All They Need(76)

She cocked an eyebrow in challenge. “Okay, then. Your time starts now.”

He laughed, striding back to the idling Aston. She followed him up the driveway, parking behind him. He waited while she collected a shopping bag from the passenger seat and they walked up the front steps together. The porch was pitch-black and he swore under his breath as he tried to identify the door key.

“Remind me to get a sensor light installed here,” he said.

Mel followed him into the living room and stopped in her tracks as she registered the king-size bed he’d had delivered during the week. The only real furniture in the room, it dominated the left wall.

“Where did this come from?” she asked, bemused.

“The local bed place. I left a spare key out last weekend and organized for them to deliver it.”



A selection of bedding, still in its packaging, was stacked on the end of the bed.

“I would have helped if you’d asked,” she said.

“I don’t want you running around after me.”

“But you’ll let complete strangers do it?”

He thought about it for a moment. “Okay, I understand what you’re saying. But it still feels wrong. I’m willing to workshop it, however.”

“Workshop it?” she asked as she started pulling plastic containers from her shopping bag.

“It’s the latest buzz word. You don’t like it?”

She pulled a face. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. She came willingly, her hands sliding to his backside.

“I promise never to use it again,” he said as he zeroed in on her mouth.

They kissed, tongues stroking one another, bodies straining together. He reached for the waist of her long-sleeved T-shirt just as a low gurgle sounded. She smiled against his mouth.

“Was that your stomach?”

“Ignore it,” he said, tugging her top up.

She slipped away from his embrace. “Eat your dinner first, while it’s hot. Then you can have dessert.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

She finished setting out containers of food and he crossed to the fireplace and laid a quick fire. By the time she’d handed him a plateful of savory beef Stroganoff and a hunk of crunchy garlic bread the fire was blazing. He grabbed the pillows from the bed to serve as floor cushions and poured them both a glass of wine.

“This looks great, Mel,” he said as she joined him in front of the fire.



They talked casually as they ate and it wasn’t long before he’d wolfed his meal down.

“That was just what the doctor ordered,” he said as he pushed his plate to one side. He focused on Mel. “Come here.”

“Maybe we should let our dinner settle first.”

“In case we get cramps and drown?”

She laughed. “Something like that.”

“Get your delectable ass over here.”

She placed her wineglass carefully on the hearth and moved toward him. Bracing one hand beside him, she leaned close and laid her lips against his. Her mouth was hot and spicy with wine and he made an approving noise in the back of his throat. Then he put his hand on her shoulder and pulled her off balance and into his arms. She collapsed onto his chest with a muffled yelp.

“That’s better,” he said, rolling swiftly so that she was beneath him, his body splayed over hers. “Now I’ve got you where I want you.”

“Really?”

“Definitely.” He grinned down at her. “Now, about this dessert…”

He reached for the hem of her top and she shifted to allow him to pull it over her head. His eyes narrowed appreciatively as he took in the almost transparent black lace of her bra.

“Nice.”

He lowered his head and began to kiss and lick the curve of her breast until finally he was sucking her nipple through the lace of her bra. She stirred beneath him and he transferred his attention to her other breast, repeating the action. She slid her hands down his back to his sides and then around to the front of his jeans. When she started to fumble with the stud, he caught her hands.

“Uh-uh,” he said.

“Sorry?”

“I haven’t finished my dessert yet.”

He reached out and undid the snap on her jeans. Holding her gaze, he started to peel her jeans down her legs. Her mouth opened ever so slightly and she licked her lower lip. His gaze dropped to her hips. She was wearing black stretch-lace French knickers and he smoothed his hand over her belly and down onto her mound.