Page 36 of A Soldier's Temptation
“Morning, Baby. Did you and Mr. Darcy sleep well?”
“I did, I don’t think I moved at all. I guess you had to put me to bed?”
“I think Mr. Darcy would have given it a gallant try but it would have been hard to lift you without hands.”
“I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.” Ari’s embarrassment grew just thinking about him having to carry her into the bedroom and put her to bed. Thankfully she’d already been in her PJs.
“Don’t worry about it. Yesterday was traumatic. I was surprised you lasted as long as you did. Neither one of us made it through the movie. We’re a couple of party animals aren’t we?”
“No kidding. You’d think we’re an old married couple.” As soon as the words left her lips she wished the floor would open up and suck her in. Where the hell had that thought even come from?
John got up from the table and smiled before leaning down to give her a kiss. It started out soft, gentle, but as soon as his tongue slid over her lips, she sucked him in, craving him like a starving person craved food. Sliding her arms around his waist, she pressed her body against him pressing his erection against her stomach. As she wriggled against him, he groaned into her mouth and pulled away. Again. Damn him and his rules. Why did he need commitment? Wasn’t that supposed to be the woman’s thing?
Vibrating with need, her desire made her hot and twitchy. Ari could count on one hand how many men she’d had sex with, but lack of experience or not, she’d never reacted to any man like she did to John. It was amazing, and when they finally made love she’d probably spontaneously combust.
“I could get used to waking up like this.”
That’s what scared her. She wanted him in every way imaginable, but it wasn’t as simple as saying yes to him. Turmoil roiled in her stomach, were her feelings forhim, or for the knight in shining armor riding to her rescue? Was she falling in love with him? As long as she was soul-searching, she had to admit that it sure felt like love. Until she knew for sure, it was a lot safer not to give in to her desire. The little devil on her shoulder laughed and wished her luck.
“How do you take your coffee?”
“I’ll get it. It’s enough you’re letting me stay here, you don’t have to wait on me.”
“I want to. I didn’t know if you ate breakfast. So after my run, I stopped and bought some bagels.”
“Most of the time I just have coffee, but I won’t turn down a bagel. Thank you,” Ari said with a smile.
“How do you take it? Toasted? Butter or cream cheese?”
“Since they’re fresh, just cream cheese. You’re going to spoil me if you keep this up.”
“Exactly. Is it working?” he asked with a huge smile. Grabbing a mug out of the cabinet, he filled it with coffee. “How do you take it?”
“Half and half if you have it or just milk and two sugars.”
“Was that so hard?”
“Maybe,” she said and stuck out her tongue.
“If you do that again I’ll take it prisoner.”
“How would you do that?” Flirting with him was too much fun and would get her into trouble if she wasn’t careful.
“Stick it out again and you’ll find out,” he said and waggled his eyebrows. She liked this playful side of him and so did Mr. Darcy. The fuzzy pup was sitting at his side, with one paw on his knee begging for food.
“Mr. Darcy, get down. You know better.”
“It’s okay. It doesn’t bother me. I grew up with a big dog who acted a lot like he does.”
“Farts and all?”
“Okay, maybe not exactly like him.” John laughed and patted the dog on the head. “Mr. Darcy is definitely the gassiest canine I’ve ever met.” As if to make sure they didn’t forget it, he let one rip. It wasn’t silent and it was deadly, causing Ari’s eyes to fill with tears from the stench.
“Mr. Darcy, you should be ashamed of yourself. I thought you did it because you didn’t like Shira. Looks like there’s a trip to the vet in your future. This can’t be normal.”
At the word vet, he laid down on the floor at John’s feet and put his paws over his face. You couldn’t tell her that he didn’t understand what she said. Too bad she didn’t have her phone. It would have been a perfect picture to add to her collection.
Where was her phone? Now that she thought about it, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had it.
