Page 125 of Until the Sea Runs Dry

And, having raised him, she had known that would be the case.

God only knew what the two of them had been discussing all day.

He felt literal footsteps treading over his grave, and the feeling didn’t disappear even when he arrived home. Jane greeted him with a delightful kiss, though he didn’t allow the delightful feel of her body pressed against his to sway his attention. He stepped away from her, and kept one eye peeled, looking for any sign of his mother.

Jane gave him an impish smile. “Don’t worry, she’s gone.”

“I’m not worried. Why would I be worried? Unless… should I be worried?”

There was amusement in her sea-blue eyes. “I don’t know… Is there a reason you might be concerned?”

He growled, low in his throat, the sound sending Loki — who had finally been persuaded to leave the bed that he had made his new home — wild with excitement. “You are a devil woman.”

She laughed, a delicious, bubbling sound. “If that were the case then why would I create this lovely dinner for you?” She inclined her head at the kitchen where tantalizing smells of cinnamon and orange wafted toward him.

“Don’t try to distract me. What did the two of you get up to all day?”

To stop Loki from barking, he picked up the bundle of fur and scratched him under the chin. Loki’s face sagged, turning blissful. His tongue fell out as if it wasn’t attached to anything. He leaned into Logan, placing a big paw on either of his shoulders as if he were hugging him, and tucked his head under his chin.

For someone who constantly said he didn’t like dogs, Logan seemed to have a mighty strong bond with this one. Jane knew well enough not to comment on the matter.

“Oh, nothing much,” She milked it for as much as she could, enjoying the slightly desperate expression on his face. “We just walked around The Grove, then had a bite to eat. She’s a lovely lady, your mom.”

“Uh huh.” He looked a little green around the gills. Jane almost took pity on him, but she couldn’t break now, not if she were going to stick with her plan. It was partly why she had chosen to cook a Moroccan Tangine, knowing the strong smelling spices would cover over any lingering scent of the cake.

“So… what did you talk about?”

“That would be telling, wouldn’t it? I can’t possibly break the female code.” Her nose wrinkled in an impossibly cute way.

“Not even if I torture it out of you?”

Setting Loki onto the ground, he went for her and started tickling her under the arms. Completely unprepared, peals of uncontrollable laughter burst out of her.

“Stop it!” She gasped, trying to get away from him, but Logan was a man on a mission now. She thought she could tease him and get away with it? Two could play at this game!

Chasing her all the way to the bedroom, Loki yapping at their heels, he tackled her onto the bed, both of them laughing between breaths.

His hands were everywhere. Tickling her under her arms, behind her knees, dancing along that tender spot on her side. She twisted and bucked, trying to crawl away, but he grabbed a bare foot and attacked the sensitive sole.

Squealing, light dancing in her eyes, hair akimbo, she looked glorious. The air became charged. Their laughter faded.

The thin strap of her top had slipped off one creamy shoulder, the sight of which made him want to see more. Crushing her lips to his, his hands made quick work of removing their clothes.

“But… what about dinner?” She asked, eyes playful and light.

“I’m hungry for something else.”

He wenton to feast on her body for hours until both lay satiated in each other’s arms. Jane glanced at the clock, waiting for the digits to turn over into the next day.

A second after midnight, she crept out of bed.

Logan was fast asleep, one arm slung over his eyes. Hearing her movements, Loki’s head lifted up from his paws where he was curled up by his usual position in front of the fireplace, but she shushed him.

“Good boy,” she whispered, hoping he wouldn’t wake Logan. The dog’s eyes drooped sleepily. Sensing there wasn’t going to be much excitement, he lowered his head back onto his paws.

Stealing the sheet from the bed, Jane wrapped it around her sarong style and tip-toed to the kitchen where she retrieved the frosted cake that was hidden in the refrigerator, all ready with candles.

Palming a box of matches, she hurried back upstairs and set the cake onto the table on the outside terrace where plates, cutlery and a bottle of champagne had already been stashed earlier in the day.

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