Page 50 of Paging Dr. Breakup
“No guarantees we won’t throw something out there, either.” She twined her arms around his neck, pressed against his chest and kissed him until his arms inched farther around her back. He couldn’t get close enough. “Yes. The bed.”
Chapter Eighteen
Deirdre stared intogunmetal gray eyes that burned into her. Contingency logistics and overanalyzing the fun out of any given task were her superpowers, but for once in her life, she simply wanted to experience her feelings. Not be in charge of what-ifs and plans A, B, and C. She didn’t want to dissect her emotions until nothing of substance remained.
She knew Calvin. She trusted Calvin. Being with him would change everything. Was she ready for that?
Yes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him until her head spun.
He pushed up from the couch, gripping her hips as he walked toward the bedroom, carrying her. A thrill zipped through her nerve endings, leaving delicious tingles in its wake. When was the last time she had felt like this? She locked her ankles behind his back and pressed her lips against the hammering pulse on his neck.
Never. She had never felt quite like this, and on some level, it scared her.
On some level it freed her.
Deirdre reveled in the flex of his back and neck muscles under her hands as he held her securely and strode to the bedroom.
What about her past? Her future?
She focused on the man she had known for so many years but who seemed brand new.
It was time to attend to the present.
He bumped his knees against the bed and deposited her on the mattress with a gentle stomach-flipping drop. “Last chance to bail before I lick every inch of your body.” His words might have sounded light, but his direct gaze was intense, and his shoulders were tense. He was dead serious.
Deirdre desperately wanted to feelsomethingagain. Something good. Something for herself.
She wanted more than a fake relationship. She wanted to push past fear, doubt, and the regrets of time.
She wanted Calvin.
Everything would change.
It already had changed when they kissed a week ago.
“Who says you’re the one doing the licking?” She sat up and untucked the shirt from his waistband.
His eyes darkened. “I don’t want to rush this, Deirdre. We’ve got all night. I intend to use my time wisely.”
“Who’s rushing? Get naked.”
“As an administrator, you might be used to ordering people around, but I’ve taken AIDET training. I’m now an expert in customer experience.” His chuckle rumbled through her ribs.
His presence was so attractive, she literally could feel her nipples tightening. So sexy. She stopped moving. Wait, what? “You actually watchedandremembered the staff training modules about patient communication?”
He pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean torso with a light dusting of dark hair that arrowed downward. The view turned the inside of her mouth to sand.
“Communication and satisfaction is important, is it not?” he asked with a grin.
Finally, she unstuck her tongue. “I can’t believe we are talking about AIDET, now. Here.” She gasped as he trailed his fingers over her shoulders and down her arms to rest on her hands. The light connection made her crave more of her body touching his.
A wicked glint in his eye as he lifted his chin preceded his challenge. “You know what? Let’s see if the boss can recite the five AIDET steps to the student.”
“Huh. Easy.” She took a breath.
“Not yet. Do it while I’m kissing you.” He unclasped her bra and pulled it away, then knelt over her, his breath warming her skin.
Never in a million years would she have used a customer service tool as foreplay, but here she was, trying to remember the steps that all staff had to learn… as Calvin drew tantalizing, feather-light patterns over her neck and upper chest.
