It's Only Love(34)

“That’ll be the day.” Smiling, he got up and headed for the door. “See you later.”

Ella tried to return her attention to the computer, but her eyes were swimming and she couldn’t stop yawning. She’d made it to three o’clock. That was a freaking miracle, all things considered. She turned off her computer and grabbed her purse and coat.

“I’m going home for the day, Mary. Not feeling too good today.”

“Oh, too bad, Ella. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“See you then.” She went down the stairs, praying for a clean getaway. The office had been unusually quiet today, for which she would be eternally grateful. As she pulled out of the parking lot and headed for home, she saw her dad and the dogs on the sidewalk in front of Lucas’s woodworking barn. She tooted at them, returned their waves and continued on her way. Her bed was calling to her, and she was going to crash and burn if she didn’t answer that call very soon.


*

Gavin’s day had been a disaster until right this minute, as he took the stairs to Ella’s place two at a time. His heartbeat was on overdrive because he was about to see her. During the course of the day, he’d relived their night together repeatedly, and he’d been a walking hard-on all day as he remembered every detail.

He knocked on her door and waited for her to answer. When nothing happened, he began to regret not calling to tell her he was on his way. He knocked again and waited and then tested the door to find it unlocked. He hoped she wouldn’t care if he went in uninvited. Her purse was flung on a chair inside the door, along with her coat, which had one sleeve inside out.

Smiling, he had a feeling he knew where he’d find her and headed for her bedroom. Sure enough, she was fully dressed and out cold on top of her bed. He kicked off his shoes and crawled in next to her, putting his arm around her middle and drawing her in tight against him.

There, he thought, breathing in a deep Ella-scented breath. There she is. He took another deep breath and felt his heartbeat slip into a more normal rhythm.

She murmured in her sleep and then stirred, turning over to burrow into his embrace.

He couldn’t fall asleep, not with his parents expecting them in thirty minutes, but his eyes were gritty from the night without sleep and it wouldn’t take much to make him forget all about dinner.

“Where’d you come from?” she asked in a sleepy-sounding voice.

“You left your door unlocked. You’re lucky I didn’t find some other guy in here snuggling with you.”

“I left it open for you.”

“I don’t like you sleeping with your door unlocked.”

“I’ll give you a key.”

He kissed her forehead and then her lips because he couldn’t wait another second to kiss her. “Missed you so bad today.”

“It was the longest day ever, and I only made it until three.”

“Sorry I kept you up all night.”

“I’m not.” She reached for him and drew him into a far more serious kiss, her mouth opening to admit his tongue.

Before he could think about what he was doing and where they needed to be, he was on top of her, devouring her. Now that he’d had a taste of her, he was ravenous for more. Apparently, he wasn’t alone in that if the way she kissed him was any indication.

Her legs opened and wrapped around his hips, and he pressed against her, wishing he were deep inside her. He had to put a stop to this and get to his parents’ house, but he needed another minute—or two—of Ella first.

Gavin eased his way out of the kiss, withdrawing in slow increments. “We have somewhere to be.”

“Oh, God, your parents. I completely forgot. I’m a mess.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

“My hair—”

“Is beautiful.”

“I have razor burn.”

Gavin studied her face and kissed the spot on her face he’d rubbed raw with his whiskers. “I need to shave for you before I touch you again.”

“I love your scruff. Don’t shave.”

“I love your soft skin and don’t want to mark it.”

“You have to let me up so I can make myself presentable for your parents.”

He pressed his hard cock against her one more time and kissed her. “There,” he said. “Now I might be prepared to get through dinner.” Rolling off her, he stared up at the ceiling as he throbbed with unspent desire. How there could be any more after what they’d done last night amazed him, but there seemed to be an endless supply where she was concerned.

She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair, attempting to restore some order. “You must be so tired.”

“I’ll sleep good tonight. We won’t stay late at my parents’. Don’t worry.”

“I hope neither of us falls over at the table.”

“It would give them something to talk about for days.” He followed her with his gaze as she went into the bathroom. After spending this time with her, he wondered how he’d ever been able to resist her for as long as he had. He regretted that now. It felt so damned good to be with her that he wished he’d given in a long time ago. Maybe he could’ve avoided some of the recent disquiet if he’d let her in sooner.

No matter. She was here now, and he planned to do everything within his power to keep her.