Who was also a devil sans clothing.
Jack’s palm eased up her side to cup a breast. But she had to lift his hand away from her aching nipple. In fact, her entire body was sore.
Apparently coming fully awake, he propped himself up on his elbow. She peered at
him over her shoulder and smiled. He truly was gorgeous.
“Morning,” she said.
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“Yeah, right back at ya.” He studied her a moment, his eyes dark and questioning.
Then he asked, “Didn’t sleep well?”
“Out like a light,” she said in all honesty. She’d been exhausted from her long
day…and wild night.
Despite her words, Jack’s brow furrowed. “You’re stiff as a board, darlin’. What’s
wrong?”
Liza couldn’t help but laugh. “Would you believe I’m sore? Like…every inch of
me.”
He didn’t see any humor in her revelation. Instead, he scowled at her. “Why didn’t
you say something sooner?”
“Sooner, when?” she countered. “It’s sort of like a great workout you don’t feel
until two days later—or the morning after, in this case.”
Jack shifted on the mattress and she instantly protested. “Where are you going?”
He tossed the covers off his deliciously naked body and swung his legs over the
side of the bed.
“Oh hell,” she said, suddenly getting it. “Not this again? How many times do I have
to tell you? You didn’t break me. I’m just sore.” She rolled toward him and sat up.
Curling her arms around his broad shoulders, she added, “And wasn’t I the one
begging you to fuck me harder?”
He shot her a dour look. “Liza…”
“Jack,” she countered and nipped his earlobe for good measure. “Stop worrying
about me. A hot bath and maybe a massage later and I’ll be good as new.” She wagged
her brows at him.
His smile was a reluctant one, but eventually, the dimple told her he found her
amusing.
“I’d let you work out the kinks now,” she said, “But I have to get to work.”
She dropped a kiss on his set jaw, then climbed out of bed. She didn’t make it far,
though. Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him so she stood between his
legs.
And what a nice view that gave her!
“What?” she asked, the smile teasing her lips. Liza was this close to toppling him and asking him to make love to her. Her aching body might have something to say
about it at first, but something told her she’d forget all about the pain as the pleasure ensued.
Jack’s fingers grazed the spot between her breasts that had held a soft purple tinge
last night, hinting at a bruise. But it’d already cleared up.
“See? I told you it was nothing,” she said. “Not the big deal you made it out to be.”
His eyes lifted and locked with hers. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said in a solemn voice. “Ever.”
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“You won’t.” She kissed his forehead. “But you might get me fired if you keep
staring at me like that. I’m tempted to blow off my job altogether for another three or four orgasms.”
Jack’s grin was a sexy, devilish one, his features finally easing as the tension left his face. “Let’s give your body a rest.” He released her hand.
Reluctantly, she took a step back. “Doesn’t have to be a long one, you know?” She
winked at him, feeling uncharacteristically flirty.
“I’m not going anywhere.” The heated look he gave her started the thrumming in
her pussy all over again. Too bad that was her sorest spot.
She slipped away from him and gathered her clothing. Dressing, then collecting her
shopper’s bag, she headed toward the door.
“Have fun today,” he said.
She glanced at him over her shoulder just as he stood up. She really wished he
hadn’t done that. She melted, needing the doorframe for support. “Jesus, Jack,” she
groaned. “You put the statue of David to shame.”
He grinned that adorable, lazy grin. “Get to work. I’ll pick you up at six-forty for
our double date.”
“Don’t be late.” She turned on her heels and glided across the hardwood floor,
bouncing down the stairs and out the front door.
Her stomach was already growling in anticipation of whatever wicked creation
Mike had planned for this evening’s special at Pietro’s. And whatever creative sexual adventure Jack might come up with afterward…
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Devil in Texas
Chapter Fourteen
Unfortunately, her bliss was short-lived.
Carrying the lingerie bag into the cottage, Liza ascended the steps that led to the
kitchen and went into the bathroom, consulting the clock along the way. She’d left
Jack’s early enough that she could highlight her hair before showering and heading into town to meet Jess. She fished out the drugstore bag from the larger one and set the
highlighter kit on the granite counter. She opened the box, then retrieved the
instructions. She read them carefully and deduced, once again, this wasn’t rocket
science. It didn’t take a Cosmetology license or a degree from the Vidal Sassoon
Academy to apply some chemicals to a few strands of hair.
Positioning the plastic cap on her head—certainly not her best look—and using the
clever little hook provided to pull through the strands she wanted to color, she
strategically selected the best location for the highlights. Then she mixed the chemicals according to the directions, slathered them on with the little spatula and wondered why on earth she’d paid a stylist nearly six hundred dollars every five to six weeks for a cut and hair weave.
Frowning, she realized that she could use a trim too, but her style was still intact, so it would really just be a matter of snipping here and there. And as for the color, the chestnut was natural and, obviously, she was proving that giving herself some
flattering highlights wasn’t nearly as complicated as renowned stylist Miguel Delgado had always made it seem.
Hell, she’d sit in his chair for nearly four hours each session. But according to the chart on the outside of the highlighting kit, she didn’t need more than twenty minutes to achieve the look she wanted.
Feeling particularly pleased with herself, she spent her twenty minutes setting out
the few knickknacks and books she’d brought with her and tidying up the cottage.
When the timer she’d set on the stove started to beep, she turned it off, removed the plastic cap and stepped into the shower.