The Do-Over(49)

Reaching out, I let one of his loose curls slide between my thumb and forefinger as I searched his eyes. My heart told me his words were true and that I needed to see where this took us, just as he had said.

Tapping the tip of my nose with his forefinger, his grin became mischievous. “Wait here,” he ordered and jumped up from the bed.

I could hear sounds in the salon of cabinets opening and closing, then quiet, followed by a ding.

“What are you doing,” I laughed.

“Patience, patience,” he called out.

With the same mischievous smile, Wes re-entered the bedroom holding a small white ceramic cup. Propping myself up on the pillows with my elbows, I looked at him questioningly.

“What’s that?” The grin on his face told me he wasn’t bringing me a cup of tea.

“You’ll see.” Sitting down next to me on the edge of the bed, “Shove over and lie back.”

“Why? What are you going to do to me?”

Laughing, “You’ll learn soon enough. Now move over.”

Complying, I inched toward the center of the bed.

“Keep moving and lie back,” he pressed.

His take charge attitude was getting me hot. What was he up to? I followed his direction and continued to move, lying my head back on the pillow.

Wes lifted my shirt, baring my stomach.

“What are you up to?” I protested, laughing.

“Shhh. Have faith, T.”

I felt something warm on my stomach, as if he were painting me. His finger continued to draw across my entire abdomen with the warm liquid.

“Okay, you can look now.”

Raising up my upper body, I noted how proud of himself he looked. Across my bare midsection WES was written in Hollandaise sauce.

“Have I just been branded?” It was impossible not to smile.

Wes nodded. “You have. I have branded you. I’m marking my territory.”

“Okay, well this is better than getting pee’d on.”

Bursting into laughter, “I should say. And that’s not all. The clean-up is pretty good, too.”

Dipping his head, Wes began to lick the W off my stomach. I squirmed and laughed as the tip of his tongue tickled my belly.

“You’re going to make this very messy, T.” He looked up for a moment to give me a stern look. It was the same look he’d given me on the night we met when I’d laughed at him for spilling his drink on his feet.

“I am so ticklish,” my words erupted in bursts between laughs. “My brother used to hold me down and tickle me until I couldn’t breathe.”

Wes smiled, “Oh poor T.” And he continued slowly licking the letter E, sending me into hysterics as I tried to roll away. “Mmm mmm mmm, you need to stay put until I’m done.” He held down my arms to keep me from rocking.

“Weeeeesssss,” it was somewhere between a gasp, a laugh and a whine.

“I have one more luscious letter.” Slowly his tongue curled over the S.

Trying to hold in my laughter, I threatened, “You will pay, Mr. Bergman. You will pay.”

Finishing the top swirl of the letter, he looked up at me from my stomach. “Who would’ve ever guessed you were so ticklish.” The look in his eyes told me that I was in for future torture.

“Oh my God, my brother used to torment me when I was little. He would hold me down and tickle me and I would scream out for my mother and he’d say, ‘Why are you screaming? Mommy can’t hear you. She can’t help you.’ It was horrible what he used to do to me.”

“Oh, that is pretty harsh.” Wes smiled, not looking at all remorseful.

Playfully I whacked him on the side of the head. He just laughed and dipped his finger in the ceramic cup and slowly brought it to my lips. With a smile, I opened my mouth and sucked the Hollandaise off his fingertip.

“Damn, that is good.”

“It really is.” He followed with another taste for himself. “With breakfasts like that.”

I cut him off before he finished his sentence, “No. No. No. Don’t you start thinking about me cooking you breakfast every morning. That’s way too much work.”

Laughing, “Well, you’re in luck because I love to cook and I make a mean breakfast.”

“Will you make me breakfast in the morning?”

“If you’re too worn out from tonight. Sure.” And there was that smile.

“Well, wear me out.” The truth was, I was already worn out, totally exhausted from the long day and fresh air.

Wes obviously could see it on my face. “I think that mission has already been accomplished.” Pulling off his shirt and shorts, he crawled under the covers in just his boxers.

Taking a hint, I stripped down to my tank top and bikini underwear and turned off the light as Wes spooned behind me.

“C’mere,” was all he said and I smushed back into him. “This feels so good.”

“It does.” I turned my head back to kiss him, knowing he was as exhausted as I was, but excited to see what sleep and the morning would bring. I listened to his breathing, enjoying the comfort and warmth of his body wrapped around mine. It was a perfect moment, in the perfect place with the perfect man. I wanted to savor the experience, remembering every detail of his touch and his scent, but fatigue was the victor as I quickly faded into sleep.