Page 46 of Bryce

Tucking his headdown, he used his free hand to brush at a coil of hair that wasclinging to her damp cheek.

Trailing a fingerdown her face, he lifted her chin so he could look at her and seewhat she was thinking. Her eyes met his and he wanted to melt intothem.

“You okay?”

She shrugged. “Askme in another couple days.”

He chuckled, relievedto know that it was not regret coating her face. “Hungry?”

She rolled her eyesat him and stopped, remembering that the last thing on her mind hadbeen food. “Yes, I am actually.”

“So am I.Jessica offered me a meal, but I was too busy getting drunk andthinking up ways to get back at you.”

She shifted her gazefrom his gorgeous face to his upper arm where she had noticed thechain link tattoo around his biceps. She had seen it when she waswatching the movie and wanted to know why he had gotten it in thefirst place. Lifting a hand, she traced the ink slowly. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Iwas doing my first action flick, and it called for tattoos. Theothers were temporary, but I loved this one. Does it offend you?”

She lifted her eyesto his at the question and realized to her surprise that he wasserious.

“And if I sayit does?”

“I would haveit removed.”

It shook her andcaused her heart to stumble. “I like it.”

“Sure?”

She nodded and benther head to study the intricate design. “Did it hurt?”

“Nothing towrite home about.” He lifted her chin and brushed his lips onhers. He could not stop touching her. He was waiting for her torecover a bit before going for round two.

He had promised herthe entire night and that was exactly what was going to happen. Thistime in a bed, with his mouth all over her body. He wanted the tasteof her to consume every inch of him.

Chapter 12

They made itdownstairs. With the rain still unleashing its fury and pounding onthe building, they used the flashlight and candles to light the wayand went to get the food.

“There’sno electricity to heat up the roast beef.” She announced as shetook it out of the warmer. “How about a sandwich?”

“Sounds good.”Settling on the stool, he watched as she economically placed thecandle on the counter and took out the ingredients. He loved lookingat her. She had donned only the sweater and nothing else. The coilsof her hair tumbled down her back and she looked comfortable andcapable as she sliced and diced.

“You used tohate to cook.”

She looked up fromthe tomato she was slicing at his comment.

“I had a changeof mind and heart.” Popping out slices of bread, she put themon the plates and started heaping the sandwich. “I lived bymyself when I left college, and it was either take out or learn tocook.” Picking up a slice of tomato, she absently popped itinto his mouth. “I was on a stringent budget and had to getcreative.”

He chewed andswallowed. “Why?”

“Why what?”The slices of beef were so thin, they were practically nonexistent.

“Why were youon a stringent budget? I thought your parents had money.”

She cast a wry lookat him before adding olive oil and mayo. “What gave you thatimpression?”

“Zahra…?”

“It was anillusion. The fancy house was mortgaged to the hilt. Dad drank andgambled away everything. Mom- well she was a mediocre actress at bestand was barely getting

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