hand while my other hand reaches between her legs, pulling the fabric of her sleep shorts to the side. I fully expect to find her panties as another barrier, only she’s not wearing any. My eyes widen. Oh my, fucking hell yes. Madison’s bare under these little shorts, and I’m struck dumb. I rein in my scattered thoughts and waste no time putting my mouth on her. The strangled sounds she immediately makes gives me my answer. My butterfly likes to be kissed between her legs. Who am I to argue with her?