Page 58 of Conail

His body shuddered as if it had been hit by a massive earthquake. His heart was pounding so hard, it was drowning out everything else. His flesh was coated with a fine sheen of moisture. When she collapsed on top of him, he held her with gentle hands, his senses overflowing.

In stunned disbelief, he continued to hold her, feeling the wild beating of her heart against his chest. Or was it his? he wondered hazily.

When she stirred as if to slide off him, he tightened his hold and kept her there. He could have held the position for days, months even.

Her face was buried against his neck, and he could feel her breath on his skin. Very soon, he knew he was going to have her again and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chapter 15

"I'm starving."

His deep chuckle warmed her heart and turned it into mush. It was the first time she had ever heard him come close to laughing. It gave her hope.

His hands ran up and down her back, his touch oddly soothing.

"What are you in the mood for?"

Lifting her head, she felt a jolt at the relaxed look on his face. The cynical lines that she was so accustomed to seeing had practically disappeared.

"If I tell you what I'm in the mood for, you have to promise not to judge me."

He gave her a narrowed-eyed look. "Why would I judge you?"

"Uh no. Promises first."

He lifted one thick brow. "I promise."

"Peanut butter. Lots of it and some grapes. Big juicy purple ones."

"Not green or red?" he asked, tongue in cheek.

He had to tamp down the laugh as she rolled her eyes. "Purple, and you promised not to judge."

"I'm just trying to gain some clarity. Are you going to slather the peanut butter over the grapes or eat them separately?" He was enjoying himself immensely and realized to his surprise that this was the first time he had a woman in such an intimate position and was being entertained at the same time.

"Sounds like judgment to me." She lifted her chin and managed to look haughty.

"Why don't we go and raid the kitchen?" he suggested. He would feed her cravings for the peculiar first and then come back to bed to feed his enormous need for her.

"One small look of disgust and you leave the kitchen."

"I promise to keep my disgust to myself," he told her solemnly, laughing as she poked him in the chest and slid off him.

"That's considered abuse." He was still smiling as he rose along with her.

"Wait." Walking towards the enormous closet with the revolving shelves, he selected a thin navy robe piped with gold and handed it to her. "Put this on."

It smelled like him, that elusive expensive cologne that was so enticing. She wanted to wrap herself in the silk and felt the emotions tearing at her as it slid over her skin seductively. It felt as if he was holding her in his arms.

"Something wrong?" He paused in the middle of dragging on his sweats.

"No." She shook her head. "Just eager to satisfy my cravings."

So am I, he thought wryly.

She had seen the kitchen before but never appreciated how large it was. "Your housekeeper must be in culinary heaven," she murmured as he guided her to a stool around the spotless counter.

"Why?"

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