Page 77 of Surrender to Me
His grin is slow, genuine. “Appreciate it.”
Wanting to be sure the milk doesn’t scald, I hurry back into the kitchen.
After stripping off his snow-covered outer garments and placing his boots on a plastic tray near the door, he joins me.
“You’re spoiling me, Allie.” He accepts the offering and takes a sip. “I could get used to this.” He studies me. “To us.”
I touch my pendant to remind myself of reality as I quickly turn back to the stove.
Drawing a deep, ragged breath, I add veggies to the stew pot, trying to ignore the way my heart’s racing. His words hit me in a way that no one else’s ever have.
“Smells incredible already.” He comes closer to peer over my shoulder. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Thanks. No. It just needs to simmer for a few hours.”
He nods. “In that case, I’m going to take a quick shower.” He brushes a knuckle along my jaw. “Get out of these wet clothes before they get too much colder.”
He disappears down the hall, and I hear the water turn on.
I’m left with the stew’s low bubble and the storm’s roar, my mind spinning, my heart racing.
Ten minutes later, he heads into his office, and I take the opportunity to check my phone.
No updates. But with the weather, I’m not surprised.
It’s a reprieve. Nothing more.
When Stryker eventually joins me, he’s in fresh sweatpants and a thermal shirt. His dark hair is damp and tousled, and he smells of soap and that clean, masculine scent that’s all him. My stomach flips again. Does he have to make everything so damn sexy?
With him also in the kitchen, the space is somewhat crowded.
Apparently unconcerned, he grabs the coffee grounds to make a fresh pot.
“You could mainline the stuff. Might be easier.”
He sweeps his gaze over my face and down my body, slowly, intentionally. “I need to stay sharp for what I have in mind later.”
Heat seeps into my face, and I distract myself with stirring the pot.
A few minutes later—him with a fresh mug in hand—we move to the living room. Then he brings the sofa closer to the fire, which he stokes.
“Everything checks out?”
Quirking an eyebrow, he sits next to me.
“Outside, I mean. And, uhm…” How do I act subtle, when I’m desperate for information about the outside world. “I mean, with whatever you do in your office.”
“No news.”
For now, that’s a relief.
“Nowhere to go, Allie. Nowhere for you to hide.”
I gulp.
“Where do you suggest we start?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
