Page 58 of Duty and Desire

Gio stared into my eyes. “Andareyou a tortured man?”

I kissed him again, only this time I added my fingers and tongue, loving the way he melted under my touch. When I broke the kiss, I pulled back and smiled.

“Not anymore.”

Chapter Nineteen

April 19

Gio

Nick’s hands on my shoulders proved what an excellent sense of timing he had. I bowed my head and groaned as he dug his thumbs into the muscle, kneading, moving them in slow circles.

“That feels so good.”

The kiss he planted on top of my head felt good too.

“Time to stop.” Nick’s breath tickled my ear. “I’ve got the groceries.”

I blinked. “You went out?”

Nick laughed. “And you call yourself a writer? You’re supposed to notice everything.” He pointed to my laptop. “Save what you’ve been working on, and let me feed you.”

I reviewed my last paragraph. “I just have to?—”

Nick tilted my face up toward his, gazing at me with warm eyes. “You’ve hardly moved from this table for three days, except for going to the bathroom. I think you’d bring the laptop to bed if I letyou.”

I smiled. “I have better things to do in bed than write.”

The week had flown by, and my life had taken on a new pattern. Whenever he wasn’t working, Nick was there. He cooked, he shopped—and he filled my nights. He slotted into my days as if he were made to be a part of them.

And I was writing again.

Damn, it felt amazing.

Another kiss pressed to my hair. “I won’t ask if I can read it yet, but I would like to at some point.”

I turned my head and cupped his cheek, drawing him lower into a kiss. “Soon,” I murmured against his lips.

He straightened. “And after dinner, you’re going to take a break.” I grinned, and he rolled his eyes. “Notthatkind of break. What is that US expression? Horndog? It’s a perfect fit.”

I pulled a face.

Nick snickered. “You would spend all the hours God sends in bed, wouldn’t you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know about that. The couch works for me too. So does the shower. We haven’t done it on the veranda yet.” I grinned. “A man’s gotta have goals.” I stretched, my arms above my head. “So what kind of break did you have in mind?”

“It’s a surprise, but I guarantee you’ll love it.” He inclined his head toward the dining table. “First, we eat.”

“And there you go again, being all bossy,” I grumbled as I pushed my chair back and headed into the bungalow, aware of Nick’s ass in those shorts, the way it moved…

Okay, so horndog had pretty much nailed it. And as for the bossy part?

I liked it.

“Okay, I’m ready. Are you going to tell me what we’re doing now?”

Nick took the boat keys from the hook by the door. “Grab a blanket and some pillows. We’ll need them.”

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