Page 68 of The Mechanics of Lust

The dogs stared back like they could read my mind, and I threw another glance to Luke’s bedroom door. “It’s the worst idea ever,” I grumbled.

Jojo gave a soft whine and Nina raised one golden eyebrow, or at least I’m pretty sure she did.

“You only like him because he lets you sleep on the sofa.”

They continued to stare.

“Yes, I’m well aware that’s a good indication of character,” I answered their pleading eyes. “I never said he wasn’t a nice guy, but we’re leaving, and that’s my last word on the subject so you can stop your begging.”

And with that, I filled their two bowls with kibble and switched the coffee machine on for a second round.

Because that’s how I rolled.

* * *

Half an hour later, as I was once again staring out the kitchen window and contemplating my idiocy, warm hands snaked around my waist, a pair of lips found that spot at the join of my neck and shoulder that drove me crazy, and I was pulled back against a furnace of hot, bare skin.

“Good morning.” Luke nuzzled my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “I could get used to finding a man standing in just his jeans at my kitchen sink every morning.”

“Which appears to be more than you’re wearing.” I shoved my arse back, feeling his very interested cock and not much else.

“I’m wearing briefs,” he argued with a smirk in his voice. “And you look goddamn delicious.” He kissed his way up to that sensitive spot behind my ear and I figured there were a lot worse ways to start the day than wrapped in the arms of a tall sexy man straight from bed and smelling of... us.

Jojo and Nina clearly agreed, circling Luke in an excited welcome.

He dropped one hand to pet them while keeping the other firmly around my waist. “I half expected you to be gone already,” he murmured against my throat in an impressive display of multi-tasking. “I thought my brain explosion last night might’ve scared you off.”

I tilted my head so he could nuzzle a little higher and he obliged. “Hey, I’m a country boy,” I reminded him as he nibbled the base of my throat. “It takes more than a few tears to scare me off.”

Luke turned me in his arms. “Doesn’t make me any less sorry that I ruined the evening. I haven’t broken down like that for a long time.”

My hands slid around his neck. “You didn’t ruin anything.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “And you’re allowed to break down as often as you need. I told you that place was special.”

“Hmmm, maybe.” He let me go and took a seat at the breakfast bar, followed eagerly by Jojo and Nina who then stretched out on the floor at his feet as if they did it every day of their damn lives, the little hussies.

“I can put them outside.” I eyed the mutts who were busy ignoring me.

Luke blinked. “Why would you do that?”

“Because right now it’s the kitchen floor. Tomorrow, it’s your bed.”

He shot me a wicked grin. “If that means you stay another night, I wouldn’t say no.”

I wasn’t about to touch that with a barge pole, so I wandered over to join him at the breakfast bar. He pulled me close and his kiss was hungry, greedy, almost desperate. It had me aching to be lost inside him again. He simply had that effect, that ability to switch off all the emptiness in my life, all the unanswered questions, unfulfilled plans, and aching holes. Everything fading in his presence, at his touch. Not gone, just... gentled.

When he pulled away, I chased his lips, but his hands on my hips kept me in place. “I want today to be about you. Tell me what you’d like to do.”

I waggled my eyebrows and he rolled his eyes and said, “Anything except that. Something out of bed for a change.”

I pouted. “Spoilsport.”

He hooked a finger through my belt loop and tugged me close. “I never said we couldn’t do that as well. Butafter.If you’re still in the mood.”

I cupped his dick and balls. “Oh, I’ll be in the mood. But whatever we do, I have to leave by two. I still need to get some training in.”

“We better get moving then.” He spun me around. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to get ready to go. We’ll take your ute for the dogs.” He slapped me on the butt and gave me a shove toward the bathroom.

I stopped and spun back around. “Go where? And also, the dogs?”

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