Brody was always so thoughtful.
She took a bite of one of the perogies.
"These new jeans are not going to fit for very long if you keep feeding me like this," she said.
"Those jeans have been a part of a fantasy of mine since you opened the front door tonight."
The man was going to make her melt right in the middle of Hildie's. She wasn't sure what she'd done right to bring him into her life, but she was grateful it had happened.
* * *
HE LOVED HOW her cheeks turned pink when he complimented her. She really had no idea how attractive she was.
"Brody," she said and squeezed his arm. "Saying stuff like that makes me-"
"Hot?"
"Yes," she whispered. She blinked and her eyes looked a little out of focus. He kind of liked this game. That he could arouse her so quickly. He wondered if she had a clue as to how turned on he was. Even talking about family and parents hadn't doused the flames. He'd wanted her all night.
"Would you like to know what I'm going to do to you when we get home?"
She shook her head, but then she smiled.
"We're going to start in the kitchen. I have this fun little thing I want to do to you with ice cream."
She raised her hand at the waiter. "Check, please."
Brody chuckled and slid his fingers along her thigh. "Don't you want dessert?"
"I thought I was dessert," she said. That twinkle of mischief in her eyes pulled at him. His body tensed with need.
"We have to add some whipped cream to that kitchen fantasy," he said, teasing her.
"And champagne. I want to pour it all over you and lick it off," she whispered and then nibbled his ear.
His jeans were way too tight, and his hand squeezed her thigh. "We may have to start by christening the truck," he said. "I'm not sure I'm going to make it to the house."
He paid the check and they were out of there in a matter of minutes.
If the parking lot hadn't been so well lit directly in front of the restaurant, he would have taken her right then. But he'd held it together until they were inside her front door.
Just as he promised, he led her toward the kitchen. "Finally. I've wanted to do this all day," he said as he leaned in and kissed her. His fingers tightened in her hair as he teased her mouth open. Something had changed between them. This felt new. Stronger. More potent. At his very core, he needed her and had to have her.
She captured his tongue with her own. Stroked it. He loved it when she did that. It reminded him of her mouth on his cock. A minute passed, maybe two before she stepped back and tugged him over to the oak table. "You promised we'd start here, Marine." She posed sexy for a moment, and then began clearing a space on the brand-new table. "Jeans off or on?" she asked when she turned to face him.
His eyebrows shot up. She had no idea of the extent of her powers. He was impressed by her boldness. In the last few weeks, she'd begun to trust herself and it was one of the sexiest things about her. That and her luscious body and that cute smile. That smile did him in every time.
"Off," he said. He put his hands on his waist as he waited for the show to begin.
She unzipped the jeans, but stopped. "I'm not sure you're ready for what you're about to see," she warned. She pulled back one side of the zipper to show a flash of red silk. "I was planning to wear these on Valentine's Day, but I thought, since Brody has a surprise or two in store for me, maybe I'll give him one in return." She kicked off her sneakers and then slid the jeans down.
He hissed in a breath and started toward her, but she held out a hand. "Wait, you haven't seen the best part." The room was almost dark, so she switched on the makeshift lamp in the corner. The soft light bathed her in gold.
Slowly, she turned and bent over the table, and the breath he'd been holding came out in a whoosh.
His name was tattooed across her panties. "Brody" was stitched on the red silk covering her ass.
Something dark and possessive rose up in him.
"When did you buy those?"
"Today. The lingerie shop does it as a novelty. I was kind of hoping you'd like it. I didn't want you to take it the wrong way."
"I love it," he said.
He was already unbuttoning his jeans as he crossed the floor. Pressing into her, his hands caressed her butt. And then he pulled the silk down to her ankles. She stepped out of the panties, and he stuffed them in his pocket. "I'm keeping these," he growled.
She glanced behind her and winked at him. "It's okay, I had seven pairs made. So six more days to go." The image of her wearing his name across her backside every day pushed him to the edge. That happened a lot with her, his losing control.
It made him laugh to realize how tightly wound he'd been when he'd met her. In fact, he didn't think he'd ever been this relaxed or open with anyone. It only made him want her more.
"Bend over."
"Bossy," she said cheekily, but did so.
He ran his hand over her and sucked in a quick breath. "You're wet for me."
She chuckled. "I have been since I watched you fly that helicopter. Seeing you so determined, so raw, Brody, it almost made me come while we were in the air."
She was trying to kill him. Seriously trying to kill him. No way would he have been able to keep his focus on flying if that had happened. But the fantasy of it made him even harder.
He teased her clit again and her back arched. He wanted to please her; he would please her. In mere seconds she was breathing hard, calling out his name. "Tell me what you want, Mari," he asked. He would do it, he'd do anything she wanted.
"You, please. Inside me. I need you, Brody."
Sweeter words had never been spoken he thought.
After sliding on a condom, he tested her opening. She was still so tight. In some way-all right, in many ways-it was as if this gorgeous woman had been made for him. In every way, she was what he needed-and what he desired.
"Brody, please." She pressed back against his erection.
Having vowed to please her, he could wait no longer.
He eased himself into her and then let her set the tempo. His hand curved along her hip. Keeping the rhythm going with his cock, he reached around and touched her slick heat. Her breath hitched and she did that little humming thing that told him she was almost there. Good thing, since he wasn't far behind.
She mewled and increased the pace. He quickly went to hold onto her hips, whispering every bit of encouragement he could think of. "Is this what you wanted when you were flying with me?" He thrust into her, whispering into her ear, "What we're doing right now? Come for me, Mari."
"Yes," she cried. "Oh, yes." She arched her back, gripping the table hard as she climaxed.
"Babe," he murmured, surrendering himself to the same sensation, to the staggering emotions he felt for her. This was what it meant to be consumed by someone. That's what Mari had done to him.
It scared him, and yet at the same time he realized he was pleased.
Really pleased.
* * *
MARI STOOD STARING at herself in the bathroom mirror. She felt branded by Brody. There wasn't an inch of her body he hadn't kissed, stroked or known intimately in the last few hours, and she loved it. He'd made an ice cream sundae out of her in the kitchen. Now every time she was in the kitchen she'd remember his mouth on her, teasing her, making love to her.
It was magical. And scary. She might have thought she was in love with her ex, but now she knew what it really meant to be in love. What she had with Brody went far beyond the sex. This connection they had, it was what her parents had. And while he didn't seem in any hurry to end their arrangement, she felt as if she needed to put some kind of locked cage around her heart.
It had to be coming. She didn't get to be this happy. And she was. For the first time in a long time, she was well and truly happy. A few days ago she'd promised herself that she'd enjoy every moment she had with him. Fear would not be a part of this equation.
But that didn't keep her from speculating about the end of whatever this glorious thing was between them.
She walked from the bathroom back into the bedroom and pulled one of his clean T-shirts over her head. He'd left a few in her dresser for when they finished work and showered or bathed together. Almost every night they spent it here. Another place where the memories would be strong.
He was sound asleep. She had to confess she was a little nervous. They were having an actual sleepover. It had also been his first flight in the big helicopter since his accident. Would he have one of his nightmares?