“Well, then, there’s no sense in hating on yourself, is there? No glove, no love. It’s probably a good thing that we never got further than the heavy petting. Now, come on.” He heard her pat the mattress. “I kind of felt like cuddling, if you’re game.”
Spend the rest of the evening with his hands on her naked body? She didn’t even have to ask. He finished toweling himself clean again and then reapproached the bed. He tossed the now-messy blanket off the side, hesitated a moment, then took a deep breath and slid under the sheet next to her.
She immediately moved forward and tucked her arms around him, laying her cheek on his chest again.
“That was incredible,” she told him in a soft voice. “Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you,” he said gruffly.
“Mmm, I don’t kn
ow. You have a very talented mouth.” She yawned. “Don’t sneak away on me again, okay?”
He ran his fingers through her hair, thinking that this was quite possibly the best place in the universe to be. “I won’t.”
***
When Hunter woke up, he thought it had all been a dream. Exploring and touching Gretchen, making her writhe with desire. The way she’d been so open and sexual with him.
The tousled hair on the pillow next to him told him that this was reality.
Hunter reached out and brushed a lock off her face, watching her sleep with a feeling in his chest that was something close to gratitude but more like . . . elation. God, he loved touching her. Being with her. There was no one on earth more wonderful than Gretchen. The fact that this gorgeous woman would let him touch her—hell, wanted to be touched by him—was a miracle.
He wanted to do something for her. His first instinct was to go and trim every one of his roses and shower her with them. But he gave her roses every day. It wouldn’t be special enough.
He needed more. He’d have to give this some thought.
She mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over in the bed, her red hair spreading over her pillow. He longed to touch her again, but she was sleeping so peacefully that he didn’t want to disturb her. He’d get up and work out instead. Maybe when he was done, she’d be awake and they could spend some time together.
Now he sounded like a ridiculous, lovesick fool. But for some reason, he didn’t mind it.
They still hadn’t slept together—not really, not officially. He was still a virgin. But Gretchen hadn’t minded. We’ll take our time, she’d told him. There’s no rush.
He’d woken up with a stiff cock and raging need for her. He suspected that he was going to wake up like that from now on—desperate with the need to bury himself inside her. He wouldn’t, though. Not while she was sleeping and didn’t have the opportunity to tell him no.
Hunter rolled over in bed. He drew back immediately. “What the fuck—”
A hideous creature was staring at him, all wrinkly face, large golden eyes, and triangular ears. A skinny, naked tail swished back and forth on the nightstand like a piece of rope flicking in the wind.
“Mmm?” At his side, Gretchen stirred, and then she chuckled. “I see you met Igor.”
He stared at the creature. “This is your cat?”
“It is.”
“He’s naked.”
She laughed, and her hand slid over his stomach, caressing his skin. “That makes three of us, then.”
His cock reared in response to her touch, and Hunter groaned. “Gretchen, don’t—”
“Don’t touch you? Did someone wake up with morning wood?” Her sense of humor seemed to be alive and well this morning. She lifted the blanket up and peeked underneath, then gave a long, gusty sigh of pleasure. “Mmm, you sure did.”
“Can you blame me?” God, she was gorgeous. That naked skin, that beautiful hair that was spilling all over her shoulders, the blankets just barely covering her breasts from his view. He wanted to touch her, his hands flexing with the need of it.
“So it’s my fault?” She shook her head, a coy smile touching her lips. “Guess I should take care of it for you, shouldn’t I?”
And before he could even utter anything, she disappeared under the blankets.