“Crazy. Jean-Paul, the restaurant’s owner, showed up tonight. He likes to make surprise visits to all his restaurants. I think it’s his way of keeping us all on our toes. The owner of the restaurant I worked at in Paris did the same thing.”
Gray worked on the knots in her upper back.
He heard the pop when Kiera moved her head from side to side, and he kissed her neck.
“This back rub feels so good. Maybe I’ll keep you here forever so you can give me one every day when I come home.”
“I’d be okay with that. I can put another desk under the window and work from here all the time.” He started rubbing another knot.
Kiera sighed with pleasure. “Don’t tempt me like that. I might force you to do it.”
He’d made the statement as a joke, but he liked the idea. Not so much the work-from-home part, but the living-with-Kiera part. Over a week apart had been hell.
“At least, for the next few days you can have a back rub whenever you want. Or anything else for that matter. Consider me your personal servant.”
Kiera looked over her shoulder at him. “You might regret saying that.”
“Never.” He tangled his hand in her soft hair and kissed her. “Whatever it takes to make you happy.”
She stood. “Right now, going to bed will make me happy. I’m beat, and tomorrow I’m cooking dinner. My parents are coming over to celebrate my dad’s birthday.”
“Should I stick around for that?”
Kiera removed her uniform top, revealing a plain white tank underneath. “Unless you’ll be uncomfortable, I’d like you here.” After tossing her top in the laundry hamper, she pulled off her pants and the tank.
Immediately, his body reacted, and he considered removing her bra and panties himself.
“Then I’ll be here.” Gray took a step toward her. “Or we could all go out. We don’t have to keep our relationship secret anymore.” He noticed the purple smudges under her eyes and stopped moving. She’d told him she was beat.
Kiera opened the bathroom door behind her. “My dad will like it better if we stay here. I’m going to take a quick shower before bed. Be right out.”
While Gray waited, he got himself ready for bed. The sound of the shower running in the bathroom created images that his brain didn’t need. Already he wanted her, and the vision of her naked under running water was pure torture. Tonight, he’d suffer through it.
Stacking another pillow under his head, Gray pulled up the blankets, hoping it hid the evidence of his current state.
“Much better.” Kiera came out rubbing a towel over her hair. She dropped the towel in the laundry hamper then crossed to the bed. “You look comfy.” She kneeled beside him.
“Comfortable but lonely.”
She smiled and leaned forward, the deep V-neck of her t-shirt giving him an eyeful. His hands wanted to be full, so he cupped one breast, flicking his thumb against her nipple, and ran his other hand up her thigh.
“Still lonely?” She kissed him, and his good intentions when out the window.
Gray gave control to Kiera. She didn’t disappoint. She coaxed his lips apart and rubbed her tongue against his as her hands moved across his body.
When she pulled the blankets down, he broke their kiss. “I thought you were tired?”
Her hand traveled lower, and he grabbed her wrist. If she went any farther, he’d never be able to stop.
“My shower woke me up.” She wiggled her hand free. “And I’ve been thinking about you all night.” She pulled her t-shirt off. “But if you’d rather sleep, we can do that instead.”
He never imagined Kiera had such a sexy side, but he liked it. “We’ll both sleep in tomorrow morning.” Gray pulled her on top of him and neither spoke again.
Chapter 8
Kiera inhaled deeply, the incredible scent of coffee the perfect thing to wake up to.
Why am I waking up to it?