“In a minute. I just want to hold you for a minute.”
She melts against me as I bury my nose in her hair, enjoying our togetherness as much as I do.
***
Caroline
Ten minutes later, I step out of my bedroom fully dressed. Hurrying back to the kitchen, I discover Daniel’s made sandwiches. I want to memorize everything about this moment: Daniel walking around my kitchen, wearing nothing but jeans. I’ve left his shirt here, but he didn’t put it on.
“Looked through your fridge, hope you don’t
mind.”
“Not at all. I’m starving. Thanks for making these.”
“Dig in.”
I don’t wait to be told twice; I grab a sandwich and bite into it. It’s delicious. When I down the last mouthful, two strong arms come around my waist, washboard abs pressing against my back.
“For a second there, I thought you’d run off again when I woke up and you weren’t there.”
I laugh. “Where would I run off to? It’s my apartment.”
“So, you would have left if we weren’t at your place?”
“No, no. Sorry, that came out wrong. Not what I meant.”
He flips me around, placing his palms at the edge of the counter at my sides, caging me in. “You sure?”
I nod, startled at the doubt in his eyes. “One hundred percent.” Standing on my toes, I place a quick kiss on his lips. Correction—I meant it to be quick. But Daniel takes charge the next second, slinging a hand at the back of my head, the other on my waist. He kisses me so hard and so hot that all my lady parts quiver. When he palms one of my breasts over the fabric of my blouse, I moan against his mouth. I smile ear to ear as we pull apart.
“What’s with that smile?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I answer quickly. He levels me with his gaze. I stubbornly hold it, and hold it... and lose. I never could win a staring contest against Daniel. In my defense, though, the man holds so much heat in his gaze, I’m sure he could melt glaciers. If ice doesn’t stand a chance against him, what chance does poor little me have?
“Fine, if you must know, I was thinking that it was almost worth it to get you all worked up for that kiss. There, I said it.”
I jut my chin forward in a challenge. Daniel’s lips curl in a smile, but his gaze loses none of the intensity. The disheveled morning hair and five o’clock shadow on his cheeks look good on him.
“Want to put your shirt on?” I ask.
“Why? Am I too distracting?”
“Damn right, you are. When do you have to be at work?”
“In two hours.”
“So how come you woke up so early?”
“The bed was cold. I needed you.”
Wham! Shot straight to the heart. I needed you. Three simple words are all I need to feel like I’m walking on a cloud. Leaning forward, he traces the contour of my lips with the tip of his tongue. I feel every lick straight between my thighs.
Gathering my wits, I push him away. “Stop tempting me or I won’t leave the house in time.”
“Sounds right up my alley.”
“Daniel Bennett, don’t think you can bribe me with sexy times.”