back her life, given her back her heart. So, yes, she was grateful.
She was also wildly, passionately in love with him. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind about that now. She had told him the honest-to-God truth about that. She had known, though, that he was really asking more than that. He was asking not just about her feelings, but about her readiness to face the future, a future with him very much in the middle of it. Could she answer that question as easily? Truthfully, no. She’d made so many resolutions about standing on her own two feet. It was important to keep them.
But with Justin’s mouth covering hers, with his hands dancing over her skin and setting off wildfires in the wake of his touches, the only answer she could give was with her body and she gave it eagerly.
Clothes were shed in a frenzy, his, hers, flying through the air and landing who knew where. His heated gaze was as seductive as his caresses, lingering on every inch of bared flesh, stirring her.
He slowly slid his hand along her belly toward the hook of her bra. He flicked it open, then slowly brushed away the scraps of lace. She watched the muscle in his jaw work as he stared at her breasts.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered for the second time that night, his breathing ragged. “I want to make love to you right here, right now.”
“In the kitchen?” she said on a gasp that was as much pure pleasure as shock as he skimmed his finger across an already hardened nipple.
“You’ll never prepare a meal in here again without remembering,” he teased.
“I’m not sure my heart will be able to take it.”
“Now, see, there’s something I didn’t know about you. You’re very traditional.”
Patsy glanced at the counter, then considered that they were both already mostly undressed. “I can change,” she said thoughtfully. “It could be fascinating.”
He chuckled. “You’ve turned daring now? In the blink of an eye?”
She felt laughter bubbling up. “It’s been that kind of day.”
“Come here then,” he suggested, stealing away the last scraps of clothes she was wearing and hoisting her onto the counter. The tiles were cold, a startling contrast to the fire burning inside her.
When he lowered his head to take her breast in his mouth, she rocked back, stunned by the sheer magic of it. He shucked off his jeans and briefs, guided her legs around his waist and then he paused. Anticipation had her ready to plead with him, but then she saw that he was only reaching for a foil packet in his pocket.
And then, before the heat had cooled even so much as a degree, he was inside her and it was building again. So much heat, so much urgency. Patsy was trembling from the inside out, straining toward an elusive goal that promised release. She kept thinking about the magic of it, the wonder of being touched by a man who was totally, thoroughly dedicated to her pleasure.
And then she wasn’t thinking at all, just feeling as Justin’s thrusts went deeper, as tension coiled in her belly, then sent shock waves ricocheting wildly through her. The intensity of it shattered her, leaving her panting and sated and awed by the wonder that was Justin.
Chapter Fourteen
It was morning before Justin was finally able to force himself to leave Patsy’s bed. They had finally made their way into it long after midnight. In the meantime, they had used Patsy’s newfound daring to make love in several spots along the way.
Gazing at her with the morning sun splashed across her body, he was struck anew by what a remarkable woman she was. Definitely full of surprises, that was for sure.
He dressed quickly and paused beside the bed for one last, lingering look. She stirred as if she’d felt his gaze. She came awake slowly, stretching like a sinuous cat and setting his blood to roaring through his veins all over again. When her eyes finally focused on him, she blinked.
“You’re already dressed.”
“I need to get to work and I have to stop by the house first to change into my uniform.”
She glanced at the clock. “Oh my gosh, I’m going to be late, too.”
“Take your time. I’ve got an in with your boss.”
She scowled. “Which you are not to use. Getting there on time is my responsibility. I’m supposed to open up. Sharon Lynn’s not ready to be back full-time yet.” She yawned.