Outwardly Todd was trying hardnot to look too pleased or smile too much. Inside, though, he wasfist-pumping the air, and blowing a raspberry to the old Frenchboyfriend, whoever he was.
They adjourned to the living roomcouch for an after dinner drink. Chloe settled for tea and Toddpoured himself a glass of Scotch.
It seemed a little strange toTodd, having Chloe here, living in his personal space. Something hehad not experienced before. It was going to take a bit getting ofused to, but if this first night was any indication, he felt theywere going to get along famously.
Two hours later, still buzzingfrom her praise over his cooking but not wanting this evening toend, he noticed Chloe’s eyes were fluttering closed. Shereluctantly agreed to an early night. Todd helped her to her feet,and with his arm around her shoulders, walked her to her room.After the promise of an early morning coffee date, he kissed her onthe cheek and retired to his room.
The realisation that a warm,naked, extremely female body snuggled up against him stirred Toddfrom his slumber. He turned towards her and gazed into Chloe’ssea-green eyes. “Are you sure?” He whispered the words, trying notto break the spell.
Without answering, she rose upand straddled his hips. She placed her hands flat on his bare chestand dipped down to brush her full lips against his. Her long blondehair fell forwards, partially covering her face and tumbling downover his stomach. The silken tresses caressed his skin. Her warmthighs gripped him tighter, and she eased back and raised bothhands to gather her hair on top of her head in a twist of losecurls. In this position, her breasts were a feast to hiseyes.
The generous swell of creamyskin, the tight dusky pink nipples and the way they moved in andout of his reach as she swayed back and forth, had him eager andstraining below the sheet. Such unbearable torture. To have her insuch an enticing position, to inhale her perfumed skin, drove himcrazy. He wanted so desperately to reach out and touch thosetantalising breasts. To slip slowly inside her and watch herbeautiful face become mesmerised with pleasure, to hear her whisperhis name as he did.
He shifted his position, andgripped her hips. She welcomed him in with a sigh.
The beep of the alarmon his phone brought him back to reality, and to greet the dawn asthe watery rays of sunlight glimmered through the balcony rail. Hecouldn’t come to terms with the fact that he had been dreaming. Theintense sensations appeared so real. Cursing under his breath, hemade his way to a cold shower and the start of another hectic dayof denial. It was simply lust. He wasn’t in love with her.Now she’s invading my dreams. What hope did he have?
Chloe heard Todd leave theapartment just after dawn. Although very early in the morning, shewrapped her shawl around her and ventured out to the stainlesssteel and granite kitchen to make a cup of tea. Alone, she couldappreciate his orderly kitchen. All the accessories matched.Appliances had been strategically placed on benches for aestheticappeal, or tucked away inside huge cupboards. Todd wouldn’t allowher to help clean up after dinner last night. Even if she had beenwell, she had no doubt his preference would have been to clean thekitchen himself, and return everything to its rightfulplace.
She took her mug oftea to drink by the window overlooking the city, and marvel at thestunning view. No wonder Todd loves thisapartment. The proximity to the city andthe beach would be hard to beat. His offer to stay had been alifeline, but it wouldn’t have been made lightly.It must be hard for him to have a visitor,especially a woman, in his private domain. Yet graciously, Todd had encouraged her to make herself athome.
Yesterday, whenSamantha had gone, she had wandered around to admire and check outall the rooms. Impressed by Todd’s minimalist bedroom with theking-sized bed, she could not believe his extensive walk-in robe.It was open-plan, adjacent to the ensuite, unavoidable and so veryenticing. She had run her fingertips over the suits as she walkedthe length of the small room, and felt the texture of theimpeccably ironed shirts and soft silky ties. Excellent taste, no doubt about that.Chloe considered Todd to be a perfectionist, but clearly she hadbeen far too reserved. If he was as particular with everything ashe was with his clothes, God help any woman who came into his lifewho did not share his obsession.
So absorbed was she inher reflections, she didn’t hear the apartment door open. Toddreturned wearing his lycra skins, his ear buds still intact, iPodattached to his arm. He obviously didn’t see her curled up on thechair by the window. She had thirty seconds to register how good helooked before he disappeared into his bedroom. No novice when itcame to lycra-clad bodies—after all, she had worked with maledancers for years in Paris—he may as well have been walking aroundnaked. Her teacup halfway to her open mouth stayed frozen, theimage of his physique securely burnt onto her retina. What apackage. Hell. Who knew.
She heard the showerrunning and immediately envisaged his naked body under the hotspray, the soap foaming around his torso and thighs as he scrubbedoff all that sweat he had worked up in the gym downstairs. She putdown the cup and fanned her flushed face with the end of hershawl. For God’s sake, he’s your friend.Get your mind out of the gutter.
Chloe stood at thekitchen bench preparing a small fruit platter when Todd reappeared,already dressed and ready for work. He paused momentarily by thebedroom door. It was disconcerting for him to see Chloe in hiskitchen, touching his precious knives, using his juicer. Hementally shook it off. After all, he had invited her to stay and hehad better get used to this. It’s onlytemporary.
“Good morning, did yousleep well?” Todd took a seat at the breakfast bar.
“Good morning to you.Yes, I did thank you. I
