throat. “I am not horny.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Wanna bet? Woman, you try to climb me every chance you get.”
“Okay, I’m horny for you.”
“Good girl,” he said and kissed my forehead. “Are you hungry? I’ve got that chicken halfway cooked down there.”
I thought about it for a second. “I am, but I think I have something else I’d prefer to munch on.”
He jerked, his cock springing to life against my thigh. “Dammit, woman. You have to let a man recover.”
“You feel recovered to me,” I teased.
“Stay the night and we’ll see how fast I can recover.”
“I have an event tomorrow,” I told him. “I should probably go home and get some sleep.”
“Should is a word one uses when they really don’t want to do something,” he replied.
“You are right but should is the word a responsible person uses when they are trying to convince themselves about what needs to be done.”
“Stay,” he whispered before kissing me. When he pulled away, he was looking at me with such tenderness I nearly melted. “I will make your toes curl and you will be screaming my name over and over.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that you will, but I have to walk tomorrow. You are going to leave me worn out.”
He winked, his silly grin making my heart skip a beat. “That sounds like a challenge.”
I groaned. “No, not a challenge.”
“Let’s go downstairs and grab a snack. Then, I’m dragging you right back up here. I think you made me a promise, one I intend to make you fulfill.”
The words I had whispered in the heat of the moment flashed through my mind. Now, I was embarrassed. “Xander.”
He put a fingertip to my lips. “Uh uh, no takebacks.”
I pulled away from him, stood up beside the bed, and looked down at his naked form. The man was hot as hell. I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to crawl into a bed with him. Better than that, he wanted me. He craved me. That would make any woman feel like they were queen of the world.
“How about I go find us something to eat and you lie there and recover?” I asked with a smile.
He grinned and reached down to grab his dick in his hand. “I don’t need long. I’m already thinking about yanking you back down here.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here watching the clock. Every second you are gone will feel like an eternity.”
I rolled my eyes and reached for one of the pillows. I playfully tossed it at him. “That is so cheesy.”
“But it’s true. Hurry. I would hate to have to take the edge off myself.”
I looked down, watched him stroke himself, and decided food could wait.
Chapter 39
Xander
I dropped Evie off at her apartment and immediately headed over to Charlie’s place. He was probably still in bed, but I was going to wake him up. I had an idea and I wanted him to be the first to see it.
After talking with Evie a little, I knew I was on to something. She didn’t understand the mechanics and all the little intricacies of a ship’s propulsion system, but Charlie would. He would be able to offer advice and help me make this thing real. My week had been relatively productive, and I couldn’t wait to show him what I had.
I pounded on his apartment door. “Charlie, get up.”
There was no answer. I knew he was inside. At least, I assumed he was inside. His car was in the usual spot. I supposed he could have gotten a ride. I slapped my hand against the door again.
One of his neighbors pulled open their door and glared at me. I smiled in return. “Charlie, I’m not leaving. Open the door.”
I heard the lock on the door finally turning. When Charlie pulled open the door, he looked like hell. I winced, taking in the bloodshot eyes, the hair that was sticking up in the back, and the rumpled shirt that I had a feeling he had worn the night before. The odor emanating from him was damn near toxic.
“Holy shit. Death warmed over would be a step up for you.”
“Fuck you. Why are you pounding on my door like you are the damn police?”
I gave a small shrug. “Because I wanted to talk to you.”
“Phones, asshole. That is why we have phones. You call a person. They don’t answer. That doesn’t mean you drive to their house and pound on the door.”
“So you did hear your phone?” I