She turned off the faucet and her arm brushed his. Goose flesh popped along her forearm like the soap bubbles in the sink. “The house has been quiet since I got back.”
“Then it’s just you and me. In other words, perfect.” His chest touched her shoulder blades. He angled his mouth near her ear. “Did you make something to eat while I was gone?”
“Grilled cheese.” She felt his lips graze her hair. The almost-kiss made her right knee thump against the cabinet. Concerned she’d drop what she was holding, she lowered the frying pan into the warm sudsy water and glanced at the untouched bag of take-out on the counter. “I’m afraid the food you brought for dinner got cold.”
“Tonight didn’t turn out well. My fault, not yours.” He grabbed the sponge and lifted the frying pan out of the water. “Let me make up for ruining dinner by doing the dishes.” He wrapped his other arm around her and used the sponge to dislodge the buttery crumbs stuck to the pan.
Jaye watched the water turn the blond hair on his forearms a rich topaz. “Do you want me to make you a grilled cheese sandwich?”
“No. I ate whatever candy the boys didn’t want. Disgusting, but filling.”
She laughed.
Mitch smiled against her temple. “Love it when you laugh.”
Leaning back against his chest, she marveled at how often she laughed whenever she was with this man.
He dunked the pan into the water, swirling the suds before rinsing. He set the pan on top of a towel spread on the counter and brushed an affectionate kiss against her cheek. “Do any other dishes need washing?”
“There should be a plate in here, somewhere.” Jaye plunged her hands into the water, feeling around the bottom of the sink.
Mitch’s hands twined with hers. “Find anything, yet?”
She grinned, liking the way he nuzzled her. “There are two big hands in the way.”
“Get used to having me in the way.” He threaded his fingers through hers.
The soapy water felt like liquid silk. Under the warm dishwater, she explored every nuance of his talented hands. Long fingers, thick knuckles, and calloused palms. She could tell by the way he rested his temple against hers that he liked what she was doing.
“I haven’t formed a coherent thought since I walked in and saw you standing by my sink.” His mouth hovered above her neck, fanning warm breath across her skin. “Should be illegal for you to wear jeans.”
“Should I change into a parka and snow pants?” Her lighthearted response came out throaty and hoarse, a dead giveaway she couldn’t wait for him to kiss her. “Perhaps I should wear a tent so you can regain your train of thought.”
“I still couldn’t think straight, because I’d still see your beautiful face. I’d still stare at your incredible mouth. I’d still hold my breath until your gaze met mine.”
Sensing the imminent danger of falling under his spell, she lifted a dish out of the water. “Let’s wash this.”
“Let’s not.” His hard front pressed against her slender back.
He felt solid and strong. She wanted to remain in the circle of his arms for at least another minute. Make that hour. No…days. “We’d better remove the leftover cheese, otherwise this dish will be impossible to clean.”
“I’ll buy another one.” He massaged her slick arms, working his way from her wrists to the insides of her forearms.
Her bones turned to mush. The plate dropped back into the water with a splash, spraying a plume of droplets against her T-shirt. “I’ll let the dish soak.”
“Good idea.” His hot mouth kissed the side of her neck. “You taste so good. Like vanilla.”
“Must be the ointment the doctor prescribed,” she bluffed in one last-ditch attempt to give them a chance to stop before this got way out of control. “We’re trying to stop a rash from spreading.”
He chuckled. “Give me the medicine. I’ll rub it on the spots you can’t reach.”
“Sounds way too tempting.” Unable to stop herself, she tilted her head to invite more kisses.
“You’re right. Forget the ointment. Way too tempting.” His hands arrived at her elbows. A thick thumb brushed the outer curve of her breast. Mitch groaned and let go of her. “Hold on. My keys are killing me.”
“Huh?” She felt his hand bump into her bottom as he tugged at the front of his jeans. Odd place for his keys. When she felt him exhale against her neck, she realized he was adjusting something other than his keys. She slanted him an impish grin. “You okay?”
“Never better.” He fit his hips against the curve of her bottom.
Under the layers of denim between them, Jaye felt the rigid length of his sex. The intimate embrace whooshed the air out of her lungs. “Wow. You weren’t kidding when you said you were better.”
“Jaye.” He gripped her legs, splaying his fingers toward her inner thighs. “If you knew the things I want to do to you...I’m going out of my mind.”
The feeling was mutual. She curled her fingers around the counter’s edge in white-knuckled desperation. Half crazed by the warm fingers so close to the crotch of her jeans, she let out a whimper of want.
“That’s the sound I wanted to hear.” His words came out in a rush of triumph. “Turn around and let me kiss your mouth, pixie. I love it every time I find you in my kitchen.”
For once in her life, she’d found a man who wanted her, nothing else. He’d promised not to pressure her to sleep with him, so what was the harm in stealing a few moments in his arms? She only had two short weeks of freedom. Might as well take risks while she still could. With an abrupt turn, she hugged him.
He picked her up, setting her on the kitchen counter. Opening her legs with a gentle nudge, he stood between her knees and kissed her, not letting up until she opened her mouth and let him inside.
Unnerved by his ardor, she snatched her
