his fill of touching her, even if it was in this innocent way.
He’d also been stroking her upper arm, and as his fingers drifted,
she shivered lightly and murmured in her sleep, snuggling back
toward him.
Ash wanted to be responsible for more than just a murmur. He
wanted to hear her throaty moans when he suckled her nipples. He
wanted to hear her pant in ecstasy as he stroked into the silky heat
between her thighs and to be personally responsible for her screams as
she came so hard they both saw stars. He wanted everything she had
to give and to give her what she needed from him. He wasn’t sure
how they were going to fit any of that in if she was working eighty
hours each week.
His body’s natural alarm clock woke him early at five o’clock. It
was dark in the room, and he took stock of his position before
moving. He didn’t want to startle her or cause her any jarring pain
when he moved.
She must’ve gotten chilled as she slept because she’d gravitated
backward and was now spooned against him with her head resting on
his bicep. His body was curled around hers, and his other hand rested
comfortably on her abdomen.
Damn, he hated to move.
Ash wanted to wake up in this position with her every morning.
The only thing that would be better would be waking up with them
both naked. He looked down at her, listening to her breathe.
Spurs and Heels
51
The streetlight outside cast a dim glow through her mini-blinds so
that he could make out the swell of her breasts, barely covered by the
plunging neckline of her gown. That luscious, seductive curve was
almost more temptation than he could manage. He was barely
successful in stifling a groan when she moved in her sleep and
pressed her ass against him. Luckily, she was too deeply asleep to be
aware of the thickened cock she was rubbing against.
Knowing he had to get up, unable to stand more innocent torture,
he drew the comforter over her shoulder and carefully slipped out and
slid the other pillow behind her. Stepping out of her bedroom, he
closed the door so that he wouldn’t disturb her and then headed for
the kitchen to make a pot of coffee.
* * * *
Juliana woke several hours later to the sound of her shower
running and the scent of bacon and coffee. The sun was high in the
sky, and she gasped in surprise when she saw that she had slept until
nine o’clock in the morning. It was always her habit to rise at six-
thirty and be at the store by eight o’clock, even though they didn’t
open until ten. Her day had to begin earlier so that she had time for
paperwork and planning and could then spend at least part of her day
on the sales floor, directing operations. It made for a long day, but it
kept everything running efficiently. This morning, it made her tired to
think of spending an entire day at the store like that. It seemed almost
sad.
The water in her bathroom shut off as she rolled onto her back,
testing her pain level. She was due for some more Tylenol soon. She
smiled when the image of Ash in her bathroom, naked, drying off
with her bath towel came to mind. She wondered obscenely if he was
the type to walk around after his shower with his hips wrapped in a
towel, or if he went naked until he got dressed. If she’d been feeling a
bit more chipper this morning, she might go and investigate for
52
Heather Rainier
herself, but she was moving way too slow, and he was dressed and out
of the bathroom before she was even sitting fully upright in the bed.
Ash’s hair was damp but neatly groomed, and he looked like he’d
gotten a little rest after he’d come to bed with her. She’d slept
surprisingly well, remembering falling asleep to the feel of his gentle
hand stroking her arm. He smiled when he saw that she was awake
and came to sit on the side of the bed closest to her. He peeked under
the dressing between her shoulder blades.
“How do you feel this morning?”
“A little better. I can’t believe I slept so late. How does my back
look?”
“Well, the stitches look like they’re holding up, but you bled some
during the night. The bandage leaked a little. You didn’t get any
blood on your gown, though.”
“Good, I love this gown,” she replied, relieved but a tad self-
conscious in it in front of him.
“Me, too,” he murmured, his eyes twinkling as he smiled.
“Sorry, I probably should have chosen a more modest gown last
night, for your sake.”
“Don’t be sorry, darlin’. I think you look beautiful in satin and
lace, and if you like it, you shouldn’t have chosen any differently.”
Her cheeks warmed as he replaced the dressing. “Thank you, Ash.