Page 27 of Mister Cowboy
She reached for the Pad Thai while Brecken grabbed two plates. Her eyes lingered on him as he took off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. The suit was a traditional style in black, but the bold colors and intricate knot of his tie remained true to his eccentric style.
Their eyes met, and he flashed a wicked, knowing smile. She’d been caught checking him out, but he looked too good to look away.
“Did you sleep while I was gone?” He handed her a plate and spooned a generous serving of Som Tam on his own.
“Yeah, your bed is heavenly. I could sleep in it forever.” Her face warmed as the intimate suggestion of her words sank in. He winked but didn’t rib her about it, which was surprising.
“This is delicious.” She closed her eyes and let the food ease the hunger pains. When she pried them open a colorful bouquet of pink roses was inches from her face. Placing a hand over her mouth as she continued to chew, she looked from the beautiful flowers to the gorgeous man sitting next to her.
“You sure know how to treat a girl. Almost makes this hangover worth it.” She set the plate down and groaned as her stomach flipped.
Concern etched his features. “Not feeling well?”
“My stomach is a little upset,” she admitted, feeling ridiculous after he obviously spent so much effort on the lunch surprise. “I’ll be okay. Maybe food isn’t the best idea yet. What time do you have to be back at the office?”
“I’m not going back. I’m staying right here.” He pulled out his phone, placed it on the coffee table, and then drew her close to him as he leaned back into the couch.
Holding herself up so her entire weight didn’t rest on him, she spoke without facing him. “You really don’t have to go back to work?”
“I took the afternoon off.”
“Do you do that often?” She had imagined him working the same sort of insane hours her father did, and days off weren’t something she remembered her father taking very often.
“Honestly? No. I can’t remember the last time I took a day off.”
The vibration of his deep voice rattled against her back, and it was oddly comforting.
This time, she did turn to look at him, which put their faces so close she could feel his breath. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the nose. With a laugh, she turned back around and relaxed into his hold.
“Comedy, drama, cooking shows?” he asked, flipping the television on.
“Youwatch cooking shows?”
“Only Giada. Giada is hot.”
She laughed. “Whatever you want. I just like the noise.”
The sound of the television jumped between voices and background music as Brecken flipped through the channels, stopping when Lennie and Jack’s voices filled the room with an old episode ofLaw & Order.
Crime shows were pretty high up on the list of shows she couldn’t stand, but even with a headache, an upset stomach, and crappy television, it was positively the best day she could remember.
* * *
January wokefor the third time that day and was curled on her side facing the television. She could feel Brecken lying behind her, and the faint sound of his deep, even breathing tickled her ears. Rolling to the edge, she made an attempt to get up, but he threw an arm over her and pulled her back flush against him.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he murmured in a playful voice.
She squirmed under his arm but couldn’t get free. “I need to get up. I can’t believe I’ve slept the whole day away.”
“If this is what you typically wear to sleep in, you may find yourself napping a lot more often with me around.” He pressed his groin against her back, and she inhaled sharply at the feel of him hard against her. His hands slipped underneath the t-shirt and slid forward to caress her stomach. The shirt bunched up around her hips, and the cool air against her bare cheeks reminded her that there was only a lacy thong between them. He groaned in what she hoped was appreciation, and his hands continued their exploration of her body, moving up and brushing past her nipples. He rested a hand on her chest. His long fingers splayed out over her heart. It was intimate, and the heat from his hand seeped through her skin, turning her whole body white hot.
His mouth found her neck, and he licked the sensitive skin, causing an unexpected giggle to escape her lips. Turning, he pinned her underneath him with a knee between her legs. The button-up shirt he was wearing when she’d fallen asleep was gone, and her eyes were drawn to the dark hair peeking out of the top of the V-neck undershirt.
Grabbing the bottom of his shirt, she lifted. He straightened and pulled it over his head and tossed it on the floor. Her eyes were greedy as they roamed over his bare chest and stomach. She already knew he was built, but the definition in his chest and abs was not fair. Especially after seeing his pantry.
“You maintain this body with Froot Loops? God, I hate you.”
He smiled. The proud smile of a man who loved his hard work being appreciated.
