Page 49 of California Sunsets

When all the food had been polished off, Erin declined another cup of coffee, shared what she hoped was a secret lookwith Jay, and said she had to get going. Jay got up to help with the dishes and said he’d be making tracks soon, too.

After hugging everyone good-bye, including Jay (which sent a thrill through her body), she headed for the front door. To her surprise, her mom walked out with her. She pulled her in for a big hug and then whispered in her ear, “I just want you to know that I approve.”

Erin pulled back, shocked. It was like her mother had some extra sense where her children were concerned. Had she seen that Erin was crazy about Jay? Just from seeing the two of them side by side at breakfast? She thought they’d been discreet, but maybe there was no being discreet when it came to her mom.

She wasn’t sure how to respond—after all, she still hadn’t got her own feelings in check—so all she managed was, “Thanks.”

Her mom gave her another warm, knowing look and then said she’d see her soon.

Erin walked to her car with Buzzy. If her mom thought Jay was good for her, maybe her instincts about him were right after all.

Though Jay hadn’t said more than a casual good-bye, Erin got in her car and drove straight to his house. She waited in the drive, all her senses tingling, the anticipation building. Just when she couldn’t wait another moment, his Lamborghini pulled up alongside her.

They both opened their doors at the same time and raced toward one another. His hands circled her waist, pulling her in tight, and his lips found hers hungrily. She stroked the nape of his neck and then allowed her fingernails to rake down his back. He moaned into her mouth. Without speaking, they pulled apart, stared at one another with a shared deep, intense lust, and then he grabbed her hand and half dragged her through the front door, the dogs bounding behind them.

Just like the first time they’d made love, they kissed as if their lives depended on it, and couldn’t get naked fast enough. He grabbed her hand again and they ran up the stairs together. Jay managed to close the bedroom door before the two dogs got there.

“I’d prefer to make love to you in privacy,” Jay said, smiling at her so tenderly she thought her heart might burst.

She definitely agreed. What she was about to do with Jay Malone was not for anyone else’s eyes—not even canine ones. He came toward her and then they tore each other’s clothes, laughing as buttons popped and zippers stuck. A shoe flew across the room. She had never felt so good in her own skin. Jay laid her back on the bed and kissed her deeply, tongues intertwining, bodies writhing, and then such a feeling of wanton desire coursed through her that she hooked her legs around his back and rolled on top of him, straddling his muscular thighs. He grinned up at her, delighted at the move, and she smiled too, feeling confident and sexy as she took the lead.

She rolled her hips, teasing him, never breaking their gaze until he cried out that he couldn’t take it anymore and reached over to the bedside table for a condom. She watched him put it on, delighted by the size and swell of his arousal, and then she lowered herself onto him and all thoughts left her head. They were nothing but two bodies, enjoying each and every most intimate inch of one another. At first they were fast and furious. And then she slowed down, trying to make the pleasure last. But instead it became stronger, rolling and rising, and as she felt the first glorious tremors of her climax, she cried out, louder and louder until it peaked and she shouted his name—and heard Jay’s orgasm echoing right behind hers.

She rolled off him, spent and sweaty, and caught her breath, watching the way the sun played across the high ceiling. Sheturned to face him, and he to her, and they shared a satisfied smile.

“So,” she said, still smiling, “How was LA?”

“Lonely,” he said, pulling her closer. “I missed you. Even Nelson was off his food. I think he missed you too.”

She kissed his bare shoulder. “I missed you both as well.”

Quietly Jay said, “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear it.”

Erin kissed his lips this time, which tasted now of salt, and then sighed happily. Jay rolled onto his back and she nestled into the crook of his arm.

They remained in contented silence, their bodies recovering, until she noticed his gaze trained on the Barbara Hepworth sculpture. “That really is the best place for it.”

He nodded. “I can’t stop looking at it and thinking about whether you could recreate that position.”

She studied the Hepworth in surprise. It was all round and sinuous, but she knew what he meant—it was the impression of a passionate embrace rather than actually being one.

Then, to her delight, Jay swung his feet to the floor and leaped out of bed stark naked. “Come here. Let’s see if we can make it work.”

She had to shake her head at him. “Are you kidding me? You’re going to try and use the sculpture as a sexual position?”

“Sure. We’ll make our own artsy Kama Sutra. Come on, you’re so athletic from surfing, you could easily twist like that, if you’re game?”

Erin burst out laughing. It was so ridiculous she had to give it a try. However, she should have known Jay had some devious plan in mind. He bent her over, arching backward so her feet were on the floor and her hands were on the bed and every part of her was curved and exposed to his view and his touch. He leaned over her, with a sexy, wolfish grin. He kissed eachof her breasts, his tongue circling her nipples so she trembled, and then kissed his way slowly down her arched belly. He knelt before her, his breath heavy and warm, and pushed her legs apart tantalizingly slowly and then kissed the soft, tender flesh of her inner thighs.

Her trembling turned to shakes as he made his way up and then inward, using his tongue now to draw letters on her skin. Through the haze of pleasure she realized he was spelling her name. As his tongue grew more insistent, he moved its position and began to love her with his mouth. Her legs shook so badly she could hardly hold herself up and he gripped her thighs as she cried out in pleasure.

As her breathing subsided, he said, “Sorry. I got carried away there.” He glanced again at the sculpture. “Let’s see now, if you’re bent over like that, then I should be bent over this way.” He contorted himself and then bent her back over his body, and as she allowed herself to be twisted this way and that, she found herself tumbling and the pair of them collapsed on the rug, laughing.

When she got her breath back, she said, “I think it’s fair to say that sculpture was not meant as a how-to guide.”

He pulled her in for another kiss. When they parted, he said, “Let’s do something fun today.”

She thought they were already having a lot of fun, but absolutely agreed. She wanted to spend the whole day together. “But no overpriced restaurant where everything is unpronounceable and served with foam.”

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