Page 99 of What About Love

Chapter 22

THE RUMBLING OF HERstomach woke her to the tantalizing aroma of coffee brewing and...was that bacon frying? Sitting up, she glanced at the space beside her. The rumpled sheets and indented pillow assured her she hadn’t spent the night alone. She rose, slipped on her ecru satin robe trimmed in black lace—thank heavens she’d splurged recently and bought something nice—and tucked her feet into her slippers. In the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and ran a comb through her hair before hurrying to the kitchen.

She came to an abrupt halt in the doorway of her sun-drenched kitchen as she took in the beautiful sight that greeted her. Dressed only in jeans, T stood barefoot at her stove, flipping sizzling strips of bacon with a fork. A shaft of morning brightness shining through the eastern-facing windows bathed the broad expanse of his shoulders and bare back in sunlight. The warm glow illuminated the muscles that bunched and flexed beneath his smooth, tanned skin as he moved.

“Mornin’, baby. The coffee’s ready and breakfast will be done in a few.”

He hadn’t moved as he spoke, sensing somehow that she was there. He did so now, his gaze dipping and lingering on her body for several pulse beats before shifting to her face.

“Come here.”

Without thinking, her feet took her forward. His arm encircled her waist as he pulled her in for a sideways hug and a quick yet passionate kiss. When he lifted his lips, his gaze skimmed downward, and he murmured, “Moonlight and black lace.”

“Excuse me?”

Setting aside the skillet, he turned fully to her, the arm at her waist, drawing her near as with his other hand, he stroked his fingers along her jaw. “In LA, you wore the same colors. In the low light, you shimmered like you were standing in the moonlight.” He dipped his head and with a soft brush of his lips murmured, “I thought it was the lighting, but the radiance is coming from you, beautiful.”

Her lips parted in surprise then curved into a soft smile. “I was thinking something similar, that you glow golden in the sunshine.”

“That goes to show how much we think alike.”

“Or are as different as daylight and dark.”

His head came up, his face serious. “Different isn’t always a bad thing, Angie.”

“No, I suppose not,” she replied, silently thinking that too often different didn’t mix and turned disastrous, like oil and water, gasoline and flames, and, thinking back, Angie and tequila shots. As their differences stared her in the face, she hoped—no, prayed—they would be the exception.

“There’s no supposing about it.” His head tipped to the side. “You okay?”

“Yeah, but I’m a bit sluggish this morning. Not enough sleep, I guess. Someone kept me up half the night.”

The soberness left his expression and his lips kicked up on one side in a crooked smile. The hand on her lower back slid lower, gliding over her satin-covered hips to dip below the short hem of her robe. His other hand joined the first, each grabbing a cheek as he aligned their hips.

“I didn’t hear any complaints, particularly when I woke you at 4 a.m. with two fingers in your wet pussy and my thumb in your—”

Her hand clamped over his grinning lips not letting him finish. Eyes shining with amusement, she felt the hot slickness of his tongue against her palm and released him.

“We’ve got more training to do today.”

Her mouth gaped open as her imagination ran wild, on her knees at his feet, hands bound behind her back, naked over a bench. Beyond that, bound in chains, her hands high over her head as he lashed her sensually with a flogger once again. Heat gathered rapidly between her thighs, reminding her of the lasting ache and tenderness he had created last night.

“T,” she breathed. “We have to work. And after last night—I mean, four times is a record for me. I’m surprised I can walk, let alone cogitate this morning. Seriously, never have I—”

It was his hand covering her lips this time, cutting off her rambling speech. As his head bent and his lips found her ear, giving the lobe a little nibble, he laughed, a morning husky laugh that made her rethink her protest and that five times might actually be doable.

“I meant Rossi training, darlin’. I can’t imagine what you were thinking.”

Her mistaken assumption and his obvious amusement made her face flush hotter. “Rossi?” she choked out.

“Yeah.” He raised his head, the look on his face stating clearly that he was done with teasing. “You’re done with Dan. I’m your trainer from now on.”

“Is that a good idea? Working so closely together and being, uh...intimate.”

His hands, which were still fused to her ass, tightened. “Told you before, darlin’, Dan wants you.” His fingers flexed. “Now that you’re mine, he’s hands-off. I’ll explain it to him the first chance I get.”

“Is that really necessary? We’re co-workers and friends.”

“The man’s got a hard-on for you and there’s no way I’ll allow him to keep rolling around the mats, rubbing it against you.”

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