You don’t know I stood there watching, knowing you’re the only one
I love that angry little wiggle as I watch you walk away
Gotta whistle at those dangerous curves even if there’s hell to pay
And I dream of the day when you don’t retreat and you get on my case
When I’ve pushed all your buttons and you get in my face
You set my heart on fire when you get those sparks inside your eyes
But fiery little angel I’m just getting started, I know you’re the prize
“That one could be a song, it has such a nice rhythm and rhyme to it,” she said, swiping across her cheeks and giggling a little bit. “He told me I was acting prissy and I told him to go to hell. It really bothered me that he thought of me that way.”
“Going out on a limb here, honey, but I think what he remembered more was the sight of your ass sashaying away. And you are a little prissy,” he added with a chuckle as he set the book and the bowls aside and rolled, taking her with him.
“Am not,” she murmured over a yawn and then shivered.
“Are, too. Are you chilled?” He pulled up the covers, and she huddled against his body, entwining their limbs, and sighed happily.
“Not anymore. I like to be warm when I sleep.”
“That’s welcome news,” he murmured, holding her to him tightly. “But count on being awakened during the night if you like snuggling up like this, sexy woman.”
“I’ve never seen myself as much of a femme fatale.” Her voice was soft against his chest but he heard the insecurity in it. She needed more.
“Honey, that’s because you’re not. What you have is much more subtle and much more precious because you don’t show that side to everyone. All the ‘femme fatales’ I’ve ever known have been trouble for the men in their lives and often wind up making them miserable. I think you’re so focused on work and whatever is next on your agenda you don’t let yourself play very easily. But when we’re alone, you get this look in your eyes and you…I don’t claim to read your mind or anything, but you get this look in your eyes that tells me you want to be held, and when I do, you snuggle up to me like a kitten, pressing your nose right here,” he said, brushing his fingers against his sternum.
She gave him the very look he was referring to. “That’s exactly how I feel with you. I feel tiny and protected, and just so you know, you smell really good in that spot. Very sexy.”
James laughed and said, “Then we have that in common. Vincent has even mentioned it. I think if he could sleep with his nose buried in your cleavage he’d be a happy camper.”
She shook with laughter and then yawned again. “Do you think he’s sleeping?”
“He was in the shower when I brought the strawberries in the bathroom earlier. He may be sound asleep by now.”
“He had a very long day.”
She wiggled against him, getting even closer and sighed happily. Her lips brushed against his chest in a light kiss.
Stroking her hair, he whispered, “I love you, honey. Whatever happens, that will remain true.”
“I love you.”
Chapter Eleven
“I was about to come wake you two,” Vincent said in greeting when Leah and James came out of the bedroom. She’d showered thoroughly and James had promised her that he couldn’t smell skunk on her anymore at all. She still thought he was just being nice but she’d let him off the hook.
“Coffee mugs?” she asked as she walked into the kitchen and caught sight of the full coffeepot.
Vincent pulled open a cabinet for her and then encircled her in his arms as she chose one. He was bare-chested and smelled sexy and clean from his shower as she pressed her nose and lips to his chest and asked, “Did you sleep well?”
“I did. I think I was dreaming even before my head hit the pillow. I had some weird dreams at first but then I was dead to the world.”
“Weird dreams?”
Vincent snorted, “Yeah, I dreamed a cat was being exorcised in the house.”
She nipped his beefy chest with her teeth as James burst into laughter and she laughed along with them, despite her very hot cheeks. “You’re awful!”
While she poured her coffee, Vincent lifted a golden-brown, fragrant waffle from the waffle maker, slid it onto a plate, and handed it to her with a kiss. He held on to the plate for a second and whispered, “I’m teasing a little, but the sound of you reaching your peak over and over last night was the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard, doll.”
Just like that, a knot formed in her heart and she wanted to wrap herself around him right there in the kitchen. Part of her whispered that he should still be in the doghouse—a little—but she wanted him close anyway.