Page 62 of An Uphill Battle

“Then have me,” I whimper as he brings my arms around his waist and presses his lips into mineagain.

This time, our kiss is controlled, with Drake setting the tempo. He nips at my lower lip and licks away the sting, his tongue slowly tasting mine. “Not yet, Azalea. Notyet.”

I keen toward him, following his lips with mine as he pulls away. “Why?” I whine, sounding weak and needy—which is exactly what I am for thisman.

“Because it’s not time yet.” Holding my shoulders, he steps an arm’s length back fromme.

“When? When will it be time?” I ask, borderlinebegging.

“You’ll know. Now, go take a bath and warm up, and I’ll tend to the fire and start reheating thesoup.”

I do as he tells me, not because I’m feeling particularly obedient but because I want to show him that I really do get it, and that I’m okay with things being more than physical between us. It’s one thing for me to say it, another for me to showit.

* * *

Twenty minutes later,I’m still soaking in the bath, watching through the huge picture window as the sun begins to dip below the horizon. I’m so mesmerized by the beauty of the landscape and the feel of the hot water licking at my skin that I don’t hear Drake as he enters thebathroom.

“Warm enough yet?” he asks. I jolt at his words, sending water sloshing over the side of thetub.

“You have to stop sneaking up on me,Drake.”

“I wasn’t sneaking. You were just distracted. For real, though, are you warmenough?”

“I am. How long until the soup is ready?” I ask, watching on in delight as he begins shedding hisclothes.

“I’ve got it simmering. Should only need about another twentyminutes.”

“Yeah, okay. Great.” I trip over my words, distracted by all the skin on display as Drake stands there in his boxer briefs. “Sounds good.Perfect.”

“Little Bit, you’re babbling.” He moves to get a towel and holds it out tome.

Using my big toe, I pop the drain and stand from the water. His eyes rake over my body like hot coals, but he makes no move to touch me other than wrapping me in the towel and offering me his hand to step over the side of thetub.

“I’m gonna rinse off while you get dressed, and then we can eat. I might even have a surprise foryou.”

“I hate surprises,” Ideadpan.

“Well aware, but this one isdifferent.”

Rolling my eyes, I leave the bathroom without another word. We’ll see if I like this surprise or not soonenough.

34

Azalea

I’min the kitchen spooning our soup into bowls when Drake strolls in and plops himself down into a chair at thetable.

Placing our bowls on the table, I slide into the chair next to him. “So, about thissurprise.”

“Nope,” he drawls, popping the P. “Not gonna tell you. So, hush up and eat.” I purse my lips and glare at him, but he just laughs. “You keep sticking that lip out at me, and I’m gonna biteit.”

“You say that like it’s a threat,” I smart back to him, hoping he’ll take the bait. Because why wouldn’t I want his lips onmine?

“Not happenin’, Bit. Eatup.”

Ugh.“Fine.” We lapse into a comfortable silence, the kind that speaks to two people so familiar with each other that words aren’t always needed. The kind that’s a prelude to what’s tocome.

Once we’re both full and happy, I clear away our bowls while Drake goes to set up my surprise. The fact that it needs setting up really piques my interest, and I’m half-tempted to peek, but I know that will upset him. Lord knows, I’ve done enough of that, and I’m not looking to do anymore.

---