Ashley.”
Removing her legs from his shoulders, she grabbed him by his waist and pulled him close, claiming his mouth in a hard, wet kiss. Pulling away, he collapsed on top of her, resting his head between her neck and shoulder. She ran her fingers through his damp hair and down his back as their breathing slowly returned to normal.
He rolled off her and cradled her against his chest.
“What the hell are you doing to me, woman?” he murmured, his fingers running lightly up and down her arm.
Overwhelmed by emotion, she didn’t reply. They’d crossed a line, and she hoped neither
of them would regret it.
Snuggling closer, she wrapped her arm around his waist and closed her eyes.
The sound of an unfamiliar ringtone roused Ashley from a deep sleep. Rolling over, she groped around the nightstand, trying to find the phone. Once she had it in hand, she sat up and saw the name Willy flashing across the screen.
“Are you checking my phone log?” Smokey asked from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair and toned body partially wet.
“No. Your phone woke me up, and I just reacted by reaching for it.”
“I’m just joking. You don’t strike me as the possessive psycho type.”
He walked over to her and put his fingers under her chin, tipping her head back. Crushing his mouth to hers, he pulled the sheet away from her body and cupped her breast.
“Morning, darlin’.”
“Good morning. You smell like coconuts and oranges.”
“I smell like a chick.”
Giggling, she ran her hands over his broad shoulders. “You smell good.”
“Next time, I’ll bring my own stuff.”
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Next time. I like that. His lips on hers again brought her out of her thoughts, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her bare breasts against his damp chest.
“I like the way you feel,” he said hoarsely as he pushed her down on the mattress.
Laughing, she clutched his towel and tugged it from his waist. His erection poking against her, she wrapped her legs around him, nudging him closer.
“Fuck, woman.”
Spreading her legs wide, she smiled as he lowered his head.
Two hours later, Ashley stretched out in the bed like a cat in the sun, every part of her body relaxed and sated. No man had ever awakened her body so thoroughly, and she found herself craving his touch.
The low murmur of Smokey’s voice floated into the bedroom from the family room where he’d gone to return Willy’s call. Her stomach growled just then, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since lunch the day before. The previous night, she had planned to stop by Little Pepinas to pick up a lasagna dinner, but then she’d bumped into Smokey, altering her plans in a deliciously wicked way. No complaints there. A wide smile spread across her face as she pushed up from the bed and padded into the bathroom.
A half hour later, she was showered and dressed in a pair of jeans and her favorite sweater with traveling stitches that trailed across the chunky amber top falling right above the waistband of her blue jeans. After slipping on a pair of short black boots, she added a swipe of blush across her cheeks, two coats of mascara to her lashes, and an apricot gloss to her lips. Dabbing a few drops of lavender patchouli perfume oil to her wrists, the base of her throat, and behind her earlobes, she fluffed her hair with her fingers and left the room.
When she entered the family room, she saw Smokey sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Looking up, his gaze slid slowly over her body.
He whistled softly through his teeth. “You look beautiful.”
A warm and tingly feeling spread through her at his words. “Thanks.”
“What’re your plans today?”
“Getting something to eat—I’m starving. But after that, nothing much.” She wanted to spend the day with him, but she wasn’t going to tell him that. “You probably have a lot of stuff to do. Do you work on Saturdays?”
“Sometimes, but not today. I could go for some chow myself. I ordered a burger last night, but never got around to eating it.” He winked at her. “A sexy woman diverted my attention away from everything else.”
She laughed. “How odd. The same thing happened to me.”
“You up for some chow at Ruthie’s?”
“I’d love that. I’m surprised at how good the food is there.”
Smokey rose to his feet. “Ruthie’s a damn good cook, and it’s not a dive. She cares about her customers and the quality