Off The Record (With Me in Seattle Mafia #3) -Kristen Proby Page 0,33
from dinner. “That oven is just amazing. When did you have this place updated?”
“It was done about a year ago, I guess. Pop had the whole building updated. He went all out.”
“You’re not kidding.”
“I can help with dishes.”
“No.” She holds up a hand. “Absolutely, not. You’ve made breakfast two days in a row, cleaned up, and helped me prep dinner. I’ve got this.”
I’m relieved that she let me off of the hook for KP duty because I have a little surprise for her. So, I nod solemnly and promise to be back shortly.
I walk to the bedroom and set my plan in motion. I have rose petals to spread over the floor, the tub, the bed. I have roses in vases. I have candles to light.
In less than thirty minutes, the bedroom is transformed into a romantic suite, complete with champagne.
I’m going to romance my girl.
When I return to the kitchen, Annika is just putting away the last of the dishes, humming to herself.
“How do you feel?” I ask.
“Pretty good, actually. Not too full, not too tired.”
“Excellent. Come with me. I want to show you something.”
She grins and takes my hand. “Okay. What do you have to show me?”
“You’ll see.”
With her hand linked to mine, I lead her down the hallway and open the bedroom door.
“Your suite awaits.”
Her eyes grow wide as she steps inside, and then she turns to me. “How in the hell did you pull all of this off? We were together most of the day.”
“You took a nap,” I reply easily. “I ran an errand or two.”
“No kidding.” She sighs and brushes her fingertips over a rose, then buries her nose in the fragrant bloom. “This is so lovely.”
“Not nearly as lovely as you.”
I wrap my arms around her from behind and kiss the shell of her ear.
“Do you mind if I take a bath?” she asks, and I just smile and open the bathroom door, where I have more candles lit, a full, steaming tub with more rose petals floating on the water. “Holy cow.”
“I want you to relax. I want you to feel pampered and appreciated.”
“Mission accomplished.” She tests the water with her fingers. “I promise not to drown.”
“Good idea. Because I have plans for you when you get out of this tub.”
Her eyes shine with mischief and lust when they find mine. “Promise?”
“Hell, yes.”
“Then let me get in the water.” She shoos me out of the room, closes the door, and I take a long breath.
She likes it.
Hopefully, she likes everything else that’s about to come, as well. I’m going to take my time. I’m going to relearn and examine every inch of her perfect little body.
Similar to the night before, I go down the hall to the guest bathroom. I already stocked it with my shaving supplies, so I do that first. Then I take a shower and pull on only a simple pair of black boxer shorts.
If all goes according to plan, they won’t be on for long.
I’ve just walked back into the bedroom when the bathroom door opens, and standing as a silhouette against the light of the bathroom behind her, Annika pauses and bites her lip. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.
I mean, I already knew that, but with her standing there in a sexy black nighty that I didn’t even see her grab earlier, my heart simply stalls in my chest. My mouth goes dry. My dick comes to attention.
“I want to fuck you in that doorway.” My voice is pure gravel. The pulse in Annika’s throat jumps. “But I’m not going to. Not right now.”
“It’s on the schedule for later with the against-the-wall sex?” she asks, her voice breathless.
“Oh, yeah. It’s on the damn schedule. I want you with an ache that never really goes away, Annika.” I’m slowly stalking toward her as I talk. I’m afraid to reach out for her because I know I won’t stop once I touch her. “I tried for years to extinguish that desire. To tell myself that I’d never have you. That you couldn’t be mine.
“But there was always something inside me, a voice or an ache, that wouldn’t shut up. That wouldn’t give up. You kept telling me no, but I knew that I’d have you with me again someday. I didn’t know when or how, but I knew in the deepest part of me that you’d make your way back to me.”
I swallow hard and reach out to touch just the very edge