Page 36 of Dimitri
"How is he now? Alvin?"
"Fit and fine as a fiddle. I won't take up much more of your time. We would like you to come to supper on Sunday. We usually dine at seven."
"I don't..." She began but was firmly mowed over. "Nothing formal of course. I told Dimitri I would do the asking."
"I see," Allison said carefully as she reached for the paperweight and hefted it. "I don't know what he told you..."
"Nothing much. I'm aware he spent the night with you."
The statement hung in the air, and she wanted to assure the woman she was not a slut. But dammit, she was a grown-ass woman and could pretty much sleep with anyone she pleased. But this was Elizabeth McKenzie.
"I'll be there," she heard herself saying.
"Perfect." She could swear the woman clapped in satisfaction. "I'll see you then. Don't work too hard."
Allison hung up the phone and sat for a few minutes in silence. She was going to murder him. Next time she saw him, she was going to be going to jail for homicide.
*****
The next time was later that evening and he was already ensconced inside her kitchen when she got home. The scent of beef stew hit her the minute she opened the door. He had not parked in the driveway like a normal person, so that she could know he was there and had picked her lock again.
Anger simmered inside her chest, warring with the hunger settling inside her stomach. Aside from three cups of horrible coffee and a questionable beef sandwich, she hadn't eaten anything. Her day had been crappy. She had met with the administrator at the horrible home for children and the woman had ended up pissing her off.
Threats had been made, with the woman dropping some powerful names, which had pissed her off even more.
Dropping her jacket, briefcase, bag and boots at the doorway, she marched into the cozy kitchen and stopped when he turned to face her. He had lit candles on the table tucked beneath the window. The table was set with a white tablecloth, which she had never seen before and there was wine chilling in a bucket,one she had never seen before either. And he looked yummy, deliciously yummy in dark blue denim and a matching sweater that clung to broad shoulders and his wide chest.
"Hi." His deep accented voice turned her knees to jelly and her insides into mush. "How was your day?"
She wanted to blast him for invading her privacy and assuming she would want to see him, but the words were lodged inside her throat.
"I..." Her voice petered off as he crossed the room in three long strides and lifted her off her feet. Laying his lips on hers, he drank from her, the way a thirsty man, one who had not seen water in several days, would. Her hands came around his neck as she sank helplessly into the kiss. Heat curled into her, scattering the lingering cold from outdoors and setting her on fire.
Good Lord, she thought as she clutched at his sweater and yearned for more. The hunger for food was replaced by one far stronger and more powerful. When his hands scattered the pins from her hair and gripped the coils, she moaned against his mouth.
Backing up, he sat down on the stool and cradled her against him without breaking the kiss. She smelled of the outdoors and was as addictive as fine wine and he wanted to devour her.
Chapter 10
"I'm still pissed at you." She mumbled around the bite of potato and beef.
"I'm aware." He had ravaged her, starting in the kitchen and somehow had found their way into her bedroom. Now they were naked and eating in bed. He had insisted on going to fetch the food and the bottle of wine. Picking up a napkin, he dabbed at her mouth and sent her heart into a slow spin. He was taking care of her, and she was not used to it. Dark eloquent eyes noticed her reaction but kept silent.
"You brought this over from the farmhouse."
"I want to lie and say I slaved over a hot stove all afternoon, but I can't," he shot her a grin. Putting aside his bowl, he picked up his wine and leaned back against the pillows. Comfortable in his nudity, he crossed his legs at the ankles and sipped the dark red.
"You picked my locks again."
He angled his head to stare at her. "Your fault. I did ask you to give me a key."
Her eyes sizzled. "You didn't ask. You demanded."
"Ask, demand." His smile widened at the dirty look she threw him.
"There's something else. What did you tell your grandparents about us?"
"She wanted to know if we were just sleeping together. Or if it was something else."
