A soft smile crossed her lip. “Thank you for that, Willem. And the same goes for me, in case you haven’t noticed. I mean I scoured the Realm Internet and read absolutely every article and blog I could find on you. And by the way, there were over eight hundred, so yes, I do know that you have a temper so I came prepared.”
“You came prepared?” He laughed.
“Well, I did. I practiced planting my hands on my hips and telling you to ‘stuff it’ or something like that.”
He laughed all over again. She wasn’t like any woman he’d ever known.
When she finished her soup and her beer, and he’d done the same, she asked him to take her outside and show her the back garden.
He felt something from her at that moment, a kind of determination that not only defined her, but also indicated she had a purpose in mind right now.
He opened the French door that led off the nearby dining area. When she reached the edge of the patio pavers, she slipped off her flats and walked out onto the lawn.
He joined her. “So, I need to ask you something, Charlotte.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Sure. Anything.”
“Didn’t those pictures bother you?”
She was silent for a moment. “Other than breaking my heart, no, they didn’t. And no, I don’t know why. They just didn’t.”
He drew up next to her, frowning. Who was this woman?
She turned to him, her brow creased as well. “Do you suppose it’s a blood rose thing? I mean I feel like I should be really upset, and I am for the children, but the visceral nature of the photos, not so much.”
“We just seem to be so in sync.”
“I know. It’s bizarre.”
He sighed heavily. “I should probably be getting you home.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.”
Her that’s-so-not-going-to-happen tone, made him catch her elbow and turn her toward him. “Why would you say that? I should take you home. The sooner the better. After that, we’ll have Vojalie dissolve the bond.”
“Well, there’s a couple of reasons. First, I don’t want to leave your home until the bond is dissolved, if that’s what we both decide to do. And the other reason is purely selfish on my part.”
“And what would that be?” He really didn’t know what she meant.
But she drew close and slid her arms around his neck. She was tall, almost six feet, a perfect armful for him so that naturally his arms slid right around her unquestioning. She kissed him, a full moist kiss.
When she parted her lips, he deepened the kiss and that same, earlier lethargy once more took him over. He forgot what they’d been talking about as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, suckling.
His body heated up fast as desire for her possessed him like a match to dry grass. He ground his hips into her, letting her feel what had become in a matter of seconds hard and ready for her.
She arched her hips several times in succession, pressing against his arousal. Still suckling his tongue and making all kinds of promises, she pathed, That feels wonderful and I was hoping you’d want to do this again. I seem to be in a terrible state of need where you’re concerned.
I can see that and I’m damn willing to help things along. Back to the bedroom?
She pulled away, releasing him, but answered his question with a shake of her head. She then took the bottom of her tank top and once more started to strip for him. “I saw your property from the air, remember? Your garden is very private and you don’t have close neighbors at all.” She dropped the shirt to the lawn. “How about here and now?”
His gaze fell to her beautiful cleavage and before she could take off her bra, he dipped low and kissed her creamy mounds over and over. She kneaded his shoulders, digging in her nails, cooing her pleasure at the same time. Her wisteria scent flowed once more.
The next thing he knew, she’d twisted from his arms, removed her skirt and laid it out on the grass. She then slipped out of her bra and her thong. She moved swiftly and the next moment, while he stood staring at her dumbly, she’d settled on top of the skirt, stretching out, completely naked. His mouth fell open as his gaze drifted down her body.
Leaning up on her elbows, she smiled, her voice throaty as she said, “Lose your clothes, Willem, and get down here. I’m feeling a draft and I could sure use your heat.”
He didn’t need to hear the command twice. He stripped as quickly as he could, though he had to ease the zipper down carefully. He was fully aroused and when she saw his erection, her fingers clawed the air, urging him to hurry.