"So we can do it anytime and anywhere?" I asked, trying to get on his wavelength.
"Well, yes. Abso-fucking-lutely. That goes without saying. But if we need to make some extra cash, it's good to know my phone sex game hasn't gotten rusty," he said, smiling at me.
"Nuh-uh," I said, shaking my head, running my finger across his lower lip. "This mouth is all mine," I told him.
"Well, when you're right, you're right," he agreed, sealing his lips to mine, kissing me until my lips felt tingly. "Hey, you know what I am thinking?" he asked, making a laugh bubble up and burst out.
Because I did.
Of course, I did.
Some things never changed.
His dirty mouth.
And his hungry stomach.
"Crêpes," I said, sitting back to look down at him.
"Does my woman know me, or what?" he said, grinning.
"You're lucky I love you," I told him, taking a deep breath, climbing off of him.
"Don't I know it," he agreed, grabbing me, pulling me back over his lap for one last kiss. "Now, I was thinking... marshmallow fluff and peanut butter," he said as soon as his lips left mine.
So then I got up and made my man his disgusting marshmallow fluff and peanut butter crêpes, then sat down on the couch while he ate, reading my book with a delicious little ache between my thighs.
It wasn't a grand life.
Neither of us wanted that.
But it was ours.
And it was its own little version of perfect.
"Oh shit," Rush said when we both saw the headlights coming up the driveway.
His hand grabbed mine, dragging me through the house and up the stairs, doing a nearly-naked dash all the way to our bedroom where we fell into quiet laughs as we heard Fee and Hunter bringing the kids home.
"Why are Mom's clothes here?" Elle, our middle, asked.
There was a short pause before we heard Fee's clear voice up the stairs.
"It seems like your dad was giving your mom the weather report," she called, making me press my hand over my mouth to stifle my surprised giggle.
Oh, yes.
Some things changed.
But the best things didn't.
Our love.
Our family.
And Fiona Mallick's euphemism game.#Keep turning for a steamy bonus story from one of the 'books' Rush and Katie discuss in "Pull You In."BONUS CONTENTElias + JulietI wanted to shove the man through one of the endless floor-to-ceiling windows in his fancy hotel.
Was that the appropriate response to have toward a man who was paying me an exorbitant rate to get the job done in under a month, so he could launch the remodel for the busy holiday season?
Nope.
But it was also a reaction entirely out of my control.
And also entirely warranted, if you asked me.
"Absolutely not, Mr. Kole," I said, yanking the sample book away from him, slamming it shut, and holding it against my chest.
"I want the wooden headboards."
"Yes, well, tough shit," I said, watching as one of his dark brows arched up.
"Excuse me, Miss Welch?" he asked, unfolding his giant frame out of the metal chair he'd been casually lounging in, his big hand going to his gray jacket buttons, refastening them. It was ridiculous of me, but I found that gesture incredibly sexy for reasons that were beyond me.
If I were being honest, most things Elias Kole did were sexy to me.
It didn't help that the man was insanely good-looking. Six-feet-four-inches of long, lean, suit-clad man. His face was straight out of a cologne ad, all perfectly proportioned, strong of the jaw with a stern brow over brilliant green eyes.
I'd had a visceral reaction to him when he'd first called me in for a meeting.
What can I say?
I'd been mentally focused on my career for a long time.
And my body decided it wanted a piece of my new boss.
It was never going to happen.
First, because I wasn't a dumbass. This deal could set me up for life, would pad my portfolio, would land me a ton of other high-paying jobs. I would never risk the success I had worked so hard for just when I was on the precipice of getting it.
Secondly, he was—as I was convinced all stupidly handsome, sexy, mega-rich men were—a complete and utter dick.
Now, a certain part of me was maybe attracted to that trait.
But all the other parts of me were repulsed.
"I said tough shit, Mr. Kole," I repeated, lifting my chin, refusing to be intimidated even as he moved closer to tower over me.
I'd always been envious of really tall women. It gave you a level playing field with big men.
I was at my tallest at five-six. In five-inch heels.
"You are going to want to watch the attitude, Miss Welch," he warned in that velvety smooth voice of his. I swear it made me get goosebumps sometimes. Ones that I promptly pretended to ignore or attribute to the glacial temperature of this place.
"You are going to need to temper your expectations, Mr. Kole," I shot back. "You already decided on the headboards. Two weeks ago. They've been ordered. Half of them have arrived. The rooms have been designed around them as they are a prominent feature. This is not a part of the design up for debate at this stage."