“Yes.” He takes a sip of wine. “It gives you something to do during the day.”
“I’m not sure I have the time.”
His brow furrows. “Why not?”
“I have a mountain of things to tend to from the various charities I inherited from Ione. With the vacation, and then subsequent events, I haven’t done anything in ages.”
Jayson swallows a bite of pasta before replying. “None of that matters. I can hire someone to deal with it.”
I frown. “What? You nixed that idea when we first got married.”
His dark eyes reflect warmth as he looks at me solemnly. “That isn’t your passion, but I didn’t take time to find out what was. I denied you the things you needed and wanted for too long. I want you to enjoy what you do. With Sophie away at college, you have more free time, and you should devote it to pursuits that pique your interest.”
I draw a deep breath, mustering all my courage. I know what I want is a bad idea, but I can’t talk myself out of the desire. “I have some free time at night too.” My voice is soft and scratchy.
He pauses in the act of swallowing for a second. “Indeed?”
The gleaming cutlery becomes an object of intense focus when I find it too difficult to meet his gaze. “I have some ideas to pass the time.”
He makes a rough sound, low in his throat, and drops the fork he was holding. “Such as?”
It takes a moment to find the courage to look up at him and I squirm under the intensity of his gaze. This had seemed a better idea when I rehearsed it earlier this afternoon. I clear my throat with a gulp of wine. “I want you.” Removing the napkin from my lap, I devote meticulous care to folding it into a perfect square. The sound of his chair moving doesn’t make me look up, but I do when he comes to my side and takes the napkin from me, throwing it carelessly onto the center of the table.
Without protest, I let him take my hand to assist me from the chair. It’s ridiculous to feel shy, but I do. I try to look down, but his hands frame my face. I lick my lips, and he groans softly.
Jayson lowers his head, his tongue tracing the path mine left. His mouth devours mine, but I’m just as hungry. Almost mindlessly, I tug at his shirt, anxious to feel his skin against mine.
A harsh breath leaves him when he tears his mouth from mine, gulping for air. “Are you certain this is safe?”
I nod. “I read the literature the hospital sent home. I can have sex whenever I feel up to it.” I smile. “I feel up to it, and I’m not the only one,” I add, brushing my hand against his trousers.
With a sound between a growl and a grunt, Jayson lifts me into his arms. I cling to him, laying my head on his shoulder. “A girl could get used to this,” I whisper in his ear before planting a soft kiss against his jaw.
“I’d love to get used to holding you in my arms.”
“That wouldn’t be too practical for a captain of industry. You’d never get any work done.”
“To hell with work, and the Satyros Corporation.” Jayson angles his body to push open the bedroom door and strides across the room to drop me on the bed before returning to close it.
My eyes widen at his words, but I don’t let myself read much into it. It’s probably just a spontaneous response to our conversation, just his arousal. There’s no way he considers me more important than the family business now that I’m no longer pregnant with his child.
Jayson returns to me, and soon our clothes are off. He’s careful and gentle, moving slowly, as though I’ll break. It’s sweet, but also maddening.
As the minutes pass, and I grow increasingly frustrated, I finally seize control. “Enough.”
Jayson lifts his head from my breast. “Are you in pain?”
I nod, and an expression of alarm contorts his beautiful Greek features. “I’m in pain from how much I need you. Please stop torturing me.”
Jayson frowns. “I want to be gentle, agape mou.”
“I don’t want that. I just want you.” His resistance is obvious by the set of his shoulders and the firm line of his mouth, and I wiggle out from his embrace. He rolls onto his side, reaching for me as I get up.
Seizing the moment, I lean across the bed to push on his shoulders, turning him to his back. His eyes widen with surprise, but he doesn’t fight as I pin him to the bed to straddle him. I might not be stronger than him, but both of us are enjoying the illusion of my being in control.
I bend my head to trace my tongue across one of his nipples, torturing him just like he did me. Jayson grips my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh almost to the point of pain, while I suck the hard nub into my mouth.
“Harper, you’re playing with fire.”