Author: Lorelei James

“I started it, but I put it down after I stumbled across the first sex scene.” Her shoulders shook with a mock shudder. “It was horrible. Very unrealistic.”

“No kidding.”

She shoved it on the table and picked up the next book in the stack. “And this one?”

“Now that one… What’s not to love about a kick-ass female character?”

“Wasn’t it great?”

“Uh-huh. Now the sex scene, above the bar?” He whistled. “Totally smokin’ hot.”

“Yeah, I could totally see it happening,” Willow added.

They realized simultaneously they were above a bar. A bar in which they’d just had smokin’ hot sex. And if Blake had his way, they would have some more smokin’ hot sex.

Willow set the book down and looked at him. “I get a lot of crap from the guys for reading.”

“Me too.”

They just stood there at smiled at each other.

“Well, I’d better get to it.” Blake sidestepped her and headed into the small kitchen. He heard the bathroom door close.

He sliced the cooked chicken br**sts and tossed them in a pan with tangy buffalo sauce. While that heated, he chopped lettuce. He spread blue cheese dressing on the wheat tortilla, added a line of chicken and sauce. The final step before he rolled them was sprinkling on lettuce and cheddar cheese.

“That smells yummy.”

“I hope you like it. Would you like something to drink?”

“Water. I’ll get it.”

“No. Sit. It’ll just take a sec.”

Blake slid the plates on the table, poured them each a glass of water and grabbed the container of veggies out of the fridge.

Willow looked at him dumbfounded as he sat across from her.

He bristled. “What?”

“Fresh cut veggies? Carrots and celery. Cauliflower and broccoli. Radishes and…are those sugar snap peas?”

“Yeah. Why, do you hate ’em or something?”

She placed her hand on his forearm. “I love them. I just never…well, I never think of going to this kind of trouble. And I see that you do. This isn’t just for my benefit, is it? You eat like this all the time?”

His cheeks warmed. “It doesn’t take more time to have this kind of stuff on hand than a bag of chips. And I’ve gotten really conscious of what I eat since my dad’s stroke.” Dammit. He hadn’t meant to tell her that.

“Oh Blake. I’m sorry. When did it happen?”

“It happened a few months back.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s getting better but not good enough. We had to sell—” No. He would not tell her that. “Anyway, it changed a lot of things in my life. With the West family history of men having heart attacks, strokes and dying at an early age, I’m becoming more vigilant about all aspects of my health.”

Her hand lightly, soothingly stroked his forearm. “I am sorry. I don’t know what I’d do if something like that happened to my dad. I worry about him. But he’s the type you can’t tell anything.”

“Sounds familiar. But now my dad has to listen.” He pointed to her plate. “Better eat.”

“Bossy.” Willow took one bite and moaned.

His c**k stirred with awareness at her sexy sound. Damn. She made that noise right before she came.

She chewed and swallowed. “That is absolutely delicious.”

“Glad you think so.” Blake watched as she ate every bite and a big helping of veggies.

“What a day.” She drooped in her chair. “Amazing sex. Amazing food. You’ve spoiled me, Blake West.”

“I aim to please, ma’am.” He gathered the plates. As he rinsed the dishes, Willow scooted in behind him and pressed her face in the middle of his back. She didn’t say a word; she just hugged him for a minute or two. Then she hip-checked him, snagged a dishtowel and started drying.

Right then Blake knew he was in big trouble with this pint-sized woman.

When they finished, Willow faced him with a jaw-cracking yawn. “Will you be disappointed if I just want to go to sleep?”

“Hmm. Lemme think.” He kissed the top of her head. “Nope. I’m pretty whupped myself.” He steered her toward the bedroom.

“I have to be at the jobsite at seven which is in another four hours. Do you have an alarm clock so I can get up on time?”

“I’ll get you up, I promise.”

“Won’t you want to sleep in?”

She was probably thinking he led the leisurely life of a bartender. Work late; sleep late. He laughed. “I’ve never had the luxury.”

“Sucks to be you.” She stripped and crawled between the sheets. “Blake? You coming to bed?”

“Yeah.”

“Fully clothed?”

“Might be safer. Your nekkid body next to my nekkid body is not a sign my body reads as naptime.”

Willow threw back the covers. She stood and reached for a T-shirt hanging over the back of the chair. She slipped it over her head and it hung to her knees. “Happy?”

“No. I like you nekkid.” Blake stripped off his shirt, loving the way her eyes ate him up. He took two condoms out of his front pocket and set them on the dresser. “In case you change your mind.”

She snorted.

His cargo shorts hit the floor, leaving him in his boxer briefs.

He scrambled beside her and she curled around him, sighing sleepily against his chest. After a couple minutes, she murmured, “I like you nekkid too. But that’s not the reason I like you, Blake.”

“What is the reason, sunshine?”

“You make me feel like I’m the sexiest woman alive.”

“You are.”

Willow sighed again. “See? That sweet side of you isn’t fake. You’re almost too good to be true. There has to be something you’re not telling me.”

Blake stroked her back and listened to her breathe. As she floated off he was glad he didn’t have to answer.

As usual, he came out of a dead sleep at six a.m. Willow didn’t stir even when he shifted his arm out from underneath her. For the next half hour, he laid there staring at the ceiling fan, trying to will his hard-on away.

Wake her up. She’ll help you get rid of it.

No. Be a gentleman. Wake her up and get her out of here.

Sound, safe advice. But Blake liked how Willow curled into him. He really liked the sweet scent of her skin. And her soft breath flowing across his chest.

Yeah, thinking about how good she felt and smelled wasn’t deflating his morning wood at all.

Blake counted to one hundred. Three times. Then he nudged her. “Will? It’s time to get up.”

No response.

“It’s past time to hit the road.”

A sleepy groan.

He put his mouth by her ear. “Come on, sleepyhead.”

If anything, she snuggled closer.

So Blake touched her. Sliding his hands under her shirt and tracing the vertebra of her spine. Palming the taut globes of her ass, marveling at how soft her bare skin felt beneath his rough-skinned hands.

Willow began to stir.

He upped the ante, slipping his fingers around the side of her breast. He wondered if he suckled her sweet ni**les if she’d wake up fast or slow.

Now was as good as time as any to try it out.

Blake rolled her flat, bunched the T-shirt in his fist and set his mouth on her. No delicate butterfly licks. He started out full bore, balls to the wall, with hard, deep sucking.

She gasped. “Blake? What are you—”

He slurped her nipple. Then scraped his teeth across the tip. “I’m waking you up.”

“But—”

“I figured you’d prefer this to me throwing cold water on you.”

“Mmm.” Willow stretched. “Or you could wake me up like you did yesterday morning.”

“That was next on the list if this didn’t work.” Blake flicked his tongue around the outer edge of her areola.

“This is a good alternative.”

He lavished attention on her br**sts until she writhed beneath him. He scattered kisses up her chest and muttered, “I want you,” against her throat.

“Yes. Now.”

Blake was suited up in no time. He kept kissing her neck as he moved between her thighs. Willow wrapped her legs around his h*ps and arched into him as he slipped into her damp heat.

Her fingers mapped the muscles in his arms and back in a languorous caress that appeased and inflamed him.

Their movements against each other were unhurried. A lazy melding of bodies as the morning sun lightened the room and the ceiling fan stirred the sex-scented air around them.

This was the perfect way to wake up. Blake could get very used to a soft, willing Willow in his bed every morning.

Her breathy moan in his ear and the vise-like grip of her pu**y muscles as she cl**axed around his thrusting c**k sent him soaring.

When he landed, he brushed his lips over her temple. “Can you stay for breakfast?”

“What time is it?”

“After seven.”

“What!” Willow tried to push him away. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I tried. It didn’t work, which was why I had to come up with a more…innovative method.” Blake lifted slightly to look at her. “Besides, you’re already late so you might as well stick around and eat.”

“But—”

“How many times have you been late to the jobsite, boss lady?”

“Hardly ever.”

“So you’re entitled.” He pressed his lips to hers. “Please. Stay. Just a little bit longer. I’m thinking of three little words that’ll make it worth your while.”

Her eyes lit with wariness and Blake could’ve kicked himself for scaring her.

Keep it light. He said, “Ham.” Another soft peck. “Pancakes.” Another kiss. “Eggs.”

She relaxed. “You trying to fatten me up?”