Dwayne rolled to his edge of the bed, switched on the light, and sat up. There she stood in all her glory, naked as the day she was born. “I like seeing you this way, Danaher. Don’t cover up for my sake.”
Her hands flew to cover her breasts then shifted to cover the curls between her legs. “Where is it?”
He sighed with defeat. “Back of the bathroom door.”
While she ran across the room to grab his robe, he put his manmade foot on and stood. “I’ll go with you.”
“Like that?”
“Like what?” He knew what she meant but enjoyed her moment of discomfort. Naked wasn’t a problem for him. He’d welcome the chance to parade naked around her forever and enjoy every moment of it.
She pointed at him. “Like…that. You can’t go outside like that.”
“Look, Red, you’re wearing my robe, and it’s the middle of the night. Who’s going to see me?”
Marla sniffed, pressed her lips together, and flounced out of the room. “Come on, Skip. Let’s go pee-pee.”
Dwayne sauntered behind her to the door off the kitchen. When she stopped, he switched on the light over the small porch and stepped aside so she could follow the mutt outside without taking a header down the steps. “Hurry it up you mongrel. This woman belongs in my bed.”
“Shush. Do you want the whole neighborhood to hear you?”
“Yes.” He followed her out the door, threw his arms wide, and shouted, “This woman belongs in my bed!”
She whirled on him and slapped her hand over his mouth, but not before she spotted his erection standing at stiff attention like a full-dress Marine, waiting to be awarded a medal by his commanding officer. Her neck and cheeks went red, and her hands flew to her face. “Dwayne. Stop that.”
He smirked and touched himself. “Stop this? Only you can stop this, you bad girl.” He pulled her into his arms and tugged open the robe, giving him access to her soft, silky thighs. Pushing between her legs seemed the most natural thing to do because she was the perfect height. Made for him.
Instead of resisting as he’d expected, she yielded. He slid the robe off her shoulders and let it drop on the grass as the mutt trotted back inside. He snapped off the porch light. “My god, woman, where have you been all my life?”
“Don’t you dare use that creaky old line on me, Dempsey.” Her hips pressed closer. “Now are we going to do something about your…problem, or stand here the rest of the night exchanging barbs?” She pressed her lips against his throat and nearly brought him to his knees.
“Either one works for me.” He gripped her bottom and walked her backward to the kitchen counter where he lifted her to a sitting position, pushed her legs apart, and ran his hands between her thighs, around her hips, up her ribs then across her stomach and breasts. “You feel as beautiful as you look. I knew you would. I never doubted it for a minute.” Finding her lips with his, he gripped her head in his hands and gave her a bruising kiss.
Her lips parted when he forced his tongue in her mouth, and her nails dug into his bare back as she groaned with pleasure.
What little piece of his brain survived intact warned him he might not survive the best night of his life.
Chapter Fifteen
He cooked breakfast for Marla while she showered in his bathroom. The bathroom where he wanted her to shower from here on out. But enough of schoolboy dreams, he told himself. Slow down and do a thorough recon of the battlefield before you go charging into the unknown.
“Hey, Dempsey.” She’d drifted into the kitchen without him realizing it.
“Hey, Danaher. I hope you like spicy sausage links because that’s what you’re getting with your eggs this morning.”
“Sounds great, but don’t give them to Skip. Pork gives him gas.” She grinned and sat in the same chair where everything had started last night.
“Too late. The little fart already talked me out of a couple.”
She scratched the mouse’s chin. “You know what? I really did come here last night to talk to you about something important.” She fussed with her damp curls. “Do you have a rubber band? My hair is going all over the place.”
“I do, but you can’t have one. I like it that way.”
“I’m on my way to the jobsite. I can’t show up there looking like a floozy.”
“As long as you look like you’re my floozy it’s cool.” He sat. “Eat, we’re late as it is.”
“No, it’s not cool, Dempsey. What happened last night is between us. I’m not Charlene, flaunting it to the whole world.” The twist of her lips and blush on her cheeks belied her harsh words.
“Don’t be so hard on your sister. She’s a good lady with a healthy appetite for what comes natural, that’s all.” He opened his mouth and shoved in a forkful of eggs, chewed, and then winked when she stuck her tongue out at him. “Is that an invitation?”
“No. Clear your mind. I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
He shrugged and forked up a hunk of sausage. “Shoot.”
“I’ve been invited to join a private consortium to purchase a prime piece of real estate. In order to do that I’d have to put the condo project up for sale.”
This had come out of nowhere. He put down his fork and stared. “Sell it?”
“Don’t look at me like that. I haven’t made up my mind, but I do have to let them know by tonight. I wanted to ask what you thought of the idea, if it would be a problem for you.”
“It’s no problem for me. What about the renters who moved out and are waiting for me to finish so they can get back home?” He took a swallow of coffee. “What of Miss Emmaline? Are you planning on selling her unit right out from under her?”
“No!” She crumpled her napkin.
