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The following morning, I wake to the most beautiful, peaceful feeling I’ve ever experienced. I’m warm and comfortable. The birds are singing, the golden glow of sunlight illuminating the room beyond my closed lids. The scent of honey and flowers fills my nose. Eva.
Her fingertips are trailing up and down my forearm, wrist to elbow, as it rests across her belly. I inhale deeply, drawing in her scent before locking it away, and she presses her body back into mine.
“Morning,” she says quietly. I can hear her smile.
“Morning, beautiful.” She turns over to face me, my hand sliding down to her bum. “How did you sleep?” I ask, my fingertips tracing her curves.
“Good. But not as good as you.”
“Wh—?”
“You snore sooo loudly!” I can feel my eyes go round and wide, and I snap my mouth shut. No one wants to be that guy. I didn’t know that...but then I’ve never slept all night in the same bed as anyone before...
I glance at Eva. She’s holding her breath, and she’s biting her lip. She’s...joking! When she laughs, her eyes light up, brighter than the morning sun filling the room.
“You’re a cheeky mare,” I grumble playfully. I grab hold of the back of her knee and bring it up to my waist as I roll us over. Her breath sucks in and my hips pin hers. Her hands smooth over my skin, on each side of my spine, and then her nails trail lightly back up to my neck as I lower my mouth to hers.
***
“Breakfast?” I ask after a few minutes of catching our breaths in the blissful silence.
“Hmm?”
“Come on, you must be hungry?” Especially after that.
“Not hungry enough to move.”
“Breakfast in bed then. I’ll go see what there is.” I flip her onto her back and pin her hands above her head as I move over her fast, making her suck in a startled breath. “I’m going to feed you, and then we’re going to do that again and again. Any problem with that?”
“None at all,” she says breathlessly, her eyes on my mouth.
“Good.” I kiss her hard and get up before I can change my mind about feeding her first. I pull on my jeans and flash her a smile as I head for the door and down to the kitchen.
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“Good morning, Luke. How’s it going?” I return his missed call with a soppy grin on my face as I make my way to the walk-in fridge.
“Err...I’m sorry. I was after Will. Will Hunter. Who the fuck are you?”
“Funny. What can I do for you?”
“You can tell me why you sound like Mary fucking Poppins for a start.”
“Can’t a man be in a good mood on a Saturday morning?”
“A man, or you? Never mind. We’re training at eleven. You in?”
“Nah.” I hear his sharp breath. I haven’t missed training... ever.
“Okay. What the fuck is going on?”
“Have a good day, Luke.” I laugh as I hang up.
His text is almost instant.
I’m coming over.
No, you’re not.
––––––––
I don’t get a response so I call him back. He doesn’t pick up. Well, if he thinks I’m going to let him in, he’s dead wrong. He can stand outside all day long, as far as I’m concerned. Maybe I should take Eva out for breakfast? A cursory glance over the contents of the fridge and the decision is made. Maybe we should go to hers after? We’ll get more privacy there anyway.
Eva’s in the shower when I enter my suite a few minutes later. I can hear it running. And last night’s fantasy about climbing in behind her comes back full force, filling my mind with steamy, soapy ideas and sending every fluid ounce of blood right to my cock. I don’t know how I managed to stay on the sofa last night, knowing she was wet and naked in my bathroom. I rip off my jeans and leave them where they fall before charging through the half-closed bathroom door.
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“Where are we going?” Eva asks, an hour later, as I take the driver’s seat beside her and rev the engine.
“I haven’t decided yet. Anywhere I should avoid?” I lift her hand to my lips and run them along her knuckles, barely containing my groan.
“I don’t know. Is there?” The raised eyebrows tell me what she’s really asking. Is this a regular thing? The only place I visit regularly for breakfast is the American diner for pancakes with Mae, but I can’t tell Eva that yet.
“Well, you probably wouldn’t want to go where I usually eat breakfast.”
“Where’s that?” she asks, frowning, as I lower her hand to my thigh and cover it with mine. My new favourite way to drive.
“The train station. Food is shocking.” She breathes out a laugh as relief floods her face. “Cold bacon between two bits of cardboard. Ergh!” I love her laugh. The way her eyes light up is... Christ.
I whack the car into reverse and swing around like a stunt driver. The faster I feed her, the faster we can get back to being naked.
“In a hurry?” she asks innocently. I flash her a smile and floor the accelerator, throwing us back in our seats. She laughs lightly and leans over the centre console, bringing her mouth to my ear as she runs one fingernail up the inside seam of my jeans.
“Me too,” she breathes and nips my earlobe.
I’m all set to pull over and throw her on the back seat, until I see the black supercar pelting along the driveway. “Fuck,” I groan. Because I’m solid again and because Luke is driving this way.
“If you don’t stop that, we won’t make breakfast.”
“Who says I want breakfast?” She smiles devilishly but pulls back fast when she notices the car a few feet from us and drops her head on a sharp inhale. I glance at her, her eyes squeezed shut, and then my attention flicks from driving to Luke. He won’t be able to see her face like that, but he’s bound to guess the name of the beautiful woman beside me. Her hair is a dead giveaway, for a start.
His head twists around as he shoots right past us, his mouth hanging open, and he slams on the brakes. I press the accelerator lower and head towards the gate and the market town a few miles south. They have a parade of shops and an independent coffee house. The food is supposed to be good. And unless Luke drives like a maniac, he won’t find us there. It isn’t one of the agency’s regular spots.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my eyes flicking to the rear-view mirror, where I can see Luke racing to get to the end of the driveway before he turns around. Thank God his obsession over his car is stronger than his need to know what’s going on. Wouldn’t want to get it muddy, would he?
“I think I need food.” Her high-pitched tone says she’s lying, but I’ll let it drop.
“Aha.”
***
Eva pushes away her empty plate and glances at my phone on the table. Although it makes no sound, it lights up every time Luke calls. “You can answer that if you need to,” she says, reaching for a napkin to wipe her mouth.
“He’ll keep,” I tell her and raise my glass of orange juice to my lips. Eva’s eyes follow the movement and I place it back down carefully.
“So...this is progress,” I tease.
“What’s that?”
“Us.” Her eyes widen and I continue, “Eating. In a restaurant I don’t own.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes narrow and she reaches for her coffee cup.
“How about we push it a bit further?” She freezes and swallows in a gulp. “How about you let me take you on that date tonight?” I can see from her pained expression that I’m on stony ground. “I’ve been meaning to check out one of my guys’ places for a while now. I’d love your opinion.” Eva lowers the cup, her breathing stunted.
“Um...”
“Please?” I take her hand and raise it to my lips in a sweet kiss. “Please?” I look up at her pleadingly and she slumps a bit in her chair, her face softening.
“Okay.”
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When we pull up at The Nook half an hour later, I have no less than fifteen missed calls from Luke. He’s not going to wait much longer.
***
I follow Eva up the garden path and kiss her soundly. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”
She smiles indulgently, linking her arms around my neck. “Shall I meet you there?” she asks, meaning the restaurant I intend to take her to tonight.
“No.” I shake my head for emphasis. “It’s a date. I’ll pick you up.” She gives me a brilliant smile. The kind of smile that makes my heart dare to expand, and I kiss her once more and make myself leave.
With The Nook behind me, I hit Luke on speed dial. He picks up so fast he must have had his phone in his hand.
“You landed Eva Adams?” he says. No preamble at all.
“I’m working on it.”
I hear his teeth grinding, and there’s a pause before he asks, “Does De Luca know?”
“No. Not yet. I’ll update him when there’s something to say. Oh, and Gary has agreed to take a paternity test. Swears the child isn’t his.” I won’t mention that I already know he’s not Eva’s child’s father.
“Right,” he says in a tight voice. Then he grunts and something heavy crashes and splinters.
“Whoa! What was...” A dead tone fills my ears. “That.” Luke Chambers wants to land my girl? Well, game on, Luke. Game on.
––––––––
That evening, I’m showered again, changed and ready to take my girl out, having already said goodnight to my angel and called Ben to let him know to expect us. I raise my fist to knock on her door but it opens anyway.
She’s wearing a towel, her hair wet and dripping. My eyes follow the little rivulets of water running down and disappearing under the towel.
“Am I early?” I swallow hard, dragging my eyes from the water tracks, and raise my wrist to see the time. She doesn’t speak but takes both my hands and pulls me inside, her eyes smouldering on mine. She steps in close, her hands on each side of my face, and presses me back into the door. Then she kisses me the way every man wants to be kissed.
Ohhh...Christ. “Eva...” I begin, but swallow my words as she steps back and loosens the towel. I watch it fall to the floor. “Christ,” I choke and pull her body to mine. She squeals when I throw her over my shoulder and run up the stairs.
Fuck the restaurant. Sorry, Ben.
“I think you planned this, Ms Adams,” I tell her in a low, smooth voice as I set her down on the edge of the bed. She gives me a devilish grin as I remove my boots and socks.
I pull my shirt over my head and smile when I hear her inhale. She watches my fingers move to the button on my jeans. She swallows hard. I pop the button and unzip the fly, and her heated gaze finds mine. I push my jeans down my legs and Eva moves forward, perching on the very edge of the bed. I step out of the denim pooled around my feet and push my fingers into the waistband of my boxers. I encourage the fabric down slowly, and her eyes follow my efforts until my erection is freed, then her gaze doesn’t move. Her tongue darts out and her lips part as I step out of the boxers. “I know what you’re thinking,” I tell her, my voice low with desire as I move towards her. “But I think you’re...ahhh!” I groan as the warm wetness of her mouth consumes me. “Christ! Eva—!”
Her eyes flick to mine and I feel her smile around my cock, before she swirls her tongue like a tornado and licks up the underside of my length. My eyes roll back in my head. My hands go to her hair, just for something to hold on to. My hips thrust of their own free will and she opens up wider, her fingers digging into the sides of my thighs. But holy Christ! When she sucks long and hard, I fold at the waist. She doesn’t stop. She moves closer, holds me tighter, torturing me in the most delicious way for many more minutes.
She takes me to the back of her throat again and sucks hard, all the way up. Again. And again, swirling the tip of her tongue over the leaking head. “Baby... stop... I’m going to come.” I feel her hum. The feminine delight in that sound is enough to make me groan but the vibrations along my throbbing manhood could make me cry. My muscles tense when I feel the back of her throat against my cock and I hold my breath as she begins her ascent, sucking harder.
“Eva!” I warn her, my fingers tangling in her hair. One hand leaves my thigh and gently cups my balls, her fingers grazing lightly, back and forth, almost tickling. She must feel the effect she’s having on me because she takes me all the way back in to her mouth fast, and I explode.
She slowly and softly sucks and licks my twitching cock clean as she releases me, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. But not as pleased as I am.
“Lie back.” I growl and drop to my knees, pushing hers wide. She leans back on her hands, watching my every move. And I drive her crazy with my tongue before making love to her until I can hear the birds singing to the sun for the second time in twenty-four hours.
***
“I don’t want to go to work,” I grumble as I lie in Eva’s bed and watch her pull on jeans. We’ve hardly slept.
“Tough. Get up. You’re not making me late.”
I could make you late, baby. I pull back the duvet, roll out of bed and stroll over to Eva, my dick growing with my plan. She’s bent over, rifling through a drawer for a top. I lean in close to her and touch the tip of my tongue to her spine, and goose bumps skitter across her skin.
She stands slowly and my tongue moves up, up, up to her neck. “Will,” she breathes and swallows hard.
“Hmm?”
“I can’t be late. I have a festival to organise.”
“Sounds fun.”
“Not if the event planner doesn’t show up.” She turns to face me, her hands move to my waist. “How about lunch? If you’re around?”
“How about we go christen your office?” I counter and take her mouth.
––––––––
When I leave Eva in her office a few hours later, her taste is still on my tongue. I’m heading out, planning on going straight to Cactus, when a familiar voice floods my ears.
Luke is in the reception area on the ground floor, flattering the receptionist into divulging too much information.
“Yes, she’s here.” The receptionist flushes when he smiles and thanks her.
I cross my arms and wait for him to see me. He stops dead when he does. “Morning.” I keep my tone light, but irritation is scratching at my nerves.
“What are you doing here?”
“I just dropped Eva at work. You?”
“You...? She...?” I wait for a complete sentence before I answer. He swallows hard, his jaw tight. “She stayed at yours?”
“No.” He looks relieved and suspicious. I can’t have that. “Not last night. Last night, I stayed at hers.” I leave him to pick his chin up and make for the door.
“So...” He jogs to catch up with me. “The case is closed?”
“Not yet, no.”
“Good. Okay.” His hand goes to his dark hair. “Well...” He chuckles nervously. “At least we know she’s not: one, immune to men or two, gay. And, since she’s engaged with you, she’s gotten back in the dating game. That makes things easier.”
I press down hard on the burning ball rising up from my stomach. “Let’s go... or we’ll be late.”