Page 40 of Fire and Ice

Obviously, Kyle and Betty didn't share what really happened.

"I'm fine. I'm glad they're okay," Maia said, and then, changing the subject. "I'm heating up the lamb, can't wait to eat it."

"It's three o'clock, dear. Didn't you eat brunch?"

Maia felt her cheeks burning. "I wasn't very hungry this morning. Last night must have done a number on my appetite," she lied.

Jack was smiling. Damn him.

"And Jack, had he tried the lamb yet?" Grace asked.

"Uh, Jack wasn't hungry either," Maia replied, not knowing what else to say.

Silence, then muffled laughter came over the phone.

"Okay, dear," Grace said knowingly.

"See you tomorrow, Grace," Maia said, desperate to end the call.

Jack was looking at her with amusement as he handed her a glass of wine after she hung-up the phone. She took a big gulp savoring any form of nourishment. She was starving.

"Easy, you don't want it to go straight to your head," Jack admonished.

She opened the refrigerator, took out the prosciutto and started popping slices into her mouth. "Starving. Want some?"

He shook his head and took a sip of wine. He walked over to the cabinets and took out the baking sheets to set the lamb and the potatoes on. After popping those in the oven and setting the timer, he said, "I have an idea. How about you and I hop into the shower while our food heats up?"

Maia looked at him dubiously.

"I promise to be on my best behavior."

"Not sure I've seen a best behavior from you, Jack."

"You wound me, babe. And you give me too much credit. Like you, I need more nourishment before I can perform up to par," Jack waggled his eyebrows.

A shower would be nice, might ease some of her sore muscles.

True to his word, Jack didn't try anything sexual. He soaped her back and insisted on shampooing her hair. Maia returned the favor by soaping his back. He did kiss her a couple of times but it was more of the tender sort than the leading-to-sex sort.

They showered in her bathroom because all her toiletries were there and she didn't fancy using a man's shampoo. She got dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Hopefully, Jack would take the hint that she needed a break from the sex-athon. She had not been kidding when she said she might not be able to walk for a week.

Although when she saw Jack drape a towel around those sexy hips, she did have a desire to lick those rivulets of water from his washboard abs, tear that towel from him and take him in her mouth.

Oh God, did she just think that?

Luckily, he returned to his room to change; hopefully he'd be covering that delectable body of his before he returned to the kitchen.

***

After clearing the dishes from their early dinner, Jack suggested that they retire to the living room to watch a movie.

"I don't understand who would watch TV with the beach scenery outside," Maia said.

"We can sit on the balcony and drink tequila," Jack offered as an alternative.

"Now you're talking," Maia enthused. "Grab the bottle, I'll grab the shot glasses. Do you want lime and salt?"

"Heck no," Jack said. "I want mine straight."

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