to blend with her light tan. He’d find them, though, each and every one, once they got inside the duplex. And her tattoos. It was crazy, but he looked forward to discovering where they were hidden...if she ever got the door unlocked.
“Need help?”
“I almost have it.” She shoved with her free hand. “Here we go.” She flipped on a light switch as she stepped inside.
“Does the door always stick?”
“Mostly in the summer.”
“Remind me to have a look at it.”
She turned to face him, a slow smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “You surprise me. Not many people do.”
“I didn’t say I could fix it.” He closed the door behind him. “I just said I’d look at it.”
Cassie threw her purse and keys at a chair. The purse landed safely, the keys thudded on the floor. “Ha. You’re a riot. You want something to drink?”
“I’m good.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Grinning, she pulled the hem of his shirt from his jeans and tugged him toward her.
“So you just want me for sex, huh?”
“I’m sorry.” She laughed. “I am. But Gwen, she’s just—well, she’s kinda nuts. Have she and Mike been married long?”
“No.” He kissed her bare shoulder and slid a finger down her chest to the first of far too many little white buttons.
“Right.” She briefly closed her eyes and slid her palms up his chest. “We won’t talk about them.”
“Good.”
“Come.” She took his hand and led him to the hall opposite the side of the kitchen.
They passed a small bedroom on the left, a bathroom on the right. Her bedroom was at the end, the walls painted a light blue, the queen-size bed neatly made and covered by a puffy white comforter. The room wasn’t crowded like the rest of the house. A small dresser stood beside an old-fashioned sliding-door closet. No clothes were strewn around. Some were folded inside a plastic laundry basket sitting in the corner on the floor.
On her dresser were two small green plants. In front of them a pair of goldfish swam in a bowl. It made John smile.
She followed his gaze. “Oh, that’s Heart and Soul.” She kicked off her flip-flops, then moved one of the plants in front of the bowl. “Don’t worry, I won’t let the kids watch.”
Shaking his head, he toed of his deck shoes. He was willing to wager she surprised him a whole lot more than he surprised her.
Her lips parted as she watched him pull off his shirt then toss it aside.
John caught her upper arms and held her still while he kissed the side of her neck. He skimmed his lips against her silken skin and said, “Now, you just stand there and look gorgeous while I do all the work.”
10
CASSIE TOUCHED HIS CHEST with the reverence it deserved. So much warm flesh, hard muscle; the man took care of himself. She drew her hand down to his belly, flat and firm with just enough muscle to keep it that way. “Do you have to work out for your job?”
“Cassie?”
It wasn’t easy...she had so much to look at...but she lifted her gaze. His eyes were dark and full of purpose. “What?”
He raised his hands. “I can’t unbutton you while you’re doing that.”
“Give me a minute.”
“It’s just a chest,” he said. “Every guy has one.”
She laughed, which didn’t help either her exploration of his chest or the unbuttoning of her blouse.
John looked down at her with one raised brow.
“After you have more blood going north, you’ll understand,” she said. Then she took over button duty, enjoying the view as John undid his belt.
“Done.” She let her blouse fall to the floor and smiled in victory. The raw hunger in his eyes made her swallow, though, and flex her hands as she fought the urge to cover herself. Although why she’d want to do that when he approved so demonstrably, she’d never understand.
His gaze skimmed her bare breasts, swept up to her face and surprisingly stayed there. He touched her cheek before lifting a lock of her hair. Smiling, he watched the strands sift through his fingers. His focus returned to her breasts. As he rubbed his thumb over her hard nipple she could see the struggle for control in the flex of his jaw and his flaring nostrils.
“I knew they’d be perfect,” he murmured, and kissed her shoulder as his hands moved down to her jeans.
Arousal flushed her entire body. The feel of his warm lips brushing soft kisses up the side of her neck made