She smiled as her fingers moved in his hair. “You seem too large and scary to be funny,” she told him honestly. “When I first saw you, I thought you were the most handsome and terrifying man I’d ever met.”
“And now?”
She looked down at his magnificent chest, covered with layered muscles. “And now, I know that you’re the most handsome and terrifying man I’ve ever met,” she said in all seriousness.
Creek had been expecting another teasing remark so when he saw the sincerity in her eyes, he had trouble breathing for a long moment. Instead of blowing off her comment, he bent lower and gently kissed her lips. “You’re beautiful too,” he said softly.
She smiled up, the vulnerable feeling dissipating with his words. “And are you enamored enough with me to try my cooking?” she asked.
He threw back his head and laughed, delighted with her sense of humor and timing. “Yes,” he finally said. “I think I am deep under your spell…deep enough to try your cooking.”
She was just about to jump up from the bed, eager to prove to him that she wasn’t a horrible cook, but then realized that she was completely naked. When she was in his arms, she forgot to be shy, to be aware of her nakedness. But as soon as she stepped away from him, she remembered and all of her insecurities about her figure came rushing back to life. “Um…could you…”
Creek knew exactly where she was going with her question and immediately stopped her. “Not a chance,” he told her, and walked to the bathroom, his eyes watching her the whole time. He was only in the bathroom for a moment, giving her just enough time to get out of the bed and think that he would be in there longer, but he popped back out as soon as he was done and watched as she grabbed the comforter to cover up, not sure what to do. He almost laughed at how adorable she looked as she tried to decide if she wanted to dive back under the covers or run for her closet. He looked inside her closet, keeping his eye on her and enjoying her anxiousness, amused by her shyness. But when he saw her robe, he was horrified.
“What the hell is this?” he demanded, holding up the thick, flannel robe and the enormous flannel nightgown. His eyes moved back to her adorable backside and shook his head. “Please, Violet, tell me that you don’t wear this every night to bed. I have fantasies that need to be maintained, and this,” he said, jerking both items in his hand with disgust, “is blowing the image I have of you.”
Violet’s eyebrows went up with his words. “You have fantasies about me?” she asked, almost forgetting that she was naked and feeling extremely awkward.
“Hell yes!” he exclaimed. He moved closer, tossing the robe and her nightgown into the bottom of the closet, obviously dismissing them. “Don’t you fantasize about me?” he asked, pulling her against his body once more.
Violet opened her mouth and closed it, but she couldn’t stop the blush that burned her cheeks.
“Ah, I see that the sweet, delectable woman does have fantasies!” he teased and bent to nibble on her neck. “Do tell,” he commanded.
“You’re just nervous,” she laughed, holding his shoulders and trying to pretend like her body wasn’t revving up for another round with this man. It was becoming embarrassing how much she wanted to be with him in the most intimate and wicked ways.
“Nervous?” he snickered and moved to the other side of her neck. “I don’t feel nervous.”
“You don’t want my cooking. I promise it is good. I’m not a horrible cook, I swear.”
Creek pulled back and laughed full out. “Honey, I don’t think the male and female minds work the same way,” and he pulled way, lifting his shirt to drape around her naked shoulders. “But since you have challenged me, I’m going to eat this chicken casserole that you’ve so sweetly made for me and then…” His eyes leered as his fingers brushed against the sides of her breasts while he buttoned up his shirt. “Then we’ll see who is scared, and who is the man.”
Violet burst out laughing as well, amazed at this newest side of Creek. He was much more relaxed than he had been last night, more playful, and so much more passionate. And she had to chuckle at his statement that they thought differently. Perhaps she should continue to let him think that because she wasn’t sure her body could handle all of the fantasies that were zinging around in her mind right at this moment.
He took her hand and led her out of the bedroom. “Where are your plates, woman?” he asked as he opened and closed the cabinets.
She glanced over her shoulder as she pulled open a drawer and grabbed a serving spoon. “Behind you, second door on the left.”